Brought Together by Love Driven Away by(Lexi Nieves) Brought Together by Love, Driven Away by Murder-

Chapter 1: Gone

“Can you believe we start junior year tomorrow?” asked Kennedy Desperatio, who was on the beach with her friend.
“I can believe you are.” replied Kennedy’s friend.
“Well, you’re going too, Tom,” she replied.
“If you think so, Kennedy.” Tom said flatly.
“Something wrong?”
“No, it’s all figured out.”
“What is?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“Tom, we’ve been best friends since the 6th grade! What are you talking about? What’s figured out?”
“I already said that it doesn’t concern you, Kennedy. Just a...work thing.”
“But you work as an intern at the funeral home, what’s going on there? Nothing too crazy, right?”
“If you think so,” he said.
“Why is it always what I think? Always what I want? What about you, Tom, what do you want?” Kennedy asked.
“Pursue my dreams, carry out my plans, go to college.”
“Well you’ve already got everything figured out then. All I know is that I want to go to the best college in England, The University of Cambridge.”
“I want that for you too.”
“Thanks, Tom. Where do you want to go?”
“Somewhere I won’t be found. Somewhere safe.”
“Found by who?” Kennedy asked, interested.
“People, Kennedy. People I don’t like.” Tom replied. He then glanced at the clock that hung on a beach house off the shore. “It’s nearly dinner, I’ll take you home, there’s school tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay. Summer was great while it lasted.”
Tom Letifer then drove his friend home.
“See you tomorrow!” Kennedy said as she walked to her house.
“Goodbye, Kennedy.” Tom said. He didn’t want it to show because he doesn’t usually show his emotions, but he was sad.

But Kennedy Desperatio didn’t see Tom Letifer the next day, nor did she see him for 2 years after the summer of 1958. By the time she had gotten into college, she had no hope that she would see him ever again.

“Okay, I think I'm ready.”
“I’m really proud of you, Kennedy. I can’t believe you got into Cambridge.”
“No one believed I would, mum. No one except...Tom.”
“Tom Letifer? Whatever happened to him?”
“I dunno, just left before our junior year.”
“I remember how sad you were. But let’s not think about some childhood friend now, you’re going to college!”
“I know, mum. I’m excited! But, If I don’t go now I’ll be late.” Kennedy said as she picked up her suitcase.
“Okay, okay. Hurry up before I cry. Have a great time and remember to visit!” Kennedy’s mother said. She gave Kennedy a massive hug and sent her on her way.


Cambridge was very crowded. Loads of students, loads of professors, and loads of unfamiliar faces. It wasn’t the most pleasant thing, but Kennedy was happy she was there. Soon after arriving, she finally encountered a familiar face.

“Hey, Kennedy!”
“Nevaeh! I didn’t know you got accepted to Cambridge!” Kennedy exclaimed.
“I wanted to surprise you! Are you excited?”
“Of course I am!”
“Great! Do you know anyone else here yet?”
“Nope, only you. Do you know anyone?”
“No, not at all. Looks like I’ll have to meet new people. At least I’ll get to see you!”
“Same! Okay, I’m going to find my dorm, I’ll see you later!”
“Bye!” Kennedy said as she waved her best friend bye. Now it was time for her to go to her dorm, but as she walked along the corridors of Cambridge she bumped into someone. The person Kennedy bumped into was considerably taller than her.

“Oh, sorry!”
“It is okay,” said the person.
“You...seem familiar.” Kennedy said.
“How?” asked the person.
“Not sure. Well, I’ll be going. See you around!” Kennedy then left rather quickly.
“That was odd.” said the person as he kept on walking and looking behind him.

Kennedy didn’t see the person she bumped into for the first 5 days of college, nor did she see Neveah, which she thought was odd but expected she was just busy. Another day...and another day went by...still no Neveah and still no mystery person.

The next day, six days after her arrival, Kennedy Desperatio was in her 2nd class of the day. This was proving to be a very good day until a rather alarming announcement sounded over the loudspeaker.

“Attention, students of the University of Cambridge! This is urgent. All classes, I repeat, ALL CLASSES are to be dismissed immediately. There has been an incident on the west side of the school. I encourage you to go straight to your dorms and- oh I’ve just got more information. Stay where you are until the next announcement!”

Kennedy was scared, but she suspected it might’ve been something that wasn’t too important, something like a harmless inspection. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

“Attention! I’ve just got word that there’s an intruder in the building who has committed the crime previously stated. Please GET OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN! They were last seen on the west side of the school!” The headmistress sounded frazzled and terrified. All students and professors immediately made a beeline for the door, everyone was running and screaming all at once.

Kennedy wanted to see her friend Neveah, to make sure she was fine.
“Neveah! Where are you!? Oh-” Kennedy shouted as she was pushed around by terrified students. She fell over and couldn’t get back up due to the stampeding crowd. A minute went by and that’s when Kennedy noticed him standing there.
“Need help?”
“Oh, thank you.” Kennedy replied, letting the mystery person help her up.
“We should probably get out of the school.”
“Why?”
“Well, there’s an intruder-”
“Oh! Right, you’re right.” Kennedy blushed. She then walked alongside the mystery man who had bumped into her almost a week ago.

As the slu of terrified people gathered around the outside of the school, the Headmistress stood up on a podium and tried to gain their attention. She sounded very shocked.

“S-students, there has been an incident. The intruder has um...harmed a student-”

Everyone began talking and whispering suddenly, some were crying.
“Shh! Okay, as we all understand the severity of this situation, the authorities have already been summoned and the school is under heavy inspection. I encourage you all to leave campus immediately. Thank you, we are trying our best to keep this controlled.” The Headmistress then stepped off the podium, shaking from shock and adrenaline.
Everyone began frantically talking with their friends about who will be carpooling who back home. That’s when Kennedy realized she didn’t have a ride because she got to Cambridge by plane, which meant she didn’t exactly have an easy way home right now. She began to panic because she knew there was an intruder and was scared of what they could do.
“Scared?”
“Ah!” Kennedy said, startled by the mystery person.
“I have a car, I could drive you.”
“But, I don’t know you very well.”
“Well I’d say we could hang out but there really isn’t time because there’s an intruder in the building.”
“Right. I can just ask my best friend.”
“Who is your best friend?”
“Oh, her name is-”

Before Kennedy got the chance to finish her sentence, another student shouted that there was a train station nearby. All at once, students and staff began to rush in the direction of the train station.
“Well I don’t reckon you’d want to miss your train home.” said the mystery person.
“Well, a train would be a brilliant idea if I didn’t leave my money in my dorm! If we aren’t allowed to go back in there...I’ve lost everything.”
“Don’t be dramatic, here. Now go before that intruder kills you too.'' The mystery person gave Kennedy a train ticket and disappeared into the crowd of fleeing students.

