The Mysterious Death
It was 7 am in the morning, Lyra woke up so tired and yawning, she got up from bed, went outside but there was no trace of Stephen and his car, she knew that something might be wrong but so confused, she called Sophia, "hello Sophia, good morning", "good morning Lyra, where have you been, your line has been unreachable since you left to meet Stephen yesterday, you have to tell me everything ", Sophia asked, "yes...", (Yawning) Lyra replied not finishing her words,
"you are yawning like this, you must be tired, how about you come over here for breakfast?", Sophia asked, Lyra's heart jumped with excitement at the hearing of breakfast, she love having her breakfast so early, "yes, yes, that would be great", she answered with excitement, rushing to the bathroom.
As Lyra got ready, her mind raced with thoughts of Stephen and where he might be. She tried to shake off the feeling of unease, telling herself he was probably just out dealing with some business. But the memory of his intense gaze and the danger that lurked in his eyes lingered.
She arrived at Sophia's house, greeted by the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon. Her stomach growled in anticipation as Sophia ushered her in.
"Hey, girl, you look exhausted," Sophia said, concern etched on her face. "What happened with Stephen?"
Lyra hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "We just had a long night, that's all," she said, trying to downplay it.
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Long night? Lyra, you're not exactly the secretive type. Spill the beans, what's going on?"
Lyra sighed, knowing she couldn't keep it bottled up forever. "Stephen's in trouble, Sophia. He's mixed up with some dangerous people, and I think he's in over his head."
Sophia's expression turned serious. "Oh, Lyra, I had no idea. We need to get to the bottom of this. But first, let's fuel up with some breakfast. I've got pancakes, eggs, and fresh fruit. Dig in, girl!"
As they sat down to eat, Lyra couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Where was Stephen, and what was he facing? And why did she have this nagging sense that her life was about to take a drastic turn?
Sophia had devilish smile plastered on her face, she had waited for so long to get back on Lyra, the grudge, the hatred she had towards Lyra since they were in high school had resurfaced, the picture was still clear on her mind, how can she forget? Lyra must have been a fool to have forgotten and took her for a friend.
Sophia's smile grew wider as she poured Lyra a cup of coffee, her eyes gleaming with a sinister intensity. "So, Lyra, tell me more about Stephen and his troubles," she said, her voice dripping with false concern.
Lyra took a sip of her coffee, unaware of the venom that Sophia was brewing. "Well, Sophia, like I said, Stephen's in deep with some dangerous people. I'm worried about him, and I don't know what to do."
Sophia's laughter was like a cold breeze on a winter's night. "Oh, Lyra, you're so naive. You think you can just waltz back into my life and expect me to forget the past? You think you can just forget what you did to me in high school?"
Lyra's eyes narrowed, confusion etched on her face. "What are you talking about, Sophia? I don't know what you're referring to."
Sophia's smile grew even wider, her eyes blazing with a fierce hatred. "You really don't remember, do you? You really don't remember what you did to me, how you ruined my life?"
Lyra shook her head, her mind racing with questions. What was Sophia talking about? What had she done to her in high school?
And then, like a floodgate opening, memories came rushing back. The friend she lost, but what could that have to do with Sophia, every memory of that mysterious night came back, everything she had forgotten.
"Sophia, I...I'm so sorry. I had no idea...I was so blind..."
Sophia's laughter was like a knife twisting in Lyra's heart. "Sorry? Sorry isn't enough, Lyra. You destroyed me, and now it's my turn to destroy you.
"Amy was a friendly student, always smiling and easy to approach, she cared for others so much that she often forget about herself, she had died in place Lyra and unknown to everyone, Amy was Lyra's younger and only sister, it was 7 pm in December 12, 2004, Lyra was supposed to meet with her friends; Amy, Juliet and Sandra, it was her birthday and they wanted to celebrate first before Lyra would get home and celebrate with her family.
