CHAPTER 9: Five Against The Unknown
2731 Words
For the first time, none of us spoke.
The message remained on Adrian's phone.
You should have stayed that night.
Now she knows.
Let's see how long she stays.
I read the last line again.
Then again.
Parang may malamig na tubig na biglang ibinuhos sa buong katawan ko.
Mika was the first one to move.
“Lia, come here.”
She pulled me closer to her.
Adrian immediately stood.
“I'm taking her home.”
Sofia shook her head.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“You shouldn't take her anywhere alone.”
“I won't let anything happen to her.”
“I know,” Sofia said. “But that's exactly why we shouldn't separate.”
Adrian stared at her.
She continued.
“If someone is watching you, they could be watching her. If they know where she is, they might know where you are too.”
Carlo looked around the classroom.
“So basically…”
He swallowed.
“We're all in trouble?”
Dani sighed.
“That's a very comforting way to put it.”
“I'm trying to process.”
“I know.”
I looked at all four of them.
They were scared.
I could see it.
But nobody left.
Nobody said, This is too much.
Nobody told me to deal with it alone.
They stayed.
All four of them.
As they always did.
Adrian looked at me.
“Lia.”
I looked at him.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded.
“I'm scared.”
He moved closer.
“I know.”
“But I'm not going home alone.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
Mika raised her hand.
“Neither are we.”
Carlo pointed at himself.
“Obviously.”
Dani smiled faintly.
“Five friends.”
Sofia corrected him.
“Six.”
Everyone looked at Adrian.
He smiled weakly.
“Six.”
For some reason, that made me smile too.
Even for just a second.
We decided to leave the classroom together.
No one walked alone.
Adrian stayed beside me.
Mika and Sofia walked behind us.
Dani and Carlo stayed ahead.
It felt ridiculous.
Parang may security team kami.
But nobody complained.
When we reached the university gate, Adrian stopped.
“Where are you going?”
I looked at him.
“Home.”
“I'll come with you.”
I hesitated.
Then nodded.
Mika immediately said, “We'll come too.”
I looked at her.
“You don't have to.”
“Yes, we do.”
Sofia nodded.
“Until we're sure what's happening.”
Carlo raised his hand.
“I vote for food first.”
Dani looked at him.
“Of course you do.”
“I'm stressed.”
“You're always hungry.”
“Exactly.”
We ended up going to a small restaurant near campus.
It was weird.
Terrifying situation.
Very normal dinner.
Five friends.
One athlete.
And a table full of food.
For a few minutes, nobody talked about Ethan.
Nobody talked about Marcus.
Nobody talked about the messages.
We just ate.
Then Carlo suddenly looked at Adrian.
“So…”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“So?”
“You're really a famous athlete?”
Mika laughed.
“Carlo.”
“What? I never asked.”
Adrian smiled.
“I guess.”
“How famous?”
“Not that famous.”
Carlo looked offended.
“You literally have people asking for pictures.”
“That's normal.”
“No, that's celebrity behavior.”
Dani laughed.
Adrian looked at me.
“Do you think I'm famous?”
I shrugged.
“A little.”
“A little?”
“Okay. Maybe more than a little.”
He smiled.
I rolled my eyes.
“Don't get excited.”
“Too late.”
Mika smiled.
“There they are.”
I looked at her.
“What?”
“The old you two.”
I smiled.
Maybe she was right.
For a few minutes, I forgot everything.
Then Sofia's phone vibrated.
She looked at it.
Her expression changed.
“What?”
I asked.
She slowly turned her phone around.
It was a new social media account.
No profile picture.
No followers.
No posts except one.
A photograph.
It was our group.
Taken earlier that afternoon.
Outside the engineering building.
All six of us were visible.
My heart stopped.
“That's impossible.”
Mika grabbed the phone.
“Who took this?”
Carlo looked outside.
“Maybe someone from campus.”
Sofia shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Look at the angle.”
We all looked.
The photo had been taken from across the street.
Far enough that whoever took it wasn't part of our group.
Dani's voice became quiet.
“We were inside the building.”
I looked at Adrian.
His jaw tightened.
“Someone was watching.”
My stomach turned.
“Us?”
He looked at me.
“Probably me.”
Sofia shook her head.
“Maybe not.”
She pointed at the caption.
There were only three words.
“Five friends. Six now.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Carlo whispered—
“That's not funny.”
“No,” Adrian said.
“It isn't.”
We left the restaurant immediately.
Adrian called his manager.
Sofia suggested contacting campus security.
This time, I agreed.
We reported the account and showed the messages.
