Conference Call

The night air felt unusually heavy, the kind of stillness that left you waiting for something to happen. The group, tired and restless after the unsettling events of the day, was slowly moving toward home, each lost in their thoughts. Vault, however, couldn't shake the nagging curiosity that had been eating at him.

"By the way, did you see the question paper?" Vault asked, breaking the silence. His voice held a strange tone, a mix of curiosity and unease.

Jake's eyes widened, and for a moment, he seemed confused. "No, because…" he started, trailing off. His mind was too distracted to fully process the question.

He paused, a sudden realization striking him. "Wait, how do you know about it?" Jake asked, his voice a bit sharper now.

Vault shrugged casually. "Andy told me about it last night."

Jake felt his chest tighten. "That was supposed to be a secret," he muttered, half to himself. He hadn't expected Andy to spill the beans.

Andy, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "He's our friend," he said, as though it were obvious. "Come on, Jake, it's not a big deal."

Jake looked at him, his mind still buzzing with a thousand other thoughts. He let out a sigh. "Alright, fine."

But the silence didn't last long. Jake leaned in closer to Sebastian, who was standing next to him, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Throw the stone at Vault when I raise my hand," Jake whispered quickly.

Sebastian blinked, clearly unsure. "But…"

"Do what I say, please," Jake urged, his voice quiet but insistent.

Reluctantly, Sebastian agreed. "Okay."

Vault, unaware of what was about to happen, was still focused on the conversation. Jake suddenly raised his hand, signaling Sebastian. The stone flew through the air, aimed at Vault.

But before the stone could reach him, Vault's reflexes kicked in. In one swift motion, he caught it, looking utterly baffled. "What the hell?" Vault exclaimed, holding the stone up in confusion.

Sebastian, who was trying not to laugh, gave a sheepish smile. "I was just joking," he said, trying to downplay the whole situation.

Vault stared at him, his eyes narrowing. "That wasn't a joke. Don't do that again," he warned, the seriousness in his tone making it clear that he wasn't amused.

Sebastian immediately apologized, "Okay, okay. I won't."

Jake, sensing the tension, decided to change the subject. "We all should go home now," he said, his voice a little less playful now.

Andy nodded. "Yup."

"Bye," Sebastian added, his voice quiet.

Vault, still a little confused by the earlier prank, chimed in. "Let's meet tomorrow."

Jake hesitated before answering, his voice a little unsure. "Maybe."

Vault's confusion deepened. "What?"

Jake quickly brushed it off, his words curt. "Nothing. Bye."

It was 1:00 AM, the world outside still and silent. Jake's mind was racing, his thoughts sharp and focused. He knew what needed to be done. This time, he wasn't going to let anything slip away. He dialed the group's numbers, calling Andy, Sebastian, and Vault into a conference call.

"Guys, I know how to find Mr. Black," Jake said, his voice filled with urgency. "Come fast, near the school, as soon as possible."

The line went quiet for a moment as everyone processed what Jake had just said. They all knew what this meant—the danger, the stakes, the unknowns. But none of them hesitated. The call ended quickly, and soon, they were on their way.

Minutes later, Andy arrived, slightly out of breath but with a look of reluctance on his face. "Jake, hi," he greeted, but there was a hesitance in his voice.

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Hi," he responded, surprised at how quickly Andy had made it there. "Wow, you just came faster than I thought."

Andy shifted uncomfortably. "I came here to tell you that... I'm not feeling good," he admitted, his voice soft. "I don't think I can come with you to see Mr. Black."

Jake's stomach sank as Andy's words hit him. "😓" Jake texted, his fingers tapping out a response. "You could've said that in the call," he typed, a touch of frustration slipping into his words.

Andy's response came quickly. "I thought you'd say that I'm afraid of Mr. Black."

Jake shook his head, trying to hide the growing frustration. "No, dude, it's not that," he said, his voice calm but firm. "It's okay. You can go take some rest."

Andy gave a weak smile. "Thanks," he said quietly, before turning and walking away, disappearing into the night.

Jake watched him go, a feeling of unease creeping over him. The stakes had never felt higher, and even his closest friends were feeling the weight of it all. But there was no turning back now.

He glanced around at the empty street, the cold night wrapping around him like a cloak. Tomorrow, they would face whatever came next. But for now, Jake had to hold on to the one thing that kept him going—the certainty that they were on the right track to finding Dave. And, hopefully, bringing justice to whoever was behind this.