The Greenhouse

Chapter 25:

The night air was cold, and Emily's breaths formed faint clouds as she walked across the campus. Every step toward the abandoned greenhouse felt heavier than the last. She had no idea who had left her the note or what they wanted to reveal, but she couldn't stay in the dark any longer.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at it: Sarah.

"You're seriously doing this alone?" the message read.

Emily hesitated before typing back: "I have to. I'll be fine, I promise."

Sarah's response came instantly. "Call me the second anything seems off. And don't do anything stupid."

Emily slipped the phone back into her pocket as the shadow of the greenhouse loomed ahead.

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Inside the Shadows

The greenhouse had been abandoned for years, its glass panels cracked and overgrown with vines. Moonlight filtered through the gaps, casting eerie patterns across the floor.

Emily pushed open the door, the rusty hinges groaning in protest. The air inside was thick and damp, carrying the scent of decaying leaves and soil.

"Hello?" she called, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, a figure stepped out of the shadows.

"Emily."

She froze. "Max?"

He nodded, his face partially obscured by the dim light.

"You left the note?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I did," he admitted, stepping closer. "I couldn't tell you everything in public. Too many eyes and ears."

Emily's pulse quickened. "What's going on? Why all the secrecy?"

Max hesitated, his jaw tightening. "It's about Oliver. And about you."

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A Dark Connection

"What do you mean?" Emily asked, her voice sharp. "What connection could I possibly have to Oliver's past?"

Max exhaled slowly, as if bracing himself. "Do you remember a guy named Ethan? He went to your high school."

Emily frowned, the name tugging at the edges of her memory. "Ethan… yeah, I think so. He was a year ahead of me. Quiet, kind of awkward. Why?"

Max's expression darkened. "He's the guy Oliver fought. The one who ended up in the hospital."

Emily's blood ran cold. "What? Why would Oliver fight him?"

Max looked away, his hands clenching into fists. "Because Ethan was obsessed with you. He had pictures of you, notes, drawings. He used to follow you around—"

Emily's stomach churned. "No, that's not possible. I would've noticed."

"He was careful," Max said. "But Oliver found out. He confronted Ethan, things escalated, and… well, you know the rest."

Emily stumbled back a step, her mind reeling. "Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Oliver made sure of it," Max said. "He didn't want you to feel responsible. He thought he was protecting you."

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A Sudden Presence

Before Emily could process Max's words, the door to the greenhouse creaked open again. Both of them turned, their bodies tense.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Oliver's voice cut through the silence like a knife. He stepped inside, his face unreadable as his eyes darted between Emily and Max.

"What are you doing here?" Max demanded, his tone defensive.

"I could ask you the same thing," Oliver shot back. His gaze settled on Emily. "What's going on?"

Emily's heart raced. "Max was just… explaining some things to me."

Oliver's expression darkened. "What kind of things?"

"About Ethan," Emily said, her voice trembling.

For a moment, Oliver didn't respond. His jaw tightened, and he looked away, as if gathering his thoughts.

"I didn't want you to find out like this," he said finally.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Emily asked, her voice rising. "You let me walk around all this time, completely clueless!"

"I was trying to protect you," Oliver said, his voice strained. "You didn't need to know."

"That wasn't your decision to make," she shot back.

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A Brewing Storm

Max stepped closer to Emily, his body language protective. "She deserves the truth, Oliver. You can't keep hiding things from her."

Oliver's eyes narrowed. "And you think you're the one to give it to her? You don't know everything, Max."

"I know enough," Max said coldly. "And I'm not going to stand by while you keep dragging her into your mess."

"Dragging her into my mess?" Oliver snapped. "Everything I've done has been for her. What about you, Max? What are you really after?"

The tension in the greenhouse was palpable, the air thick with unspoken accusations. Emily felt trapped between the two of them, her emotions a chaotic swirl of anger, fear, and confusion.

"Stop it," she said, her voice breaking. "Both of you, just stop."

Oliver and Max both turned to her, their expressions softening slightly.

"I don't know what's going on anymore," she said, tears welling in her eyes. "But I can't do this. I can't be caught in the middle of whatever this is."

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The Choice

Emily turned and walked out of the greenhouse, her chest heaving as she gulped in the cool night air. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Max following her.

"Emily, wait," he said.

She shook her head. "No, Max. I need time to think. Please."

He stopped, his expression pained. "Okay. But if you need anything, I'm here."

She nodded and walked away, leaving him standing in the shadows.

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A Silent Observer

Unbeknownst to Emily, another pair of eyes watched her from the darkness. Hidden among the trees, someone observed the scene unfold with a sinister smile.

Soon, the figure thought. Very soon.

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