Chapter 6: The Confession
The classroom door slammed hard enough to rattle the windows.
Anne's camera fell to the floor with a clatter, its red light blinking in the dark.
Felix lunged for the handle, but it wouldn't budge. "It's jammed!" he hissed.
Natalie shone her phone's light toward Anne, who was trembling, tears streaking through the dust on her cheeks.
"Anne," Natalie said carefully, "what do you mean, you know who did it?"
Anne's lips moved, but no sound came out. She clutched her chest, gasping.
"It wasn't an accident," she whispered finally. "It was never an accident."
Felix's jaw clenched. "Then who?"
Anne looked up at them — her eyes distant, haunted.
"It was Alex," she said.
Alex froze. "You're insane."
Anne shook her head. "I saw you. You dared him to climb the railing. You kept taunting him. You said he wouldn't jump. He slipped because of you."
Felix stepped between them. "That's enough."
Alex laughed bitterly. "You believe her? She's the one who filmed it and then hid the tape. She's been lying for years."
Natalie looked from one to the other. Her pulse thudded in her throat. "Anne," she said slowly, "you said you didn't push him. Who did?"
Anne's eyes flicked toward the dark corner of the room.
"I don't know anymore," she whispered. "Maybe we all did."