[original story] Disappear [Chapter 5]
Title: Disappear
Author: rin_no_himitsu
Rating: T
Genre: Mystery
Summary: When Roni's friend Cristoff gets arrested for a crime he insists he didn't do, she decides to investigate.
A/N: I'm...really lazy, I know. >_> But here's the next chapter! :)
“Drugs are addictive, aren’t they...Cristoff?”
I stared at the screen, my mouth forming a little “o”.
The rest of the clip played while I stayed frozen in place. It can’t be true...it just can’t...
I opened the Recycling Bin, praying that the intruder didn’t know about the Shift + Del shortcut. And that he didn’t have enough time to make sure that the files he already deleted weren’t permanently erased.
Yes!
They weren’t erased, but somehow, that didn’t make me feel any better.
What if they’re just more proof that Cristoff’s a drug addict?
My heart beat faster and faster as I continued listening to each of the clips. After listening to the last one, my worst fears were confirmed. All of the deleted files were clips of Cristoff and Smith’s meetings. This was no coincidence. Someone was here to get rid of evidence, and if everything that was deleted was about Cristoff, then it was bound to look suspicious.
It could’ve been done on purpose.
Yes, that has to be it. Cristoff is not a murderer.
I dispelled that thought from my mind, feeling disgusted that I ever doubted him.
Doubt.
I’ve been doing a lot of that these days. Doubting Leslie’s innocence, and then doubting Cristoff’s.
I feel horrible. What happened to “best friends forever”?
---
I woke up the next morning, feeling groggy from last night’s escapade.
Last night...
It is utterly impossible. My mind won’t accept it. I won’t accept it.
I threw on some clothes, grabbed a banana, and ran out, slamming the door behind me.
---
“Cristoff!”
I stood in front of his house, out of breath. Pounding on the door, I shouted his name as loud as I could.
“Cristoff!”
He opened the door, a scowl on his face. His eyes were still bloodshot, and his clothes were dishevelled. In short, he looked terrible.
“What’s wrong?”
“Cristoff...I need to talk to you.”
He stared at me for a moment, before opening the door wider and walking inside. I closed the door behind me and hurried after him. We ended up in the kitchen. Cristoff walked to the counter, preparing a drink.
“Cristoff...”
“What do you want? Coffee? Tea? Water?”
“Are you taking drugs?” I blurted. I could feel my cheeks heating up. Damn.
He stopped moving, turning his head to stare at me. It was silent for a few seconds, before he spoke.
“Why are you asking?”
And suddenly, anger welled up inside me.
“Why? Because I’m worried, Cristoff! I’m worried! How else am I supposed to react when my best friend gets involved in something so, so...”
“Disgusting? Unsanitary?”
“Dangerous!”
His gaze softened, but he wasn’t completely convinced yet. I could tell. He narrowed his eyes.
“But there’s something else.”
I hesitated. My doubts about his innocence came back, to my dismay. Trying to forget, I replied. “N-no there isn’t!”
I hate how I sound so unconfident.
He stared at me again, resigning.
“Fine. I’ll tell you everything.”