Alys POV
The whole day felt… wrong.
Drake didn't let go of my hand until we reached class. Even then, he sat closer than usual, his expression unreadable. Not teasing, not arrogant… just serious.
That scared me more than anything.
"Why are you staring?" he muttered without looking at me.
"I'm not," I replied quickly, turning away.
But I was.
Because this wasn't the Drake everyone warned me about.
Jay POV
Something was definitely off.
Kiefer was acting weird too—too careful with his words, too aware of me. It wasn't like him to hesitate.
"Kiefer," I whispered during class, "you're being suspicious."
He smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Maybe you're just overthinking."
Before I could reply, the classroom door suddenly opened.
A staff member walked in, pale and nervous.
"Attention… all students are required to stay on campus today. No one leaves after school."
The room went silent.
"Why?" someone asked.
The staff hesitated.
"There's been… an incident near the old warehouse."
Gorya POV
Old warehouse?
My heart skipped.
That place again.
I glanced at Thyme. For once, even he wasn't joking. His jaw tightened.
"Don't tell me this is related to Bloody Night," he muttered.
No one answered.
But everyone was thinking the same thing.
Zien POV
After classes, we all gathered near the corridor.
Nobody wanted to say it first.
Finally, Ace spoke.
"We're not staying back."
Zien: "Are you crazy? They literally told us—"
Ace: "Which is exactly why we should go."
Silence.
Then—
Jay: "He's right."
Kiefer looked at her, surprised.
Jay crossed her arms.
"Things are connecting. Bloody Night. The warehouse. Drake acting weird. This isn't random."
All eyes slowly turned to Drake.
Drake POV
I exhaled.
So it had come to this.
"Fine," I said. "I'll explain. But not here."
Alys looked at me, confused.
"Explain what?"
I didn't answer her directly.
Instead, I looked at all of them.
"You think this is just drama?" I said quietly. "It's not. Someone is targeting us."
Kenning frowned.
"Us? Why us?"
Drake: "Because of who we're connected to."
Trip stepped forward.
"Say it clearly."
Drake's voice dropped.
"Because of what happened three years ago… in that warehouse."
Alys POV
Three years ago?
No one moved.
No one breathed.
"Drake…" I whispered, "what are you talking about?"
Before he could answer—
A loud bang echoed from outside.
Everyone flinched.
Then another.
And another.
Kiefer immediately pulled Jay behind him.
Thyme stepped in front of Gorya.
Ace grabbed Zien's wrist.
Drake's eyes darkened.
"They're here."
Alys: "Who?!"
Drake looked straight at me.
"The people who don't want the truth to come out."
Final Scene
The lights suddenly went out.
The entire corridor fell into darkness.
A faint voice echoed through the speakers—
"Welcome back… to the game."
Alys felt her heart stop.
Drake tightened his grip on her hand.
Jay whispered, "This isn't normal…"
And somewhere in the darkness—
Someone was watching them.