WHO AM I

THREADS UNRAVEL

The tension in the air was thick as the group divided, each heading down separate hallways in search of Stacy. Lila couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong, her instincts screaming that they were walking straight into another of Phillip's traps.

"You know, I really thought high school drama was the worst it could get," Cathy muttered beside her, scanning every dark corner. "But I guess we had to up the stakes. Now we're just adding missing people to the mix."

Lila couldn't help but smirk despite the situation. "Yeah, and instead of detention, we get mind games."

"Next thing we know, Phillip will be sending us cryptic texts like, 'Do you wanna play a game?'" Cathy quipped, her fingers miming air quotes.

Lila shuddered at the thought. "Honestly, that wouldn't even surprise me at this point."

As they moved further down the hallway, Noah and Jasper caught up with them, their faces serious. Noah's eyes locked on Lila's, silently communicating his worry. Jasper, on the other hand, was doing his best to keep the mood light, though his jokes were falling flat.

"So," Jasper said, trying to keep the fear at bay, "what are the odds this is all just one big misunderstanding? Like, maybe Stacy just went to get snacks, and Phillip is actually a decent dude, and we've just been paranoid for no reason?"

"Uh-huh," Cathy deadpanned, "because missing friends and rigged chandeliers are just minor misunderstandings."

Jasper shrugged, "A guy can dream."

Noah, however, wasn't in the mood for jokes. His jaw clenched, and Lila could tell he was thinking through every possible scenario. "We need to be careful," he said quietly, "Phillip's trying to mess with our heads, and we're walking right into it."

Lila nodded, her hand grazing the wall for support as her mind raced. Stacy's disappearance had escalated things in a way none of them had anticipated. The group was barely hanging on by a thread, and Phillip knew it.

As they approached a locked door at the end of the hallway, Lila's heart rate quickened. Something about this door felt different. Almost as if...

"Wait," she said, her hand hovering over the doorknob. "What if this is a trap?"

Cathy raised an eyebrow, "A trap? Like... booby-trapped?"

"No," Lila said, shaking her head. "I mean, what if Phillip wants us to open this door? What if Stacy's behind it, but he's waiting for us to make the first move?"

"That's... weirdly specific," Jasper said, scratching his head. "But also... you could be right."

"Are we really doing this?" Cathy asked, her eyes darting between them. "Because I feel like I've seen enough horror movies to know this is where someone dies."

Noah stepped forward, his face set with determination. "We don't have a choice. If Stacy's behind that door, we need to find her. And if Phillip is playing games, we'll deal with that too."

Lila's breath hitched as Noah slowly turned the knob. The door creaked open, and the group stepped inside the dimly lit room. At first glance, it seemed like nothing was out of the ordinary. Just an empty room, bare walls, and a single window overlooking the courtyard.

But then they saw it—scrawled in red across the far wall were the words:
"Trust is earned, not given. Who do you really trust?"

Lila's stomach dropped.

"Yeah, this is definitely not normal," Jasper muttered, his eyes wide.

As they took in the message, a soft creaking sound echoed from behind them. The door had closed on its own.

"What the—?" Cathy whipped around, her pulse racing.

Noah immediately tried the knob, but it wouldn't budge. "We're locked in."

Jasper raised both hands in the air, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "Oh, great! Classic Phillip move—trap us in a creepy room. I bet he's watching us right now."

"You think this is funny?" Cathy snapped, her eyes blazing. "We could be stuck here for hours, and Stacy's still missing!"

Before the argument could escalate further, a faint knock came from the window. Everyone froze. Lila slowly turned toward the sound, her heart pounding in her ears. There, standing on the other side of the glass, was Stacy—her face pale and eyes wide with fear.

"Stacy!" Lila cried, rushing to the window.

But Stacy didn't move. She just stood there, her mouth moving silently, as though she was trying to speak but no sound came out.

"What's going on?" Cathy whispered, edging closer.

Noah frowned, his eyes narrowing. "Something's not right. Why isn't she saying anything?"

Lila pressed her hand to the cold glass, trying to read Stacy's lips. But before she could figure out what Stacy was trying to say, the figure vanished—disappearing into thin air.

"Did she just... vanish?" Jasper asked, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

"What the hell is happening?" Cathy whispered, her voice shaky.

Lila felt a chill run down her spine as the room seemed to close in around them. Phillip wasn't just playing games—he was testing their limits, pushing them to their breaking point.

And suddenly, Lila realized:
This was only the beginning.

Phillip's control over the group is tightening, and with every step they take, the lines between reality and manipulation blur. The game has only just begun—how far will Phillip push them?