Chapter 4

The screen went black for a second, then lit up with a new video.

It was grainy, shot from a low angle, like a dashcam. The timestamp in the corner showed a date from six months ago. The location was a dark parking garage.

A girl with a backpack, her face illuminated by the car's headlights, was arguing with someone. I recognized her instantly. Chloe. A brilliant student from a rival high school. The frontrunner for the national science competition.

Then, the other person stepped into the frame.

It was Stella.

The video had no audio, but the violence was sickeningly clear. Stella was shouting, her face twisted in rage. Chloe shook her head, clutching her project case.

Stella lunged. She grabbed Chloe by the hair and slammed her head against the concrete pillar. Once. Twice.

Chloe slumped to the ground. Stella wasn't done. She kicked her, again and again, a brutal, vicious assault. Then she picked up a tire iron from the trunk of her car.

The auditorium was filled with screams and horrified gasps. People were covering their mouths, turning away.

The video showed Stella bringing the tire iron down, hard. The screen went dark.

A woman in the front row fainted. Mr. Davenport staggered back, his face ashen. Mrs. Davenport let out a choked sob.

Stella just stood there, frozen, her face a mask of pure horror. She was looking at her own monstrous act, broadcast for the world to see.

My blood ran cold. I had come here for justice for myself. I didn't know I was also here for justice for Chloe. In my last life, they pinned her murder on me. They said I was jealous of her talent. They had fabricated evidence, a trail of emails, a witness who saw me near the garage. And I was convicted.

Now, the truth was out.

My mind raced. Who had this video? Who was helping me?

Then I remembered. Chloe had a brother. An older brother who was a computer science major. Liam. He must be here, somewhere in this crowd.

I had to take control of this moment.

I held up a small, black flash drive. A decoy I had prepared.

"This," I said, my voice shaking slightly but loud enough for everyone to hear, "is the full, unedited video. With audio. I'm taking it to the campus police right now."

That broke Stella from her trance. Her eyes, wide with panic, locked onto the flash drive in my hand. It was her only thought. Destroy the evidence.

I turned and ran from the auditorium. I didn't head for the campus police station. I headed for the parking lot.

I could hear her footsteps behind me, the frantic click of her heels on the pavement.

I was the bait. And she was taking it.