The silence after the voice disappeared felt heavier than before.
Emily's breathing was uneven.
"Alexander... they know me."
His jaw tightened.
"They've always known you."
That truth hit harder than anything.
Before Emily could respond -
The lights suddenly came back on.
The door unlocked.
Click.
Everyone froze.
"They let us out..." Emily whispered.
"No," Alexander said coldly.
"They want us to move."
A game.
They were being led.
---
Minutes later, they returned to the main hall.
But something felt different.
The guards were tense.
The atmosphere was wrong.
Then -
A phone rang.
Emily's phone.
She stared at it.
Unknown number.
Her hands trembled.
"Don't answer," Alexander said.
But it stopped.
Then a message came in.
She opened it.
Her face turned pale.
"What is it?"
Emily looked at him slowly.
"It's a picture."
Alexander frowned.
"Of what?"
Her voice shook.
"Of me..."
She swallowed.
"...from five minutes ago."