1. Lost in the Abyss

The grandeur of the mansion loomed over the crime scene, its opulent halls now tainted by the grim discovery. Detective Rodriguez stepped through the ornate doorway, his shoes echoing against the polished marble floors. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the intricately decorated walls as he approached Lia, who stood in the center of the lavishly furnished room, her clothes drenched in blood. "Lia, I need you to focus. My name is Detective Rodriguez. Can you hear me?" he said, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. Lia's gaze wandered around the room, her eyes widening as they took in the luxurious surroundings. She clutched the unfamiliar pistol, a stark contrast to the elegance that surrounded her. "Where am I? What's happening?" she stammered. Detective Rodriguez motioned for his team to secure the perimeter, then turned back to Lia. "We need to understand what happened here. Can you tell me anything? Do you recognize the victim? How did you end up in this mansion?" Lia shook her head, her dark hair falling loosely around her face. "That’s Mr.Cyrus. I don't remember. Why am I covered in blood?" Her voice trembled as she struggled to make sense of the surreal situation. As Detective Rodriguez continued his inquiry, the mansion's extravagant rooms bore witness to an unsettling tableau of crime. The contrast between wealth and violence hung heavy in the air. Crime scene investigators meticulously gathered evidence, their movements careful not to disturb the mansion's lavish facade. Detective Rodriguez continued his careful questioning, the mansion's lavish interior bearing witness to the unfolding tragedy. "Lia, you mentioned Mr. Cyrus. Can you tell me more about your relationship with him? Was he a friend or a relative?" Lia's eyes glistened with confusion and sorrow. "He was a family friend, Detective. I've known him for years. Why would I hurt him?" Detective Rodriguez sighed, grappling with the mounting evidence against Lia. "I understand this is difficult, but we need to figure out what happened. Do you have any idea why Milli, one of the housemaids, would make a call implicating you in all of this?" Lia shook her head, her expression a mix of disbelief and desperation. "I don't know, Detective. This doesn't make any sense. I would never hurt Mr. Cyrus." As the investigation continued, Detective Rodriguez received updates from his team. The crime scene investigators meticulously combed through the mansion, uncovering more details about the tragic incident. The forensic team confirmed that Mr. Cyrus had been shot in the head with a single bullet, matching the weapon found in Lia's hand. A heavy silence filled the room as Lia absorbed the details. She couldn't reconcile the image of herself, a family friend with no motive, standing in the midst of such violence. The scent of fresh flowers from an ornate vase mingled with the metallic tang of blood in the air. Detective Rodriguez, torn between his duty and empathy, placed a hand on Lia's shoulder. "Lia, I know this is incredibly difficult for you, but the evidence is pointing in a troubling direction. We need to take you into custody while we investigate further. I promise you'll have the chance to tell your side of the story." As Lia was led away, her eyes remained fixed on the crime scene, a place that had once been a haven of warmth and familiarity. The grandeur of the mansion now served as a haunting backdrop to a tragedy that unfolded like a nightmare. The echoes of unanswered questions lingered in the air, leaving Lia to grapple with the reality that her life had taken an unimaginable and irreversible turn. In the cold, sterile environment of the police station, Lia sat in an interrogation room, her hands still trembling from the shock of her arrest. The flickering fluorescent lights overhead seemed harsh compared to the once warm and inviting glow of the mansion's chandeliers. Detective Rodriguez entered the room, his expression a mix of sympathy and professionalism. "Lia, I need you to understand the seriousness of the situation. The evidence is pointing in a troubling direction, but I want to give you a chance to explain. Can you think of anything, anything at all, that might shed light on what happened?" Lia's mind raced as she tried to grasp any semblance of memory. The events leading up to that moment remained a blur, an unsettling fog that clouded her thoughts. "Detective, I don't remember. I would never hurt Mr. Cyrus. He was like family to me." Detective Rodriguez leaned forward, his tone measured. "We found the murder weapon in your hand, Lia. We need to understand how that happened. Can you think of anyone who might want to harm Mr. Cyrus? Or any reason why you might find yourself in such a situation?" Lia furrowed her brow, struggling to find answers. "No, Detective. Everyone loved Mr. Cyrus. He didn't have enemies. And I... I can't believe I would do something like this. It's like a nightmare." The detective sighed, torn between duty and the empathy he felt for Lia. "We're going to continue investigating, but for now, you'll have to remain in custody. We'll make sure you have proper legal representation. If there's anything you remember or think of that could help your case, please let us know." As Detective Rodriguez left the room, Lia's thoughts swirled in a chaotic whirlwind. The pieces of her life that once fit together seamlessly now felt shattered and fragmented. She clung to the hope that the truth would emerge, that the fog in her mind would lift and reveal a different, less horrifying reality. Days turned into nights as the investigation progressed. The once grand mansion now stood as a silent witness to the tragedy that unfolded within its walls. Meanwhile, the legal process moved forward, and Lia found herself grappling with the uncertainty of her future. As the evidence unfolded, and the truth slowly came to light, Lia's journey through the justice system would prove to be as tumultuous as the events that transpired in the opulent mansion. Few days before the trial a sudden commotion erupted in the jail. Lia, now accustomed to the harsh sounds of confinement, didn't pay much attention until an unexpected and sharp pain pierced through her head. She crumpled to the floor, disoriented and dizzy. The jail guards rushed in to assess the situation, and Lia, struggling to maintain consciousness, was transported to the infirmary. As she lay there, the pain throbbing in her head, Lia's mind began to clear the fog that had shrouded her memories. Images, sounds, and emotions rushed back, revealing the missing pieces of the puzzle. The night before the crime, she had met her fiancé, Vincent, at a quiet bar. They had shared laughter and clinked glasses in celebration of their future together. But the memories abruptly halted, replaced by a sense of disorientation. Lia's eyes widened in realization. There was a blackout, a gap in her memory that coincided with the timeline of the crime. Panic set in as she grappled with the implications. What happened during that blackout? Was it possible that Vincent was involved? With a newfound clarity, Lia was conflicted. Vincent was her anchor, her source of support, and the thought of him being connected to such a heinous act was unfathomable. Yet, the memories were there, fragments of a night she had suppressed.