Lena didn't sleep.
Not really.
She tossed, turned, stared at the ceiling like it had answers. Katelyn snored softly in the other bed, earbuds still in, her phone screen glowing dimly on the sheets. Outside, the trees rustled restlessly like they, too, knew something was wrong.
At 2:17 AM, Lena's phone buzzed.
Jace: You up?
She stared at the screen. Then replied:
Lena: Couldn't sleep.
Jace: Meet me. Science wing. Back path.
She hesitated. That path was off-limits—hidden from the security cameras. It was the kind of place people used when they didn't want to be seen.
She pulled on her hoodie and slipped out, careful not to wake Katelyn.
Jace was already waiting when she reached the edge of the path, his hood up, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The glow of the dorm lights didn't reach here. It felt like another world.
"You're not a midnight poet," Lena said quietly. "So what is this?"
He didn't speak right away. Just stared into the trees like he expected someone—or something—to emerge.
Finally, he said, "You remember Ssegona Emma?"
Lena blinked. "Yeah. He was the guy in Year Eleven. Transferred out last term."
Jace shook his head. "That's what they said. But it's not true."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… he didn't transfer. He disappeared. And I think Coach Kasekende knows why."
Lena's pulse spiked. "You're kidding."
"I wish I was." Jace reached into his hoodie and pulled out a small flash drive. "I found this behind a stack of files in Coach's office. It has Ssegona's name on it. And something else: surveillance footage. Notes. Time stamps."
"Time stamps of what?"
"Last day he was seen. The night after Kasekende had him in his office. Alone."
Lena stared at the flash drive. Her fingers twitched like they were itching to take it. But her mind was still trying to catch up.
"This is serious, Jace."
"I know."
"Do you even realize what you're saying? You're accusing a teacher of—"
"I don't know what I'm accusing him of," Jace cut in. "But Emma didn't just vanish. And I think we're the only ones who care."
Lena looked at the flash drive. It was light, like plastic and secrets.
And suddenly, everything around her felt darker.
"I'll check it," she said finally. "But if this is real—if Coach Kasekende is involved—"
"Then we're in way over our heads," Jace finished. "But we don't back out."
Lena met his eyes.
"Not this time."