The once-blue sky slowly darkened with the onset of night. Cold air rushed around the buildings, briskly embracing the few people strolling through the late hour. Coolsville's night was a moment when the day's clamour gently subsided. However, this particular night was special.

Inside the Coolsville Police Station, in the interrogation room, silence enveloped the air. The only interruptions were the occasional flickering light above, casting shadows that veiled Velma Dinkley's eyes as her long bangs shielded her from the world.

Velma, appearing no older than 14, possessed Indian features. Her short auburn hair was accompanied by bangs that cascaded over her eyes, framing her vibrant green eyes, which stood out even more due to her freckles. Despite the innocence conveyed by her freckles, her severe lack of sleep was evident in the heavy bags beneath her eyes. Her attire was simple: an orange V-neck sweater, brown cargo pants, and worn-out brown military boots.

One particular aspect of her clothing is that she has a pair of black square prescription glasses hanging on her shirt collar.

Hi, I'm Velma Dinkley, I'm 14 years old teen in her first year of High-School, medium built, as hard for me to admit shorter than average girls, and what most people from this town would call, a weird geek.

Right now, I'm in confined in the police station for questioning, I'm in an interrogation room, grey cement walls, white ceiling, a double way mirror, just a cheap but sturdy metal table and chair that I'm currently on. I looked at the pair of handcuffs that held my right hand bound to the table. My green eyes usually covered by the bangs examine the lock, standard double lock with a key hole of 4.76 millimetres, they looked pretty worn out so if I wanted, I would escape from here in 10.58 seconds, but I know I shouldn't.

Why I'm in the police station for questioning? Well, that what I want to know why myself. All started this morning after gym class.

Crystal Cove High School

12:46

Now I suppose I have to say that Coolsville is one of the most boring and peaceful town you will ever see, that nothing happens here and everyone life their life in absolute peace and happiness. Yeah, no. Crystal Cove is your basic, boring near the docks town but is not like it didn't have it, dark sides and mysteries and one of the biggest mystery is...

"... Jinkies, why the changing rooms are always so filthy?"

I said quietly, looking the mess around me, the unquestionable stains, the smell that's so strong I have to wear a medical mask that covers my mouth and nose every time when I come in this filthy place, the old clothes and lingerie that were literally glued to the locker rooms and...

Clank*

...the trash. My boot hit a nearby soda can, i think that brand is older than the school, interesting, but also crap I better be more careful I don't to be heard by...

"Brenda?"

...her... I wouldn't want her to know I'm here. The one who just spoke the name of the second biggest bitch in the entire school is the biggest bitch in the entire school.

Daphne Blay-Ke

Even if I didn't like her, I couldn't deny. She was well deserved of the tittle of the most beautiful girl in the Crystal Cove High, she would have my vote if she didn't bully me together with her friends to the point of hating her. Seriously, I hate her.

I peeked around the dirty green blue lockers hoping she didn't saw me.

Daphne is a tall and slender young woman with Asian features, long, wavy orange hair, and dark green eyes so dark that many would mistake them for black. She has a fair complexion and a few freckles on her nose and cheeks, that she always covers them with make up since she put her foot in the high school for the first time.

Right now, she was wearing only a white towel and purple with little white dots shower cap ready to go in the shower together with the other girls, she was looking a bit cautiously around and I was trying to hide my presence as much as I could. Right when I thought I got busted, a cockroach crawled out of an empty bag of chips.

Phew, fortunately the... are those cockroaches f*?! Another cockroach came when I didn't look and now... well you know... Jinkies, ...

This school sucks/" This school sucks"

I got a bit surprised when my thoughts and Daphne voice were the same in the same time, but I can't be surprised this aspect of Crystal Cove High is often vocalized by the student almost daily. Fortunately, the red head decided to finally get to the shower and i decided to check my phone. I heard how the girls started to discuss the excessive nudity in the pilot episodes of teen, I didn't want to hear more and supposedly answering to my pleas...

hihihihi*

...a sinister short laugh announced me that I have new message, it was my ringtone, I open it and right when i was ready to read the content...