Kennedy Desperatio was very confused, she held the train ticket in her hand and smiled slightly, that was very nice of him, giving her a way home. But her smiles didn’t last long, it turned into a frown, he had just told her to go before the intruder killed her too….is the intruder a murderer? Did they kill a student...was that what happened? Were they after her? As all these thoughts swarmed Kennedy’s head she found herself running in the direction of the train station, running for her life.


The train station was massive, yet it still didn’t feel spacious enough. There were so many people that simply walking around made you feel claustrophobic. Kennedy frantically asked the strangers around her when the next train would leave, and after finding out that she only had 3 minutes, she sprinted to the platform from which her train would soon depart.

Once at home, Kennedy told her mum everything, she then began thinking of what could’ve happened and shuddered at the thought. A few days later all students at the University of Cambridge were sent a letter saying they could go back, there would be a memorial service for the student that had been harmed throughout the ordeal.

“Who was harmed, Kennedy? Did you read the letter?” Kennedy’s mother asked.
“M-mum...it was Nevaeh…” Kennedy said through shallow breaths.
“W-what?” Kennedy’s mum took the letter and read it over, she immediately went to the phone and called Neveah’s mother.
“What am I going to do? I’ve got no one now…” Kennedy sobbed. She wasn’t ready to go back in the slightest, but she knew she had to.
“Kennedy, I’m so sorry. Her mum knows, it’s absolutely awful.”
“Who would do this?”
“That intruder. If you find out who it is, Kennedy, stay away from them.”
“I will, I promise. I just can’t believe what happened.”
“Me neither.” Kennedy’s mother then looked at the clock. “You have to catch your train soon.”
“Oh, it appears I do. I’ll stay safe, don’t worry.”

Kennedy and her mum hugged and then Kennedy once again made her way to the train station. Once she got on campus she noticed everyone gathering in the main hall, she suspected the pre-view funeral was happening. Kennedy slowly walked inside, she didn’t want to be there, but she felt that she had to be, for more reasons than one.

She walked around some, and then she saw her. Neveah...her best friend since childhood, lying there cold and lifeless. It was a horrific sight. Kennedy stared until she couldn’t bear it anymore, she then backed away; tears surfacing.

“Oh! Oh, sorry I keep bumping into you.” Kennedy said as she bumped into the mystery person.
“It is fine,” he replied, looking into her eyes for the first time. Kennedy looked into his eyes as well, they were black, just like she remembered….no, it couldn’t be. Could it?
“C-can you believe that we’re finally at college?” Kennedy asked the mystery person hopefully.
“I can believe you are.” he replied. Kennedy then hugged him very very tight. She began to cry and the mystery person awkwardly hugged back.
“H-how did we not recognize each other?”
“Are you sure you hugged the right person?”
“Only one way to find out.” Kennedy said as she broke the hug. “Only Tom Letifer would know the answer to this. Where was our hangout spot? The place we always went to study or talk.”
“The beach near those fancy beach houses that you like. You always wanted one.” Tom looked at Kennedy and let a small smile appear on his face, though Kennedy didn’t know this, it was the first time he truly smiled in two years.
“It-it really is you! Tom...I really missed you.” Kennedy said. “But why did you leave? Where did you go?”
“I told you the night before junior year, Kennedy. I went off to pursue my dreams, carry out my plans...and go to college.”
“I-I can’t believe we both got accepted into Cambridge! You know, you really broke my heart when you left. It was like a piece of me was gone.”
“I am sorry.”
“Thanks but it still doesn’t make up for two years of loneliness and being confused. And now it feels like everything is falling apart.”
“Why is that?”
“Because, Tom,” Kennedy said as she pointed to Neveah. “That’s my best friend.”

Tom went numb. He didn’t know this, as a matter of fact he really never knew any of Kennedy’s other friends. He didn’t know how to express his sorrow so he did what he used to do when Kennedy was sad and he tried to be comforting. Tom placed his hand on her shoulder and looked her directly in the eyes, not in a creepy way; in a comforting way. Kennedy half-smiled as tears streamed silently down her face.
“Thank you, Tom. I’m glad you’re back.”
“Were you really that lonely without me, Ken? I mean, you had your other friends.”
“I did. But we did everything together. I dunno, I just feel like our bond was closer than most friends, more unique.”
“Unique?”
“Well don’t think I didn’t notice how you express your emotions, it’s different, but I don’t mind.”
“Thank you.”

Kennedy glanced around, she was feeling a slu of emotions all at once. Sadness, happiness, guilt, anger, love. Kennedy didn’t exactly know how to express her feelings at that moment either, so she just hugged Tom and began to cry. Tom patted her back awkwardly for some time in an effort to stop her crying, but that didn’t exactly work. After a while, Kennedy remembered why she was there, why she was crying in the first place. Someone had murdered her best friend. She broke away from Tom and stood there staring at Neveah. Her brain felt fuzzy, and after a long time of really taking in everything that happened, she began to feel nothing at all. Everything went numb. She didn’t know what to think and she didn’t know what to do. What could she do? Her best friend had just suddenly been murdered, and she had just reunited with her other best friend that she hadn’t seen in over two years.

Chapter 2: Together again

Two days had passed. Kennedy Desperatio was a completely different person than she was a few days ago, to say the least. She distanced herself from everybody and sat alone in her dorm scribbling tiny notes on numerous pieces of paper.
“Why do you keep writing like that?” Tom asked Kennedy. His voice startled her and she jumped.
“H-huh?”
“Why do you keep writing like that?” he repeated.
“Because.”
“That isn’t a rational answer, Ken.”
“I know. Look, just talk to me later. I’m not in the mood.”
“You’re acting differently.”
“Obviously, Tom. You left me. I haven’t seen you in two years.”
“No, this is different. It’s about Neveah, isn’t it?”
“It’s only been two days since I saw her at her funeral! Of course it’s about her! I just need time alone.”
“Okay,” Tom stood up and glanced at Kennedy’s notes. “But you aren’t going to figure out who did it, at least not for a little while.” he then left.
Once again Tom Letifer had left Kennedy feeling confused. Her emotions weren’t stable at this point and she didn’t know how to feel about anything. Maybe if she could figure out who murdered her friend everything would be solved...no, that wouldn’t do anything. It would only make her more mad...right?

