Monday morning at Seraphine High felt charged with anticipation. After the fun of Sunday's outing, everyone was unusually quiet in the hallways, almost as if the school itself knew what was about to happen.
I met the group at our usual spot near the oak tree. Sofi bounced on her toes.
"Alright, team! Today we finish what we started in Room 13. No distractions, no excuses!"
Nicole laughed, linking her arm with hers. "You're more serious than I expected."
Liliana nudged Daniel. "No scaring us this time, okay?"
Daniel grinned. "I'll try… but no promises."
Jessica and Lucas were already comparing notes from the previous visits, quietly whispering ideas about what the symbols might mean.
I walked beside Eren, who had that familiar half-smile. "Ready to finally see this through?" I asked.
He nodded. "Absolutely. Let's figure out Room 13's secrets… together."
Returning to Room 13
The old hallway felt colder than usual. Even in the daylight, the shadows in Room 13 seemed a little darker, heavier. The door was slightly ajar, waiting for us.
Sofi peeked in nervously. "Okay… first one in gets the bragging rights!"
Daniel gestured for Liliana to lead. "After you."
Nicole grabbed Sofi's hand again. "You really want to go first?"
Jessica and Lucas quietly set up the camera, ensuring every corner was documented.
Eren slid into step beside me. "Stay sharp. Every detail counts."
I nodded. "I've got your back."
Solving the Puzzle
We spread out in the room, examining everything we had discovered:
The small box under the teacher's desk.
Faded symbols on the chalkboard.
The parchment from the hidden compartment.
Sofi and Nicole checked the walls and windows, looking for hidden mechanisms. Liliana and Daniel measured and inspected desks. Jessica and Lucas recorded everything meticulously.
Eren crouched beside the small box. "The symbols and letters aren't random. They're a combination numbers for letters, letters for numbers. We just need to align them."
I examined the edges carefully, tracing the faint markings. "Yes… like a code. If we follow this sequence, the box should open."
With all our combined effort, we aligned the code. Click. The box opened, revealing a small key and a folded scroll. Following the instructions on the parchment, we lifted a loose floorboard. Beneath it lay a wooden chest. Sofi squealed.
Daniel held Liliana close. "See? Nothing to be scared of."
Eren opened the chest carefully. Inside were ancient scrolls, a small medallion, and a notebook filled with handwritten notes secrets about Seraphine High's founding and a forgotten history of the school's first students.
"This… this is incredible," I whispered.
Eren glanced at me, his calm confidence making the moment feel thrilling but safe. "Exactly. Teamwork pays off."
The group cheered softly, laughing and clapping. Sofi hugged Nicole tightly, Liliana pressed close to Daniel, and Jessica and Lucas exchanged quiet, proud smiles. After carefully documenting everything, we closed the floorboard and gathered our things. The cold draft that had always lingered in the room seemed gone, replaced by warm sunlight streaming through the windows.
Eren walked beside me. "We make a pretty good team, don't we?"
I smiled. "We do. I'm glad you were here."
His eyes met mine briefly. "Me too."
The group left Room 13 together, energized and excited. The mystery was solved, but the thrill of discovery and the closeness it had created among all of us would stay with us for a long time.
As the sun dipped behind the rooftops, casting gold and pink streaks across the town, I realized one thing:
Room 13's secrets are finally revealed, but the bonds it strengthened… those are just beginning.