Chap 2
The giant LED screen flickered.
The audience instinctively turned toward it.
Richard Hayes tapped the tablet once.
"Play."
The recovered security footage began rolling.
At first, the hallway outside the science laboratory appeared empty.
Then...
Chloe walked into frame.
She looked around to make sure no one was watching.
Instead of heading toward class, she quietly opened Emily's locker using a duplicate key.
A wave of whispers swept through the auditorium.
Emily stared at the screen in disbelief.
"I..."
"I never knew."
The video continued.
Chloe removed her own diamond bracelet.
She carefully placed it inside Emily's backpack.
Then she smiled directly at the security camera.
Several teachers gasped.
"Oh my God..."
Another clip immediately followed.
The science laboratory.
Students had already left for lunch.
Chloe secretly poured a highly flammable cleaning chemical across one of the experiment tables.
She lit a piece of paper with a lighter.
Seconds later...
BOOM!
A violent explosion filled the laboratory.
Smoke poured through the room.
Students outside screamed and ran for safety.
The footage froze.
Richard's voice echoed across the silent auditorium.
"The explosion..."
He slowly looked toward the principal.
"...was caused by her."
The principal's face turned white.
"You investigated Emily for weeks..."
Richard continued.
"You nearly expelled an innocent student."
Chloe's breathing became rapid.
She desperately shook her head.
"No!"
"That's edited!"
"It isn't real!"
Richard quietly handed the tablet to the lead detective.
"It was recovered directly from the school's backup server."
"The forensic department has already verified its authenticity."
The detective nodded.
"It has."
The auditorium fell completely silent.
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For the first time in her life...
Chloe had no lie left to hide behind.
