Sofia's voice echoes in the hallway, shaking with fear. "It's him. He's back. And he's not here to play games."
The words hit me like a jolt of electricity, making my heart race and my breath hitch in my throat. Who is she talking about? The way Sofia's eyes widen with terror only adds to the confusion, and I can feel a cold shiver run down my spine.
Ethan steps toward Sofia, his brows furrowing in concern. "Sofia, slow down. Who's back?" His voice is tight, clearly not understanding the gravity of the situation.
Sofia glances around the hallway nervously, her hands shaking. "I don't know how to explain this, but... he's been watching me. Watching all of us. And now he's here."
I'm frozen. My mind is racing, but nothing makes sense. Who is she talking about?
"Sofia, what are you talking about?" I ask, my voice trembling. My gut is telling me something isn't right, but I can't put my finger on it.
Before she can answer, a distant sound echoes through the school—footsteps, steady and deliberate. The hair on the back of my neck stands up, and I feel a wave of dread wash over me.
Ethan's expression shifts to one of unease as he glances down the hallway, then back at me. "Is this some kind of joke, Sofia?"
But Sofia's face is dead serious. "It's not a joke. I swear to you, he's here."
I turn to Ethan, my heart pounding in my chest. "Ethan, do you know what she's talking about?"
His eyes are wide now, a flicker of something dark crossing his features. "I… I don't know. But I don't like this."
Just then, a figure emerges from the shadows at the far end of the hallway. Tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing a hood that obscures most of his face, the person moves with an unsettling confidence. The cold air in the hallway seems to grow even colder, the silence between us heavy and suffocating.
I feel my pulse quicken as I stare at the figure, trying to make out his features. But it's like he's a ghost, impossible to fully see, impossible to understand.
Ethan takes a step forward, his voice low. "Who are you?"
The figure tilts his head slightly, his movements deliberate. And then, without a word, he pulls back his hood.
My heart drops into my stomach.
It's someone I recognize, someone I thought I'd never see again.
"Jack?" I whisper, my voice barely audible.
The figure—Jack—gives a half-smile, his eyes dark and cold, like he's enjoying the shock he's causing. "Long time no see," he says, his voice dripping with an almost malicious amusement.
I step back, my legs shaking, unable to move or speak. Jack. The boy from my past. The one I've tried so hard to forget.