Ryan took a few seconds to fully stand up.
He didn't seem in a hurry.
He didn't seem… desperate.
That was the first thing Lucas noticed.
The second?
The look.
Ryan wasn't scared.
He was thinking.
— Where did he get you? — Noah asked.
Ryan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb, without taking his eyes off Lucas.
— On the street.
Too short of an answer.
— That's it? — Noah pressed.
Ryan shrugged.
— Want me to make something better up?
Lucas didn't look away.
— Did you see him?
A small silence.
— I did.
— And?
Ryan hesitated.
Just for a moment.
But enough.
— And nothing.
That didn't fit.
— Nothing? — Emily repeated, incredulous. — He kidnaps you and… nothing?
Ryan looked at her.
— What did you want? A speech?
— I wanted consistency — she replied.
The atmosphere shifted.
More tense.
Sharper.
Lucas tilted his head slightly.
— Did he say anything?
Ryan sighed, as if he were tired of the conversation.
— He did.
— What?
Silence.
Then—
— That this isn't over yet.
Lucas let out a short laugh.
— Yeah, we already know that.
— No — Ryan replied, looking straight at him — …you don't.
That hung in the air.
Heavy.
— Then explain — Lucas said.
Ryan took a few steps around the space, analyzing the environment.
— He doesn't just want to scare us.
— We figured that out already — Noah replied.
Ryan stopped.
— No. You didn't understand.
He looked at each of them.
— He wants to break us.
Silence.
— One by one.
Emily crossed her arms, uneasy.
— He's already doing that.
Ryan nodded slowly.
— Yes… but this— — he pointed around — …this is just the beginning.
Lucas clenched the hand that was still free.
— You're hiding something.
Ryan smiled.
Slightly.
— I was always good at that, wasn't I?
— Don't play with this — Lucas replied.
— I'm not playing.
Another silence.
Even heavier.
— He said something else — Lucas continued. — Did he or not?
Ryan took longer this time.
— He did.
— Then say it.
Ryan ran a hand through his hair, as if deciding how far he would go.
— He knows things he shouldn't know.
Emily frowned.
— Like what?
Ryan looked at her.
— Like things that have nothing to do with that night.
That changed everything.
— What do you mean by that? — Noah asked.
Ryan took a deep breath.
— I mean… this isn't just about what we did.
Lucas felt a chill run down his spine.
— Then what is it about?
Ryan didn't answer.
Not right away.
And that was enough.
— Ryan — Lucas said, lower now — …what did you do?
Silence.
His expression shifted.
For a second.
Less control.
More weight.
— I did what I had to — he replied.
— That's not an answer.
— It's the only one you're getting.
Lucas stepped forward.
— No. Enough of this. You know more.
Ryan stared at him.
Without backing down.
— And you don't?
That stopped Lucas.
— What are you talking about?
Ryan stepped closer.
Slowly.
— You really think it was just about the video?
Lucas' heart started racing.
— That's what you said.
— I said enough for you to believe.
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
— You're lying — Lucas said.
Ryan tilted his head.
— Or you just don't remember.
That hit differently.
Again.
— Stop this — Noah said. — This is getting ridiculous.
— Ridiculous? — Ryan turned to him. — You were there. You saw it.
— I saw a fight — Noah replied. — I saw everything get out of control.
— You saw more than that — Ryan said.
Noah went silent.
— Don't start with this — he muttered.
— Start? — Ryan let out a low laugh. — This started a long time ago.
Emily looked between them.
— What are you not telling me?
No one answered.
The silence now wasn't fear anymore.
It was a secret.
Lucas felt it.
Clear.
Strong.
Wrong.
— He wants us to figure this out now — Lucas said, more to himself than to the others.
Ryan looked at him.
— Of course he does.
— Then why are you helping?
Ryan didn't answer.
And that was the answer.
Lucas froze.
— You talked to him.
Silence.
Emily turned to Ryan.
— What?
— You talked to him before all this — Lucas continued.
Ryan gave a half-smile.
— Careful with conclusions.
— It's not a conclusion — Lucas said. — It's logic.
— Then keep thinking.
— You knew he was alive.
Silence.
Now no one was breathing.
— Did you or not? — Lucas pressed.
Ryan held his gaze.
Cold.
Calculated.
And then—
— I did.
Emily stepped back.
— What…?
Noah froze.
— Since when? — Lucas asked.
Ryan took a deep breath.
— Before you came back.
That hit like a bomb.
— And you didn't say anything?
— No.
— Why?!
Ryan shrugged.
— Because I wanted to see what you'd do.
The air became unbearable.
— You used us — Emily said, her voice shaking.
— I protected us.
— That's not protection! — she snapped.
Ryan turned to her.
— You'd rather know he was out there this whole time?
She didn't answer.
Because there was no good answer.
Lucas clenched his fists.
— You didn't just hide this…
He stepped forward.
— You let this happen.
Ryan looked at him.
No guilt.
No regret.
— I let you come back.
Silence.
Total.
And then—
A sound.
Loud.
Sharp.
Metal hitting.
The door.
Again.
Everyone turned.
Lucas' heart started racing.
Because this time…
They knew.
He was back.
🖤 Poem — Lucas
we feared what was coming
but not what we'd find
because some of the monsters
were never behind
and the truth that breaks you…
was always inside