WHO AM I

TWISTED GAMES

The next day was anything but normal. Lila's thoughts were still jumbled from the cryptic texts from Eli and the ominous message from Asher. As she made her way through the school hallways, the usual clamor of students seemed distant. Her focus was on Noah, walking beside her, his jaw clenched in quiet determination.

They were headed toward the library, where the group was supposed to meet again. They were going to figure out a way to outsmart Asher. But Lila couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

As they turned the corner, Renzo was already waiting by the library doors, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. He looked annoyed, as usual. Cathy and Jasper weren't far behind, talking in hushed tones. Kira had a bag of snacks, as if they were preparing for a stakeout rather than planning how to deal with a sociopath.

"Finally," Renzo muttered when they approached. "What's the plan? Are we just going to keep meeting like this until Asher makes a move, or are we actually going to do something?"

Noah shot him a glare but ignored the jab. "We're doing something," he said, pushing open the library doors. "But we need to be smart about it."

They all followed him inside and gathered around one of the large wooden tables in the back. The library was practically empty, save for a few students pretending to study while they scrolled on their phones.

Lila sat down next to Noah, her heart racing. It felt like they were playing with fire, and any wrong move could burn them all.

Meanwhile, somewhere across town, Asher and Jason were plotting their next move. Asher sat in front of a computer, reviewing the latest footage his surveillance had captured. He leaned back in his chair, a wicked smile tugging at his lips.

"You sure about this?" Jason asked, pacing behind him.

Asher nodded, eyes glued to the screen. "They don't even know what's coming. Noah thinks he's smart, but I've got him right where I want him."

Jason paused, glancing over at Asher. "What about Lila? She's not really part of this. Why drag her in?"

Asher chuckled, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk. "That's the beauty of it. It's not about her; it's about getting to Noah. You want to break someone? You target what they care about most."

Jason hesitated, but didn't say anything. He wasn't sure where Asher's head was at anymore, but he knew better than to challenge him now.

Back in the library, the group was deep in discussion. Noah was laying out a plan to confront Asher, but something about it wasn't sitting right with Lila. It felt... risky.

"I don't know," Lila said, voicing her concern. "What if we're just walking into a trap? Asher's always three steps ahead."

Renzo rolled his eyes. "We can't sit around forever. If we don't do something, Asher's going to keep playing these games."

"I agree with Lila," Kira chimed in, munching on her snacks. "Asher's the type to toy with people. We need to think like him if we want to win."

"Well, that's comforting," Jasper said sarcastically. "Just become a sociopath, no big deal."

Everyone laughed, the tension breaking for a moment. Even Lila cracked a smile.

"I'm serious," Kira added. "If we keep reacting to Asher, we'll lose. We need to make him react to us."

Noah raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Kira leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "We set him up. We make him think he's in control, but really, he's playing right into our hands."

Renzo snorted. "And how do you suggest we do that?"

Kira grinned. "Leave that part to me."

Everyone exchanged glances. Lila wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or more worried. Kira was clever, but her plans could be... chaotic.

Before they could discuss further, Lila's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her breath catching when she saw the name on the screen.

Eli: "Meet me tonight. We need to talk face-to-face."

Her heart pounded. Why now? And why in person?

"Everything okay?" Noah asked, noticing her sudden tension.

Lila hesitated. She couldn't tell him about Eli. Not yet. Not when everything else was so fragile.

"Yeah," she lied. "Just my mom. Wants me home early tonight."

Noah nodded, distracted as Kira continued outlining her plan. But Lila could barely focus. Her mind was already racing ahead, trying to figure out what Eli wanted. And more importantly, whether she could trust him.