Chapter Two :When the World Turned Its Back (Part Five)
849 Words
The next morning, Evergreen University was buzzing with excitement.
The Faculty of Engineering had announced that the shortlisted teams for the National Engineering Innovation Challenge would be presented that afternoon.
Students crowded the hallways, discussing predictions.
Most believed Brandon's team would be selected without difficulty.
After all, their project was considered the best submission of the year.
Only a handful of people knew the truth.
---
Kane arrived early and met Ethan outside the Administrative Building.
"You brought everything?" Ethan asked.
Kane lifted a black document folder.
"Everything Liana collected."
"Good."
"And I managed to recover some deleted files from my laptop."
Ethan smiled.
"Perfect."
"The more evidence we have, the harder it will be for anyone to cover this up."
Just then, Liana joined them.
She wore a simple white blouse and dark jeans, carrying the familiar brown envelope.
"Good morning."
Kane smiled.
"Morning."
There was a warmth between them now that hadn't existed a week earlier.
They no longer spoke like strangers.
They spoke like people who trusted each other.
---
Professor Okafor welcomed them into his office.
"I've been expecting you."
Kane placed the folder on the desk.
Liana added the photographs and notebook.
Ethan carefully arranged the documents in chronological order.
For nearly an hour, Professor Okafor examined every page without saying a word.
The office remained silent except for the sound of turning paper.
Finally, he removed his glasses.
"This..."
He looked directly at Kane.
"...is compelling evidence."
Relief washed over Kane's face.
"But," the professor continued, "before I make any accusations, I must hear the other side."
He reached for his office telephone.
"Please ask Mr. Brandon Cole and his teammates to report to my office immediately."
---
Twenty minutes later...
A knock sounded on the door.
"Come in."
Brandon entered confidently with Victor, Kelvin, and Desmond.
Their smiles faded the moment they saw Kane, Liana, and Ethan already inside.
Professor Okafor folded his hands.
"I have received allegations concerning your Innovation Challenge project."
Brandon forced a confused expression.
"Allegations, sir?"
"Yes."
"Mr. Williams claims that the project belongs to him."
Brandon looked shocked.
"Sir..."
"I don't know why he'd say something like that."
Professor Okafor slid the photographs across the desk.
"Perhaps these will help explain."
Brandon glanced at the first picture.
For the first time since this ordeal began...
His face lost all color.
Victor swallowed hard.
Kelvin looked down.
Desmond wiped sweat from his forehead.
Professor Okafor noticed every reaction.
"Would any of you like to explain why Mr. Williams' laptop was copied late at night?"
Silence.
"Mr. Cole?"
Brandon opened his mouth.
No words came out.
---
Just then...
A loud knock echoed through the office.
A secretary hurried inside.
"Sir..."
Professor Okafor frowned.
"What is it?"
"The Vice Chancellor has asked for you immediately."
The professor looked irritated.
"I'm in the middle of something important."
"I know, sir."
"But he said it concerns the National Engineering Council delegates."
Professor Okafor sighed.
He stood and looked at everyone in the room.
"Nobody leaves."
"I'll return in fifteen minutes."
The moment he left, an uncomfortable silence filled the office.
No one spoke.
Then Brandon slowly stood.
He looked at Kane.
"You've really decided to destroy us."
Kane met his gaze calmly.
"I didn't start this."
"You could have let it go."
"You stole months of my work."
Brandon laughed bitterly.
"You still don't understand."
"Understand what?"
Brandon leaned closer.
"This stopped being about a university project a long time ago."
Liana frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Before Brandon could answer...
His phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed instantly.
Fear.
Real fear.
Without saying another word, he hurried out of the office.
"Brandon!" Victor called.
But he was already gone.
---
Outside the Engineering Building...
Brandon answered the call with trembling hands.
"I told you not to call me."
The familiar deep voice replied calmly,
"You've made too many mistakes."
"I can fix this."
"No."
"You've become a liability."
Brandon's breathing quickened.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying..."
"...you're on your own now."
The call ended.
Brandon stood frozen.
For the first time, he realized he had been used.
Someone else had been pulling the strings from the very beginning.
And that person had no intention of protecting him.
Across the courtyard, hidden behind a parked vehicle, the black SUV slowly started its engine.
The driver watched Brandon walk away in panic.
Then his attention shifted to Kane and Liana, who had just stepped out of the Engineering Building together.
The driver murmured quietly,
"So..."
"These are the two causing all the trouble."
He reached into his jacket, removed a small envelope, and placed it on the passenger seat.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Kane and Liana smiling by the university lake only two days earlier.
Across the photograph, someone had written in red ink:
"Stop them... before they uncover everything."
The driver looked ahead, started the vehicle, and followed them from a distance.
Neither Kane nor Liana noticed.
But somewhere in the shadows, the danger surrounding them had just become deadly.
End of Chapter Two.
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