Hidden Info

Lemon's phone buzzed just as the sun dipped low beyond the horizon. Her heart was pounding even before she picked it up. She knew it would be her mother. Swiping up quickly, she answered, "Hello?"

"Lemon," her mother's voice came through, soft yet laced with urgency. "Do you remember I told you that the girl in the photo looked familiar?"

Lemon nodded even though her mom couldn't see her. "Yes, you said she felt familiar but you weren't sure."

Her mother took a long breath. "I remember now. It was three years ago. There was a car accident near the cliffs—broad daylight. It happened so fast. Some people had gathered and I happened to be close. I helped them carry the injured girl to our house because it was the closest place to get her treated."

Lemon's heart stopped. "What? Mom, you're serious?"

"Yes, sweetie. I took care of her for days. She had serious injuries. I cleaned her wounds, fed her soup, gave her warm clothes. But one day, she just disappeared. No note. Nothing. We searched everywhere. We even checked with local hospitals and shelters, but there was no sign of her. And Lemon... she's the girl in that photo. I'm sure."

Lemon's breath caught in her throat. For a moment, she couldn't speak. "Mom... are you sure? Really sure?"

"As sure as I am your mother. That's the same girl. I remember those eyes. The pain she held inside them. And she stared at our picture like she knew us."

Lemon felt a shiver run down her spine. "I—I'll call you later, Mom. I need to talk to the girls."

Her mom paused. "Don't take too much stress, sweetie. Promise me."

Lemon nodded. "I promise."

She ended the call and turned to face her friends, who had been watching her from the edges of their beds, concern etched on every face.

"Lemon?" Scarlett was the first to speak.

Lemon looked around the room. "My mom... she remembers. She said three years ago, she and some people found a girl after an accident near the cliffs. They brought her home. And that girl? It's the same one in the photo. It's her. She took care of her. But one day, the girl ran away."

All of them fell silent.

"You're saying Ellara is that girl?" Riley asked, eyes wide.

Lemon nodded. "Yes. My mom is sure of it."

Evelyn sank onto the bed, stunned. "I can't believe it."

"Girls," Lemon said slowly, her voice trembling, "we're close. We're so close to uncovering this."

"Yes, we are," Scarlett agreed, her tone firm. "Now we'll make everything right."

"But we know she's alive now," Autumn pointed out. "Lemon, did you ever see her back then?"

Lemon shook her head. "No. I wasn't home when all that happened. I was staying with Aunt Clara that summer. But my mom did give me a photo of her with injuries... but I lost it somewhere."

Hazel leaned forward. "Then we need to check this fresher girl's profile. She's giving me weird vibes."

Lemon nodded. "I think that too. Let's go."

Riley raised an eyebrow. "But it's too late now. What if we get caught?"

Lemon bit her lip. "If we go now, no one will be around. It'll be safer. Only three of us should go."

Evelyn agreed. "Yeah, fewer people, less chance of being noticed."

Hazel stepped forward. "Then Lemon, Autumn, and I will go."

"Okay," Riley said. "We'll stay outside the dorm. If something happens, we'll message."

Lemon nodded and the three girls quietly left their room. They crept through the dormitory hallways, past the sleeping floors, and down to the storage wing where student profiles were kept. The corridor was dark and eerily quiet, with only the distant hum of campus lights buzzing.

Lemon reached the door to the records room. It was slightly ajar. She pushed it gently. The door creaked open.

Hazel was about to switch on the light when Autumn grabbed her wrist. "Don't. Someone might notice."

"Use your flashlight," Lemon whispered. All three switched on their phone flashlights, beams piercing through the dusty, cold room.

They scanned the rows of steel shelves stacked with files. Autumn walked ahead, scanning labels.

"This way. First-year batch files," she whispered.

She carefully pulled out a folder labeled 2025 Batch. Her fingers flipped through the pages until Lemon suddenly stopped her.

"That's her," she said. Her voice was low but steady.

They leaned closer to read:

Name: Ella Brown

Age: 23

Student ID: 245789

DOB: 10 March 2002

No further information-

Hazel stepped back. "What the hell? No address? No phone number? That's not even possible."

Autumn looked just as shocked. "It's like she doesn't exist beyond this."

Lemon quickly pulled out her phone and took a clear photo of the page. Then carefully, they slid the file back into its place and made sure everything looked untouched. The three girls tiptoed out and returned to the dorm.

Back in their room, the others were waiting. Evelyn stood up the moment they entered.

"No address or even phone number? Are you serious?!"

Lemon nodded. "See it for yourself." She showed them the picture.

Riley frowned. "But that's basic info every student needs to give. Why would it be blank?"

"Unless..." Scarlett whispered, "someone erased it. Or never wanted her traced."

Lemon bit her nail. "Something's not right. This isn't normal."

Lemon folded her arms. "Let's catch her tomorrow."

"Catch her?" Autumn blinked.

"Yeah," Lemon said. "We'll talk to her. Face to face. Make her tell us why does she behave like that to me."

"What if she doesn't?" Evelyn asked.

Lemon's voice hardened. "Then we make her."