"Just admit we all secretly perverts!"

"Never!"

Splash! *

Grunt*

Gasp*

"...not again..."

I looked around and I see a field hockey stick I grab it and ran towards the shower and like I anticipated Crystal's head was pushed in a puddle of water by none than Daphne, she had a sadistic smile on her face when she tried to drown the poor pervert.

I tighten the grasp on the wooden stick and ran towards them catching them by surprised, Daphne had time to just turn her head towards me before I hit her with all my might, slamming her into the lockers. The other girls screamed seeing the popular girl practically flying backwards. When she hit the lockers, her shower cap fell down, letting her orange, shiny hair fall down on her shoulders. It was obviously groomed to perfection, and... did she wear her earrings in the shower?

"And how you feel about rewinds Daphne?"

She looked pretty surprised at the sudden question but she still answered the question.

"Well, most of them suck, especially when the authors made an original bad story but put the names of know characters to attract people to watch it"

"Pretty good answer for a *Taking off the medical mask* harpy"

"Velma?! You almost killed me!"

Screamed the ginger furiously jumping on her feet. 'And you almost killed Krista' that what I wanted to say but I choose to say.

"I guess I didn't hard enough."

I said with a serious face, we stare at each other and somehow, we got so close that our noses were touching, she looked at me with so much fury that many would believe that what she would do next to me would be far much worse than what they could imagine but i know she would do nothing because...

"See? Now if this was a show it would be super-hot if you two would kiss"

I looked down and see Crystal sitting down between us looking at us, when both of our green eyes were looking at her, she put a large smile like a child caught with its hand in the cookie jar. I couldn't help myself to not raise an eyebrow at the pervert brunette next to me.

"Jinkies, Krista if this was a tv show you would be killed for being horny"

I said distancing myself from the red head and the pervert brunette and walk towards my locker to get some spare clothes, once these perverts get out of the shower, I can take mine and get back to my studies. I touched the little handle, and it was open. The heck?! I was sure I closed it before...!

My thoughts got interrupted by, Brenda, a tall brunette, Latina features girl, obsess with being skinny and one of my mains bullies. She was in locker with her eyes closed and an abnormal horizontal line on her forehead. Daphne was looking above my shoulder at her friends that was standing still in the locker not even moving an inch.

"Brenda? What you doing in my locker? Did you climb in my locker to prove how skinny you are, again? Ugh!"

She still didn't move, so I reached to grab her hand to drag her out of my locker. But suddenly she fell on the floor, accompanied by the gasps of her friends in the shower. For a second, I thought she fell asleep in my locker while she was waiting for me to open it and grab the attention of her so-called friends, but... but her... h-her head...

Her head was open; the abnormal line was the remaining mark of someone who cut her head open and... her brain...!

"She doesn't have a brain!" I exclaimed, looking at the top of her head and seeing the literal empty space. The blood quickly formed a big puddle on the already dirty floor. The screams of the other girls grew louder as my eyes trembled at the sign in front of me...

I turned my head and saw Daphne looking at me with a furious and judgmental stare. "You're messing with me, right?"

"I don't mean it as an insult. She literally doesn't have a brain!" After pointing out this fact, both the redhead and I started screaming in horror at the sign in front of us.

End Flashback

To summarize the story, after we stopped screaming, we called the police. Some of the girls didn't even have time to properly dress before most of the school burst into the locker room upon hearing that a corpse was there.

I looked at my wristwatch; it was already 20:21, and the sky was dark. I had lost a whole day of school. I shouldn't be here! My phone was almost out of battery, but fortunately, it kept me company until now. However, time was running out.

"Come on! I know my rights!" I shouted angrily at the people watching me from across the two-way mirror. I sighed, feeling my eyelids grow heavy. Unknowingly, I rested my head on the cold table. I blinked a couple of times before closing my eyes, just for a second, to clear my...