Tom kept a close eye on Kennedy the next 2 weeks, she was still acting differently. Tom was worried that she suspected something, this wasn’t her grieving, this was a different kind of behavior. Like she’s trying to convince herself of doing the right thing.
“Ken, I don’t like worrying but...I am curious. Something is wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong, Tom. Except for the fact that I suddenly lost my best friend two weeks ago.”
“I’m still here.”
“After two years! Two years of me being confused and worried and sad!”
“I thought you’d be fine-”
“Fine!? You thought-!” Before Kennedy continued she sighed and lowered her voice. “You thought I was going to be fine? Why didn’t you at least tell me where you were going?”
“I couldn’t.”
“Why? Was it another school? Some weird boarding school?”
“No, Kennedy. I was carrying out my plans.”
“What plans?”
“I already said too much.”
“But-”
“Don’t.” Tom walked off in the opposite direction. Kennedy was upset now, why was Tom being so secretive? Why did he care if she was different? Why couldn’t everything just go back to the way it was 2 years ago...at the start of junior year.

Over the next few days Tom and Kennedy didn’t talk. Tom would sit next to Kennedy whenever he could though, and each time he’d leave he would give Kennedy a side hug. Kennedy smiled at this gesture because Tom doesn’t usually show his emotions. She didn’t really question it until a girl from her Advanced Writing class asked her about it.
“Why are you always with that guy? The one who's super emotionless?”
“Tom? Because we are friends.”
“How? He doesn’t talk, all he does is glare at people and write in his tiny notebook. Creepy if you ask me. And he doesn’t show any emotion or compassion either.”
“I’ll have you know that he does. Only when he feels like it. We’ve been friends since secondary school, he’s kind of a sweetheart if you get to know him.” Kennedy said.
“Would never have thought that.”
“Well I don’t care, he’s the only other person I really spend time with here anyway so I wouldn’t insult him if I were you.”
“Why?”
“Because then you’ll have to go through me.” Kennedy said darkly, at that moment the bell rang and Kennedy had to go to class. “I’ll see you around.”

The girl looked a little frightened and she quickly walked to her next class. Kennedy glared after her, she only looked away when she felt someone walking next to her.
“I’m not a sweetheart.”
“Yes you are, and you should be grateful.” Kennedy said she was a little surprised that he started the conversation, but replied nonetheless.
“You know I am, I shouldn’t have to say it.”
“You really should though. And no problem.”
“The reason I only talk to you is because you’re the only one who understands me. Anyone else would avoid me.”
“No they wouldn’t!”
“Yes they would.”
“No they-”
“Don’t. I don’t mind. Now you should probably go to class.”
“Right, I should.” Kennedy waited a moment to see if Tom was going to say anything else.
“Well go.”

Kennedy rolled her eyes and walked to class, Tom stared after her until she entered her classroom and then made his way to his class, which he was late for. Nonetheless, he walked into class and did what he normally did, which was look around and scribble in his tiny notebook.

There was a reason Cambridge was the best college in London, they offered the best education, while having all the luxurious benefits as well. Each student had their own small mailbox in the mailroom, staff would then take their mail to the box beside their dorms. Tom went to his box and took out a letter, he grinned a little when he saw the name. He then looked around and went into his dorm, where he opened the letter and read over it carefully. Tom wrote something down in his tiny notebook and walked over to his bookshelf. He took a book off the shelf carefully, it had a maroon cover and was titled “The Tempest”. Almost instantly, the bookcase split apart, revealing a massive wall with pictures, names, and coloured pins. Tom picked up the envelope that held his letter and took the picture out, he pinned it on the wall. Then he crossed out another picture on the other side of the wall, as he did this he heard a knock at the door.
“Who is knocking?” Tom asked harshly.
“Kennedy…” Kennedy said.
“Wait.” Tom replied. He quickly closed the bookshelf door and opened his dorm room door for Kennedy. “Why are you here?”
“Because I want to see you? I just thought we could study, like old times. You know, before you left-”
“Yeah, I left you, I know. What do you need to study?”
“Um, Literature, but if you’re busy-”
“No, it's fine.”
“Tom, it’s okay, i’ll just-”
“Kennedy! You’re my friend. I’ll help you study. I know you’ve been feeling off.” Tom said, ushering Kennedy inside.
“Well it’s not like I can fully recover from losing my best friend in a week, Tom.”

Tom didn’t say anything, he simply sat down and got out his Literature book.
“Well, you seem fine. Aren’t you sad?”
“I didn’t know Neveah.”
“Well yeah but aren’t you sad for me? Or at least feel some sympathy for her family?”

Tom looked directly at Kennedy and responded truthfully.
“No.”
“What? But...that’s harsh! I mean, she was-”
“Kennedy, I didn't know her. I’ve never had any sort of friendship with anyone else but you.”
“But don’t you care?”
“Do you remember what you told that girl that insulted me earlier today? You told her that you understood how I express my emotions, Ken.”
“I do understand-”
“You sure? Or are you just assuming that I don’t care?”
“You care?”
“Of course not. Ken, look, don’t worry why I don’t care. Focus on your studies.” Tom said, he started flipping through his book.
“Tom...I didn’t mean to sound like everyone else. It’s just- I’m still getting used to having you back. You’re my best friend..and I think we both changed. We aren’t the same people we were 2 years ago. But this doesn’t change what I said. I know you do feel something and it isn’t hate. You care about a lot of things, you just don’t show it.”
“I only care about you.” Tom said quietly.
“Y-you do?”
“Yes. Now, please, you really have to focus if you want a good grade.”

Kennedy sat down next to Tom and they studied Literature for a while.


Two weeks passed. Tom and Kennedy regularly hung out now, both of them slowly becoming their old selves again. Everything seemed to be going great until Tom saw another letter in his mailbox. He picked it up and knew what it was immediately. He sighed, looked at the time, and then turned back to Kennedy who was standing right behind him.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“Nothing, Kennedy.”
“Everytime you say ‘it’s nothing’ it’s always something important.”
“It’s something I need to do.”
“Is it something to do with work? You’re still working right? I could help-”

Tom stared at Kennedy, almost fearfully.
“No...no you can’t. No.”
“Okay...if it’s really that important that you can’t tell your best friend.”
“It is that important. Now go please.”
“Fine.” Kennedy said, a bit annoyed. She stomped away. Once she was gone Tom grabbed a piece of paper and began writing a letter back, explaining why he was taking so long to respond. He then opened his secret bookshelf and looked at the most recent picture he had pinned up. “Don’t mess up. You can do this, you’ve been doing it for a while now. Don’t let anyone get in your way.” Tom said over and over again in his head.

Tom distanced himself from everyone, including Kennedy, over the next week. He would always be alone in his dorm room, writing and looking at the secret wall behind his bookshelf. Kennedy was starting to get upset. She kept asking how Tom was and why he wasn’t hanging out with her, he would tolerate this until one day when it got too much. They were in a now empty classroom, packing up their things for their next class, Kennedy was worried for her friend and decided to talk to him.
“Tom, please tell me what’s happening. I’m getting worried.”

