**Chapter 7: Interrogation and Desperation**

A few hours had passed since Ashley was thrown back into her cell, and she had lost all sense of time. The darkness seemed to be suffocating her, and she was starting to lose hope. But then, the door to her cell swung open, and the angry officer stood in the entrance, his eyes blazing with intensity. "Time for more questions, I think," he growled, pulling Ashley out of the cell and back into the interrogation room. Ashley was seated in the same chair, her wrists still sore from the handcuffs. The officer sat across from her, a stern expression on his face. "We're going to take some photos and collect some DNA evidence," he said, his voice firm. "And then, we're going to talk to the girl's family." Ashley's heart sank as she realized what was happening. She was being treated like a suspect, and it was all starting to feel very real. The officer stood up and led Ashley to a small room with a camera and a DNA collection kit. Ashley's eyes welled up with tears as she was photographed from different angles, her fingerprints taken, and a swab of her DNA collected. When it was all over, the officer took Ashley back to the interrogation room, where a grieving family was waiting for her. Ashley's eyes widened as she saw the family, their faces etched with pain and sadness. The officer introduced them as the parents of the victim, and Ashley felt a pang of guilt and fear. What did they think she had done? The mother of the victim looked at Ashley with tears in her eyes and said, "We've never seen you before. We don't know who you are." The angry officer slammed his hand on the table, making Ashley jump. "Don't play dumb with us," he yelled. "We know you're involved. Tell the truth." Ashley broke down, tears streaming down her face. "I am telling the truth," she cried. "I never saw that girl. I swear, I don't know her. I never hurt anybody." The officer's face turned red with anger, and Ashley could see the fury in his eyes. "Don't lie to us," he spat. "We have evidence. We know you're involved." Ashley shook her head, feeling desperation wash over her. "No, I'm telling the truth," she repeated, her voice shaking with fear. "Please, you have to believe me."