AUTHORS POV

The murmur came from behind the half-open bathroom door. Tessa was simply walking past, a damp rag in hand, ready to wipe down tables after another long shift at the bar before she called it a day, she was exhausted and wanted to catch her breath. But something in the whispering tones—sharp, secretive, poisonous—snagged her attention like a hook in the gut.

she had been hearing their chatters the few times she passed by the toilet and tried to ignore it, but it sounded like they were talking about Alicia.

"Did you hear?" one of the girls said.

"What did you hear? I have been aloof" another replied....