Tom didn’t respond.

“Tom, please! What did I do?”

This time, Tom had had enough.

“YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING! LEAVE ME ALONE! DON’T TALK TO ME, JUST-” Tom realized that Kennedy now had her hand on the classroom door and was staring at him with pure fear. “Just go, Kennedy. Don’t worry about me. Don’t even think about me. I-I wish I could tell you but if I did...you’d never want to see me ever again and-”
“Tom...that isn’t t-true…”
“Let me finish! So instead I'm not going to tell you. I’ll come to you when I feel like it, but not now. There are more important things to be done.”
“More important than friendship?” Kennedy asked, not fearful anymore.
“Yes. Now leave before I yell again.” Tom replied with a tone of animosity, he didn’t really feel that way, but in the moment he did; he felt there was no other way.

Kennedy slowly walked up to Tom and looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
“Just promise you won’t leave, Tom. You may not want to talk to me but I still don’t want to lose you as a friend.”

Tom nodded slightly and kissed Kennedy’s head. Kennedy smiled and walked out. Both Tom and Kennedy felt a sort of confusion come over them.

It was late in the night now, nearly the entire campus was silent. Students and staff sleeping, the gentle breeze giving the autumn leaves a rustle...a murderer ready to strike. He walked along the empty corridors, tip toeing on air. Turning corners ever so slightly, his eyes locked in a trance, locked on his focus. He looked back once, twice, three times to make sure he was in the clear. A noise reached his ears. He froze, paralazed on the spot, not daring to look back a fourth time. He breathed carefully. There it was again, the noise, footsteps perhaps. It was getting closer, dangerously close, until it was too late. A scream echoed through the corridors of Cambridge University once again. Someone was left, and someone else walked away. Staff members and students raced out of bed at the sound of the clatter, only to encounter something horrific. It happened again. The only thing to do now was to stop whoever did this...but how?

Morning came, the sun shone brightly, however no one would enjoy it. There was commotion coming from every corridor. Kennedy Desperatio didn’t know what happened, she immediately went to Tom’s dorm, however stopped herself due to him telling her she shouldn’t talk to him. She backed away and stepped into the corridor, that’s when she saw him, lifeless. Horrified staff and students standing around him with medical bags and professionals. Kennedy was horrified, her eyes welled up with tears, she turned around and ran right into Tom Letifer.
“I-I um, sorry-” Kennedy said through shock. Tom said nothing, instead he shielded her eyes from the incident and walked her to her dorm. “W-what happened? I-”
“Shh! Just stay in your dorm.” Tom said harshly, and before Kennedy could answer he left. Kennedy listened to Tom, she was also scared of leaving her dorm herself so she stayed there all day, listening to the frightening announcements. The headmistress had told everyone that once the police responded, they would decide if they needed to close the school or not. Everyone was told to remain calm and stay at the school in case the murderer was an unknown student. Kennedy sat in her dorm, staring at the wall, unmoving.

Another week passed. The police had told the school that they technically had no say in closing the school, so the headmistress decided that before she did so she would conduct a search. Professional forensic scientists began searching every student thoroughly, including their dorms and personal items. Simultaneously, a general school search and interrogations were held between classes and officers were stationed in every other classroom. The school did everything they could do before having to shut down. Kennedy hadn’t been searched or interrogated yet, she still sat in her room, eyes glued to the wall above her bed. She was in a state of shock and it seemed like she couldn’t escape it, even after a week. She wanted her best friends, both of them, to talk to more than anything. After a very dull Wednesday, consisting of classes and wall staring for Kennedy, Tom was in his own dorm. He was staring at a blank piece of paper, trying to write something. Unfortunately for him, his hand wouldn’t move. He thought about Kennedy, he knew she wasn’t well. And after almost 2 weeks of not talking, he felt awful. Tom didn’t want to admit that he felt something, because he doesn’t like emotions, but he did feel something. Anger, regret, sadness, love. He didn’t know what it was exactly, but he felt it. And almost as if he didn’t realize he was walking, he found himself knocking on Kennedy’s door.
“Who is it?” Kennedy asked, her voice dry and sad. Tom didn’t answer, he just walked in and sat down next to her. “Why are you here, Tom?”
“Because.”
“That’s not a rational answer, Tom.” Kennedy replied, resisting the urge to smile.

Tom knew it wasn’t a rational answer, but he decided that’s why he felt how he felt. Just because. Kennedy looked at him with tear stained eyes and he hugged her. They hugged for a little while until Kennedy broke the hug and asked Tom if he was okay.
“I’m not okay, neither are you.”
“I know. I thought you didn’t want to talk to me.”
“Not that I didn’t want to, I couldn’t, not at that moment.”
“Why?”
“My business. But I want you to know that you can talk to me, even if I tell you you can’t.”
“Thank you.” Kennedy replied. They waited in silence a little longer until they suddenly heard a thunderous knock. Tom opened the door.
“What are you doing here?”
“Is this Kennedy Desperatio's dorm?” an officer asked. Tom glared at him.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Haven’t you seen what’s been going on? I’m just conducting a search for her and her dorm.”
“There isn’t any need, officer.” Tom replied curtly.
“Yes there is. Her name is next on my list of searches. Let me in or I’ll force you out.”

Tom let the officer in and stared him down practically the whole time. The officer walked over to Kennedy, and asked her to stand up.
“You aren’t in trouble, I just need to search you because that’s the protocol, okay? I’m just going to make sure there aren’t any weapons in your pockets.” said the officer.
“Don’t touch her.” Tom said irately.
“I’m just doing my job. This is standard protocol for a search.”
“Well you can go now.”
“Tom, relax. I’m innocent, he’s just doing his job.” Kennedy said.

Tom sighed, walked out of the room and waited. Kennedy came back a few minutes later and stood next to him.
“I’m okay.” she said.
“I know.”
“Then why’d you get so protective?”
“I didn’t.”
“Then what were you doing?”
“Feeling angry. I dunno why. But I was angry.” Tom said quietly. Kennedy smiled.
“That was sweet of you even if you didn’t mean it.”
“No it wasn’t.”
“Stop pretending like you don’t care, Tom. I know you do.” Kennedy kissed Tom’s cheek and walked away. Tom smiled slightly and walked back to his dorm, avoiding eye contact with the officers. He then opened his secret bookshelf again by removing “The Tempest” from the shelf, he stared at the wall, scanning each picture and name to make sure they were all crossed off.

