**Confronting the Past**

Natalie's eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at Emma's face, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle, but with a hint of caution. Emma hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the thoughts that had been swirling in her mind. She had been on the verge of sharing her fears and anxieties with Natalie, but something held her back. "I was just thinking about Rory," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. Natalie's entire demeanor changed in an instant. Her eyes froze, her pupils dilating slightly as she took a step back. Her face went pale, and her lips parted slightly, as if she was about to speak but couldn't find the words. Emma noticed the change in Natalie's expression and felt a shiver run down her spine. "Rory?" Natalie repeated, her voice low and husky. "What about him?" Emma took a deep breath, sensing that something was off. "I was just thinking about his death," she said, her words hanging in the air like a challenge. "The police never found out who killed him. I've always wondered if it was that girl who was stalking him." Natalie's eyes seemed to glaze over, and she took another step back, her movements stiff and mechanical. Emma noticed that Natalie's hands were clenched into fists, and her knuckles were white. "What girl?" Natalie asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Emma's eyes locked onto Natalie's, and she felt a jolt of unease. "The one who was obsessed with him," she said, her words dripping with emotion. "The one who was threatening him. I've always wondered if she was responsible for his death." The air seemed to thicken, and the room grew quiet. Natalie's eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape route. Emma's heart sank, and she felt a sense of foreboding. She took a step forward, her hand reaching out to Natalie. "Natalie, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. But Natalie just stood there, her eyes fixed on some point in the distance. Her face was pale, and her lips were pressed together. Emma could see the tension building in Natalie's body, and she felt a sense of unease. She knew that she had to tread carefully, to avoid pushing Natalie further into the abyss. And then, in a flash of insight, Emma saw it. The look on Natalie's face, the way she was frozen in place. It was a look of guilt, of shame. Emma's heart skipped a beat as she realized that Natalie knew something about Rory's death. Something that she wasn't telling.