"...VɆɆɆɆⱠ... VɆɆɆⱠ"

My eyes snapped open as I sat straight in the cold chair, only to see the whole room darken. I felt shivers run down my spine as old, green, sharp fingers appeared behind my shoulders and slowly clenched around my trembling neck. Streaks of black, curly hair appeared in my peripheral vision, and a huge shadow in the shape of a humanoid monstrosity was slowly increasing in size right before my trembling eyes.

"No! Let me go! Please! You-you're not real!"

"What's not real, sweetie?"

I gasped as my eyes snapped open, waking up from my dream. I took a quick look around the room, and everything was back to normal. My green eyes turned towards the door, where two women sat, looking a bit worried at me.

Donna Blay and Linda Ke. Donna, a tall African-American woman with short black hair and eyes, and Linda, a short redhead with pale skin and a pierced left ear.

Linda was wearing a green t-shirt, black leather jacket, blue jeans, and black and grey sneakers.

Donna was wearing a yellow shirt, grey jeans, and the same footwear as her lover.

I looked at the two women and immediately recovered from my shock, not wanting them or anybody to see that side of myself, especially since they were the parents of my bully. I'm pretty sure she told them to interrogate me last.

"God isn't real if you two are running the case!" I snapped at the two women, who smiled amused by my remark.

"Hahaha! We've missed that sense of humour, girl! Seriously, how long has it been since you came to our house?" Linda said with a happy smile, sitting in front of me at the cold table, while Donna uncuffed my hands and sat next to her lover. I rubbed my freshly uncuffed hand while looking at the women in front of me with a slight frown.

"Two years ago, since my mom disappeared, the one you two totally forgot about," I said with indifference. The two police women widened their eyes in realization, and with a short look at each other, Linda placed her hands over my right hand.

"No, we didn't. Every day we are closer to finding... Dudette."

"Diya, her name is Diya! Ahg! Whatever!" I angrily slapped my hands on the table, stood up from the chair, and was ready to leave the room. But the police women didn't approve of that.

"Freeze!"

"Jinkies!"

They pointed their guns at me, seeing the guns I instinctively raised my hands up, and from their serious faces, they wouldn't mind giving some warning shots if I didn't sit back down.

"Seriously? Okay, what do you want from me?" I said with a raised eyebrow. I put my hands back down and settled back into the chair. The women looked at each other again and put their guns down. I crossed my arms, waiting for them to speak.

"Why do you think we want something from you, Velma?" asked Linda with a clueless face.

"Don't forget, you are still the prime suspect in a crime."

"I am the prime suspect, seriously?"

"Well yeah, the body was found in your locker," pointed out Donna, taking a sip of her coffee from a blue mug that read "Officer of the Latte."

"Oh, please. If you two really believed that I was the murderer, you wouldn't have uncuffed me, and you wouldn't have started a "pleasant" conversation with me!" I almost shouted. But even the oblivious cops could clearly hear the tiredness in my voice, especially at the end. So, they decided to cut the crap.

"Okay, here's the deal: you are a prime suspect in the crime, and the only way to prove your innocence is if you catch the real murderer..."

"Or for once in your life, you two can do your job and catch that psycho! Seriously?! How am I the prime suspect?!" I said, growing more irritated by the second. Seriously?! How could you not be at least a bit irritated when suddenly you were a witness to one of your schoolmate's murders, kept HOURS in an interrogation room with your hand cuffed to the table, only to be accused at the end by the people who have known you since you were born! No, seriously, they drove my mother to the hospital when she was ready to give birth to me!

"The victim was found in your locker, and you were lurking around like a gym teacher who isn't a gym teacher anymore."

"Oh, please, it's clear as day someone tried to frame me, and I wasn't lurking! I just waited to shower alone."

I said looking at the other way crossing my arms. This whole thing was starting to infuriate me.

