A glimmer of hope

Even if Derek had somehow managed to kill Drake, which he was certain of now that he didn't. He knew he couldn't take on the two girls standing in this room with him. Which was why the thought of fighting or trying to escape didn't cross his mind.

Even if he had managed to escape, he wondered where he would flee to, these people standing in this room and two others that were probably in the hotel rooms chilling off were the only people he knew. He didn't stand a chance without and power or connection in this cruel cold world, even though he had done nothing wrong.

What bugged Derek the most was why he had immediately concluded that he did not kill Drake, he hadn't even seen him and he couldn't even remember any of the details, he only had the word of the system to go with. But he already believed the thought staunchly.

It was like the system gave him a feeling of safety, it was kind of an unexplainable feeling. It was not like the system had ever lied to him, at the same time he wondered if it had any reason to. He somehow unconsciously believed whatever the system said, it was like it was programmed to not give him false information and he knew it. Even if he could not explain how he could tell.

"I know the evidence is stacked against me and there is no alibi that proves otherwise, yet" he added, stealing a page from the system's book. "But I did not kill him, if you don't believe it do as you wish"

Derek headed to the door, he was dejected even though he didn't let it show on his face. The people with whom he ate with just some few hours ago, with whom he thought they were forming a bond together didn't even believe him. He wondered if Chuck would have taken his side, had he been here.

He didn't want to let things end this way, he had a dream and he was still light years away from fulfilling it but it felt hopeless now.

"I believe you didn't kill him"

Derek stopped in his tracks and turned back, Maya was walking towards him.

"It's not that we don't believe you, but what Arya's trying to say is that you're going to have a hard time convincing the authorities if they place you on the scene of the murder" Maya said as she reached the door Derek was heading to.

"And you shouldn't go out that door, you don't even know where you are" she said as she bolted the door and stood in front of it.

Derek was almost moved to tears, but he had already gone through so much hardship, he wasn't going to let a little event such as this bring tears to his eyes.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Maya asked in confusion "you don't know where you are, I just told you that"

"No. I mean, why do you believe me. I could have killed him"

"hehe" Maya chuckled delightfully "You sound so confident of your abilities even without the wolf form, wolfboy"

"You know about it?" Derek asked, he wasn't much surprised again since he was aware that they both knew"

"Yeah, I've read a thing or two and I had my suspicions, that's why I followed you. But it's just a hunch, I just go with my instincts, the same way I think you didn't kill Drake. I doubt you will have the balls even if you weren't in control of yourself"

Arya coughed and chuckled slightly at the comment, but her face immediately returned back to its default expressionless state when Derek turned to glare at her.

"This is my house"

"Your house?" Derek repeated with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Of course, my father's house." she replied l, rolling her eyes

"I'm obviously not old enough to own a house"

Derek wondered who her father was, but kept the thought to himself. Even though he had only seen the inside of this room, he could tell that this was one hell of a house.

The room was very spacious and he didn't fail to notice the purple theme, it was not lacking aesthetically either.

"We need to get you two back to the hotel and we have to work together to get to the bottom of this murder. Security protocol is going to be heightened, so you must not speak carelessly. In any case, we three were together at the time of the murder. Though I doubt any of you will pass off as a suspect, you both look too weak to even be a threat"

Arya scoffed.

"Does your friend know?" Maya asked

"Chuck?"

"Is that his name" Maya looked away embarrassingly, she knew he had introduced himself, but she had forgotten his name.

"Anyway, does he know?"

"He left early, weren't we together when he left?" Derek asked back.

"No, not about this, I mean about that" Maya gesticulated using her head and her hand.

Derek stared blankly, he could not pinpoint what exactly it was she was trying to say.

"About the wolf stuff" Arya face palmed herself. She couldn't bear watching the two fool around like kindergarteners.

"Oh" Derek sighed "he doesn't"

"I think you should keep it that way" she advised.

Derek glanced at her and shook his head, 'the both of you wouldn't have known either if I had my way' he didn't know if he was grateful they now shared in on his secret or if he should be cautious.

Arya and Derek listened to all Maya had to say like kids listening to pep talk from their mother before going off to boarding school, when she was done instructing them, she grabbed her jacket.

"Let's go" she announced. "We'll meet after the competition, we still have a few more days after that before you guys have to go back. And Derek, I think I have something for you."