Chapter 3: A New Target

A month passed. Tom Letifer’s head was pounding, his heart was racing, he was about to knock on Kennedy Desperatio’s door. He was very nervous and confused for many reasons. Naturally, anyone would be nervous if they were about to ask out their best friend, and Tom Letifer didn’t normally feel emotion; or he didn’t want to. He had been ignoring this feeling since the year before he left, his Sophomore year. Tom was very good at hiding and ignoring emotions and feelings, but when they get too strong, he can’t. He also isn’t very good at expressing his emotions, so this was very hard for him, but he couldn’t ignore it any longer. So he knocked.

“Oh, hey Tom.” Kennedy said as she opened the door.
“Hey, Ken.” Tom replied, walking in and sitting down in a chair.
“Are you okay?” she asked, sitting next to him.
“I don’t know,” he replied truthfully.
“What do you mean? Did something happen?”
“No, it’s just-”
“Emotions? Tom I know you don’t like emotions and feelings, but it’s okay.”

Tom understood now. It was because Kennedy understood him. She gets him, no one else does. He loves this because it really is hard for him to express what he’s feeling. So instead of sitting there awkwardly, Tom simply said what he felt.
“That’s why I love you, because you understand me.”
“Aww, that’s sweet. You mean like in a friend way? Or..” Kennedy looked at Tom as she said this, she could tell he really liked her. She smiled. “I really like you too.”
“Wait, you do? I was going to leave if you didn’t respond. I-”
“You just don’t know how to say it? I understand. I feel the same way, don’t worry.” Kennedy said with a smile.
“That’s...that’s great. That’s really great.” Tom replied, smiling.

Kennedy hugged Tom and he hugged back. They both finally told each other how they felt, and for a moment, all the horrifying murders went away, all the anger went away, it was just happiness.
“I’m happy you told me, Tom. I kind of knew a while ago though…” Kennedy said, breaking the hug and laughing.
“How? It really wasn’t obvious.”
“To most. But not to me, I could tell.”
“You always can. And I like that because it’s really hard to tell what I’m feeling.”
“You’re right.”

After a while of talking and Kennedy telling Tom about her studies in her last two years of high school, Tom kissed her head and left. Kennedy smiled, she had been waiting for this day for a while.

The school had been under heavy inspection. However, since the police couldn’t find any evidence nor alarming threats, the school could stay open. The headmistress decided to keep it open but close it if anything else happened. Some students' parents demanded a transfer, in which they got one, and most other students stayed. Now, classes ran normally and everything had been going smoothly for about a month. Many people began to wonder who the murderer was, but nobody acted on it.

By now, it had been two weeks since Tom Letfier and Kennedy Desperatio got together, they were happy, which was a bit of a different feeling for Tom. He got back from classes one snowy evening and checked his mailbox. There it was again. A letter. Tom smiled a little at the sight and opened it when he got into his dorm. Once he read the letter, he froze. Normally, he’d take the picture attached and pin it up on his wall. But this time was different. Tom was still frozen, tears beginning to well up very slightly, when Kennedy knocked on the door. Tom said “Come in” in a very shocked voice.
“Tom? Are you alright?” Kennedy asked, walking in and sitting next to him.
“What?”
“You sound shocked.”
“Do I? Oh, well I’m not.” Tom said.
“Is that a letter?” Kennedy asked, reaching for the letter in his hand. Tom immediately crumpled it up and threw it away. “What was that for?”
“It was nothing, Ken,” he replied.
“Okay…” Kennedy said, still curious. “Did you have a good day?”
“It was fine.”
“Okay, well, did you see that one guy today? An officer came in and took him in for questioning.”
“They’re still doing that?”
“Yeah, I don’t know why. But don’t worry, you won’t get questioned.”
“How do you know?”
“Well you’re innocent of course. And why would they suspect you anyway?”
“Reasons.”
“You aren’t hiding anything, are you?”
“I’m not.”
“Good.” Kennedy said, resting her head on Tom’s shoulder. “How’d you do on that Literature test?”
“Got an A. How did you do?”
“I got an A too.” Kennedy thought for a moment. “Tom,”
“Yeah?”
“D’you think the murderer will get caught?”
“Do you want the murderer to get caught?”
“More than anything. They murdered my best friend and put the whole school in danger, that includes you. I just want to feel safe.”
“I understand.” Tom then brought out “The Tempest”, he had an extra copy of it to read. He started reading.
“Hey, that’s my favourite book!” Kennedy said.
“I know. I like reading it.” Tom replied kindly.

Tom continued to read his book, Kennedy read it too as she peered over his shoulder.

A few hours later, Kennedy had left for her dorm and Tom was once again alone, staring at the crumpled up letter in his rubbish bin. Did he read it right? Did he really read the name of the only person he loves in that letter? It can’t be. That’s impossible...isn’t it?

Tom decided he would ignore it. He thought if he ignored it he wouldn’t have to do anything.

A week went by. Another letter came. Once again, Tom threw it away and ignored it. Another week, another letter, another ignorance. Tom started to get worried, but he obviously hid it well from everyone, except Kennedy.

“Tom, you’re worried.”
“How do you always know what I’m feeling?”
“Because when you’re worried you don’t like being alone.”
“What? No, I like being alone.”
“Even in high school, whenever you got worried about an exam you’d ask to study with me, even if you or I didn’t need to study.”
“You must understand me better than anyone.” Tom said.
“I’ve known you forever it feels like. 8 years, right?”
“Yeah, ever since secondary school.”

Tom sat down at a table in the cafeteria, looking at a blank piece of paper he brought out from his schoolbag.
“Going to write a letter?” Kennedy asked.
“Sure.”
“To whom?”
“No one.”
“Well it has to be for someone. Your mum?”
“No.”
“Dad?”
“No.”
“Friend?”
“I haven’t got friends, Kennedy.”
“Hey, you’ve got-”
“Yes, I’ve got you. But that’s different. I really like you, not as a friend.”
“Me too.” Kennedy blushed. “Then are you going to tell me who the letter is for?”
“When you’re ready.”
“For what…?”
“The truth.”
“You better not be keeping secrets from me, Tom.”

Tom didn’t respond.
“You aren’t keeping secrets from me...are you?”
Tom continued staring at his paper.
“Thomas Letifer! Are you hiding something?” Kennedy said, getting annoyed and slightly upset.

Tom kissed her head and left without saying anything. Kennedy knew something was wrong.

The next day Kennedy had a plan, she didn’t talk to Tom at all that day. She knew Tom would be confused why she wasn’t talking to him and might even tell her what his secret is.

