Merlina walked briskly across the campus courtyard, her eyes rimmed red, evidence of a storm that hadn't yet passed.
The laughter and chatter of students around her felt distant—like background noise in a world that had already gone quiet for her. She kept her head down, shoulders tight, trying to disappear into herself
Behind her, she heard footsteps. Hesitant, but quickening.
"Merlina, wait up."
She turned halfway, recognizing the voice. Megan. Phoebe was beside her, both girls wearing the unmistakable look of regret.
"We… we didn't mean to hurt you," Phoebe added, her voice shaky. "It was stupid. Really stupid."
"Yeah," Megan murmured. "We were out of line. And… we didn't know. We didn't know who your mom was."
Merlina didn't say anything at first. She crossed her arms over her chest, her body tense, unreadable. When she did finally speak, her voice was brittle.
"It's fine," she said, though it was anything but. "You didn't know. But it's hard… hearing things like that when no one ever tells me the truth."
Something in her tone made them pause. The bite in her voice wasn't anger—it was grief.
"What do you mean?" Megan asked, gently. "What happened to your mom?"
For a moment, Merlina looked like she might turn away. But then she exhaled, long and slow, letting her guard crack just enough.
"My dad told me it was an accident. That's all. All year, we never talked about it. Not once. It was like it didn't happen—or like it was forbidden to speak about it. But I know he's hiding something. I can feel it. And I need to know the truth."
Megan and Phoebe exchanged a look—silent, but weighted.
"I want to help," Megan said softly. "Actually… I know someone who might know more. My brother, Louis. He's been following the case. I think he could help you.
Phoebe nodded. "We're really sorry, Merlina. Let us make it right."
There was a pause. A slow blink. Then, the tension in Merlina's shoulders loosened just a little.
"Your brother, Louis… can I meet him?"
The drive to Louis' dorm was quiet, heavy with unspoken questions. Merlina kept her arms folded across her chest, her mind racing as campus buildings blurred past. Whatever she was about to hear, she knew it would change everything.
Megan knocked sharply. "Louis, open up. It's me."
The door creaked open. Louis—hoodie, jeans, and that constant look of being mid-thought—barely glanced up from his laptop.
He finally looked, spotting the unfamiliar girl behind his sister. "Didn't expect company."
"This is my friend Merlina," Megan said. "Merlina, my brother Louis."
"Nice to meet you," Merlina offered, tentative.
"Same," Louis replied with a crooked smile. "Am I in trouble or something?"
"The world doesn't revolve around you," Megan snapped, rolling her eyes.
"We need your help," she continued, stepping inside. "Remember that teacher you told me about? The one who was… assaulted and—"
"Mrs. Marjorie Sanchez?" Louis interrupted. "Yeah. She was my Eco 212 professor. Why?"
Megan stepped aside. "You're looking at her daughter."
Silence.
Louis stared at Merlina like the floor had just tilted beneath him.
"You're her daughter?"
Merlina nodded slowly. "I need to know what happened the night she died. Megan said there was a suspect."
Louis pushed away from his laptop. His posture straightened.
"The police never officially said it, but… the prime suspect was Conor."
Merlina's breath caught.
"Everything pointed to him. He swore he didn't do it. And somehow, the whole case just… disappeared. Some people believed he was innocent. Most didn't."
"But why?" Merlina asked, voice thin. "Why would he do that to her?"
"He was obsessed with her. Everyone knew. She reported him after he crossed lines—he got suspended, briefly. But he didn't stop. Said he was going to get his way, one way or another."
Louis's face darkened.
"The night she was found… Conor was the last person on your mom's call log. He was also found unconscious near the scene, in his car. Claimed he'd been drugged. The cops bought it. Her death got written off as a tragic accident. But a lot of people think his family made it all go away."
Merlina stared at the floor, her head spinning.
"Conor's mom's a judge," Louis added. "Dad's a billionaire. That kind of power? It buys silence."
Merlina's voice trembled. "What else do you know?"
"Not everything. But I've been following the threads. Every time Conor screws up, the world just… forgets. His record's cleaner than it should be."
Louis's voice dropped.
"Conor Lesnar's one lucky basta*rd."
Her heart stopped. "Lesnar…?"
Megan stiffened beside her.
Louis nodded. "Yeah. The Lesnar's, they're untouchable. Money talks. They made the whole investigation vanish, people stopped asking questions, he didn't just get off clean, he's been living like nothing ever happened. There are rumors…whispers but the Lesnar's hold the kinda power that makes silence louder than justice."
Merlina looked at Megan, then back at Louis. "Hold on…Conor Lesnar, as in Craig Lesnar? Are they-"
"Brothers? Yes," Louis confirmed. "Cut from the same cloth. You know Craig Lesnar?"
Merlina's face darken. Her stomach twists as pieces click into place. "Yeah…no…um… I kinda know him." She looks over at Megan.
Louis leaned back, eyes narrowing. "That one's just as twisted, a delusion of superiority runs through their veins like it's their birthright. There's a darkness in that family."
A long silence fell. Merlina struggled to hold it together, her thoughts splintering.
"Did you know about this?" she asked Megan, almost accusing.
Did she know all this about the Lesnar family and never mentioned it ?
Merlina wondered.
"I'm just as shocked as you are," Megan said softly. "But Merlina…you need to be careful. This runs deeper than we thought."
Merlina looked back at Louis, her jaw set.
"Craig Lesnar…" she whispered.
His name suddenly felt like poison.
"I know," Louis said gravely. "It's a mess. But I'll help you. We'll get to the bottom of it."
Merlina nodded. Her shock was turning to fire—slow, controlled, but burning.
"I need to know everything," she said. "About Conor. About Craig. All of it."
"You got it."
She turned to Megan, who gave a small nod of loyalty.
"I told you I'd help," she said. "I will."
Merlina took a breath. The path ahead wouldn't be easy—truth never was. But it had started. And there was no turning back now.
"Then let's get started."
As they stood there, Louis's words echoed in her mind.
There's darkness in that family.
That one's just as twisted.
They're cut from the same cloth.
And somewhere, deep in her chest, a question was beginning to form
Was Craig Lesnar just like his murderous
brother?