THE ILLUSION

03. FIX

The sound of sirens echoed in the university sky. The loudest scream came from Denada

Chloe. Several people held the girl's body which almost collapsed when her best friend was taken by medics with her body covered in a white cloth. The court situation became chaotic and tense. 

The council finally decided to postpone the first trial.

“Denada Chloe?” One of the policemen called making her crying stop. She wiped her tears and tried to stand up straight.

“Are you a friend of Isabella Liu?”

Denada nodded quickly. "Right."

"Are you willing to testify to the police?" asked the policeman to be sure.

Without hesitation, Denada nodded again. However, a little suspicion rose in Denada's mind

because she was not taken to the police station. Instead, she was led to the very end of the university.

"Am I not going to testify at the police station?" She asked.

"No. The chief of police awaits your testimony at Professor Eldric's headquarters," explained the policeman briefly just as his hands opened the door of the headquarters.

The policeman pulled over, so Denada could see the people inside. A chief named Mr. Bram, Eldric, his team, and a prosecutor who is the oldest man, but still has a strong body. He is the representative of the court, Mr. Robert the named.

Denada's hands clenched into fists with burning eyes. She realized that Merin Noella was in their midst. Being the center, at the same time means being the person who is responsible. Meanwhile,

Merin only glanced at Denada curtly, then looked away. Unfortunately, it's free. Merin was forced to heed Denada again because the girl jumped at her. Both hands strangled Merin hard. Making Merin startled and coughed in the corner of the room. Merin tried to struggle because she was almost out of breath, while the others also pulled Denada.

"You! Are you sure that Isabella died? Stealth girl!” shouted Denada. 

Mr. Bram grabbed the gun at his waist, then pointed it at the girl's temple.

“Denada Chloe, I order to withdraw.”

Denada's hands trembled. Slightly fell because of Mr.'s heavy voice. Bram. Her senses returned and then realized that she would also be thrown into prison if she caused more chaos.

Merin gaped and was still coughing. She immediately inhaled a lot of oxygen as soon as Denada stepped back.

Eldric immediately switched positions right in front of Merin. Protect the girl in case of further attacks. Unexpectedly, something made Eldric's body stiffen. Panting heavily, Merin leaned her forehead against the young professor's back. Eldric's gaze roamed around the room in sudden awkwardness.

"Wait a minute, Professor," Merin muttered, "let me borrow your back for a bit."

Denada bit her lower lip.

"Let me ask you one more time, is it true that Merin Noella is the main suspect?" asked Denada in a hoarse voice.

"Yes, she has told the chronology of events," said Mr. Bram.

"Then why don't you take her to the police station right away?"

"Denada, Merin Noella is currently being considered as a special suspect," said

Mr. Robert.

Denada frowned. "What?"

“You will know once this news is released. But before that, Merin wanted to get some information from you.”

Merin raised her head, then returned to Denada. Staring at the girl flatly though greeted by a shriek of hatred.

"Who's Isabella's boyfriend?" Merin asked with a sharp look.

Denada chuckled. “Isabella doesn't have a boyfriend! I'm her closest person, you can vouch for that."

Merin's brow furrowed. Her brain seemed to be running in a narrow cube, while Isabella's conversation on the phone kept ringing.

Merin turned to Mr. Bram. "Did you guys find the phone?"

"Mobile phones were not found near her body," said Mr. Bram.

"You said you heard Isabella's conversation with her boyfriend. What do you hear?" interrupted Olivia.

"She will give files to her boyfriend," Merin replied.

"WHAT?" shouted Jasper quickly.

Eldric took a few steps back. Making his back hit the wall.

“No way—”

“I guess that Isabella has betrayed you. Because I knew her boyfriend was coming, so I left hers hanging at the stairs."

Loey, who had been pressing his lips together, now gaped slightly. He was shocked to hear that Merin was someone scary. Did she leave a dying girl? It's heartless people's behavior.

“Psychopath! How dare you slander Isabella!” reproach Denada.

