Framed

I stared at the screen.

I kept staring.

And I kept staring.

"Tel?" Ram asked. "Y-yeah?" "Let's… not panic. She could just… be in the bathroom or something… " "Then why… would it say that she's missing…?" "I… don't know…" I looked back down at my screen, pressing the 'No' Button. A new notification popped up, and it said to head to the cafe for some kind of assembly for when someone's missing. I stood for a second, before slowly walking towards the cafeteria, ending the call with Ram.

Once I reached there, I found Ram, and sat next to her. "Where… do you think she is?" Ram asked. "I… don't know…" I looked around again. "Where's Kenal?" "I don't know. He's probably just not here yet… I hope." Suddenly, someone started talking on the loudspeaker. "Hello, this is Himro Resen, the owner of this place. We have a missing student, named Star Tel. If anyone has seen her, or knows of her whereabouts, please stand up." I looked around, and saw two people stand up. Kenal, who was sitting very far away for some reason, and Rano Kani. "Will the two of you please walk to the serving corner?" They did, and were led inside. "Everyone else, please be patient. This incident will be resolved soon." 5 minutes passed of silence, when Himro started talking again. "Kenal, and Rano will now say what happened."

The voice of Rano started talking. "I was at my help desk, and was just sorting through papers, when… I saw Star. And I saw Tel." What? "Tel seemed to be… leading her somewhere. Of course, I thought nothing of it until we found out she was missing…" What did she mean? The only time I saw Star was when I woke up… "And now Kenal will speak." "I… saw Tel, leading Star as well. But when he saw me, he paused time where Star was, and tackled me. He… He tied me up inside a room, and left me there…" What were they all talking about? None of this ever happened! "With my ability, I was able to escape, but I couldn't find Star…" "Now, would Tel please come to the serving station?"

I shakily got up, and walked over to the serving station, feeling hundreds of eyes on me. I got there, and was led to the room, where I saw Kenal, Rano, and Who must've been Himro standing there. He pointed to a seat and I sat down. "So…" Himro said. "Where Is Star?" "I… don't know…" "Heh. You don't know?" The door behind me was shut. "I… really have no idea… about where Star is, or even what Kenal and Rano are talking about…" "Really? Well, the way I see it, you've turned out just like Tenak, and Senol." "W-What?" "You've kidnapped one of your own friends, and now, you've been caught. So what do you have to say no-" But suddenly, the door burst back open, and the intruders from before ran through, pointing their weapons at everyone... except me.

I just sat there, and then one of them said "What're the orders, Boss?" "Huh?" "Heh, so you called in your buddies to get you out, huh?" "N-No, I have no Idea who these people are!" "Drop the act. The secret's out." I looked at Kenal, then Rano. They both turned away, refusing to look at me. I was being framed. And the framing was working. "I have no Idea who these people are, OK! I'm being framed!" "Really? You're still trying to convince us? After all of this? Honestly, you really are-" he was interrupted, as I made time stop around me. I slowly walked out, shaking. I looked around, and saw a hole in the ceiling where the intruders had entered. If I went through… there would be no turning back.

I would never be able to come back, plus running away would just be more suspicious.

But what other choice did I have?

I was being framed, and everyone was falling for it.

There was nothing else I could do.

I looked back, and sighed. This would probably be the last time I saw this place for a long time… But I would prove my innocence.

I jumped up, grabbed the ledge, and climbed outside. The building looked to be located inside of a dense forest… I jumped down, using slow time to fall slower, and landing on the ground. I took one last look back, and then, I ran.