Yuri's POV
Closing hours at Hamilton always had a strange feeling.
Not quiet… but not loud either.
Students drifted out of classrooms, conversations softened, lockers shut one after another. The golden light from the evening sun stretched across the hallways, making everything look calmer than it really was.
Too calm.
I spotted Ciel near the main staircase, scrolling through her phone.
"You ready?" I asked.
She slipped the phone into her bag. "Always. Today drained my brain cells."
We started walking toward the exit together, talking about nothing important — professors, assignments, Ci-n's dramatic complaints — when Ciel suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
"Yuri… stop."
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Ahead of us, near the side corridor that led to the parking lot, stood Sienna.
She had her back to us.
Phone pressed to her ear.
Her voice was low… but sharp.
Instinctively, I pulled Ciel behind one of the pillars.
We didn't mean to eavesdrop.
Okay — maybe we did.
Something about the way she spoke felt wrong.
Cold.
Calculated.
"…Yes," Sienna said quietly. "Everything is going exactly as planned."
My stomach tightened.
Planned?
"For now, revenge is going very well."
Ciel's fingers slowly curled around my wrist.
Next to me, I felt her breathing pause.
Revenge?
Sienna continued,
"The next plan is already in process. In the next six minutes… there will be good news."
Six minutes??
Good news for who?
Then she let out a soft laugh — the kind that had no warmth in it.
"Section E…" she murmured, almost mockingly.
"Get ready for your doom."
My heart slammed once against my ribs.
"…Or better yet," she added, voice dropping even lower,
"prepare to lose your mutya."
Mutya.
The word echoed in my head.
Jayjay.
Before Ciel could react, I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the corridor.
Fast.
We didn't stop until we were near the empty science wing.
Ciel turned to me immediately.
"What did she mean by that??"
"I don't know," I said, running a hand through my hair. "But whatever it is — it's not good."
Ciel nodded quickly.
"Let's find Jay. And the others."
No argument there.
We moved through the hallways quickly, checking classrooms, the courtyard, the benches near the fountain.
One by one, we found everyone.
Ci-n arguing with Felix.
David packing his laptop.
Calix complaining about hunger.
Andrew and Chantelle near the vending machines.
Everyone.
Everyone except…
Kiefer.
And Jay.
A bad feeling crawled up my spine.
I pulled out my phone and called Kiefer.
The line rang.
Then died.
I frowned and tried again.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Fourth time.
Still nothing.
Now the others were staring at me.
Ci-n crossed his arms.
"Bro… why are you calling everyone like we're about to be drafted into war?"
Felix squinted at me.
"Yeah. What's going on?"
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
I couldn't tell them.
Not yet.
Not without proof.
So instead, I forced a grin.
"Relax. I just decided… I'm paying for everyone's meals tonight at Andrew's restaurant."
Silence.
Then chaos.
"WHAT??"
Ci-n nearly jumped.
Felix clutched his chest. "Did you hit your head somewhere?"
Calix pointed suspiciously. "You never offer free food unless something is wrong."
Andrew blinked. "I support this decision."
Chantelle nodded seriously. "As a witness, I heard it clearly."
Ciel shot me a look that said really? but played along.
I raised a finger.
"First — we find Jay."
Just then, two students walked past us.
"…Did you hear? A girl slipped on oil and broke her hand."
Everything inside me froze.
I stepped forward immediately.
"Who was the girl?"
They looked startled.
"Oh — she's in my class," one said. "Always with Chantelle."
Ciel inhaled sharply.
"It could be Jay."
"Where is she now?" I asked, already knowing I wouldn't like the answer.
"The school clinic."
That was all I needed to hear.
We ran.
Not walked.
Ran.
The clinic doors swung open as we rushed in.
And there she was.
Jayjay.
Sitting on the bed.
Alive.
Conscious.
Annoyed-looking.
Relief hit me so hard my knees almost gave out.
Her right hand was wrapped in a bandage, but the nurse was speaking calmly.
"Luckily, it's not a serious fracture. She needs rest — no heavy strain."
Jay noticed us and blinked.
"…Why does it look like you all just ran a marathon?"
I exhaled slowly.
"You slipped on oil??"
She frowned.
"Someone spilled it near the hallway. I didn't see it."
Ciel stepped closer, inspecting the bandage carefully.
"Does it hurt?"
"Only when I remember my dignity slipped before I did."
Typical Jay.
Still joking.
Still strong.
But my mind was racing.
Six minutes.
Revenge.
Lose your mutya.
Was this it?
Was this what Sienna meant?
Or…
Was this only the beginning?
I glanced at Ciel.
She was already looking at me.
Same thought.
Same fear.
Something was coming.
And whatever game Sienna was playing…
Section E had just stepped onto the board.