Alice sat on the floor of her bathroom, the door closed and locked, the clock just ticking past three thirty in the morning. Her knees were up by her chest, her arms wrapped protectively around her thighs as she cried silently with heavy tears streaming down her cheeks.

She'd awoken half an hour before with a start, convinced she'd heard the floorboards outside her room creak unnaturally again. She'd jumped out of bed and ran to her en suite bathroom to hide, and hadn't come out since. Her heart was still racing inside her chest, and the paranoia and fear clung to her neck, making it feel as if it was heard for her to breathe.

The hours that passed felt like minutes, and without realising Alice had fallen asleep on the bathroom floor, curled up against the radiator that warmed her towels with the sadness and fear still etched into her expression.

A sudden knock startled her awake and she sat up quickly, her breaths quick and shallow. "Yeah?" She asked, pushing her hear out of her face and looking up to see that it was still partially dark. "Hello?" She asked again, having received no response.

The knock sounded again and Alice stood up slowly, feeling her eyes welling up with tears again. Moments moved past with caution as Alice moved towards the door and unlocked it, feeling slightly sick to her stomach as she peered out of the crack... only to see, to her relief, her younger sister. "Jesus Charlotte," she sighed and let the door swing open as she moved back into the bathroom and turned on the cold water tap to wash her face.

After she'd dried her face Alice looked back at her sister and saw a slightly worried expression looking back at her. "Merry-Christmas." Charlotte signed and smiled half heartedly, and now even she could feel that there was something strange going on with her older sister.

"Merry-Christmas," Alice signed back, and smiled slightly sadly as she looked away from her sister and at her reflection, seeing her skin patched with redness from when she had been crying.

"Should-we-go-wake-mom-and-dad?" Charlotte asked after getting Alice's visual attention back whilst knowing that there was no point asking if she was okay, since it was more than likely she wouldn't receive an honest answer.

"Yeah," Alice replied verbally and motioned for her sister to leave her bathroom first before she walked back into her bedroom herself and pulled on a hoodie over her pyjamas...

It was Christmas morning nearly all over the world, and the festive excitement of bringing a family together for the holiday season seemed to have not reached as far as Summerland this year...

Across town and over at the Johnson family mansion an unscheduled visitor rang the doorbell at quarter past eight in the morning... at that moment the Johnson family had only just began to surface, excluding Magnus himself who usually slept till noon without disturbance, however today wouldn't be the day that he would be allowed to do that.

Julia Johnson opened the door, surprised to see the towns sherif Wilson stood there with his hands on his hips and the police car waiting at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the front door, it's blue and red lights flashing and illuminating the front of the house in the slightly dim morning light. "I'm sorry to disturb you during the holidays Mrs Johnson, but I was just wondering if your son Magnus was home..."

* * *

Alice's phone began to ring suddenly as she sat on the couch, curled up with the family dog on her lap whilst her and her younger sister watched re-runs of old Christmas movies whilst both their parents sorted the big lunch.

Alice pulled her phone from her pocket and saw Candice's name across the screen and answered, "hello?"

"My brother just got called in to the police station," Candice said in a rush, "We're at the police station on Christmas Day, Alice. My parents are freaking out,"

"Did they say why?" Alice asked, tucking her hair behind her ear as she noticed her mother looking at her from where she was in the dining room.

"No, we were on our way back from church and we got called in... but Magnus and Charlie and some other guy is here too. I just saw them," Candice explained as her voice quietened a little as if the people she was talking about where right in front of her. Alice's chest tightened for a moment, and instantly she knew what they were probably at the station for. She suddenly felt nerves beginning to taunt her stomach and wondered why she even cared that Magnus was at the police station... it had nothing to do with her, he was a murderer, being potentially caught for it is what he deserved... she knew all of this but yet couldn't shake the worry. "Hello? Alice?"