Almost 7:30 pm and Amy's cellphone rang, it was her sister, Sophia, " Amy, where are you? Why don't you come home? it's getting late", "I will, but give me like an hour, I am with my friends here to celebrate Lyra's birthday", Amy replied, still confused at what Amy was saying, Sophia asked, "who's Lyra? Don't tell me that you are already hanging out with the transfer student? Wasn't she the one who went for the last quiz competition and won 1st place?", ever since Lyra transferred to Bright girls internationals, the school have recognized only her, no one remembers Sophia who used to be called for every competition, Lyra has taken the attention of the whole school. It brought inferiority complex on Sophia, she knew Lyra was better than her but it was so difficult to accept, from her friends, she had found out few things about Lyra and to sum it up, Lyra was from a wealthy family.
"Yes, I will be home soon", Amy said, hanging up. She had tried reaching Lyra many times but it was unreachable, Juliet and Sandra then decided to go look for Lyra while Amy was asked to wait and watch over the cake and gifts and the decorated rented small hall where the four friends would have celebrated, had Lyra come on time.
Thirty minutes, they were back with Lyra; Lyra was delayed by traffic and her battery had died earlier making it difficult to be reached. The three friends walked towards the hall but everywhere was dark, the called Amy's name but no one answered, Juliet managed to find the switch and was shocked at what they saw; Amy was lying lifelessly on the floor, the cake was smashed, the balloons popped and the chairs broken...
Lyra's eyes widened in horror as she took in the scene before her. "Amy! Oh no, Amy!" she screamed, rushing to her friend's side. Juliet and Sandra were already there, trying to revive her, but it was too late. Amy's lifeless body lay still, her bright smile and sparkling eyes gone forever.
The three friends were in shock, unable to comprehend what had happened. Who could have done such a thing? And why? The hall, once filled with joy and laughter, was now a scene of devastation and tragedy.
As they stood there, frozen in grief, Sophia's face flashed in Lyra's mind. She remembered the phone call, the strange questions, and the underlying tension in Sophia's voice. A suspicion began to form in Lyra's mind, a suspicion that she couldn't shake off.
Suddenly, the lights flickered back on, and the sound of sirens filled the air. The police had arrived, responding to a anonymous tip about a disturbance at the hall. Lyra, Juliet, and Sandra were left to grapple with the aftermath of the tragedy, their lives forever changed by the events of that fateful night.
The students was taken to the police station and their statements were taken, the investigation lasted for months and since the killer was no where to be found, the case was swept under the mat.
The story of Amy's death was difficult for many people to accept and it was difficult for Lyra too, who would have planned to hurt Amy? Lyra couldn't find the answers to her questions.
It was in January, 2006, that Sophia and Lyra became friends, since they bear different surname; Sophia Anderson and Amy Marks, not many knew of their relationship, Lyra had no idea that late Amy Marks and Sophia Anderson were biological siblings, their parents divorced when they were tender, so Sophia had to live with her mother while Amy stayed with her father, the night she died, Sophia had paid her father a visit and wished to have a wonderful time with her sister.Sophia was about to graduate while Lyra had one more year before graduation.
Sophia's life was devastated, the last time she heard Amy's voice, the name of Lyra that her sister mentioned made anger to well up inside of her, she had wanted to pay Lyra back, but what she thought she could do in few months if she became friends with Lyra, lasted for years and now she would have her way.
Sophia's plan was to get close to Lyra, gain her trust, and then exact her revenge. She had no idea how she would do it, but she was determined to make Lyra pay for what she perceived as her role in Amy's death. As they became friends, Sophia played the part of a grieving sister, seeking comfort and support from Lyra. Lyra, unaware of Sophia's true intentions, sympathized with her and they grew closer.
Years passed, and Sophia's anger never faded. She waited patiently, biding her time, until the perfect moment to strike. And now, with Lyra completely unaware of the danger lurking in her friend, Sophia was ready to unleash her revenge.
But, as Sophia's plan was about to unfold, a sudden twist emerged. Lyra began to suspect that something was off about Sophia's behavior. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she felt like Sophia was hiding something. And then, a shocking discovery threw everything into chaos...