Chapter 24:
Emily spent the next day in a haze of uncertainty. Every encounter with Oliver or Max felt loaded, like a game of chess where each move carried the weight of the unknown. She tried to focus on her coursework, but her mind kept returning to the article and the cryptic warnings.
After her last class, Sarah found her in the dining hall, her tray untouched as she stared into space.
"You look like you're planning a murder," Sarah joked, sliding into the seat across from her.
Emily snapped out of her thoughts. "What? No, I'm just... distracted."
Sarah narrowed her eyes, leaning forward. "Distracted by two specific guys, maybe? Spill."
Emily hesitated. She hadn't told Sarah about the letter, the note, or the article. But if there was anyone she could trust, it was her best friend.
"Okay," she said, lowering her voice. "But you have to promise not to freak out."
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The Confession
Sarah listened intently as Emily recounted everything: the rumors about Oliver, the note under her door, the article, and Max's vague warnings. When she finished, Sarah sat back, her expression a mix of shock and concern.
"Okay, first of all, this is insane," Sarah said. "Second, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I didn't know how," Emily admitted. "It all happened so fast, and I didn't want to drag you into it."
"Well, you've dragged me in now," Sarah said firmly. "And I'm not letting you deal with this alone. We need to figure out who's behind the notes and why they're targeting you."
Emily felt a wave of relief. Sarah's confidence was infectious, and for the first time in days, she felt like she wasn't drowning.
"So, what's the plan?" Emily asked.
"We start with the obvious," Sarah said. "We need to find out more about Oliver's past. If there's something dangerous about him, we have to know."
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Digging for Answers
That evening, the two of them holed up in Emily's dorm room with Sarah's laptop. They combed through old news articles, social media profiles, and school records, piecing together a timeline of Oliver's life.
It didn't take long to find confirmation of the fight mentioned in the article Emily had received. According to multiple sources, the incident had been more serious than Oliver had let on. The student he'd fought had been hospitalized for weeks, and rumors suggested that Oliver had been covering for someone else.
"What if he didn't actually start the fight?" Emily said, frowning at the screen.
"Even if he didn't, he was involved," Sarah pointed out. "That's not nothing."
Emily chewed her lip, her mind spinning with possibilities. "But why would someone bring this up now? And why involve me?"
"Good questions," Sarah said. "But we're not going to find the answers online. You need to talk to Oliver again."
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A Chilling Discovery
As Sarah packed up her things to leave, Emily noticed something strange. Her desk drawer, the one where she'd stashed the note and the article, was slightly ajar.
"Did you open this?" Emily asked, her voice tense.
Sarah glanced over. "No. Why?"
Emily pulled the drawer open, her heart sinking. The note and the article were gone.
"What the hell?" Sarah said, peering over her shoulder. "Are you sure you didn't move them?"
"Positive," Emily said, her voice shaking. "Someone was in here."
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A Message in the Dark
That night, Emily locked her door and double-checked the windows before climbing into bed. But sleep didn't come easily. Every creak and rustle made her jump, her mind conjuring images of shadowy intruders and cryptic warnings.
Around midnight, her phone buzzed with a new message.
Unknown Number: Curiosity can be dangerous, Emily. Some things are better left in the past.
Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at the screen. The number wasn't saved in her contacts, and there was no way to trace it.
She quickly typed back: Who is this? What do you want?
No response came.
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Turning to Max
The next morning, Emily decided she couldn't keep this to herself any longer. She needed answers, and she needed help.
She found Max in the library, sitting in his usual spot near the back. His face lit up when he saw her, but his expression quickly turned serious when he noticed the look on her face.
"Emily? What's wrong?"
"I need to talk to you," she said, sitting down across from him. "It's important."
Max leaned forward, concern etched into his features. "I'm listening."
She hesitated, then pulled out her phone and showed him the message she'd received the night before. "I got this last night. And someone broke into my dorm and took some things—things that were connected to Oliver."
Max's expression darkened. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
"No, but I feel like I'm being watched," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Max, I don't know what's going on, but I feel like I'm in the middle of something I don't understand."
Max's jaw tightened, and he looked away for a moment, as if debating something. Finally, he said, "There's something I need to tell you. About Oliver."
Emily's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"
Max took a deep breath. "I know about the fight he got into in high school. But what most people don't know is that it wasn't random. The guy he fought… he had a connection to you."
"What?" Emily said, her voice rising. "What kind of connection?"
"I'm not sure," Max admitted. "But I think that's why Oliver's so protective of you now. Whatever happened back then, it wasn't just about him—it was about you."
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A New Revelation
Emily left the library with more questions than answers. If what Max said was true, then Oliver's past wasn't just his burden to bear—it was tied to her in ways she couldn't yet comprehend.
She walked back to her dorm, her mind racing. Who had sent her the note? Why were they warning her about Oliver? And what connection could she possibly have to a fight that happened years ago?
As she reached her door, she noticed something on the floor—a small, folded piece of paper.
Her hands trembled as she picked it up and opened it.
Meet me at the abandoned greenhouse tonight. I'll tell you everything.
The note wasn't signed, but the handwriting was the same as before.
Emily stared at the words, her pulse pounding in her ears. She didn't know who was behind the messages or what they wanted, but one thing was certain: she couldn't ignore this any longer.
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