The door shut with a sharp sound.
Emily was still trying to regain her balance when she looked up and saw Lucas… and Noah.
Tied.
Injured.
And, for the first time, completely defenseless.
— No… — she whispered, bringing her hand to her mouth. — No, this isn't happening…
— Emily, look at me — Lucas said, firm, even with his voice still heavy. — Are you okay?
She took a second to answer, as if she was still trying to understand if this was real.
— I… I think so…
"I think."
Not a good answer.
She took a few slow steps into the room, looking around as if the place might swallow her at any moment.
— What is this place…?
Noah let out a low, tired laugh.
— Our worst mistake.
Emily stopped.
— What?
Lucas closed his eyes for a moment.
— It was here.
Silence.
— We brought him here… that night.
Her expression changed.
It wasn't just fear.
It was recognition.
— No… — she murmured, taking a step back. — No, we didn't stay here long…
— It was enough — Noah said, flatly.
Emily shook her head, nervous.
— We thought he was dead!
— And that justified leaving? — Noah shot back.
— Don't start — Lucas cut in, but it was too late.
Something had broken.
Again.
Emily turned to Noah, her eyes shining with tears.
— You were there too! Don't act like you're better than us!
— I never said I was — he replied, his voice lower now — …but at least I'm not pretending it wasn't my fault.
That hung in the air.
Heavy.
Lucas took a deep breath, trying to stay in control.
— This is exactly what he wants.
Emily ran a hand over her face, nervous.
— Who?
— Him — Lucas replied. — Don't you see? He wants this… wants us like this.
Divided.
Guilt against guilt.
Silence against silence.
Emily stood still for a moment, absorbing it.
And then… she nodded, slowly.
— So what do we do?
Lucas opened his mouth to answer—
But stopped.
Because, for the first time…
He didn't have an answer.
Before he could say anything, a sound echoed through the room.
A click.
They all looked at the same time.
A small speaker in the corner crackled.
And then—
His voice.
— I was waiting for this.
Emily froze.
— What is that…?
— He's listening — Noah said, looking around.
— Always have been — the voice replied, calm. — You just took too long to realize.
Lucas clenched his jaw.
— What do you want now?
A brief silence.
As if he were smiling on the other side.
— I want you to talk.
— We are talking — Emily said, nervous.
— No — he replied. — I want the truth.
The air shifted.
— What truth? — Lucas asked.
— The one you never said.
Silence.
No one spoke.
— Then let's help — the voice continued. — Emily…
She flinched slightly.
— What…?
— Tell him.
Lucas's heart tightened.
— Tell me what?
Her breath faltered.
— No…
— Tell him — the voice repeated, firmer now. — Or I will.
Lucas looked at her.
— Emily… what is he talking about?
She didn't answer.
Her eyes avoided his.
— Emily.
Silence.
— I'm waiting — the voice said.
She closed her eyes.
As if gathering courage.
Or accepting she had no choice.
— That night… — she started, almost a whisper — …wasn't the first time he knew.
Lucas frowned.
— What do you mean?
She swallowed hard.
— He already knew before.
The world seemed to slow down.
— Before what?
She opened her eyes.
And this time…
She didn't look away.
— Before you.
Silence.
Heavy.
Impossible to ignore.
— I… — Lucas's voice came out lower than he wanted — …I don't understand.
But deep down…
He was starting to.
— He saw us — Emily said. — Long before that night.
Noah went still.
— And he didn't say anything?
— Not at first — she replied. — He just… watched.
A chill ran down Lucas's spine.
— Why?
Emily hesitated before answering.
— Because he wanted more than just telling.
Silence returned.
But now…
It was different.
More dangerous.
— The video… — Lucas said slowly — …wasn't made that night.
Emily shook her head.
— No.
— Then when?
She hesitated.
And then—
— Months before.
That shattered whatever logic was left.
— So this… — Lucas murmured — …has been happening for a long time…
— Yes.
The speaker crackled again.
— Now we're getting somewhere — the voice said, satisfied.
Lucas looked up, furious.
— You planned this.
— I waited — he corrected.
— This is sick.
— No — the voice replied, calm — …this is patience.
Emily took a step back.
— He never just wanted to expose us…
Lucas finished, almost without realizing:
— He wanted control.
Silence.
— Exactly — the voice said.
And then…
Another click.
The light flickered.
Once.
Twice.
And went out.
Darkness.
Total.
— Emily? — Lucas called.
— I'm here — she answered, closer now.
— Stay together — Noah said, tense.
And then—
A sound.
Footsteps.
Inside the room.
But no one had entered.
Or…
had they?
Lucas's breath caught.
Because now—
He no longer knew where he was.
🖤 Poem — Emily
I tried to hide the truth
like it would fade away
but secrets grow in silence
and never choose to stay
and the love I tried to bury…
found its way