Truth or Dare

Lesson 9: Shattered Truths

Time had slipped away too fast, leaving us as the only class still confined within the suffocating walls of the school. Outside, the sky had darkened—a stark reminder of just how long we'd been trapped here. The silence weighed heavy, each of us caught in a web of anxious thoughts and mounting dread.

Mia's voice finally broke the quiet, soft yet tinged with desperation. "What am I supposed to tell my parents?" She pressed her fingers to her temples, her face a canvas of fear and frustration. Her words echoed the unspoken question lingering in all our minds—how could we possibly explain this nightmare to anyone outside these walls?

Rolan stood against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His hard expression betrayed a weariness that matched the rest of us. "We need to figure that out before they start looking for us," he said, his voice steady but edged with tension.

"They'll know something's wrong," Josh muttered, his gaze fixed on the floor. His words carried the weight of inevitability. "It's only a matter of time before parents, teachers, or... someone starts asking questions."

I cleared my throat, forcing a calm tone into my voice. "You can all tell your parents you're staying at my place tonight," I offered, though the words felt fragile, like they could shatter under the pressure of our growing fear. "At least that'll buy us some time to figure this out."

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the situation making the idea feel both absurd and unavoidable. Mia sighed, pulling out her phone, while Josh nodded silently, already typing a message to his parents.

"Better than nothing," Mia muttered, casting me a wary glance. "But what about you? What are you going to tell your dad?"

I hesitated, my fingers brushing the edge of my pocket. "My dad barely notices when I'm home," I admitted, my voice quieter than I intended. "He's always too busy. Honestly, my only concern is my cat."

Mia gave me a faint smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're lucky, in a way," she said softly. "My mom would lose her mind if she thought I was missing."

One by one, everyone began calling their parents, explaining they'd be staying at my place for the night. Some claimed it was for an exam study session, while others mumbled vague excuses. Their voices wavered with strain as they tried to sound casual, masking their growing panic.

I stood in the middle of the room, phone in hand, listening as they passed their calls to me. Taking a deep breath, I did my best to sound composed and reassuring. To my relief, their parents accepted the excuses, though the lingering tension in their voices was impossible to ignore.

As the calls ended, I scrolled aimlessly through my phone, trying to distract myself from the suffocating atmosphere. I was so absorbed that Felix's voice caught me off guard, slicing through the silence like a blade.

"Truth or dare, Rolan," Felix said, his tone casual, yet tinged with a challenge that made everyone freeze. Rolan, who had been pacing near the window, stopped. He turned slowly, his brow furrowed in disbelief. "Seriously?" he asked, his voice tinged with irritation. "Now's not the time for games."

Felix leaned lazily against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze locked on Rolan. "You heard me," he said with a smirk. The room tensed. All eyes darted between the two of them, the charged energy making it hard to breathe.

Rolan's jaw tightened. After a long pause, he said, "Fine. Dare." His voice was steady, but there was no mistaking the edge of frustration beneath it.

Felix's smirk widened, his eyes darkening with intent. "I dare you," he said slowly, each word deliberate, "to go to Ecology Forest. Alone."