"Why?"

Asked Linda genuine confused… only they knew.

"Do I really need a reason to be as far away as possible from your ignoramus daughter and her friends?"

"..."

I snapped looking at the women in front of me, this whole conversation started to be more personal than I wanted to. *Sigh* Can't they just drop it? Why they press me so much. I look again at Linda and Donna and the two women look at me with a blank look… Seriously?

"*sigh* Ignorami is the plural of ignoramus, which means... and I lost you at "ignorami," didn't I?"

"Yep."

"Look, Velma, we've been through this. We know you didn't do it, but... let's face it, your records aren't exactly helping you," said Linda, gently slapping the table with a file as thick as my thumb. And these are the things I let them discover... They were really bad cops, but sometimes I throw them a bone when I have nothing better to do.

"And you speak about Daphne like you and her weren't best friends when you two were little," said the ginger, opening the file to a page filled with a couple of pictures of me and Daphne when we were little. Hugging each other, smiling happily at the camera, like the two best friends we were once upon a time.

I looked at the photos and couldn't help but remember those days for a second, but a short, sharp pain in my chest snapped me out of it.

"Yeah, until she got "popular," started hanging out with Brenda and the other harlots, and ditched me." While saying this, I turned the pages to show bigger pictures of Daphne and the popular girls, all smiling, while I was in the background, looking lonely with a milkshake in my hands. And of course, on the next page, there it was: Brenda knocked my arm when nobody was watching, making me spill the milkshake all over my shirt. The picture showed them laughing their asses off at me while I freaked out over my ruined sweater.

That was the first and last time I tried to reconnect with Daphne. Since then, we never got along, especially this morning.

"Yeah, let me put it as sarcastically as I can. Dream on, wannabe Nancy Drews!"

"Then you're screwed. You have 24 hours until we arrest you. But still, so good to see you. We miss you! Say hello to your father and Dudette," said Linda seriously, ending with a pleasant smile. She and Donna got out of the room, still smiling, and giving a short nod.

"You gotta...!"

Thud*

I couldn't finish my sentence because they got away without even hearing me. I take a deep breath to calm me down. Got out of the room and start to get out of the station.

hihihihihi*

While walking on the cold hall I hear a high pitch creepy laugh that it was actually my ringtone announcing me of a new message. I put my hand in my pocket and took the phone out. I quickly unlocked it and stare for a couple of seconds at the screen,

hihihihihi*

The creepy laugh again and a new notification pop up on the of the screen showing a new message.

40 Days

Reading what I wanted to know I close it and put the phone back in my pocket right before to get out of the building.

I finally got out off of the police station, the sky was already pretty dark it was already night.

Those "cops" literally had me wait HOURS for them. I couldn't only count my lucky starts that I only fell asleep at the end and luckily Linda woke me up or it would be much worse.

Those women are pretty good people, but they such BAD cops!

While thinking that, I was going down on the cement stairs in front of the station till a boy holding a golden phone bump on me making me slip down the stairs landing directly on the ground, it didn't hurt, fortunately, but that jerk didn't even notice it!

"Watch where you going, Jerk!"

I shout picking myself up from the ground the jerk finally turns around only to pose for a selfie. My irritation changed to surprise ending in an annoyance. Seeing who was in front of me I could only say with a dry tone.

"...Oh, it's you."

This ain't happening. From all the jerks in school it happened to cross paths with I had to bump with this... this... Kent doll without head!

I pick myself up dusting the dust off me and glancing at the blonde that didn't even pick his eyes from the phone.

Fred Jones the richest in the Crystal Cove heir to a ton of money and the biggest brat that ever existed! Seriously! I babysit 3 years old more capable than him!

I wasn't kidding when I called him a Kent doll. Blonde hair, blue eyes, baby face. He was wearing a white shirt with blue collar and sleeves, his sleeves were pulled out showing most of his forearm, around his neck he was wearing an orange ascot tie, blue jeans with a darker shape belt and a gold pair of the most ridiculous running shoes in the world that of course were screaming "Rich Boy".