"What? Yeah I'm still here, sorry. I'm sure it's nothing... I mean they were all on the ice hockey team together maybe it's just protocol," Alice said and rubbed her forehead and sighed silently, at that moment she didn't know if she was saying this to calm Candice down or herself.

"Wait... you think this is about the Wells and Rodgers murder case?" Candice asked, her voice sounding shocked and worried suddenly. Alice's eyes widened and she froze for a moment yet her mouth kept moving,

"I mean... what else is there? I doubt it's about that, and you know how I get super caught up in these kind of cases, sorry... I didn't mean to freak you out, C. But they were all on the ice hockey team together so they're probably just collecting information? Maybe?" Alice said as she noticed her parents wandering in to the living room to signal that lunch was ready.

"Yeah... that's true. They were on the team together. The Rodgers guy was at my house a few times when they had team meetings... my parents are telling me to get off the phone so uh, I'll call you later?" Candice asked and Alice agreed as she stood up from the couch to make her way to the dining room to eat...

... at that same moment Magnus sat in a small interrogation room at the local police station, dressed in light jeans and a white t-shirt, his hair messy and a vacant, bored expression on his face... he'd been there for a few hours now, kept in the room alone as they interviewed other students from Summerland High. "There's something weird about that kid," one of the officers said as they watched him through the one sided glass, their presence shielded from Magnus's gaze even though he already knew he was being watched. "he hasn't moved at all?" They continued.

"Not once," another officer said, their arms folded as each of them stared at Magnus as if he was an animal caged for some kind of show. "Where's sheriff Wilson?"

"Here," the voice of Sheriff Wilson said as he strode into the room and looked through the glass to see one of the newest friends of his son sat there waiting to be questioned patiently. "Let's get to it then," he carried on as he took off his hat and made his way into the interrogation room. "Morning kid," John Wilson said, attempting to make this as relaxed as possible since the moment he walked into the room it felt like the temperature had dropped.

Magnus said nothing and instead lent back in his chair, looking up at John with that unreadable expression that threw a lot of people off. "Let's get through this quickly since I'm sure you'll want to get back to your parents and all those presents soon, huh?"

"We don't really do Christmas presents in my house," Magnus replied calmly, but his sentence confused John.

"Are you Jewish?" He asked and Magnus smirked and shook his head,

"No sir, I'm rich," Magnus replied calmly and folded his arms, seeing the flash of irritation and jealousy for a moment in John's eyes which only wanted to make him smile but he decided now wasn't the right time to show that emotion.

"Alright. Well... just try to answer these questions honestly and you can go home," John continued, trying to push away the hostility he suddenly felt towards a teenage boy, who was also his sons friend. "How well did you know Ben Rodgers?"

"We were on the same ice hockey team," Magnus replied, feeling nothing that would elevate his heart beat or give anything away.

"Can you elaborate?"

"I only spoke to him before and after games, so no I didn't know him that well." Magnus explained, keeping his eyes steadily on John Wilson as he remembered discretely the six month period where Ben Rodgers was a part of Magnus's friendship group... but that was before things went south between them.

"And he was your captain right?" John asked, and Magnus nodded. "Answer verbally please," he added and Magnus wanted to smile again, after sensing John's irritation with him.

"Yes, he was." Magnus said, still lent back in his chair and watching John steadily. His unfaltering gaze was slightly unnerving to witness.

"Is it correct that you're now the captain? Of that team?"

"Yes sir," Magnus replied, having a momentary flashback to when Alice Murphy had asked him something similar.

"Is professional sports something you've wanted to get into? For the future?" John asked and Magnus furrowed his eyebrows for a moment, causing John to raise his in response.

"No... I want to get into politics," Magnus replied and sat up properly, "Team sports looks good on college applications." He continued and attempted to push Alice out of his mind but her face kept appearing and that one word that she whispered after he'd expressed his intention to involve himself in politics instead of sports. He heard her whisper it as if she was standing next to him again, and for a moment he was confused... why was his mind making this important for him?

