CHAPTER 13,14

CHAPTER 13: Uncle’s Confession

[Luna’s POV]

Dinner was over. The house smelled faintly of dal and ghee.

Jay’s dad was in the living room, glasses perched low on his nose, watching some old black-and-white movie. The kind where the hero runs dramatically in the rain.

I tiptoed in, clutching a cushion to my chest, and sat down next to him.

“Uncle…”

He looked at me over his glasses.

“Yes, beta?”

I leaned closer, lowering my voice like we were in a spy movie.

“Will you believe me if I say… Jay is a killer?”

His eyebrows shot up.

“What, beta?”

I nodded seriously.

“I’m serious, Uncle. Just… imagine. He’s everywhere. He was at the library murder scene. He’s intense. He wears black. He appears at 2 a.m. in our hall. And today he picked me up on his bike. Don’t you think it’s suspicious?!”

Uncle blinked.

“Beta…”

“No no no listen, Uncle!” I whispered urgently. “I read three books. THREE. And all of them say police can also be criminals. So, don’t you think Jay can be a criminal? Don’t you think?!”

He watched me for a moment, then the corners of his mouth twitched. Slowly, he smiled.

“Whatever you think, beta…” he said softly. “If you think Jay is a criminal… then I also think.”

I stared at him.

“You… you agree?!”

He chuckled under his breath, eyes back on the TV.

“I think you’re… interesting, beta.”

I sat back, crossing my arms, huffing.

Hmph. Nobody believes me. I’ll prove it.

CHAPTER 14: Midnight Corridor

[Luna’s POV]

The house was asleep. Midnight wrapped everything in a soft, dark hush.

I stepped out of my room to take a call — my friend talking about something random, my laughter echoing too loud in the hallway.

When the call ended, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and padded towards my room.

That’s when I heard it.

“Stop.”

A low voice.

Behind me.

I froze, breath caught in my throat. Slowly, I turned my head.

Jay stood there, halfway in shadow, his shirt sleeves rolled, hair slightly mussed like he’d just come from work. His eyes were dark, unreadable.

My pulse shot through the roof.

He started walking toward me. One slow step.

I automatically took one step back.

Another step from him.

Another step back from me.

My back hit the wall. Cold. Solid. No way out.

Jay was very, very close now — close enough that his shadow swallowed mine. He leaned in slightly, voice low, almost a whisper.

“I heard you tell my dad… that I’m the killer.”

My hands went cold. I shook my head frantically.

“N-no, no… it’s not like that—”

He tilted his head, a flicker of something amusement? warning? — in his eyes.

“Did your voice get cut off, sweetheart?”

The word landed like a spark. Sweetheart. My breath caught.

“N-no, no! I was just… joking. Uncle asked… I was… reading books… three books actually… they all said police can also be criminals… and then… I just… you know… silly talk…”

Words tumbled out of me like water spilling from a glass. My palms were flat against the wall, my heart thudding.

Jay stayed quiet for a beat, eyes on mine.

Then, slowly, he stepped back. Straightened. His face smoothed back into that unreadable calm.

“Good night, Luna.”

His voice was soft. Final.

He turned and walked away, leaving me pinned to the wall by nothing but my own heartbeat.

I stayed there, palms trembling, watching his back disappear into the darkness.

What… just… happened.

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