Tom was in fact confused that Kennedy hadn’t talked to him all day, he didn’t want to admit it but he was sad and wanted to talk to Kennedy. He ended up knocking on her dorm room door after dinner.

“Oh, hey Tom.” Kennedy said as she opened the door. “How was your day?”
“Why didn’t you talk to me?”
“Why didn’t you tell me what you are hiding?”
“Why didn’t you talk to me?” Tom repeated.
“Why didn’t you tell me what you’re hiding?”

Tom sighed. He knew there was no way to get around telling her. Though he still didn’t want to. He took Kennedy’s hands in his and sat down.

“Are you going to tell me what you’re hiding?”
“No, I'm not.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you. Some things are better to be kept as personal things, even keeping them from the people you love.” Tom replied.

Kennedy was shocked, Tom was actually expressing his emotions in a normal manner. He really loved her.
“I love you too. I’m not mad or anything. I respect your reason.”
“Thank you.”

Tom sighed and sat there awkwardly, looking at the wall. Kennedy didn’t exactly know what to say either, she did the same thing. They sat in silence for what seemed like hours, until Kennedy realized the time.
“Um, it’s late.”
“It is.” Tom said, looking at his watch.
“I’m glad you came, Tom.” she said.

Tom half-smiled and stood up. After a few seconds, Kennedy stood up too, expecting Tom to say something.
“I’m going to leave now,” he said.
“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Kennedy said. Tom nodded and walked out.

The second Tom Letifer got into his dorm he walked over to his bookshelf and grabbed “The Tempest”. The bookshelf bisected itself and he walked rigidly into the tiny room it concealed. This room housed a wall, a very big wall in fact. It contained pictures, letters, and a black highlighter; which was used to cross off some pictures. This time, Tom didn’t pick up a black highlighter, he picked up a dark blue one. He used this to circle his most recent picture, in which he reluctantly had put up. Tom then decided to revisit his old notes, plans, and letters; forcing himself into a different mindset.
Tom Letifer spent every night over the next week and a half doing this, it seemed as though he was regaining a part of himself that he had somehow forgotten over the last month. He became focused and determined. Distant but close. Happy yet angry. As Tom began to let himself fall back into his old reality, he realized that it was too dangerous for Kennedy. He persuaded himself to try and break up with her, but it didn’t work.

“Kennedy, I have to ask you something.” Tom asked while he was walking with Kennedy outside Cambridge on a Saturday afternoon.
“Sure, what is it?”
“What would you do if I broke up with you?”

Kennedy looked at Tom to make sure he wasn’t joking.
“Are you really asking me that?”
“Well, yes, I just asked you.”
“What would I do? I’d probably yell at you for a while, cry, yell...and cry some more. Why would you ask me that?”
“Just wanted to know.”
“Okay then...and Tom?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you dare break up with me.”
“You have my word, Ken.” Tom said. He didn’t feel right at that moment, he felt like he was lying to himself. Tom decided he should go back to his dorm, he needed to get back into his mindset. “I’m going to leave.”
“Why?”
“Studying.”
“I can study with you.”
“No you can’t, this is for a class you don’t have. I’ll see you later.” Tom replied.
“Oh okay, bye.” Kennedy said, giving Tom a hug. Tom didn’t hug back, instead he patted Kennedy’s head and then walked back to the main entrance of Cambridge.

Later on that day there was a random police search. These searches happened about once a week to random people, and randomly enough, Tom Letifer was chosen to be searched. The police officers knocked on his dorm room door, Tom thought it was Kennedy so he opened it right away.
“Mr. Letifer?”
“Yes.” Tom replied, a bit surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“You’ve been selected at random for a police search. If you’d let us come in?”
“You have permission.” Tom replied as he let the officers in.

There were 3 officers. They all went to a different place in Tom’s dorm. Searching the best they could, and after 20 minutes, they couldn’t find anything out of place. Tom opened the door for them as they exited his dorm. After hours of pacing and contemplating, Tom decided to get his bag ready. He grabbed “The Tempest” and walked into the tiny room, slowly packing his bag. After this had been done, he checked the time. It was 11:00pm. Nearly everyone would be asleep by now...right? She’d definitely be asleep by now.

Tom Letfier placed his feet gingerly on the ground with each step he took. Once he found the room he was looking for, he turned the handle. It was unlocked. He creeped in and found the person he was looking for, they were fast asleep. He walked slowly, trying to put off the thing he secretly dreaded. There would be time, right? He still had time. There hadn’t been a letter in over a week! Maybe he was off the hook for this one…

So he left. And once he got back to his dorm, Tom unpacked his bag and went to sleep not long after.

The next morning, Tom explained he wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t going to be at any of his lessons, Kennedy felt bad and went to her lessons alone. Unfortunately, the girl who insulted Tom sat next to her in Advanced Writing class.
“Still hanging around with Letifer, are you?”
“Well why wouldn’t I be? We are dating after all.”
“What? How could someone like Letifer like someone? How could someone like him?”
“You don’t know him. You don’t know how sweet he is! Maybe you should talk to people before talking about them?”
“Maybe. But he doesn’t talk anyway so why bother?”
“Because. What’s the harm in talking to someone new?”
“My reputation.”

Kennedy sighed. She hated when people bashed Tom like this, she was glad he wasn’t in class to hear it. After lessons, Kennedy decided to get soup from the cafeteria and give it to Tom.
“Hey, Tom? It’s just me.” Kennedy said. Tom opened the door.
“What’s that?” he asked, looking at the bowl of soup in Kennedy’s hands.
“It’s soup. I felt bad that you were sick so I brought you your favourite.” Kennedy said, giving Tom the soup.
“I don’t deserve you, Kennedy. Thank you.” Tom replied.
“Of course you do! You deserve everything. And you’re welcome.” Kennedy said, smiling brightly.
“No really, I don’t deserve anything. And I certainly don’t deserve to be loved by you. But, thank you for it.”
“Oh Tom, what could you have possibly done not to deserve any of that? You’re amazing, I just wish more people saw that.”
“What d’you mean?”
“That girl from my Advanced Writing class. She’s awful.”
“Ken, I don’t care what she or anyone else thinks. I just have my way of doing things and I’m okay with it.”
“That’s good. I’m happy you feel that way.”
“But if she starts insulting you, come get me.” Tom said seriously. Kennedy laughed.
“Okay, I will.”
“Seriously.”
“Oh, okay. But you don’t have to stick up for me. And plus, no one’s saying anything about me anyway.”
“Good.” Tom replied.
“Tom, you seem fine. Are you sure you were sick?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then. Well I have homework, I’ll see you tomorrow. You’ll be at lessons?”
“Um, no. Maybe the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay. Bye!”
“Bye.”

