Page 29 of The Cute Psycho

But while my instinct tells me not to trust him, the fact that he hasn't been outwardly nasty to me like others before him has earnedhim the benefit of the doubt. I may not like him, but that doesn't mean I will be rude.

It all comes crashing down one late afternoon when Claudia goes missing. Lina and I both split to look for her around, but it's like she's simply vanished.

After looking everywhere, I return to our room to find Claudia huddled in her bed, her eyes red from crying.

"Claudia?" I gasp, going to her side at once. "What happened?" I take her in my arms, hugging her to my chest.

She's sobbing uncontrollably, and I do my best to calm her down.

"Did someone bully you again? You promised you'd tell me," I say gently.

She shakes her head, burying her face deeper in my chest.

I just hold her, letting her cry until her tears dry out. But when she starts talking... I feel like my entire world is being shaken.

"Father Guerra," she starts, her voice strained, "he touched..." she trails off, swallowing deeply before raising her eyes to look at me. "Mammacaught him..."

Her eyes tell me everything I need to know, and the reason why Lina is not back yet.

My hands ball into fists at the thought of that man raising a hand against Claudia. I just hope Lina's okay too...

While waiting for Lina, I do my best to calm Claudia down, once again assuring her that she's done nothing wrong.

A while later, Lina slowly opens the door, sneaking her head inside.

"Lina?" I ask, my brows furrowing when I see her pale features and her eyes full of fear.

"Can you come out for a second? And bring me a dress." I frown, but comply.

I leave Claudia on the bed and I quickly rummage for a dress. Exiting the room, I'm greeted by a sight I never thought I'd see.

"What is going on?" I ask as my eyes rove over her bloodstained clothes.

Is she hurt?

"Something bad happened. Like terrible." She gives me a slight smile, her entire body trembling.

"Lina... you're scaring me."

"Did Claudia tell you anything?"

"No... she only mentioned you were with Father Guerra." I don't say that I gathered what must have happened. Instead, I just wait for her to tell me.

"He was touching her..." Her voice comes out as a whisper as she breaks down, her entire body convulsing with sobs.

"What do you mean?" I ask, holding my breath.

"He was touching her under her clothes..."

"No!" My hand goes to my mouth. I'd imagined something bad must have happened, but I would have thought Father Guerra hit her or punished her... not this. "Where is he? What happened?" I continue, my mind already working on a plan. That scourge needs to pay for this.

"I... I killed him," Lina says in a small voice, and I still.

"You're kidding." I look at her for any sign that this is a joke. But it's not.

"No... I really killed him. I didn't mean to, but..."

She starts telling me all the particulars and I listen attentively. She is already in shock, so I know I must tread carefully. Still, I would have never expected this of Lina. She'd struck at Father Guerra in self-defense, and the knife she'd used had caused him to bleed out and die.

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