Beyond The Syllabus

The Web of Lies

The streets were dimly lit as Elena made her way toward the old library. The past seven days had felt like a lifetime, and the weight of it all bore down on her heart. She had been avoiding Jack, refusing to answer his texts or calls, trying to sort through her feelings. Losing her best friend Sofia had been a nightmare, but the thought of losing Jack as well terrified her. She knew she couldn’t keep running, so when his message came asking her to meet him at the old library, she decided it was time to face him.

She stood in front of her mirror, adjusting her black sleeveless midi dress and stockings, her heart pounding. A mix of excitement, anxiety, and fear swirled in her chest. Her reflection stared back at her with wide, nervous eyes. "I can do this," she whispered to herself. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her purse and headed out into the cool evening air.

The old library wasn’t far from her house, just a ten-minute walk. As she neared it, she spotted Jack from a distance, standing by the library’s stone steps, dragging on a cigarette. He looked deep in thought, his brow furrowed as he exhaled the smoke into the air. Elena’s heart fluttered at the sight of him, the familiar pull of her emotions making her legs feel weak. She took a tentative step forward, about to cross the road, when suddenly, a black Rolls-Royce Ghost screeched to a halt in front of her, cutting her off.

Confusion flashed across her face. Before she could process what was happening, the car door flew open, and two large men in black suits grabbed her by the arms, pulling her into the back seat of the car. Elena let out a muffled scream as one of the men covered her mouth with his hand. She kicked and thrashed, but it was no use. The door slammed shut, and the car sped off into the night.

On the opposite side of the street, Jack stood frozen, his cigarette falling from his lips. He saw the car take off and screamed her name, "Elena, run!" But it was too late. The car disappeared down the road, leaving Jack standing there in shock. His heart pounded in his chest as the realization hit him—he had failed her. The promise he made to protect her was shattered in front of his eyes.

Jack’s blood boiled with rage and fear. He immediately pulled out his phone and dialed a number. After a few rings, a voice answered.

"Alex here, what’s up?"

"Alex, they’ve taken her!" Jack growled into the phone, his voice shaking with anger. "Elena’s been kidnapped right in front of me. A black Rolls-Royce Ghost, no plates. I need you to find out who is fucking behind this, now!"

There was a brief pause on the other end. "Damn, man. I thought this was just some professor gig, getting close to her for fun. What the hell’s going on?"

"This isn’t a joke!" Jack roared. "I lost her. I don’t know who they are or what they want, but I swear, if anything happens to her, I’ll burn this entire city to the ground. Now get me the CCTV footage from every street in the area. I need that car traced!"

"Got it. I’m on it," Alex replied, his voice now serious.

Jack hung up the phone and stormed toward his car, which was already parked nearby. His driver, a man named Victor, stood waiting by the car door.

"Drive to her house. Now," Jack ordered, his voice sharp and cold.

Victor nodded and quickly got behind the wheel as Jack slid into the back seat, his mind racing. He clenched his fists, feeling a deep sense of failure gnawing at him. He couldn’t believe this had happened. For years, he had watched over Elena from a distance, protecting her without her knowing, and now, when it mattered most, he had failed.

As the car sped toward the Miller household, Jack’s mind was consumed by dark thoughts. He had kept the truth from Elena for too long. If she knew who he really was—if she knew about his connections to the mafia, his life of violence and power—she might have been prepared. But instead, he had played the role of her harmless professor, keeping his true identity hidden to protect her from the dangerous world he lived in. Now, that very world had come crashing into her life, and she was in danger because of it.