The next day during Advanced Writing, the girl was at it again, although this time, she wasn’t only insulting Tom.
“I can’t believe she’s with him! He’s got no emotion, no compassion, nothing! He doesn’t even talk! She’s obviously a lunatic to be with Tom Letifer!”
“What are you talking about?”
“You and Tom. How awful you guys are! I mean, he doesn’t even talk so how could he be sweet and compassionate? And you. You’re probably going to be heartbroken when he leaves you. He probably just wants popularity.” the girl and her friends said while laughing.
“He doesn’t want any of that! We’re happy and that’s all that matters!”
“Are you sure? Maybe he’s the one who committed all those murders! You’re probably next...he just wants to gain your trust first.”
“N-no that’s not true!”
“Think about it! It makes perfect sense.” she sneered.

Kennedy ditched class. She felt horrible. Tom was hiding something from her...was that it? No. Never in a million years would Tom Letifer kill someone. Kennedy decided to run to her dorm and cry to let all her sadness and anger escape. She sat alone in her dorm for about 2 minutes before Tom knocked, he had seen her run to her dorm in the corridors when he looked out of his dorm to see what was going on.
“Ken? Ken, let me in.”
“H-hey.” Kennedy said, trying to wipe her tears while opening the door. Tom knew exactly what had happened. He took her hands in his and sat down next to her.
“Who do I need to beat up?”
“No one, Tom. It-it was nothing.”
“It wasn’t nothing, Kennedy. Now tell me, who do I need to beat up?! Who did this?” Tom demanded.
“It-it was that girl who insulted you in the corridors a while ago. But, you don’t need to-”
“I’ll see you later.” Tom said as he left for his dorm. Kennedy was mildly terrified at what he might do so she followed him.
“Kennedy, please don’t follow me.” Tom said as he stormed out of his dorm with a crowbar.
“Tom! No, stop!”
“Kennedy, stay here.”
“NO! Tom, you’ve got to listen!”
“Ken, I already did, and I didn’t like what I heard.”
“You’ll get expelled...what if they think you did the murders? I’ll lose you.”
“Kennedy, please just stay out of this. Don’t follow me or else.” Tom replied.

Kennedy stayed behind, very fearful of what's to come.


Chapter 4: An Unexpected Visitor

Tom Letifer was tearing through the corridors of Cambridge University. He pushed other unsuspecting students out of the way, and threatened to hurt others if they got in his way. No more than 3 minutes later, he was at the entrance to the Advanced Writing classroom. Without warning, he busted the door open.
“Mr. Letifer! What in the name of the law are you doing?” asked the Advanced Writing professor.
“Looking for the person that insulted my-”
“Wow! He talks! Can you guys believe it? Tom Letifer talks, and now he’s defending his little girlfriend, Kennedy Desperatio.” she taunted.
“Shut up,” Tom demanded, revealing his crowbar. “Or else.”
The girl looked to her friends and decided she wasn’t going to say anything else, she simply sat down, looking terrified. Tom advanced toward her, a crowbar raised, and a livid expression on his face.
“Get away from me!”
“Stay away from Kennedy and I will.” Tom said.
“Y-yes, okay! I’ll stop saying those things! Just go!”
“Please, Mr. Letifer! I’m going to have to notify the headmistress.” said the professor, who was standing behind his chair, scared.
“Yes, Tom, lay off them. You don’t wish to get expelled do you?” A tall man, even taller than Tom himself, was standing in the doorway of the classroom.
“You- what? How did you get here?”
“Simple. I took the train.”
“But....why are you here?”
“Simple. You aren’t carrying out your plans.”

Tom was fuming he backed out of the classroom and power walked to his dorm, the tall man following closely behind.
“Tom! Are you okay? Did you do anything?” Kennedy asked as she saw Tom come into view. “Who’s that?”
“He’s...someone I know.” Tom replied. The tall man smiled fakely.
“Oh..who are you?” Kennedy asked him.
“Ohhh, she doesn’t know?” the tall man asked Tom.
“No, and she never will.”
“What are you talking about? Tom, what do you mean?”
“Look, Ken, it’s nothing.”
“ ‘Ken’? Are you two…?”
“Yes, we’re together. What does it have to do with anything?”
“Oh, this makes a massive difference.”
“What? Tom, could you explain?”
“I wish I could, Kennedy. Could you leave for a moment? This is something personal and...and I don’t want you knowing.”
“So this is your secret? Tom, I respect you, but...this is making me suspicious.”
“What d’you think I did?”
“N-nothing.”
“Ms. Desperatio, listen to Tom. Leave. Tom will come back, okay?” said the tall man.
“I’m not listening to you.” Kennedy said, she then looked at Tom. Tom sighed and went over to Kennedy.
“Please. Just stay out of it. If I don’t tell you something then it’s something you don’t need to know. Why would you want to know unnecessary information?”
“I- oh fine. I’ll go. But I need an explanation at some point, Tom.” Kennedy left feeling quite annoyed.

Tom glared at the tall man.
“That wasn’t necessary. You didn’t have to bring her into this.”
“Oh, but this is all about her! That’s why I came. You’re ignoring my letters, Thomas.”
“So what if I am? Can’t you just let me off on this one? Give me someone else?”
“I will. Once you’ve finished your task.”
“What happens if I can’t?”
“You’ll see.” the tall man retorted.

Tom showed no fear, he was determined to keep his composure.
“Yes, sir.”
“You came up with a plan, I presume?”
“I have.”
“And it didn’t work?”
“No…”
“Well that’s why I’m here. To make sure it does.” the tall man said.
“What if I don’t want it to work?”
“Doesn’t matter. You’ve been doing this for years, why let one girl ruin your reign?”

Tom didn’t want to go through with this nor did he want to leave. But what could he do? He never felt true happiness until now. Never felt how it truly felt to have feelings. Everything was so new to him, he wanted it to stay like this, but he didn’t know how to keep it that way. Tom simply nodded at the tall man and walked back to Kennedy’s dorm. The tall man furrowed his brow and sat down on a bench, waiting.

“Ken, open up, please.”
“Are you going to explain?” Kennedy said, opening the door slightly.
“I- no.” he replied truthfully.
“Then what are you doing here?”
“I just wanted to see you.”
“You see me all the time, Tom. Is something going on?”
“No...it’s just...can I come in?”
“Fine.” Kennedy said. As soon as she opened the door she was engulfed in a very awkward, but warm hug. “Tom, are you okay?”

