JVHS: We know there was a pool party last night. We’ve reviewed the security footage. Can you walk us through what you did last night?

HB: [silence]

JVHS: I should add that you’re not under arrest. We only want to get more information.

HB: [silence]

JVHS: It’s okay to talk to us. We’re here to help.

HB: [silence]

JVHS: Everyone else cooperated. For example, we know you went upstairs with everyone. Sometime later, Nicole and Francis went off on their own. You spent some time with [Jane Doe 1]. We’ve got their sides of the events. Now, we would like to hear yours.

HB: [silence]

JVHS: Is there anything we can do to make you more comfortable? Would you like some candy? Here. Take it.

HB: [silence]

JVHS: Would you mind taking your sunglasses off?

HB: [silence]

JVHS: I’ll level with you, we know you were the last person to see Jewel. At 3:14 A.M., you both walked into her bedroom and you walked back out alone an hour later. It would be better for everyone if you just told us what happened while you were in there.

HB: Why don’t you both go tell Jewel to [REDACTED] herself.

JVHS: You seem angry at Jewel. Did something happen between you two?

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

SATURDAY, 1:15 P.M.

Everyone had gathered in Nicole’s room.

It hadn’t been an active decision. After each interrogation, they hadn’t been allowed to rejoin the others. A member of security escorted them back upstairs, putting them in their rooms. And exactly no one stayed put.

For years, Luna had been the SilentStar of Golden Rule. Being quiet had saved her. She learned how to make friends with it, found a solace to soothe the chaos inside her. It had felt like fate when she found Golden Rule around the same time. Her identity became inextricably linked to her persona and to Jewel.

And now, everyone else had gone dead silent too. Only Stella said something as she entered: “Confined to Crayola Hall. I cannot believe I traveled over four hours just to be put on house arrest again.”

They had scattered themselves around the room, lounging on chairs and sitting in corners and staring out the window, all lost struggling with their own thoughts.

So serious for no reason.

Well, the police and security team were scary. They almost convinced her.

Luna untucked herself from Alex and crawled to the edge of the bed. She wondered what he was thinking, figuring it wasn’t anything good. He had wanted to go home, stayed for her and Tasha’s sakes, and now, they were all suspects in a missing person’s case. The second she had seen his tired, worried face, after his interrogation ended, she almost broke down and told him. Almost.

They needed to sit with their thoughts. They needed to find their own quiet.