Jay's POV
The second Felix mentioned a video, every bit of color drained from David's face.
I noticed it immediately.
So did Keifer.
"What video?" Calix asked.
Felix didn't answer right away. He looked uncomfortable, which only made me more nervous.
"Just watch."
We followed him back into the storage room. Everyone gathered around while Felix opened the message. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
The video started with a shaky camera.
At first, all we could see was darkness and the sound of people talking in the background. Whoever recorded it was moving quickly.
"What am I supposed to be looking at?" Ci-n asked.
"Wait," Felix replied.
A few seconds later, the camera stopped.
The image became clearer.
And suddenly, I recognized the place.
The old auditorium.
Nobody spoke.
The video wasn't recent either.
It looked old.
Very old.
The quality was terrible, and the lighting made it difficult to see faces clearly.
Then a familiar voice echoed through the speaker.
A voice all of us recognized instantly.
David.
Everyone turned toward him.
His eyes never left the screen.
In the video, David was arguing with someone near the stage. We couldn't see the other person's face because the camera angle was blocked by a curtain.
"Who is that?" Eman asked quietly.
Nobody knew.
The argument continued.
The audio was distorted, but certain words could still be heard.
"...tell them..."
"...you promised..."
"...they deserve to know..."
My stomach twisted.
Who was David talking to?
And what was he supposed to tell us?
The video suddenly cut for a second before returning.
This time the camera was closer.
Close enough to catch one sentence clearly.
David's voice echoed through the storage room.
"I said nobody can find out."
The video ended.
Just like that.
No explanation.
No answers.
Only silence.
I slowly lifted my eyes from the phone.
Everyone was staring at David again.
Even Keifer looked shocked.
"What was that?" Calix asked.
David didn't respond.
"David."
Nothing.
"Bro, answer us."
David ran both hands through his hair before letting out a frustrated breath.
"It doesn't mean anything."
The second those words left his mouth, Ci-n laughed.
Not because he found it funny.
Because he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
"Are you serious?"
"It was an old argument."
"With who?" Felix asked.
David stayed quiet.
"Exactly," Ci-n said.
The room grew tense again.
I hated it.
I hated watching my friends look at each other like strangers.
I hated feeling like there was a giant secret sitting between us.
Most of all, I hated the fact that David was making it impossible to trust him.
Another notification appeared.
Nobody was surprised anymore.
Felix unlocked the phone and read the message.
This one was different.
There was no photo.
No video.
Just one sentence.
Meet me at the auditorium before sunrise if you want the rest.
Eman groaned.
"Everything leads back to that auditorium."
"Then maybe we should go," Keifer said.
David immediately shook his head.
"No."
The speed of his answer made everyone pause.
"Why not?" Calix asked.
"Because this is exactly what whoever's behind this wants."
"Maybe," Keifer replied. "But it's also the only lead we have."
For the first time all night, nobody argued with him.
Because he was right.
I looked around at Section E.
My friends looked exhausted, confused, and frustrated.
But beneath all of that was curiosity.
We needed answers.
"Let's go," I said.
The room fell quiet.
David stared at me.
"Jay."
"We can't keep running from this."
"You don't understand."
"Then help me understand."
For a second, I thought he was finally going to tell us everything.
Instead, he looked away.
That was answer enough.
Twenty minutes later, we were standing outside the old auditorium.
The sky was beginning to lighten, but the sun still hadn't risen.
The building looked exactly how I remembered it.
Old.
Quiet.
Almost forgotten.
A cold breeze swept across the campus.
Ci-n rubbed his arms.
"I officially hate this."
"Noted," Calix replied.
Nobody laughed.
Because the front doors of the auditorium were already open.
As if someone had been waiting for us to arrive.