"I see," John replied, noticing Magnus's change in behaviour. "Did you notice anything strange about Ben Rodgers in the lead up to his disappearance?" He then asked, watching Magnus who was now looking away and at a crack on the wall to the left of him.

"...No sir," Magnus muttered, looking back at the Sheriff, "He seemed normal to me, but then I didn't know him that well." He added and looked back at John Wilson calmly who was staring back. There was something about Magnus Johnson that John didn't like... and as he stared at him now, he could see the void of darkness behind his eyes, and a part of him knew that he had something to do with it, someway, somehow... Magnus has something to do with this murder case. Maybe it was the fact that his gaze made him uncomfortable, or maybe it was the fact there seemed to be nothing there, no emotions at all... barely any sense of life.

"Where were you on the night of March 18th between seven p.m and three a.m?" John Wilson asked, which was not meant to be part of the list of questions given to the students being interviewed about Ben's behaviour before he died. The officers behind the glass raised their eyebrows.

"With a friend," Magnus said slowly, his mind ticking away slowly... he was about to take a risk, which he knew could sway either way, but something in the air told him that in some way... he could trust her.

"Which friend?" John demanded, "and it was just you two?"

"Alice Murphy... and yes sir, it was just us."

* * *

It was now in the early evening of the most festive day of the year, and the Murphy family were gathered in the living room watching television together as the fire crackled softly in the background. Alice lounged on the couch with her sister, aimlessly staring at the ceiling instead of the television... she was wondering to herself why she felt so distant, so disconnected, when this was meant to be her favourite day. She was somewhat aware of her behaviour but couldn't help the feeling of emptiness...

The knock on the door seemed to surprise everyone, however it was not unusual for unexpected guests around Christmas time. "Maybe it's Carol singers," Richard Murphy smiled as he got up to answer the door. Charlotte followed excitedly, knowing that even if she couldn't hear them she wanted to see what they would look like all stood outside together singing.

However when Richard opened the door, his warm smile seemed to drop at the sight of one of the police department deputies. "Good evening, Sir. I was wondering if an Alice Murphy was available to come down to the station to answer a few questions,"

"The station?" Richard asked as Charlotte came to stand behind him and her gaze landed on the police car parked along the street. "To answer a few questions? Regarding what?"

"I can't disclose that sir," the officer replied, standing there calmly as he waited. "Is Alice Murphy here?" He asked again, but as Richard opened his mouth to speak Alice appeared by his side.

"I'm here," she said quietly, her eyes moving from her fathers to the eyes of the officer.

"Alright. Well, if you'd like to accompany me to the station-"

"I'm a minor, so my parents have to present." Alice said, stepping back from view so she could slip her sneakers on from where they were placed neatly in the shoe rack by the door. In her gut Alice knew this is what she was meant to be doing, something had been tugging her towards this situation, whatever it might be.

"Alice-" Richard protested as he watched his unnervingly calm daughter step out the door whilst pulling her coat on, ready to follow the police officer into his car. Instantly, he began to worry. Alice's behaviour was getting stranger by the second, and as Sophie came to stand by her husbands side, both of them wondered that this might be something they might have to get help for. "Should I call a lawyer?" Richard asked, remembering the morning news reel about the Wells and Rodgers murder case.

"Not yet," Sophie whispered, wanting to have faith in her daughter but even then... she felt the icy touch of doubt and suspicion touching her back...

~

Down at the police station things had pretty much stayed the same. Magnus Johnson sat in the same chair, in the same room like he had been for most of that day now, he'd barely complained verbally, but now his right leg was beginning to bounce with the growing frustration of being trapped in a small room.

The door opened again suddenly and sheriff Wilson walked back in, holding a sandwich that already had a bite out of it and a cup of coffee. "You can't hold me here all night too," Magnus muttered, glancing at the sandwich. "I've answered all your questions, I'd like to go home now." He added, speaking through gritted teeth as he tried to maintain his calmness.

