The air in the hallway grows thicker with tension as Rachel's words hang heavily between us. Ethan's past is unraveling in front of my eyes, and I can't ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach.
I glance at Ethan, searching his face for any sign of what's going on. But he's silent, his jaw clenched as he stares at Rachel with a look I can't decipher. His eyes are dark, filled with something I can't place—regret, guilt, or maybe fear.
"What game?" I ask, my voice shaky but determined. I need answers. I can't stand the uncertainty any longer.
Rachel eyes me with a calculating look, then shifts her attention back to Ethan. "The game where secrets come to light," she says softly, almost tauntingly. "The game where people pay for their mistakes."
Ethan's hand tightens into a fist at his side, his knuckles turning white. "Enough, Rachel. This is between you and me. Don't drag her into it."
I take a step closer to him, ignoring the sharp sting in my chest. "Ethan, what's going on?" I can't hold it in anymore. I need to know what I'm getting myself into. What I've already gotten myself into.
Ethan's eyes flicker to mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of vulnerability—something raw, something real. But it disappears as quickly as it came, replaced by a hardness I've never seen before. "I never wanted you to find out like this," he mutters under his breath.
Rachel steps forward, her eyes locking onto mine. "You want to know, don't you? You want to understand what's been going on behind closed doors. Why Ethan's so desperate to keep you safe from the truth."
I swallow hard, my throat dry. "Please. Just tell me."
Rachel's lips curl into a smile, but it's not kind—it's almost sinister. "Ethan's past isn't just messy. It's dangerous. He's been running from it for years. And now, it's caught up to him."
Ethan's shoulders tense, and his eyes flicker to the door behind Rachel. I see it then—fear. Fear of what's coming, of the consequences that are about to unfold.
"Please," Ethan says, his voice strained. "You don't have to do this, Rachel."
But Rachel's gaze is unwavering. "I'm not the one who started this, Ethan. You did. You're the one who made choices, and now you're going to pay for them."
I turn to face him, my heart pounding in my chest. "What choices? What are you hiding from me?" My voice shakes with emotion, the confusion, anger, and hurt all mingling into a whirlwind inside me.
Ethan takes a deep breath, his eyes locking onto mine with a painful intensity. He opens his mouth to speak, but before he can say anything, Jack steps forward, his voice cutting through the heavy silence.
"It's too late for explanations now," Jack says coldly. "The truth is out. You can't run from what you did."
Ethan's face tightens, and for a moment, I think he might snap. But instead, he looks at me, his eyes full of regret. "I never wanted this to affect you. I never wanted to pull you into my mess."
I can't look away from him, my heart torn between my feelings for him and the questions that won't stop echoing in my mind. "But you already have, Ethan," I whisper, the words slipping out before I can stop them.
Rachel steps forward again, her voice calm but chilling. "Ethan was part of something much bigger than you realize. And it's time for the consequences to come."
"What is she talking about?" I ask, my voice rising in desperation. "Ethan, please—tell me."
Ethan looks at me, his eyes full of sorrow. For a brief moment, I see a flicker of something—maybe it's guilt, or maybe it's shame. But then, his face hardens again, and he looks away.
"I can't tell you, not right now," he says quietly, his voice barely audible.
My chest tightens with frustration. "Why? Why won't you tell me?"
Before Ethan can answer, there's a loud crash from down the hallway, followed by the sound of running footsteps. My heart skips a beat, and I turn to see a figure coming toward us, his face hidden in the shadows.