CHAPTER 5: THE FIRST CLUE 🧩
427 Words
The next morning at Evercrest Academy felt different.
Whispers still floated through the corridors, but this time they weren't about Ethan alone. Students were talking about the strange incident in the library.
"Did you hear what happened yesterday?"
"They said someone switched Ethan and Sophie's assignment."
"I wonder who did it."
Sophie closed her locker and sighed.
"This school never runs out of stories."
Just then, Ethan walked past. He gave her a small nod before heading toward the classroom.
As lessons began, Mrs. Wilson entered with a calm expression.
"I've reviewed yesterday's incident," she announced. "The pages accusing Bryan were added after the assignment was completed. I don't want anyone making accusations without proof."
The classroom fell silent.
Bryan looked away, clearly disappointed that Ethan hadn't been blamed.
When the lesson ended, students rushed outside for break.
Amara caught up with Ethan near the staircase.
"I've been thinking about that note you found yesterday."
Ethan reached into his pocket and unfolded the paper.
The words were still there.
You're choosing the wrong person.
"It doesn't make sense," Sophie said. "If someone wanted to scare us, why leave a clue?"
Ethan looked around before answering.
"Maybe they're trying to distract us."
The idea stayed with Sophie for the rest of the day.
After lunch, the principal announced that the school would be holding a quiz competition the following week.
Excited conversations filled the classroom as students discussed who would represent each class.
For a brief moment, everything felt normal again.
Then, just before the final bell, something unusual happened.
A folded piece of paper landed on Sophie's desk.
She quickly looked around, but no one seemed to notice.
She slowly unfolded it.
Inside was a single sentence.
The truth is hidden where no one ever looks.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She quietly showed the note to Ethan.
Before either of them could say a word, the bell rang.
Students hurried out of the classroom.
Sophie and Ethan waited until the corridor was almost empty.
"What do you think it means?" Sophie whispered.
"I don't know," Ethan admitted. "But whoever keeps leaving these notes knows exactly where we are."
As they walked toward the school gate, Sophie stopped suddenly.
She looked back at the classroom windows.
For just a second...
She thought she saw someone standing behind the curtains, watching them.
She blinked.
The figure was gone.
"Ethan..."
"What is it?"
"I think..."
She hesitated.
"I think we're being followed."
Ethan slowly turned around, scanning the nearly empty corridor.
There was no one there.
Or at least...
- Writer
