the truth(24)

The alarm clock buzzed loudly, jolting Michael awake. His body felt heavy, as if an unseen force was pressing down on him. He rubbed his eyes and groaned, the events of last night flashing through his mind like a nightmare he couldn't escape.

Michael:

"Damn it… Damn it, damn it, damn it!"

He sat up in bed, running a hand through his hair. His heart was still pounding from the conversation with Lisa's parents. He could still hear Mr. Carter's smooth, threatening voice in his head.

"We're just making sure you never tell anyone. Because if you do… well, something bad will happen to you."

Michael (gritting his teeth):

"I didn't even want to go there. I knew it was a bad idea. But Lisa forced me, and now I'm tangled in this mess again. I can't believe this."

He swung his legs over the bed and stared at the floor. His mind was racing, filled with one agonizing question after another.

Michael (internally):

"What do I do now? I promised them I wouldn't say anything, but what if they don't trust me? What if they're watching me? What if they decide I'm a liability?"

His hands clenched into fists.

Michael (internally):

"No. I can't think like that. I have to act normal. If I start looking nervous, they'll notice. I just have to keep my head down and pretend like nothing happened."

Easier said than done.

Michael walked into school, but everything felt… off. The hallways seemed louder, the lights too bright, the students' chatter like an unbearable noise that never stopped. He felt like everyone was staring at him, whispering behind his back, even though he knew they weren't.

Michael (internally):

"It's all in my head. No one knows. No one can know."

He walked to his locker, opened it, and just stood there for a moment. His mind was too clouded to even remember what he needed. Behind him, Ethan and Marie were talking about something, but their voices felt distant.

Ethan (grinning):

"Did you hear about that guy from Class 2-B? He challenged the coach to a sprint and got humiliated in front of everyone."

Marie (laughing):

"Serves him right. Thinking he could even compare to us? Please."

Michael didn't respond. He barely even heard them. His thoughts were too occupied by something else.

Michael (internally):

"What if Lisa's parents are checking up on me right now? What if they planted something? No… that's paranoid thinking. But still, I can't act out of character."

He forced a smirk and turned to his friends.

Michael:

"Hah. Some people just don't know their place."

Ethan and Marie laughed, completely unaware of the storm inside Michael's mind. But just as he thought he could relax, he saw Lisa out of the corner of his eye. She was walking down the hallway, and for a split second, their eyes met.

A chill ran down his spine.

Michael (internally):

"Damn it… Why does she always look at me like that?"

Lisa:

"Morning, Michael."

Michael (forcing a smile):

"Morning."

She passed by without another word, but that single interaction left Michael uneasy. The way she looked at him—it wasn't normal. Did she suspect something? No… No, she couldn't. Could she?

Class felt like a blur. The teacher's words were just noise. The writing on the board meant nothing. Michael tapped his fingers against his desk, his anxiety eating away at him.

Michael (internally):

"Why did Lisa force me to go to her house? Was it really just a coincidence? Or… did she know? Did she set me up?"

His thoughts spiraled further. He thought back to the first time he met Lisa. That strange feeling he had. That instinct telling him something was wrong with her.

Michael (internally):

"What if I was right about her from the start? What if—"

Teacher:

"Michael."

Michael snapped out of his thoughts, realizing the entire class was staring at him.

Michael:

"Huh?"

Teacher (sighing):

"I called your name three times. Are you even paying attention?"

Michael (forcing a smirk):

"Of course. Just thinking about how easy this lesson is."

The class chuckled, and the teacher rolled his eyes before continuing. Michael sighed in relief, but his anxiety didn't fade. It was only getting worse.

Michael threw himself onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. School was over, but the thoughts wouldn't leave him alone. He turned onto his side, gripping his pillow tightly.

Michael (internally):

"I don't want to get involved with them. I never wanted this. But now I am. And there's no way out."

He thought about telling someone. But who? If he told his friends, they wouldn't believe him. If he told an adult, Lisa's parents would find out. And then…

Michael (internally):

"No. I can't tell anyone. I have to carry this on my own."

The weight of it all pressed down on him, suffocating him. He closed his eyes, trying to push the thoughts away, but it was useless.

Michael (internally):

"Lisa… Why? Why do I keep feeling like something is wrong with you?"

The next day, as Michael sat at lunch with his friends, Emily suddenly spoke up.

Emily:

"Hey, Michael. You're looking really stressed. What happened?"

Michael stiffened. He forced himself to stay calm, to act normal.

Michael (grinning):

"Oh, it's nothing. Just tired, I guess."

But then—

Lisa:

"Are you sure, Michael?"

A shiver ran down his spine. Lisa was watching him closely, her eyes unreadable. The same way she looked at him when they first met. The same way she looked at him yesterday.

Michael:

"I'm fine. I'm fine."

Lisa:

"Hmm. Okay."

She turned and walked away, just like that. But Michael couldn't breathe. His body was frozen, his mind screaming.

Michael (internally):

"What was that? Lisa… That feeling again. That feeling that something's wrong. It's the same as before. Just what is happening? I can't take this anymore."

Michael (internally):

"I need to find out what is happening."

---

Scene 6: Dakota and His Group – The Truth Approaches

The fire crackled, casting eerie shadows across the cave walls. Dakota's group sat in silence, processing everything they had just seen through his magic. The memory of Michael's paranoia, Lisa's strange behavior, and the overwhelming tension that had built up inside him.

Henry:

"Well, Dakota? What did you do? What did you do after all of this?"

Dakota (leaning back, smirking slightly):

"What did I do? You'll soon see."

Luna (raising an eyebrow):

"You're being vague again."

Dakota (grinning):

"I didn't really do anything. I just ignored it, basically."

Lucas (frowning):

"You ignored it?"

Dakota:

"Yup. You'll see what happens next."

The fire crackled again, filling the silence. Whatever was coming next… it wasn't going to be good.