Raha ran toward the basement.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she rushed down the stairs. The moment she reached the bottom, the scene before her froze the air in her lungs.
Meena was tied to a chair.
Rabina sat casually beside her. Something metallic glinted in her hand. Bella stood nearby holding a wooden stick, while Grace recorded everything with her phone.
Meena was crying.
"Please… let me go. I won't interfere anymore. I promise…"
The three girls laughed.
Then Meena saw Raha.
"Raha…! Save me! They'll kill me!"
Raha's hands began to tremble. Her legs felt weak. She couldn't think.
Rabina slowly turned toward her.
"Oh? The mute girl again?" Bella sneered. "Can't you leave us alone?"
Rabina smirked. "Came to watch? Or were you secretly recording us?"
Raha shook her head rapidly.
Rabina leaned closer to Meena. "You want to see what happens to girls who speak too much?"
Meena's sobs grew louder.
Raha couldn't take it.
She turned and ran.
Tears blurred her vision as she rushed upstairs. Near Section C, she stumbled and fell.
Shawn saw her first. He ran toward her and quickly helped her up.
"What happened? Why are you crying?"
Raha tried to explain through gestures, but he couldn't understand. Panic filled her eyes. She grabbed his sleeve and ran toward her classroom.
Everyone froze when they saw her.
Subin immediately rushed to her side.
"What happened? Why are you like this?"
She couldn't stop crying.
Subin's eyes darkened. He grabbed Shawn by the collar.
"What did you do to her?"
Shawn stared at him in shock. "What? I didn't do anything! She ran and fell near my class!"
Subin released him slowly.
Raha grabbed Subin's hand and pulled him toward the basement. Shawn followed.
Rohan watched the entire scene.
The way Subin wiped her tears.
The way she held his hand.
Something twisted inside his chest.
He wanted to follow.
But instead, he leaned back in his seat.
"If anyone else plans to go with them," he said coldly, "think carefully before coming back."
No one moved.
When they reached the basement—
It was empty.
No Meena.
No Rabina.
Nothing.
Raha stared around desperately.
She ran to the wall and noticed broken pieces of chalk scattered on the floor. Picking them up, she began writing on the wall—explaining everything she had seen.
Subin and Shawn watched in stunned silence.
"So… where is Meena now?" Shawn whispered.
Raha slowly sank to the floor, shaking.
Shawn knelt beside her. "Does this happen often in this school?"
"Yes," Subin replied quietly.
Shawn looked horrified. "But… the teachers? They say nothing?"
Subin's voice turned cold.
"This isn't bullying anymore."
Shawn frowned. "Then what is it?"
"They destroyed a teacher before. And now Meena tried to speak up."
Shawn felt his stomach drop.
"What do you mean… destroyed?"
Subin didn't answer directly.
"We need to find her."
They searched the entire school.
Classrooms. Hallways. Empty offices.
No sign of Meena.
Raha leaned against a wall, holding her head. Subin and Shawn stood nearby, equally shaken.
"Let's report this to the Principal," Shawn said suddenly.
Subin laughed bitterly. "You think the Principal will help? Bella's father controls everything here. The Principal knows. And stays silent."
Shawn stared at him. "You mean… he's involved?"
Subin didn't deny it.
"Then what about Rohan?" Shawn asked carefully.
Subin stepped closer. "Do you really think he's not part of this?"
Shawn fell silent.
Suddenly—
Screams echoed across the campus.
Students began running toward the school ground.
Second-floor students leaned over the railing, trying to see.
Subin, Raha, and Shawn rushed forward.
A crowd had formed below.
Teachers were shouting.
Students were crying.
On the ground—
Someone lay motionless.
And the whispers began to spread:
"She jumped…"
"It was suicide…"
Raha felt the world tilt.
Her breathing stopped.
Her hands began to shake uncontrollably.
Subin grabbed the railing tightly.
Shawn's face turned pale.
Below them, the staff quickly began clearing the area.
"It was an accident," someone said firmly.
But the fear in everyone's eyes told a different story.