The dorm room was a mess of restless energy when the six girls returned from the canteen. Evelyn stormed in first, her face flushed with rage, the door slamming shut behind her. Lemon, Scarlett, Autumn, Hazel, and Riley followed, exchanging helpless glances as they tossed their bags onto their beds.
Evelyn paced back and forth like a lion trapped in a cage, fists clenching and unclenching. She muttered curses under her breath, her eyes blazing with leftover anger from the fight with Alisha.
"Evelyn, calm down, please," Scarlett said gently, sitting on the edge of her bed, watching her.
"She deserved more than just a punch," Evelyn growled, her chest heaving. "That bitch! Thinking she owns everything just because she's a senior—!"
Hazel tried to lighten the mood, "You'll get wrinkles early if you stay this angry, Ev."
Evelyn threw her hands in the air. "Let them come. I'll wear them like battle scars!"
The girls giggled lightly, but Lemon stood up and approached her, her voice steady but kind.
"Evelyn, seriously. You can't lose your temper like this. It's not good for you. It's not always worth it."
Evelyn dropped onto her bed heavily, covering her face with her hands. "I know... I know. But seeing someone hurt that fresher girl...it made me snap."
"We get it," Riley said, plopping next to her. "You have a hero complex."
Autumn added with a sly grin, "More like a drama queen complex."
Evelyn let out a reluctant laugh, the tension beginning to ease from her shoulders. "Maybe. But I can't just stand there and watch someone get bullied."
Scarlett nodded. "None of us are saying you should. But sometimes...you have to fight smarter, not harder. Think before swinging your fists."
"Ugh, you all sound like my mom," Evelyn muttered, though her lips twitched with amusement.
The girls laughed, the heavy mood lightening bit by bit.
They talked more — about random stuff, about how crazy university life was, about annoying assignments piling up, about how weird it was that after five murders, life inside Maplewood seemed to have gone back to 'normal.'
Scarlett sighed, leaning against the wall. "You know...it's like the whole campus has amnesia."
Hazel nodded, playing with the hem of her hoodie. "Everyone just...moved on."
Riley scoffed, "Money talks. Clearly."
Autumn shrugged, "Or maybe fear. People are scared to dig deeper."
Lemon remained quiet, staring out of the window for a few seconds, the thoughts swirling in her head.
In the middle of their conversation, Lemon's phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen and smiled softly.
It was Leon.
[Leon]: What are you doing?
Lemon quickly typed back.
[Lemon]: Nothing much. Just calming down a volcano here.
A few seconds later, her phone buzzed again.
[Leon]: A volcano? Who?
[Lemon]: Evelyn. She's erupting after fighting with a senior girl.
[Leon]: What happened?
Lemon grinned and quickly summarized the cafeteria incident — how Evelyn stood up for the fresher, how the senior pushed her, and how Evelyn's anger exploded like a bomb.
Leon's reply came quickly.
[Leon]: Hahaha, sounds like Evelyn did the right thing though. Proud of her!
Lemon chuckled softly. She could almost hear Leon's warm laugh through the screen.
Then another message popped up:
Leon: Anyway...what about the murder case? Any clue?
Lemon's smile faded a little. Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard before she answered.
Lemon: No...nothing yet. It's like we're running in circles. Every time we think we're close...the trail goes cold.
Across the town, in a different university auditorium, Leon sat slumped in his chair. Students around him chatted and laughed as they waited for their next class to start, but Leon was lost in his own thoughts.
Leon's POV
My mind wasn't on classes.
It wasn't on assignments.
It wasn't even on the case.
It was on her.
Lemon.
The way she brushed back her hair when she was thinking.
The way her forehead creased when she was deep in thought.
The way her voice softened when she spoke seriously.
I flipped open my notebook and doodled mindlessly, writing her name lightly in the corner of a page.
Should I confess? Should I tell her how I feel?
But then a heavier voice in my heart whispered —
No. She'll reject you. She's strong, she's confident, she's everything you're not ready for.
I leaned back against the chair, staring at the high ceiling.
If I confess now, she might get distracted. She might even drift away. Worse...what if she starts avoiding me?
I shook my head slightly. No, not now. First, we have to solve all of this madness. Then maybe...just maybe...
The phone buzzed again.
Lemon: Okay then. I have some classes too. Bye.
I smiled sadly and typed back.
Leon: Bye-bye. Take care.
I stared at the chat for a few extra seconds before locking my phone and getting up, trying to shake off the ache in his chest.
Back at Maplewood Dorm
Night fell slowly over the campus.
The dorm was bathed in soft shadows as the girls prepared to sleep. The lights were switched off one by one. Quiet breathing and the occasional rustle of bedsheets filled the room.
For the first time in days, it felt like peace had returned. Like the storm had passed.
But Lemon, lying on her bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, knew better.
She turned her head slightly and saw Riley hugging her pillow, Hazel sprawled across her bed, Scarlett curled up neatly, Evelyn clutching a book even in her sleep, and Autumn mumbling something in her dreams.
A bittersweet smile touched Lemon's lips.
Everyone thought it was over.
That the murders were done.
That the shadows had gone.
But deep inside her heart, Lemon knew —
This was not the end.
The real storm was still waiting.
Watching.
Preparing to strike.
And this time, it would be even deadlier.