Beyond The Syllabus

Haunted by the Truth

Jack stood by the large window of his penthouse, staring blankly at the city lights beyond. His mind was filled with one single thought: Elena knows. But not from him. His enemies had delivered the cruel revelation instead. He cursed under his breath, his fists clenching at his sides. I should’ve told her. I should have told her long ago, he thought, regret and frustration gnawing at him.

He envisioned her face, the shock, the betrayal she must be feeling. It wasn’t just about the danger she was in now; it was that he had lied to her, the one person he swore to protect from everything—even himself.

Suddenly, the tense silence of the room was interrupted by Alex’s voice.

“Jack, come here. I’ve got something.”

Jack snapped out of his thoughts and rushed over to Alex, who was hunched over the computer screen, his fingers tapping rapidly on the keyboard. Alex’s eyes were glued to the grainy CCTV footage.

“I finally traced the car,” Alex said, his voice cautious, “but there’s a problem. The car loses its trail again after a few minutes. It’s like they knew exactly when and where to disappear off the grid.”

Jack’s chest tightened. His heart pounded louder with each passing second. “Who the hell is behind this, Alex? Who would know our moves so perfectly?”

Alex sat back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Jack… I don’t think this is your usual enemy. I don’t think this is about some old rivalry or mafia beef. Whoever took Elena knows too much. This is someone close to you.”

The words hit Jack like a sledgehammer. Someone close to him? His thoughts immediately flickered through a mental list of people he trusted, people who had been part of his life.

“Who do you suspect?” Jack’s voice was a low growl.

Alex shook his head. “I’m not sure yet. But the precision of this kidnapping… it’s someone who knows your every move, someone who knows exactly how we operate.”

Jack clenched his jaw, trying to contain his rising anger. He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with a flick of his lighter. As he inhaled deeply, his thoughts returned to Elena. Elena, I can’t lose you. You’re my world. If anything happens to you… He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, his eyes hardening. I’ll burn this entire world to the ground. I don’t care who’s in front of me.

Alex stayed quiet, sensing the storm brewing inside Jack. He knew better than to offer any words of comfort; it would only make things worse. Instead, he silently continued his search, digging for any clue that could help them find Elena.

Suddenly, Alex’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and hesitated before answering. On the other end, his wife’s cheerful voice filled the silence. “Honey, when are you coming home? It’s our daughter’s first birthday. She’s been waiting for you.”

Alex froze, his eyes darting toward Jack, who was pacing restlessly. He couldn’t leave Jack now—not in the middle of this crisis—but how could he ignore his family?

“I’ll be there soon, love,” Alex replied softly, his heart torn. “Just give me a little more time.”

As he hung up, Jack turned to face him. “Who was that?” His voice was sharp, but there was no malice behind it—only the weight of the situation.

Alex sighed, knowing he couldn’t hide it. “My wife. It’s my daughter’s first birthday. She wants me to come home for the celebration.”

Jack paused, his face softening for a moment. He understood the pull of family, even though his own was a lie. He had never interfered with Alex’s personal life, knowing that it was the one thing that grounded his friend in their otherwise chaotic world.