Untitled
539 Words
CHAPTER THREE : Whispers in the halls
By morning, the message still burned behind Amara's eyes.
The last girl who didn't listen...
She reread it while brushing her teeth, while tying her boots, while pulling on her jacket.No reply followed.No explanation.Just silence the kind that felt intentional.
At school, silence didn't last.
It never did.
She noticed it in the way conversations stopped when she approached. In the way phones were tilted away too quickly. In the way a girl she'd never spoken to whispered something and laughed as Amara passed.
By second period, she heard her name.
By lunch, she heard the story.
"... Lucas hates her".
"...She thinks she's special".
"... Ethan's already obsessed".
Amara sat at an empty table, appetite gone,hands clenched beneath it.
She hadn't done anything.
And yet, somehow, she was already guilty.
Ethan found her again.
"You okay?" he asked, sliding into the seat across from her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
She hesitated " People are talking".
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck."Yeah...North Ridge gets bored easily".
"That's all it is".
He didn't answer immediately.
"Lucas has history", Ethan said carefully. "When he's involved, things get messy".
Her pulse quickened, "What kind of history?".
Before he could respond, a tray slammed down beside them.
Lucas.
The cafeteria went quiet in that subtle, dangerous way.
"Didn't know this was reserved", Lucas said flatly, eyes on Ethan.
Ethan stood."Leave her alone".
Lucas laughed softly. "You don't get to decide that".
Amara pushed to her feet."Both of you stop".
Lucas's gaze flicked to her.Sharp.Assessing.
"You should be smarter than this".
Ethan stepped between them."Back off".
For a second, Amara thought Lucas might swing.
Instead, he leaned in close to Ethan's ear and whispered something Amara couldn't hear.
Ethan went pale.
Lucas straightened and looked at Amara one last time.
"I tried to warn you".
Then he walked away.
The rest of the day felt unreal.
In math, Amara found her notebook missing.In biology, someone had scribble GO HOME on her desk.
In the hallway, a shoulder slammed into hers hard enough to sting.
No one apologized.
When the final bell rang, relief crashed over her- until she reached her locker.
It was dented.
Her lock lay broken on the floor.
Inside,her books were soaked.
Sticky.
Ruined.
Taped to the locker door was a piece of paper.
LEAVE BEFORE IT GETS WORSE.
Her throat closed.
She didn't tell her aunt.
She told herself she was strong enough. That she'd survive worse.
That night, she sat on her bed scrolling through old photos- home, laughter, warmth- wondering when exactly she'd traded all that for this cold, hostile place.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
I said stay away.
She typed back furiously.
You did this?.
The reply came instantly.
No.This is what happens when people start noticing you.
Her hands shook.
Then help me.
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Then the final message arrived.
Meet me tomorrow after school. Behind the GYM.
Her breath hitched.
Before she could respond, another message followed.
Come alone Amara stared at the screen, heart racing. Outside, snow fell heavier than ever.
And she realised something terrifying.
Whatever Lucas was hiding...
She was already part of it.
- Writer
