You Have Reached Sam

The Boy with a Bloody Knuckles

Chapter Three: The Boy with the Bloody Knuckles

The name Nathan Cross carried weight.

People spoke it in whispers. They said he’d been arrested twice—but the charges never stuck. That he once beat a guy so bad the dude had to leave town. That he could make people disappear if they crossed him.

And now, Sam had been with him the night she vanished.

I needed answers.

I found him behind The Pit—the unofficial fight club hidden in the abandoned gym near the west side of campus. The place was packed, the air thick with sweat and cigarette smoke. Guys cheered as two fighters circled each other, bare fists raised.

I spotted him instantly.

Nathan stood at the edge of the ring, rolling his shoulders, his muscles tense beneath his black hoodie. He looked like he belonged to the shadows, the kind of guy who could ruin you with just a look.

And then I saw his hands.

Bloodied. Bruised. Like he had just beaten someone within an inch of their life.

A fresh wave of fear curled in my stomach, but I forced myself to move.

"Nathan," I called out.

He turned slowly, his dark eyes locking onto mine. Something flickered in them—recognition.

"You’re Sam’s friend," he said, voice low, unreadable.

The way he said her name—like it meant something. Like she wasn’t just some random girl he got involved with.

"Where is she?" I demanded.

His expression didn’t change. "I don’t know."

"Liar."

Something in his jaw twitched, but he didn’t deny it.

"What happened last night?" I pressed. "Why was she with you? Why would she—"

"Because she wanted to," he cut me off. "Because she wasn’t the person you thought she was."

A chill ran through me. "What are you talking about?"

Nathan exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. "Sam was—" He hesitated, then shook his head. "She had enemies. More than you know. If she’s missing, it’s not because of me. It’s because of what she was involved in."

"What was she involved in?"

He stepped closer, voice dropping to a whisper.

"You really want to know?"

"Yes."

He studied me for a long moment, then smirked. "Then you better start running."

My stomach twisted. "What—"

Before I could finish, someone screamed.

A girl near the entrance was holding up a phone, her face pale. The crowd went silent as a video started playing on the screen.

I pushed forward, my pulse pounding. And when I saw it, my blood ran cold.

It was Sam.

The footage was grainy, but there was no mistaking it. She was standing in a dimly lit hallway—eyes wide, breath shallow, looking over her shoulder like she was being chased.

And then, suddenly, a gloved hand grabbed her from behind.

She struggled—then the screen went black.

The video ended.

I turned to Nathan. He wasn’t smirking anymore.

"Still think you don’t know anything?" I asked, my voice shaking.

His jaw clenched.

"Looks like we both have a problem," he said darkly. "Because someone just made sure Sam was never found."

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Next Chapter Preview:

✔️ MC and Nathan form an uneasy alliance to find Sam before it’s too late.

✔️ A dangerous secret from Sam’s past comes to light—**one that could get them both killed.