"Do I know you?"

...wow. I'm not even surprised. No serious, I'm not even surprised!

"Velma Dinkley, sharing the same class with you since kindergarten, and your lab partner since first grade! You cheat off me in the Spanish class, last week thinking I was Mexican!"

I said while trying to control my nerves and not shout in front of the police station. He didn't even look up he just continuously kept typing on his gold phone, and I don't say GOLD phone just because of the colour I mean it. This bubble head had in his hands a gold-plated phone. Is twice as heavier as any phone and one time it even pull his pants down. Of course most of the witnesses were bribed to forget

Fred took his eyes for a second from his phone looking at me like he saw my face for the first time and then got his eyes back to his phone.

"Maaaaybe, you see I have a disease where I can't recognise people who aren't hot, my doctor said is basically Sickle cell for rich guys"

"Let me guess the doctor called it "rudeness"."

He turned his head to me looking genuinely surprised! He got a little smile.

"It is! You're like smart!"

"*sigh* thanks for the compliment but don't you think..."

"I wasn't a compliment. Anyway, have you seen Daphne, she texted me..."

"Fred!"

I heard Daphne's voice and feel how someone (Daphne!) push me making me to fall back on the ground, and I was on the ground AGAIN and... *sigh* I dropped my glasses. I pick them and before to get up I inspect them in case they got scratched, next to me being all over blonde was Daphne, my ex-best friend.

She was hugging Fred's neck and she was leading towards him; Fred was just sitting there uninterested while continuing to type on his phone.

"Brenda is..."

"Into me, I know"

He said annoyed taking Daphne's hand that was resting on his chest off of him. Daphne didn't even notice that already used to this of behaviour and told Fred the truth.

"No, Brenda is dead!"

This time Fred was surprised and get his eyes off the phone to look at the girl with purple dress.

"What?! No! She was my second choice if you became too clingy! What happen?"

"Ask Velma."

Said the reed head looking accusatory at me who just picked herself up and was dusting off the dirty that stuck from the ground.

"Who?"

Said Fred looking left and right, already forgetting who I was.

I didn't really hear what they said because I was not listening. I got myself up and see both of them looking at me Fred was surprised for some reason and Daphne was looking accusatory at me.

"What? You know, I don't care."

I walk out of there walking towards my home waiting only to study for the incoming tests and take a nap. What I didn't saw is that the second I walked out of there. Blondie and redhead starting to make up Daphne grabbed his ass and Fred got surprised not because she was grabbing his butt but because she also unzipped his pants.

He pushed her zipping up his pants, looking irritated away from the redhead.

"Not now Daph! Jeeez"

Said Fred annoyed rolling his eyes. Daphne just crosses her arms looking as annoyed as him.

"But when Fred? When?"

Said Daphne impatiently.

Meanwhile at the Dinkley's residence...

click*

I finally just got inside the house. From the living room I saw Dad in the kitchen typing on his phone. Aman Dinkley is your typical deadbeat, workaholic American dad but with Indian features.

He was wearing a dark blue suit and purple tie, that really didn't look good on him but insisted to wear them. He's a lawyer, but he is pretty bad at it, so he doesn't make much even if he was working all the time, even now while he was wolfing down a entire bowl filled with soggy fries, covered by cheap ketchup, his eyes were deeply concentrate on his phone.

Seeing that I couldn't help myself but to roll my eyes.

"Seriously Dad? You said you would look after your diet."

"Oh please, spare me. I had a long day. "

He said without even looking at me, his eyes were in the phone all the time. However, I got used with it.

"You had a long day? I spend all day being cuffed by a table and accused by a murder I didn't commit."

Dad just put the ketchup back where he took it, he was looking pretty bored like I wasn't even complaining about a murder and me being the prime suspect.

