CHAPTER TWELVE
803 Words
The classroom fell silent.
The projector screen faded to black, leaving Amelia and Oliver standing in darkness. The only sound was the soft hum of the old machine and their uneven breathing.
Amelia turned to him slowly.
“What was that?”
Oliver couldn’t answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the blank screen, as though he were seeing something Amelia couldn’t.
“Oliver.”
Nothing.
She stepped closer.
“You knew that video existed, didn’t you?”
He finally looked at her.
“I hoped no one would ever find it.”
“So it’s real.”
“…Yes.”
Amelia’s heart sank.
“The people in the video were you, Daniel, Ethan… and someone else.”
Oliver nodded.
“There were four of us.”
“Who was the fourth?”
His jaw tightened.
“I can’t tell you.”
Frustration flashed across Amelia’s face.
“You can’t or you won’t?”
“They’re not the same thing.”
Before Amelia could press him further, the projector flickered again.
Static filled the room.
Then another message appeared.
THE PAST NEVER STAYS BURIED.
A loud click echoed through the classroom.
The locked door swung open by itself.
Oliver grabbed Amelia’s wrist.
“We’re leaving.”
Neither of them argued.
They hurried into the hallway.
By the time they reached the corridor, the projector had gone silent once more.
When Oliver looked back…
Room 214 was dark.
As if no one had been there.
Outside, the cool night air hit Amelia’s face.
She stopped beneath one of the old oak trees.
“I’m tired of this.”
Oliver faced her.
“So am I.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I’m tired of being treated like I don’t deserve the truth.”
“You deserve it.”
“Then tell me.”
Oliver looked toward the East Wing.
“When Daniel died…”
He paused.
“The police called it an accident.”
“But?”
“It wasn’t that simple.”
Amelia held her breath.
“We went into the East Wing after curfew.”
“Why?”
“There were rumors.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“That something valuable had been hidden there years ago.”
“You believed them?”
“We were sixteen.”
A sad smile crossed his face.
“We thought it was just another adventure.”
“What happened?”
Oliver closed his eyes.
“We heard someone following us.”
The memory seemed to pull him somewhere else.
“We ran.”
His voice became quieter.
“There was shouting.”
“A door slammed.”
“Then Daniel…”
He stopped.
Amelia waited.
“…Daniel fell.”
Silence.
“Did you see him fall?”
Oliver opened his eyes.
“No.”
“Then how do you know?”
“Because when I turned around…”
“…he was gone.”
The next morning, St. Victoria’s Academy buzzed with fresh gossip.
Students crowded around the notice board.
Amelia squeezed through the crowd.
A new announcement had been posted.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE AUTUMN CHARITY FAIR
“Looks fun.”
Chloe appeared beside her.
“We should sign up.”
Amelia forced a smile.
“Maybe.”
“You’ve been distracted lately.”
“I’m okay.”
“You keep saying that.”
Before Amelia could answer, Principal Whitmore’s voice echoed across the courtyard.
“Oliver Hayes.”
Every head turned.
The principal stood outside his office.
“I need to see you.”
Immediately.”
Oliver nodded once.
“I’ll be there.”
As he walked away, whispers followed him.
“What did he do?”
“Is this about the projector?”
“Maybe he’s getting suspended.”
Claire watched from across the courtyard, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.
That afternoon…
Oliver didn’t return to class.
Not for English.
Not for History.
Not even basketball practice.
Coach Daniels looked worried.
“Has anyone heard from Captain Hayes?”
No one answered.
Liam frowned.
“This isn’t like him.”
Amelia’s stomach twisted.
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Classes ended under a gray sky.
Rain began to fall as Amelia crossed the courtyard alone.
She reached her locker.
Inside…
There was another envelope.
No name.
No handwriting.
Just a small black feather taped to the front.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed Oliver leaving the principal’s office earlier that day.
But he wasn’t alone.
Standing beside him…
Was the fourth boy from the old video.
The one whose face had always been hidden.
Except now…
His face was perfectly clear.
Amelia stared at it.
Her blood ran cold.
The boy wasn’t dead.
He was alive.
And written beneath the photograph were six chilling words.
Ask Oliver why he lied.
- Writer
