Whispers of Deception

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

“ A ugustus, wait!” Lilia yelled after him.

The sirens grew louder as Augustus sprinted down the street, the cold night air biting at his lungs. His breath came out in ragged bursts as he pushed past his friends, whose footsteps echoed in the distance behind him. The urgency driving him was a primal fear—a need to see with his own eyes what was happening. He reached the cemetery’s wrought-iron gates just as the first police car skidded into view, its headlights slicing through the darkness. Augustus ducked behind a cluster of trees, his heart pounding as he peered through the branches. The cemetery was alive with activity: flashlights bobbed in the darkness, officers barked orders, and the heavy thud of shovels against dirt resonated through the air.

Through the narrow spaces between the trees, Augustus spotted the crime scene. The freshly turned earth was a glaring, unnatural scar against the otherwise serene cemetery. A small group of officers huddled near the open grave, their faces illuminated by the harsh beams of their flashlights. Augustus’ eyes were drawn to the casket—the empty, stark white inside causing his breath to catch.

The horror and panic that gripped him were suffocating. His mind raced as he tried to make sense of what he was witnessing. Willow’s grave had been disturbed.

The casket was empty.

Augustus crouched lower, trying to avoid detection, when he felt a presence behind him. He spun around to see Lilia, Delilah, Eleanor, and Sebastian emerging from the shadows. Their faces were pale and drawn, mirroring his disbelief.

“We need to leave,” Lilia urged.

“Who would do this to her?” Delilah whispered hauntingly.

The blaring sound of their phones called to the night. They ducked down as flashlights panned their way, scrambling to mute the sound. Sebastian cursed, slumping against the cold ground as he fought to not be seen.

Lilia’s hands shook as she read the text.

Unknown

Smile for the camera.

It was another photo, this time, of them.

“We need to leave, now,” Augustus hissed.

“How, there are police everywhere. No way we make it out of here without getting caught,” Sebastian whispered back, “This has to be a trap.”

“You don’t say?” Augustus murmured sarcastically from his side, peering over the bush.

The chill of the night air seemed to seep into their bones as the group huddled in the shadows, tension mounting with each passing second. The cemetery, once a place of quiet mourning, now felt like a scene torn from the pages of a gothic novel—a macabre playground for secrets best left buried.

Sebastian’s breath came out in uneven bursts, his normally sharp wit dulled by the oppressive atmosphere. They had seen too much, known too much, and now the weight of it all pressed down like the surrounding gravestones.

“Enjoying the cemetery?” Lilia whispered, repeating the latest text. “Willow always loved it here. I bet it felt like coming home.”

The words hung in the air, chilling them more than the cold. Before anyone could respond, the crunch of approaching footsteps sent a fresh jolt of fear through the group. Flashlights swung toward them, and Augustus’ attempt to duck deeper into the bushes was too late.

“There! Over by the trees!” an officer shouted.

Sebastian rolled his eyes, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. “Great. Just what we needed. The grand finale.”

Before they could react, they were surrounded, bright lights blinding them, and commands barked in their direction. Hands were pulled behind backs, rough cuffs snapping into place. There was no use resisting; they were caught, like moths pinned to a display, helpless under the harsh scrutiny of authority.