The security officer told us they would check the nearby cameras.
But the waiting was unbearable.
I sat beside Mika.
She held my hand.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Same.”
I smiled weakly.
“At least you're honest.”
“Always.”
Sofia was talking to the officer.
Carlo and Dani were standing near the entrance.
Adrian was on the phone.
I watched him.
He looked different.
His shoulders were tense.
His eyes kept moving.
He was constantly checking the street.
I realized something.
This wasn't the first time he'd been afraid.
He was just better at hiding it.
When he ended the call, he came toward us.
“What did your manager say?” Sofia asked.
“He's sending someone.”
“Who?”
“Security.”
Carlo frowned.
“Personal security?”
Adrian nodded.
I looked at him.
“You have personal security?”
He shrugged.
“Sometimes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't think it mattered.”
I laughed without humor.
“Everything matters now.”
He looked down.
“I know.”
I sighed.
“Sorry.”
“No.”
He sat beside me.
“You don't have to apologize.”
I looked at him.
“I feel like I'm dragging everyone into this.”
Mika immediately shook her head.
“No.”
“But—”
“No,” she repeated.
“You didn't ask for this.”
Sofia nodded.
“None of us did.”
Dani smiled.
“But we're already here.”
Carlo raised his hand.
“And I'm not leaving because I still want that dinner.”
Everyone laughed.
Even Adrian.
“That's your reason?” Mika asked.
“It's an important reason.”
I smiled.
For the first time that night, I felt like I could breathe.
Around ten in the evening, we finally left.
The security officer told us that the cameras didn't capture a clear face.
Of course.
Whoever had been watching knew what they were doing.
Adrian insisted on taking me home.
This time, nobody argued.
Mika hugged me before leaving.
“Call me when you get inside.”
“I will.”
Sofia hugged me too.
“Don't turn your phone off.”
“I won't.”
Dani smiled.
“Message us.”
“I will.”
Carlo pointed at me.
“Don't do anything stupid.”
I laughed.
“That's your job.”
“Fair.”
They left.
Adrian and I stood beside his car.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally, he said—
“I'm sorry.”
I looked at him.
“For what?”
“For bringing this into your life.”
“You didn't bring it.”
“I did.”
“Adrian.”
He looked at me.
“You didn't choose what happened three years ago.”
“But I chose to hide it.”
I was quiet.
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
I took a breath.
“I'm still angry.”
“You should be.”
“But I'm also scared.”
“I know.”
“And I don't want to lose you.”
His expression softened.
“I don't want to lose you either.”
I looked away.
“This is confusing.”
“I know.”
“You're supposed to be the simple part of my life.”
He smiled sadly.
“I was hoping to be.”
“You were.”
He looked at me.
“Was?”
I nodded.
“Before all this.”
He was quiet.
Then he opened the car door.
“Come on.”
The drive to my house was quiet.
I watched the city lights through the window.
Adrian kept one hand on the steering wheel.
The other rested near the gear shift.
I looked at it.
Then reached over.
He glanced at me.
I held his hand.
He smiled.
“Still scared?”
“Yes.”
“Me too.”
I squeezed his hand.
“Then don't lie to me anymore.”
“I won't.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
This time, I believed him.
Not completely.
But enough.
When we arrived, he parked across the street.
I looked at my house.
“Thanks.”
He nodded.
“Call me when you're inside.”
“I will.”
I opened the door.
Then stopped.
“Adrian.”
“Hm?”
“Thank you for telling me.”
He smiled.
“You're welcome.”
I got out.
Walked toward our gate.
Then turned around.
He was still there.
Waiting.
I smiled.
He smiled back.
For a second, everything felt normal.
Then I entered the house.
I messaged the group.
Me:
I'm home.
Mika replied immediately.
Mika:
GOOD.
Carlo:
Carlo:
Alive?
Me:
Yes.
Carlo:
Excellent.
Dani:
Dani:
Lock your doors.
Sofia:
Sofia:
And windows.
I laughed.
Then another message appeared.
Adrian.
Adrian:
Good night, Engineer.
I smiled.
Me:
Good night, Athlete.
I put my phone down.
For the first time all day, I felt tired.
I changed clothes.
Washed my face.
Got into bed.
I tried not to think.
But my brain refused.
The picture.
The account.
Marcus.
Ethan.
The accident.
The notebook.
The second swimmer.
The messages.
I closed my eyes.
Then—
Knock.
My eyes opened.
I froze.
Another knock.
Three slow knocks.
My heart started racing.
I sat up.
Maybe it was my mother.
Maybe my father.