"I can keep you here for twenty four hours if I want to boy," John replied and chuckled as he took a sip of coffee. "Until I'm sure you were where you say you were, you're not leaving this room."

Magnus growled under his breath and folded his arms, leaning back in his chair and returned to silence. "Let's talk about my son," John continued, sitting down as well. "Why are you friends with him?"

"Shouldn't you be asking your son why he's friends with me, instead?" Magnus replied,

"I'm asking you,"

"I don't feel like answering," Magnus smirked and sighed dramatically as he pushed his chair back slightly then put his feet up on the table. Johns upper lip raised in irritation and just as he was about to comment, there was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal the officer that had gone to collect Alice.

"Sir? Alice Murphy is here," he announced, causing both Magnus and John to look at him abruptly. "I've put her in the other room, but you have to wait for her parents because she's a minor,"

"Thanks Scott, I know that," John replied, discreetly side glaring the young officer. Scott nodded with slight embarrassment just before he left and John turned back to Magnus. "Well look at that," he sighed as he stood up, "I think it's time for the truth,"

John left the room feeling strangely smug as he made his way to question Alice Murphy, who he was still surprised that he would need to talk to at all. Her reputation, from what he'd heard from various parents, was squeaky clean. Good grades, clean record, polite, pretty, intelligent. What would a good girl like her do with someone who had a reputation like Magnus Johnson? The pair seemed like such an awkward match.

When John opened the door to the second interrogation room Alice was sat beside her mother who seemed to be muttering something quickly in French to her daughter. "Mom," Alice hissed, seemingly annoyed by her mothers distress.

"Good evening Alice, Sophie," John said kindly as he came forward to sit down, "you're probably wondering why you're here,"

"Just a little," Sophie replied, her French accent always seemed to surprise John whenever he spoke to her.

"No husband today?" John asked, them immediately wished he hadn't as both Alice and Sophie raised their eyebrows with irritation.

"My husband is in the waiting room," Sophie replied, "What is this all about? It's Christmas Day and you've got my daughter down here, for what?" Sophie demanded as Alice tucked both sides of her hair behind her ears and placed her hands calmly and clasped together in her lap.

"There's not much i can say right now because of the nature of the questions I need to ask your daughter, Mrs Murphy," John explained and looked between them. They looked so similar, with their slightly pale yet thick, long blonde hair and pale yet radiant skin, rosy cheeks and plump lips. He analysed them, seeing Sophie almost glaring at him with a motherly protectiveness and Alice sitting silently, looking at him through her lashes as though the innocent expression was meant to mask the power that seemed to radiate from her. After he'd noticed, John couldn't shake the feeling. There was something about Alice Murphy that was not quite right... but he couldn't figure out exactly what yet.

"I'd like to begin, if that's alright with you." John then said after a few moments. Alice nodded and glanced at her mother, even though there was no need. The action seemed purposeful. "Can you tell me where you were on March 18th between seven p.m and three a.m?"

Alice took in a deep breath... firstly trying to think through what she might have actually been doing on that day, and secondly what her instincts were telling to say instead. "Take your time, I know it was a long time ago," John said, seeing the concentration on her face even though she'd already figured out what to say, no one thinking back almost ten months would be able to answer quickly.

"Um... I think around that time I was with someone," Alice said in an unsure tone and then paused again. John could already feel his disappointment, and it surprised him that he wanted Magnus to be wrong so badly after meeting him so recently. "March 18th..." Alice repeated and rubbed her forehead, "Oh, it was a Thursday right?" Alice asked and John paused to look at his phone calendar. "I was with Magnus Johnson," Alice finally said, not waiting for a response as she then smiled and glanced at her mother, as if for reassurance but she knew her mother would be shocked.

"Magnus?" Sophie asked, "isn't that the boy from the restaurant? I thought you didn't like him,"

"He's alright, he was tutoring me on physics." Alice shrugged and glanced back at John whose subtle disappointed expression told her she'd said the right name. "It was a long time ago anyway, we barely talk now..."