Mr. Bram immediately took further precautions. He signaled to his subordinates

to bring back Denada. “Denada Chloe, thank you for cooperating with us. My subordinates will escort you.”

Denada snorted, then left the room with still struggling emotions. Merin turned around, staring at Eldric in disbelief.

"I admit my mistake, but I think you can investigate Isabella's boyfriend and find the reason why her cell phone went missing," Merin asked Mr. Bram without taking his eyes off.

Mr. Bram nodded slowly while rubbing his chin.

“I have received statements from various witnesses. Merin with her testimony about Isabella calling her boyfriend at the crime scene. Then, it was corroborated by Eldric's statement that Isabella called her 30 minutes before the incident. That is, it is true that Isabella brought a cell phone. Then, regarding Denada's statement that made everything overlap—” Mr. Bram held back his words for a moment. "In any case, we will investigate further."

The creaking chair prevented any possible silence. Mr. Robert shook off his gray coat, then sat down first at the circular discussion table in the middle of the main screen and the tube of the smartphone.

"The public is waiting. Testing should be done today. Let's focus on Merin Noella who is confirmed to be serving Fantasia's sentence."

Eldric joined Mr. Robert, then Mr. Bram. Meanwhile, Eldric's team returned to their desks.

“Miss Merin, please have a seat,” Eldric asked. Merin rolled her eyes with her arms folded across her chest. She snorted for a moment, then landed herself on the chair.

"So, how?" Merin snapped.

"Loey," Eldric called. With alacrity, the child in charge of running this operating system understood the intentions of the chairman. The sound of keyboard tapping sounds very fast. Then when the sound ended, all pairs of eyes lit up. Reflecting blue light from a big screen containing text with a 'beep' sound.

CONTAINS THE LEGITIMACY OF MERIN NOELLA AMYRA AS FANTASIA'S SPECIAL CRIMINAL...

An eye-like object stuck in the center of the screen showered the floor with shimmering light. The blue light then thinned and formed the silhouette of a girl with long hair flowing down who was sitting. Merin narrowed her eyes.

The silhouette slowly transformed into a perfect duplicate of Merin Noella Amyra. With a blank stare, but able to blink and smile.

Merin was stunned by what she saw. The girl's mouth gaped slightly, with a blue spot remaining on her pupil.

“How did you guys make this hologram in such a short time?” Merin asked.

Eldric shuffled out of his chair. "Your seat is equipped with a Holographic Laser Projection

and infrared sensors connected to this large screen,"

Merin's lips widened with raised eyebrows. "Well, I'll try not to look stupid." 

There was a slight chuckle from Mr. Robert. Meanwhile, Eldric turned around and moved his hand as if sliding the screen. Several writings stuck to the side of Merin's hologram. Eldric read it seriously.

Name : Merin Noella Amyra

DOB : Jakarta, 27th June 1999

Nationality : Indonesia 

Status : Student

Height : 160 cm

Weight : 49 kg

Blood Type : O

ACCUSED AS A SPECIAL CRIMINAL BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN PROVEN A MISTAKE. IN THIS EVENT, ENCOURAGE THE VICTIMS (RECOGNIZED).

EVIDENCE: FINGERPRINTS & LAST GOODS OF THE VICTIMS IN THE FORM OF flash disk

WITNESS: Eldric Lee Peterson

THIS THING IS ACCORDING TO THE T&C AS A SPECIAL CRIMINAL, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING FOLLOWING.

1) A CRIMINAL IS A PERSON WHO IS PROVEN AND ACKNOWLEDGES HIS/HER MISTAKE

2) A CRIMINAL IS PEOPLE WHO HAS MANY CLAIMS BY THE PUBLIC

3) A CRIMINAL WAS THE MAIN SUSPECT CLOSED GUARANTEED. BUT DUE TO THE LACK OF EVIDENCE, CAN NOT BE PRISONED

According to the first condition, Merin Noella Amyra has been officially declared a special criminal.