Maybe—
Another knock.
I quietly got out of bed.
I walked toward the hallway.
“Mom?”
No answer.
I checked my parents' room.
They were asleep.
My heart started pounding.
I returned to the front door.
I didn't open it.
I looked through the small window.
Nobody.
I stepped back.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I opened it.
Unknown:
Don't open the door.
My blood ran cold.
I stared at the message.
Another one arrived.
Unknown:
He's not outside.
I looked toward the door.
Another message.
Unknown:
Look behind you.
I froze.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
I turned around.
Nothing.
Just the dark hallway.
I grabbed my phone.
My hands were shaking.
I called Adrian.
He answered immediately.
“Lia?”
I whispered.
“Someone is outside.”
“What?”
“I heard knocking.”
“Are you inside?”
“Yes.”
“Don't open the door.”
“I know.”
“Lock everything.”
“I did.”
“Stay away from the windows.”
I moved backward.
“Someone messaged me.”
“What did they say?”
I told him.
He became silent.
Then—
“Lia.”
“What?”
“Are you sure no one is inside?”
My entire body froze.
“What?”
“Check your parents.”
“They're asleep.”
“Wake them up.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
I ran to their room.
“Mom.”
She woke up.
“What happened?”
“Someone knocked.”
She sat up.
“What?”
“Someone was outside.”
My father woke up too.
“What is happening?”
I showed them the messages.
My father immediately stood.
He checked the doors.
Everything was locked.
Then he checked the windows.
Nothing.
My phone vibrated again.
I looked down.
Another message.
Unknown:
Good girl.
Then another.
Unknown:
Now ask Adrian who was inside the house that night.
I stared at it.
My breathing stopped.
I called Adrian again.
He answered.
“Lia?”
I couldn't speak.
“Lia?”
“Someone asked me…”
My voice shook.
“Who was inside the house that night?”
Silence.
“What house?”
“Ethan's.”
Adrian didn't answer.
I closed my eyes.
“Adrian?”
He finally spoke.
“There was no house.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“There was no house that night.”
“Then what are they talking about?”
“I don't know.”
Another message appeared.
I looked at it.
My heart dropped.
Unknown:
He is lying.
I stared at the screen.
Then a final message arrived.
Unknown:
Because he wasn't the only one who was there.
I looked at Adrian's name on my phone.
And suddenly, a horrible thought entered my mind.
Maybe the question wasn't—
Who killed Ethan?
Maybe the real question was—
Who else survived that night?
The next morning, the five of us met before class.
I told them everything.
Mika looked horrified.
“Someone came to your house?”
“I don't know if they did.”
“They knew where you lived.”
“Yes.”
Sofia was already writing everything down.
“Time?”
“Around eleven forty.”
“Exact message?”
I showed her.
Dani looked at Adrian.
“You really don't know who the second person was?”
Adrian shook his head.
“I thought Marcus was the only one.”
Carlo frowned.
“Thought?”
Adrian looked at him.
“I don't remember everything.”
Silence.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He looked at me.
“I hit my head that night.”
My stomach sank.
“What?”
“I didn't tell you.”
“Obviously.”
He looked down.
“I woke up the next morning in the hospital.”
I stared at him.
“You were hospitalized?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you remember?”
“I had a concussion.”
Sofia slowly lowered her notebook.
“Wait.”
Everyone looked at her.
She turned to Adrian.
“If you had a concussion…”
She paused.
“Then how do you know you were the last person who saw Ethan?”
Adrian became silent.
“I don't.”
My heart dropped.
“What?”
He looked at me.
“I only remember leaving.”
“Then everything after that—”
“I don't remember.”
Sofia's face became pale.
“Then the official story might be wrong.”
Dani whispered—
“And Adrian might not know what really happened.”
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone vibrated.
All five of us looked at it.
Another unknown message.
This time, there was no text.
Only a photograph.
I opened it.
My hands went cold.
It was an old photograph of Ethan.
But he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood Adrian.
And behind them—
A sixth person.
Someone none of us had seen before.
At the bottom of the photo was a date.
Three years ago.
And beneath it, one sentence:
“Ask him who took this picture.”
I looked at Adrian.
He stared at the photograph.
Then his face completely changed.
“Lia…”
“What?”
He pointed at the person standing behind Ethan.
His voice was barely audible.
“I know him.”
“Who is he?”
Adrian swallowed.
“He's the reason Ethan died.”
I stared at the photograph.
And for the first time, I realized something terrifying.
The person who had been sending us messages wasn't just watching our story.
He had been part of it from the beginning.
- Writer