"And who's fault is that?"

I didn't said anything I just crossed my arms, while looking at him raising my eyebrow.

"Don't raise your eyebrow at me Steve Harvey! You know exactly what I'm talking about"

This time he was looking at me, while raising his eyebrow. I'm starting to think is a family trait. However I could only sigh while letting my arms falling next to me.

"*sigh* OK, I know I'm not my best when it comes to those people, I did pranks and maybe did some stuff I can't say legally say around a lawyer but I wouldn't never induce any harm to them intentionally, and you know it."

"I know Velma, but since your mom disappeared, you didn't even try to hang with normal kids at the Spooner Mall Shop, people will automatically think you are a weirdo if you keep being like this."

Sorry for not being capable of handle that much BS! Jinkies! Those people bullied me since day one. How can I "hang" with people that I hate and hate me back!"

"Velma"

A woman voice said my name and I turn around, behind me sitting on the little dinner table we never use was Sophie, the waitress father knocked up, and plan to marry… I think. Sophie is an attractive woman with Latina features, around her late 20s, dark brown hair tied in a ponytail with a red ribbon and brown eyes. She had a full pregnant belly showing that the baby didn't have much till it have to come. She was wearing her pink with white apron uniform from Spooner's Mall Shop, showing she came from work recently.

I didn't know what to think about her and Sophie, When I found out about their relationship mom has disappear already for a full year at the beginning, I was furious with dad for doing that to mom, but…

Two years ago, before Mom disappeared, their marriage was in shambles, it was just a matter of time till they divorce and possible I would be I in the same situation I am right now, but I would at least my mother was alive and well.

I felt bad that Sophie has to work being pregnant that's why I used most of my money from babysitting, tutoring and the prize money I saved from my science and maths contests to buy the necessitates for the baby. Like diapers, a crib, decorations for the baby room, clothes, toys and food for the baby. Sophie was delighted and thank me hugging me tight like an anaconda, dad was surprised but I was a little thankful smile on his face.

Don't get me wrong I'm still not fully on board with their relationship and I'm still searching for mom to come back, but the baby didn't have any fault in this.

"Velma, Shero to Shero people only think you are the murder only because you are a… ah! The baby kicking hashtag bring my camera Amon!"

…I know that not how you use hashtags in a verbal manner but she doesn't know and she doesn't listen to me. Dad ran and bring a brand-new black camera professional camera. How do they have an actual camera we don't even afford good preheat food. Dad kneel in front of Sophie and make multiple pictures to the baby belly of Sophie, on her pregnant belly was a little bump that was appearing and disappearing… that baby is weird… but that wasn't my priority right now.

"Where you get the money for an actual camera? I don't afford this kind of… Oh my god!"

…Sophie…! Sophie! She stripped herself naked showing the baby belly and the bump the baby was making in the belly at the camera, I turn my head to the other side not wating to see my dad's girlfriend naked in our living room… again…. I don't wan to speak about that.

"Oh, I know but it's about priorities. You need a real camera to capture real *puts a chef hat what write in purple letter "Bun in the oven" * unmanufactured moments."

With a hand that help me cover the naked body of Sophie and help to see only her head that making faces and trying different poses for the camera. I just look at her with a blank look and just turn around, walking to wards my room.

"Well, I'm going to prepare myself for prison, not that you care. Goodnight and Sophie don't tire yourself too much, ok."

I said just I was of the door but Sophie voice stopped in my tracks.

"Oh Velma! Thank you much for your care you are incredible but like I said Shero to Shero people only believe that you are the murderer because you are a creepy loser but that will change tonight when you will become a glamorous waitress at Spooner's!"

Said happy Sophie taking from God knows where an identical uniform to her but on my size her eyes twinkle in excitement and Dad just continued to take photos. Not showing any sigh he heard or that he cared.

Seeing the pink waitress uniform I could only give the most appropriate answer anybody would give.

…blood curdling scream

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh"