Chapter 8: 7:42 Again
1378 Words
Daniela barely slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same thing.
The photograph.
The purple writing.
And those words:
ASK DANIEL WHERE HE WAS AT 7:42.
By morning, she had already changed her mind about asking him at least five times.
Maybe she should tell Amara first.
Maybe she should tell a teacher.
Maybe she should ignore everything and pretend none of this was happening.
But then she remembered the first message.
And the video.
Someone had been watching her.
That wasn't something she could simply ignore.
“Daniela!”
She jumped.
Her mother stood at the doorway.
“You're going to school or you're planning to sleep there?”
Daniela looked at the time.
7:18.
“I'm coming!”
She grabbed her bag and rushed out.
---
By the time Daniela entered Dansol High, the compound was already noisy.
Students were everywhere.
Someone was running because they were late.
A prefect was shouting at two boys to tuck in their shirts.
Near the canteen, a group of girls were laughing over something on a phone.
Everything looked normal.
But Daniela knew better now.
She kept looking around.
Searching.
Watching.
At exactly 7:42, her phone vibrated.
Daniela stopped walking.
She slowly pulled it out.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
Look behind you.
Her heart jumped.
She didn't turn immediately.
Instead, she looked at the reflection on her phone screen.
Someone was standing several metres behind her.
A boy.
School uniform.
Backpack.
Cap.
Daniela turned.
The boy was gone.
“Daniela!”
She spun around again.
It was Amara.
“Jesus!” Daniela exclaimed.
Amara laughed.
“Why are you looking like you've seen ghost?”
“You scared me!”
“Sorry, Madam Detective.”
Daniela quickly showed her the message.
Amara's smile disappeared.
“Again?”
Daniela nodded.
“Exactly at 7:42.”
Amara looked at the time.
7:43.
“Okay.”
She lowered her voice.
“This is officially not funny anymore.”
“It was never funny.”
“I know.”
They walked toward their classroom.
Then Amara stopped.
“Wait.”
“What?”
She pointed ahead.
Daniel was standing near the classroom door.
He was looking at them.
More specifically, he was looking at Daniela.
Amara whispered,
“Perfect timing.”
Daniela swallowed.
“Yeah.”
Daniel walked toward them.
“Morning.”
“Morning,” Daniela replied.
He looked at her.
“You okay?”
“Fine.”
“You don't look fine.”
“I said I'm fine.”
Daniel frowned.
Amara looked between them.
“I'll go inside.”
She disappeared into the classroom.
Daniel stepped closer.
“What happened?”
Daniela stared at him.
“Where were you yesterday at 7:42?”
Daniel's expression changed instantly.
For a second, he didn't speak.
Then he said,
“Why?”
“Just answer.”
“I was here.”
“Where?”
“Near the football field.”
“Doing what?”
“Training.”
Daniela watched his face carefully.
“Were you alone?”
“No.”
“Who was with you?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Why are you asking all these questions?”
“Because I need to know.”
“Daniela…”
“Were you at the old classroom block?”
He went quiet.
That silence was enough.
Daniela's heart sank.
“You were.”
“I didn't say that.”
“But you didn't say no.”
Daniel looked around.
“Not here.”
“Then where?”
He lowered his voice.
“I saw someone.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“A boy?”
Daniel nodded.
“What did he look like?”
“I couldn't see his face.”
Daniela's stomach tightened.
“Was he holding a phone?”
Daniel stared at her.
“How did you know?”
Daniela froze.
There it was.
Confirmation.
She had never told him about the phone.
Daniel noticed her expression.
“What?”
“You just answered my question.”
“What question?”
“You said he was holding a phone.”
Daniel looked confused.
“You asked if he was holding one.”
“No.”
Daniela took a step back.
“I asked if he was holding a phone. You said yes.”
“So?”
“So how did you know what I was talking about?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Then he said quietly,
“Because I saw him filming.”
Daniela's heart started pounding.
“You saw him?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't know who he was.”
“You could have told me!”
“I was trying to protect you!”
“From what?”
Daniel looked at her.
“From the person who sent you those messages.”
Daniela's voice dropped.
“You know who it is?”
“No.”
“Daniel.”
“I don't.”
She stared at him.
Something about his voice sounded genuine.
But she couldn't tell anymore.
Suddenly, Daniel's phone buzzed.
He checked it.
His face went pale.
“What?”
He locked the phone immediately.
“Nothing.”
“Show me.”
“No.”
“Daniel!”
He stepped back.
“Please trust me.”
Daniela laughed bitterly.
“That is exactly what the message told me not to do.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What message?”
Before she could answer, the school bell rang.
Students began rushing into the classrooms.
Daniel walked away.
Daniela watched him go.
Something was definitely wrong.
She just didn't know what.
---
During break, Amara dragged Daniela behind the classroom block.
“So?”
“So what?”
“What did Daniel say?”
Daniela told her everything.
Amara listened without interrupting.
When Daniela finished, Amara shook her head.
“This is mad.”
“I know.”
“But there's one thing.”
“What?”
“If Daniel saw the person filming, then why was his badge visible in the picture?”
Daniela froze.
Exactly.
That was the question.
Then she remembered something.
“The photograph could have been taken after he left.”
Amara nodded.
“True.”
“Or…”
Daniela stopped.
“Or what?”
“What if Daniel wasn't the person filming?”
Amara frowned.
“Then why does the person have a D badge?”
Daniela looked at her.
“Maybe it's not Daniel's badge.”
Amara's eyes widened.
“You mean another student with a name starting with D?”
“Exactly.”
They looked at each other.
For the first time, the possibility felt real.
Amara whispered,
“There are plenty of them.”
“Then we need to find out which one.”
A voice suddenly came from behind them.
“You're looking for the wrong person.”
Both girls froze.
They slowly turned.
A boy stood several feet away.
He was holding a football.
Daniela recognised him.
Daniel's friend.
“Who are you talking about?” Amara asked.
The boy looked directly at Daniela.
“Daniel.”
Daniela's stomach dropped.
“What about him?”
The boy shook his head.
“You shouldn't trust him.”
Amara folded her arms.
“And why should we trust you?”
The boy smiled slightly.
“You shouldn't.”
Then he walked away.
Daniela watched him disappear around the corner.
Amara whispered,
“Okay…”
“What?”
“I officially hate this school.”
Daniela almost laughed.
But then she noticed something on the ground where the boy had been standing.
A purple marker.
And beside it—
a small silver crown sticker.
Daniela bent down slowly.
Her face went pale.
The same crown.
The exact same one from the noticeboard.
She picked it up.
Amara stared at it.
“Daniela…”
“I know.”
“No.”
Amara pointed behind her.
Daniela turned.
Written across the wall in purple marker were three words:
7:42. TOMORROW.
Daniela stared at them.
Then her phone buzzed.
One final message appeared.
UNKNOWN NUMBER:
This time, don't come alone.
Daniela looked at Amara.
Amara looked back at her.
Neither of them spoke.
Because they both knew one thing.
Whatever was going to happen at 7:42 tomorrow…
wasn't going to be another warning.
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