Alone
1347 Words
The next afternoon, I make possibly the worst decision of my life.
I decide to meet Lena.
Alone.
Because apparently I have learned absolutely nothing from the past few days.
I find Leon and Sofia outside the main building after classes.
Sofia is halfway through eating a pretzel.
Leon is checking his phone.
I clear my throat.
“I need to tell you something.”
Leon looks up.
His expression immediately changes.
“What?”
“I’m meeting Lena.”
Silence.
Sofia stops chewing.
Leon slowly puts his phone away.
“When?”
“Now.”
“No.”
I blink.
“That was fast.”
“You're not going alone.”
“I have to.”
“No.”
“Leon.”
“No.”
I look at Sofia.
She nods.
“I agree with him.”
“Traitor.”
“Best friend.”
“Same thing.”
Leon steps closer.
“Where?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Amara.”
“She said she'd tell me the location.”
“Then tell us.”
“She said alone.”
“I don't care.”
“She'll run if she sees you.”
“I'll stay away.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she'll know.”
He looks frustrated.
“I can follow from a distance.”
“No.”
“Then Sofia can.”
“No.”
Sofia raises both hands.
“I'd like it noted that I am absolutely on Leon's side.”
“Both of you are being extremely annoying.”
Leon looks directly at me.
“This isn't about being annoying.”
“I know.”
“Someone is threatening you.”
“I know.”
“Someone photographed you.”
“I know.”
“Elias knows your name.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
I hesitate.
Because I need answers.
Because Lena called me.
Because every time Leon tells me there is something he can't explain, I want to shake him until the truth falls out.
“Because she might be the only person who knows what happened.”
Leon goes quiet.
Then he says softly,
“Then let me help.”
I look at him.
For one second, I almost agree.
Almost.
But Lena's voice comes back to me.
Meet me tomorrow.
Alone.
I shake my head.
“If she sees you, she'll leave.”
His jaw tightens.
“You're really doing this.”
“Yes.”
He looks away.
Then back at me.
“If you disappear on me, Okafor, I swear…”
He stops.
I wait.
He doesn't finish.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That wasn't nothing.”
“Just be careful.”
Sofia steps forward.
“Message us when you get there.”
I nod.
“And when you leave.”
“Yes.”
“And if anything feels wrong…”
“I run.”
Leon looks at me.
“Good.”
I give him a small smile.
“See? I can follow instructions.”
“Sometimes.”
“Don't ruin the moment.”
Then I leave.
The meeting spot is behind the old part of König Academy.
There is an abandoned greenhouse near the old library annex.
The school stopped using it years ago.
The glass is dusty.
Plants have taken over most of the inside.
It isn't creepy.
Exactly.
Which somehow makes it creepier.
I push open the old gate.
Nothing.
I check my phone.
No message from Lena.
I wait.
One minute.
Two.
Three.
Okay.
This is fine.
I am completely fine.
I am standing alone beside an abandoned greenhouse waiting for a girl who was supposedly threatened in Hamburg.
What could possibly go wrong?
A figure appears between the trees.
I freeze.
The girl stops.
She looks at me.
I know immediately.
Lena.
She looks different from her school photograph.
Older somehow.
Tired.
Her hair is pulled back messily.
There are shadows beneath her eyes.
She looks like someone who hasn't slept properly in a very long time.
“Amara?”
I nod.
“Lena?”
She gives a tiny nod.
For a second, neither of us moves.
Then she comes closer.
“You came alone.”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell Leon?”
I hesitate.
“No.”
She exhales.
“Good.”
I don't like how relieved she sounds.
“Why did you call me?”
She looks toward the school.
“Because I needed someone who wasn't connected to Hamburg.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“I’m pretty connected now.”
She almost smiles.
“Unfortunately.”
Okay.
I like her already.
Then her expression becomes serious.
“Elias didn't hurt me.”
I stare at her.
“What?”
“I know what you've been thinking.”
“How?”
“He would make you think that.”
“Then who hurt you?”
Lena looks down.
“I can't tell you.”
I sigh.
She gives me a sad little smile.
Then she looks at me again.
“Elias covered for someone.”
My stomach drops.
“Who?”
“I don't know if he still is.”
“What happened that night?”
“Leon was there.”
“I know.”
“So was Elias.”
“I know.”
“Leon made a mistake.”
My heart tightens.
“What kind?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Lena.”
“He knows.”
She looks straight at me.
“He knows more than he's told you.”
I swallow.
“How much more?”
“Enough to be afraid.”
That sentence sits between us.
Then Lena's phone buzzes.
She looks at it.
Her face goes pale.
“What?”
She doesn't answer.
I step closer.
“Lena?”
She looks toward the school.
“We need to leave.”
“Why?”
She shows me the screen.
One message.
Where is she?
My stomach drops.
“Who sent that?”
“Elias.”
I stare at the message.
“How does he know?”
“I don't know.”
Another buzz.
Lena looks at me.
“He's tracking me.”
My blood runs cold.
“Then this wasn't a secret meeting.”
“No.”
“Was I supposed to be here?”
“I thought I could keep him away from you.”
“Well, that went brilliantly.”
She grabs my hand.
“Come on.”
We move toward the greenhouse exit.
Then my phone buzzes.
Leon.
Where are you?
I stop.
Lena looks at me.
“Don't answer.”
“But he needs to know.”
“Not yet.”
Another message appears.
Amara?
I stare at it.
Leon knows something is wrong.
Of course he does.
He always knows.
I start typing.
Then Lena pulls my hand gently.
“Please.”
I look at her.
She looks terrified.
Not mysterious.
Not dangerous.
Terrified.
“Lena, what did Leon do?”
She shakes her head.
“Not what you think.”
“Then what?”
“He knows why I left.”
My chest tightens.
“And he knows who was responsible.”
I stare at her.
“Who?”
She looks toward the trees.
“I can't say.”
“Why?”
“Because if Elias finds us…”
She stops.
Footsteps sound somewhere outside.
Lena grips my hand tighter.
My heart slams against my ribs.
“Amara.”
“What?”
Her voice drops to a whisper.
“If Elias finds us, you need to run.”
I stare at her.
“Run where?”
“Anywhere.”
Another sound.
Closer.
Lena looks at me.
“Don't look for me again unless Leon tells you the truth about Hamburg.”
My stomach drops.
“What truth?”
She doesn't answer.
She just squeezes my hand.
And suddenly I understand something.
I didn't come here to find Lena.
I came here because Lena wanted me to find the truth.
And whatever that truth is, someone is terrified I will find it.
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