The call
899 Words
The first bell hadn't even rung when Evelyn slipped through the rusty school gate.
Rivergate Public High School was nothing like the prestigious schools she often saw on television. The paint on the walls had faded years ago, several classroom windows were cracked, and the basketball court was little more than worn concrete.
Yet, somehow...
It still felt like home.
"Evelyn!"
A cheerful voice echoed across the courtyard.
Before she could turn around, someone wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I finally caught you!"
Evelyn laughed.
"Ivy, you're going to make me drop my books."
The girl beside her grinned unapologetically.
Ivy Morgan.
The only person who had stayed beside Evelyn when everyone else slowly disappeared from her life.
Unlike Evelyn, Ivy came from an average family. Her parents owned a small bakery just a few streets away, and every morning she brought extra bread because she knew Evelyn often skipped breakfast.
Without saying a word, Ivy pulled a warm paper bag from her backpack.
"Here."
Evelyn sighed.
"Ivy..."
"Nope."
"I'm not taking no for an answer today."
"You didn't eat again, did you?"
Evelyn avoided her eyes.
"I had noodles."
"When?"
"...Last night."
Ivy folded her arms.
"Exactly."
She shoved the bread into Evelyn's hands.
"If you don't eat this, I'll cry right here."
Evelyn couldn't help laughing.
"You always threaten me with tears."
"And it always works."
"It does."
The two girls burst into laughter.
For a moment...
Everything felt normal.
No hospital bills.
No lonely apartment.
No painful memories.
Just two best friends walking toward class together.
...
Their classroom buzzed with noise.
Students chatted, copied homework, and argued over football while the class monitor desperately tried to restore order.
"Evelyn!"
A boy sitting near the window waved enthusiastically.
"Morning!"
She smiled.
"Morning, Noah."
Noah Bennett.
The class clown.
Always joking.
Always getting into trouble.
Always borrowing homework he never intended to return
.
Next to him sat Lena Brooks, the top student in the class.
She adjusted her glasses before looking up from her notebook.
"Good morning."
Unlike Noah, Lena barely spoke unless she had something important to say.
Then there was Mason Reed.
Captain of the basketball team.
The loudest person in the classroom.
He bounced a basketball on one finger despite the teacher's repeated warnings.
"You guys owe me lunch if we win today's match!"
"You say that every week," Noah replied.
"Because I keep winning!"
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Evelyn found herself smiling.
She loved moments like this.
Simple.
Peaceful.
She wished they could last forever.
...
The classroom door slid open.
Their homeroom teacher, Mrs. Collins, walked in carrying a stack of books.
Instant silence.
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning, ma'am!"
Mrs. Collins smiled.
"As many of you know, graduation is only a few months away."
The room instantly became quieter.
"You'll soon begin applying to universities."
"I expect every one of you to take your studies seriously."
Noah leaned toward Mason.
"I'm taking mine seriously."
"You copied my homework this morning."
"That's teamwork."
Mason snorted.
Mrs. Collins shot them a look.
"Bennett."
"Yes, ma'am."
"If you have enough energy to joke..."
"You have enough energy to answer question number five."
The class exploded with laughter.
Noah dramatically placed a hand over his heart.
"I've been betrayed."
Even Mrs. Collins struggled to hide a smile.
...
At lunch, Evelyn and Ivy sat beneath the large cherry blossom tree in the school courtyard.
Pink petals drifted gently through the air.
It had become their place.
No matter how difficult life became...
They always found themselves here.
Ivy opened her lunchbox.
"My mom packed too much again."
"She always packs too much."
"Exactly."
"So you're helping me."
Evelyn accepted a rice ball.
"Thank her for me."
"I already did."
They ate quietly for a while.
Finally...
Ivy broke the silence.
"How's your dad?"
Evelyn's smile faded.
"The doctor says he needs another operation."
Ivy stopped eating.
"...How much?"
Evelyn looked down.
"More than I could earn in years."
Neither of them spoke.
The wind carried another shower of pink petals across the school grounds.
"I wish life would stop being so unfair to you," Ivy whispered.
Evelyn looked toward the bright blue sky.
"So do I."
Just then...
Her phone vibrated
.
Unknown Number.
She frowned.
"Who's calling you?" Ivy asked.
"I don't know."
Evelyn answered.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end was calm.
Almost emotionless.
"Miss Evelyn Hart."
"We finally found you."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"...Who is this?"
"We know the truth about your mother's death."
Everything around her seemed to stop.
The laughter.
The wind.
Even the sound of the birds.
The stranger continued.
"If you want answers..."
"Come to Warehouse 17 at the East Harbor."
"Tonight."
The call ended.
Evelyn stared at the black screen in her trembling hand.
"What happened?" Ivy asked, panic rising in her voice.
Evelyn slowly looked up.
Her face had turned pale.
"They know..."
"They know about my mother."
Far away, hidden inside a black luxury sedan parked across the street, a man in a tailored suit lowered a pair of binoculars.
"Target has received the invitation."
Another man in the back seat smiled faintly.
"Good."
"The game can finally begin."
Neither of them noticed the third figure standing silently on the rooftop of the building opposite the school.
Watching.
Waiting.
As if Evelyn Hart's fate had already been decided.
- Writer
