Ethan stood in his room. He reached into the back of a junk drawer and pulled out an old, burner phone he hadn't touched in a long time. He dialed a number he knew by heart Ethan came out to the balcony.
"Huh? Ethan?" a voice crackled on the other end, sounding stunned. "Is that really you?"
"It's me," Ethan said.
"Well, well. To what do I owe the honor? Make it quick, though—I'm on a date, and she's walking up right now."
"Someone attacked my sister yesterday," Ethan said, cutting through the small talk. "I need you to dig. I know who did it but I need proof."
The tone on the other end shifted instantly, the playfulness vanishing. "Understood. Send me the coordinates, the time, and any details you have. My date's here—talk soon."
The line went dead. Ethan tucked the phone away, his expression a mask of cold determination. He went to bed, the next morning his eyes fell on the study table, but nothing was there. He got freshened and got ready. After having breakfast he walked out of the house and began the trek to school.
Mr. Henry was on his way to school when his phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw the caller ID: Beast. He answered immediately.
"Henry, where are you right now?" the voice on the other end demanded.
"Heading to school," Henry replied.
"There's something you need to know," Beast said, his tone heavy.
"What is it?"
"Come to my house," Beast commanded.
Henry checked his watch. "I'll drop by after school."
There was a long pause before Beast sighed in weary defeat. "Fine. See you then."
As Ethan approached the school gates, he spotted Allen and Madison walking ahead of him. Rather than calling out to them, he slowed his pace, letting them keep their distance.
By the time Ethan entered the classroom, Allen and Madison were already in their seats. Ethan took his usual spot beside Finn.
"Good morning, Ethan," Finn said.
Ethan gave a curt nod. "Morning."
After setting his bag down, Ethan surreptitiously sent a message to Allen. Across the room, Allen felt his phone vibrate. He pulled it out to find a text from Ethan: Meet me during lunch break.
Allen stared at the screen, his expression unreadable. Madison noticed his distraction and leaned in to get a look, but Allen quickly tucked the phone back into his pocket.
"Just a message from a friend," Allen said, meeting her inquisitive gaze.
Madison nodded, though she looked unconvinced. Before she could press him, Mr. Henry arrived, and the lesson began.
As the class wrapped up, a student raised their hand. "Sir, any news on the school trip?"
"Ah, about that," Mr. Henry said, gathering his papers. "The second and third-year students will be traveling together. The faculty is still finalizing the details, so the plan might change. I'll keep you posted."
Later,
When the lunch bell rang, Ethan headed straight for the courtyard outside the café. Allen spotted him from across the room and stood up to follow. Madison watched him leave, her eyes narrowing, but she remained silent.
Outside, the air was crisp. Ethan was waiting by the stone wall.
"What did you want to talk about?" Allen asked, skipping the pleasantries.
"I want to meet the Chairman," Ethan said.
Allen blinked in surprise. "You mean Madison's father?"
Ethan looked at him. "That old man."
"The former Chairman," Allen corrected. "I'll ask him if he's available."
Ethan turned to head back inside, but Allen's voice stopped him. "When are you going to answer my question, Ethan? How did you know about that?"
Ethan paused. "I received a letter. It was all laid out there."
"And you just believed it?"
"Think back, Allen," Ethan said, turning his head slightly. "The day after Enzo was suspended... the day you and Madison were attacked."
Allen nodded slowly.
"We were attacked too," Ethan continued. "And you showed up and saved us."
"That morning, I found a letter on my study table. It warned me not to let Daisy go to school alone. I didn't think much of it at first, but when I saw her leaving by herself, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I followed her, and you know the rest. Before I could even join the fight, you had already intervened."
Allen processed this in silence. "Who sent the letters?"
"I don't know," Ethan said, walking away toward the café.
Left alone, Allen decided to clear his head with a walk around the campus. In a quiet corner of the school grounds, he noticed a book sitting abandoned on a bench. He picked it up, glancing at the cover:
Secrets of Hero Town: Volume 1
A novel? Allen wondered. He set it back down and completed his circuit of the school. When he eventually entered the café, he saw Madison sitting with a student—Sophia. Madison was laughing, a sincere, bright smile on her face. Allen smiled to himself, choosing a seat at a distance so as not to interrupt their moment.
At the end of the school day, the halls were filled with the sound of zippers and shuffling feet. Ethan was the first to head for the door.
"Ethan!" Allen called out.
Ethan stopped and turned.
"The Chairman can meet you now," Allen said, catching up to him. "Are you ready?"
Ethan nodded.
"Come with us," Allen added, looking back at Madison.
Madison looked between the two of them, her confusion growing. "Allen? What's going on?"
"Ethan needs to see the former Chairman," Allen explained.
"Why?" Madison whispered, her protective instincts kicking in. "What if he has an ulterior motive?"
Allen gave her a reassuring look. "Don't worry. I'll be right there with him."
Madison finally relented with a nod. As they walked toward the exit, Ethan pulled out his phone and texted his mother: I'm out with friends. I'll be a little late. Don't wait for me for dinner.
The reply came almost instantly: Come home safely.
A small, rare smile touched Ethan's lips.
"Ethan," Madison said, breaking the silence as they reached the car. "Why didn't Daisy come to school today?"
Ethan's expression went cold. "She was attacked. They beat her." Ethan said, his voice flat— but his eyes darker than before.
Both Allen and Madison froze. Madison's hands balled into fists, her knuckles turning bone-white.
"Who did it?" she demanded, her voice trembling with rage.
Ethan looked her dead in the eye. "You know exactly who."