Tom didn’t respond, instead he stayed there hugging Kennedy for as long as he could until she pulled away.
“What was that for?”
“You. I- you’re really great and I just wanted to hug you.”
“Thank you. But why are you nervous?”
“Kennedy, listen to me.” Tom said, lowering his voice and suddenly becoming serious.
“Thomas, what’s this about?”
“You’re the only one in this entire world that truly knows me. You can tell what I’m feeling even when I don’t know what I’m feeling. I want you to remember how I am now and keep that memory, even if you see me act differently. I don’t deserve you and you deserve better than me, but we make it work which is good. Promise me that you’ll never think of me differently, and if you do, remember me how I was.” Tom looked scared, anxious, and confused. It seemed as if he was trying to feel something, some sort of emotion and it all came over him at once. This was the only way he could explain how he felt.
“I-I don’t know what to say. Tom, I promise. But I need to know...are you going to leave me again? Because you promised you’d never leave me.” Kennedy said with tears in her eyes.
“You’ll find out. If I can somehow work through this dilemma, then you’ll see me here tomorrow; I promise. Now I need to go.” Tom turned to walk away but before he got far Kennedy walked in front of him, silent tears now streaming down her face.
“Thomas Letifer, if you walk away from me now and I never see you again, I’ll never forgive you.”
“I know,” he said, turning away again.
“No, no you can’t just leave me!”
“I don’t want to, Ken.”
“I’m not going to see you tomorrow, am I? You aren’t going to work this out...are you?”

Tom shook his head and took another step in the opposite direction, or he thought he did. Actually, it seemed as though he was glued to that spot, he couldn’t leave.
“I’ll never see you again, will I?” Kennedy asked.
Tom turned around and looked Kennedy directly in the eyes.
“No, you won’t. But I want you to know that there’s only one person in the entire universe that I’d say ‘I love you’ to…”
“Tom-”
“It’s you. It’s you, Kennedy. And I’m not lying to make a joke out of it, I am being truthful. I-I didn’t know how to say it, but now I do. But I have other things to do, things that have been planned for years.”
“I love you too, Thomas Letifer.” Kennedy said, torrential tears now sliding down her face.

Tom nodded. He decided that he should walk away at that moment, he didn’t want to stay any longer but at the same time he never wanted to leave. Tom walked very slowly for a few minutes and nearly got to the end of the corridor, which is where the tall man was, when he heard his name. Kennedy was calling him. He sighed, and then walked back.
“What? I just told you how hard this was going to be and got all the way over there and now you’re calling me back? You know I have to leave-”

Kennedy cut Tom off with a kiss. After a few seconds, they both stared at each other. Tom felt happy, he felt like he never wanted to leave where he was. He wanted to stay with Kennedy forever, she had changed him. At the same time, he knew he could never stay.
“Tom, if you must go, could you at least tell me why?” Kennedy asked. Tom sighed. Should he? He’s leaving anyway, so what’s the harm?
“Kennedy, I want you to know that I’m telling you this because I’m leaving forever, so please keep it to yourself. Promise you won’t look at me any differently.”
“I promise, Tom. It can’t be that bad.”
“Kennedy, I’m a murderer.” Thomas Letifer then walked away, leaving the only person that ever brought him love and happiness behind…or so he thought.

He walked very fast and was very business-like. He felt as if he just left his past behind and that he could now focus on his life knowing she was safe.
“Well hello, Mr. Bond.” the tall man said jokingly as he saw Tom strut over to him.
“Ready to return to work?”
“Under one condition.”
“You don’t get to make conditions. You’re the best in the business, but you have to listen to me.”
“If you want me to listen, let me have one condition.”
“Fine, spit it out.”
“She doesn’t get hurt.”
“Oh, it’s about the girl again! Fine, as long as you listen to me! Here, I already have your next target.” the tall man said, shoving a letter into Tom’s hand.
“Dominique Lanceyard. Okay, where does he reside?”
“Other side of the country. We’ll have to fly.”
“Okay, that works. Let’s go.” Tom walked ahead of the tall man, putting on shades as he sashayed out of the University of Cambridge.

The tall man followed after him, feeling particularly proud of himself.

They set out on the next train out of London, heading south. Once Mr. Lanceyard was located, Tom did what he did best for two years. Except this time, it didn’t feel as right as it did before. In fact, the last time this felt right was when he murdered Neveah, unknowingly being Kennedy’s best friend. So when the police came and the tall man fled, Tom let himself be caught. He knew it was wrong, but had been told it was right for so many years. Kennedy must have really changed him. He figured if she knew what he just did, she’d rather him be incarcerated than be absolved.



A week prior to the tragedy of Mr. Lanceyard, Kennedy Desperatio was left alone in a corridor. Thomas Letifer had left her...again. She should’ve known. How had she not seen it coming? He has a record of this. Leaving. What had he said? No...it wasn’t true, it couldn’t be. Tom was sweet, underappreciated, and kind. He’d never. Kennedy went back to her dorm room, not crying because of shock. She decided that what he said was probably true, but she wasn’t going to believe it. She spent the next week not talking to anyone, not even professors. She didn’t make eye contact with anyone either.

It went on like this for a week until someone finally made Kennedy talk to them, unfortunately it was the girl in her Advanced Writing class.
“Kennedy! Will you at least listen? I have something you’re going to want to see.”
“FINE! What is it then?”
“Look!” She said while she shoved a newspaper in Kennedy’s face.
“What am I supposed to be looking at?”
“The front page.”
“Why-”
That’s when she saw it. Thomas Letifer was incarcerated. It was true.

Kennedy threw the newspaper back at the girl and ran back to her dorm and packed a suitcase. She knew she had to see him...he had to know.

Kennedy Desperatio arrived at the prison by train, she asked to see Tom and waited. Around twenty minutes later, she was allowed to see him.
“Kennedy, what are you doing here?” Tom asked.
“I came to tell you something.” she replied.
“Look, I know you’re mad and-”
“Of course I’m mad! I-I just needed to tell you something important.”
“And what’s that?”
“You- you’re going to be a-” Kennedy stammered, she wasn’t sure how he’d react.
“A what?”
“A father.”
“W-what?”
“You’re going to be a father, Tom.”
“That’s...that’s great-” Tom said, before long he had remembered he was in prison. “I’m sorry-”
“It’s fine. Just...um, stay here.”
“How could I leave?”
“I mean, you should be here. And when you get out...be good.”
“Of course.” Tom replied. He smiled softly and then looked away.

Kennedy looked away too. And after a few moments, she left.



Epilogue:

Though Thomas Letifer had no hope of ever being absolved, he still very much wanted to see Kennedy and his son or daughter. Kennedy, however, was very determined to raise her kid on her own. Though if she did meet Tom again, she wouldn’t necessarily push him away. Many years went by, and still they hadn’t seen each other since. Will they meet again? Only time will tell.

---