Can You Keep a Secret?

Chapter Fourteen: Shadows of Doubt

The school hallway felt eerily quiet as I made my way towards the school's exit. Each step echoed softly, blending with the faint hum of distant machinery. My phone buzzed in my pocket, startling me—a message from an unknown number.

"Meet me in the old gym. I have information about Samarra."

My heart raced with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Who could know something about Samarra? Could this finally lead me to answers about what happened to her? Despite the unease gnawing at me, I couldn't resist the urge to unravel the mysteries hidden within the school's walls.

Pushing open the creaky door, I stepped into the dimly lit gym. Shadows danced across the floor, and a shiver ran down my spine as I heard footsteps behind me. Turning swiftly, I found Kyle emerging from the darkness.

"You followed me?" I blurted out, surprised and wary.

Kyle shrugged casually. "Monica mentioned you were asking about me. Thought I'd see what you were up to."

I frowned, unsure whether to trust him. "What do you know about Samarra?" I asked, my voice steady despite my racing thoughts.

Kyle hesitated, glancing around cautiously. "Sam... she was different," he began slowly. "People liked her, for different reasons. Monica, my ex, she had a thing for Sam. And Alex... your brother... he liked her too."

"Why were they interested in her?" I pressed, my curiosity intensifying.

Kyle sighed, his gaze flickering around the gym. "Alex and I... we had this rivalry, especially at summer camp. Samarra got caught up in it."

"A rivalry?" I echoed, trying to understand.

"Yeah," Kyle admitted, his tone guarded. "Every summer, Alex and I would compete, try to outdo each other. Samarra was just... part of that competition."

My mind raced, connecting dots I hadn't seen before. "Did you and Alex ever... argue about Samarra?" I asked cautiously.

Kyle's expression darkened briefly, then he shook his head. "It wasn't just about her. It was about... proving ourselves."

"Proving yourselves?" I repeated, absorbing his words.

Kyle hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Look, I don't have all the answers," he said finally. "But whatever happened to Samarra... it wasn't right."

A chill ran down my spine at his words. "What do you mean, it wasn't right?" I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kyle looked at me, his eyes troubled. "I don't know everything," he admitted quietly. "But something... something wasn't right about what happened to her."

Before I could ask more questions, Kyle glanced at his watch with a sigh. "I have to go," he muttered, his tone tense. "Just... be careful, Alessa. There are secrets here."

With that, Kyle turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me standing alone in the eerie silence of the gym. His words echoed in my mind, stirring up new doubts and fears. But one thing was clear—I was determined to uncover the truth about Samarra, no matter how unsettling it might be.