Maya did not sleep that night.
Every sound felt amplified. The creak of the house. The buzz of her phone lighting up with messages she did not open. Her thoughts kept circling the note, the words burned into her mind.
It is not over.
By morning, exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.
She found Liam by her locker before first period, exactly where he had been every day that week. One look at her face and his expression hardened.
You did not sleep.
She shook her head. Neither did you.
He did not deny it.
Someone wants you scared, he said quietly as they walked. Fear makes people sloppy.
I am not sloppy, she replied.
I know. That is why this is bothering them.
They reached class, but Maya could not focus. Every time the door opened, her body tensed. She felt exposed, like the walls had eyes.
At lunch, the tension snapped.
The fire alarm blared without warning, sharp and shrill. Students leapt from their seats, chaos erupting instantly.
Maya's heart slammed against her ribs.
Liam was on his feet in seconds, already beside her. Stay with me.
They moved with the crowd toward the exits, but something felt wrong.
There was no smoke.
No urgency from staff.
Just noise.
Outside, students gathered in uneven clusters. Teachers scrambled, confused.
Maya noticed it then.
Vanessa's closest friend, Brielle, standing near the edge of the field, watching her.
Smiling.
Maya's stomach turned.
Liam followed her gaze. Brielle.
She knows something.
Before Maya could respond, her phone buzzed in her hand.
A new message. Unknown sender.
Check your bag.
Her breath hitched. Liam.
He saw the message instantly. Do not touch it.
Too late.
A teacher was already approaching, concern etched across her face.
What is going on here? she asked.
Maya's hands shook as she slowly opened her bag under the teacher's watchful eye.
Inside, tucked between her notebooks, was a small black flash drive.
Silence fell.
Whose is that? the teacher asked sharply.
Maya's mind raced. I do not know.
Liam's voice cut in. That was not there this morning.
The teacher's eyes narrowed. You will both come with me. Now.
As they were led back inside, students stared openly. Whispers rippled like a living thing.
This was no accident.
In the hallway, Brielle passed them, her shoulder brushing Maya's deliberately.
Her voice was low. Careful what you carry, she murmured.
Liam stopped walking.
The teacher turned. Mr. Hale.
He met her gaze. She planted it.
The teacher frowned. What did you say?
Brielle's smile vanished. I did not say anything.
Liam stepped forward, calm but lethal. She just admitted intent.
Maya's heart pounded.
The teacher hesitated, then motioned for another staff member.
This is escalating, she muttered.
They were ushered into a conference room, the flash drive placed on the table between them like a ticking bomb.
Principal Harrington entered moments later, his face grim.
What is on that drive? he asked.
Maya stared at it, dread curling deep inside her.
Whatever it was, it had been planted.
And someone wanted her blamed for it.
Liam's hand closed over hers beneath the table.
Do not worry, he said softly.
But as Maya looked at the drive, she realized something terrifying.
This was not about the past anymore.
It was about setting her up for something far worse.