Eddie was still adjusting to the sting of Maya's arms around him when the intercom buzzed again.
"Eddie Thompson, please report to the administration office. Immediately."
He pulled back, confused. "What the hell did I do now?"
Maya raised a brow. "Maybe they finally caught you for stealing my heart."
He managed a weak laugh, but something about the tone of that announcement twisted in his chest. His gut didn't like it. Not one bit.
He kissed her forehead. "I'll be right back."
She nodded, but watched him go like something might break in his absence.
When Eddie pushed open the glass door to the office, he expected a counselor. Maybe a glitch in his transcript. Not this.
His father sat in one of the stiff plastic chairs, legs crossed, suit sharp and scowl sharper.
Eddie froze. "What… What are you doing here?"
The secretary glanced between them, uncomfortable, then stood and quietly left the room.
His dad didn't stand. Just tilted his head like Eddie was already disappointing him. "You stopped answering my calls."
"I figured you'd get the hint."
"You're a child, Edward."
"No," Eddie said quietly, "I'm not."
His father stood now, slow and deliberate. "Then start acting like it. You're supposed to be prepping for college. Scholarship interviews. The business school has already set up a meeting."
Eddie's stomach twisted. "You can't be serious."
"You're throwing everything away. I raised you to be focused. Disciplined. You were writing code at ten. And now I hear you're… what, sneaking out? Spending time with some girl?"
Eddie's hands curled into fists. "Her name is Maya."
"I don't care what her name is. You had a future."
"I still do!"
His father's voice rose. "No, you're wasting it! Going out? Skipping competitions? Drawing in some dusty art room like a damn slacker?"
"I'm living, for once!" Eddie snapped. "I've been the perfect genius robot for years. Now I want to breathe. Be normal. Maybe even have a girlfriend. Is that so terrible?"
His father took a step forward, fury in every line of his face. "You don't get to want things, Edward. You get to succeed."
Eddie's voice cracked. "And what if I don't want your version of success?"
The slap came out of nowhere.
Fast. Loud.
Eddie's head turned with it. His cheek burned. Eyes stung.
And then—
"HEY!"
The door slammed open.
Maya stormed in, eyes blazing, like a goddamn tempest.
"What the hell did I just walk in on?!"
Eddie barely turned. "Maya—"
"Did you just hit him?" Her voice could cut glass.
His father blinked, stunned. "This isn't your business."
"You hit him." Her jaw clenched. "You don't get to lay hands on him. Ever."
He straightened, tone cold. "This is between me and my son."
"No. This is between you and reality," she snapped. "You don't get to bully him into being your trophy."
"Maya, it's fine," Eddie said, still dazed.
"No, it's not," she snapped. "He's smart. And kind. And he's allowed to be more than a resume."
His father turned, grabbing his briefcase. "This is what's ruining you. Her. This… nonsense."
Eddie looked him in the eye. "If you make me choose, I'm not choosing your plan."
The silence that followed was brutal.
His father didn't answer. Just walked out, door slamming behind him.
Maya exhaled, shaking. "I'm gonna punch something."
Eddie sank into the nearest chair, hands in his hair. "I'm fine. I just…"
"You're not fine," she whispered, kneeling in front of him. "That was abusive."
"He thinks I'm wasting my potential," Eddie said bitterly. "He's spent my whole life turning me into this machine. And now I'm finally acting my age, and he thinks I'm broken."
"You're not broken." She touched his hand. "You're healing."
Before he could answer—
Buzz.
His phone lit up on the table beside him.
Maya leaned over. "Is it him again?"
"No," Eddie said, voice suddenly tight. "It's them."
He showed her the screen.
A digital countdown burned back at them.
00:54:11
Beneath it, one word.
RUN.
Her stomach dropped. "That's less than an hour."
Eddie stood fast, grabbing his phone. "This isn't a joke anymore. This is something real."
"We need to find Vic."
They bolted out of the office, hallways stretching wide and cold. Panic rising.
They checked every familiar place—locker, gym, library.
Nothing.
Then they found Jackie.
Leaning against the lockers, earbuds in, like she had nowhere to be. Unbothered. Unmoved.
"Where's Vic?" Maya demanded.
Jackie didn't even blink. "No clue."
"This isn't a game!" Eddie said, voice cracking. "There's a countdown. Something is going to happen. Where is he?"
Jackie raised a brow. "What makes you think he'd tell me?"
"You two always have your creepy twin thing," Maya snapped.
Jackie sighed, pulling out an earbud. "He's not answering my calls either. Maybe he's playing you. Maybe he's scared. Or maybe…" she tilted her head, "…he knows something you don't." She laughed sarcastically looking at how worried maya seemed.
Eddie stepped forward. "Why aren't you scared?"
Buzz.
Another message.
Tick. Tock.
Eddie swallowed hard.
Maya's voice was low. "Whatever's coming… it's not just about Vic."
Jackie gave them a long look. "No. It's clear that both of you watch so much crime shows.Grow up guys ."
Then she walked off—calm, uncaring, as she usually is .
Eddie leaned against the lockers, hands shaking. "We're running out of time."
Maya looked at the countdown, each second slipping past like water through their fingers.
"We need to find out what this is."
"Fast," Eddie agreed.
And then—
Another message.
Ready or not.
Back in the hallway, the world spun sideways. People were still laughing, texting, acting normal. But the second Maya's phone lit up again, she stopped cold.
One word.
Sally.
Maya's blood ran cold. "What does that mean?"
"She's the next target," Eddie said. "Or she's already in it."
"No." Maya shook her head. "No, she doesn't even know. We have to find her."
They split. Searched the halls. Bathrooms. Art room. Gym.
Empty.
No Sally.
Then—Jackie.
Smirking. Scrolling through her phone. Like the world wasn't tilting on its axis.
Maya stormed over. "Jackie. Where's Sally?"
Jackie raised a brow. " why the hell are you in my face again .How should I know she is your BFF not mine ?"
"She's in danger."
Jackie blinked. "Over what?"
Eddie shoved his phone in her face. "These texts. Do you get them?"
Jackie actually paused. "Wait. You're getting those too?"
"You knew?" Maya growled.
"I thought it was a prank. Some dumb senior thing. Everyone's talking about it."
"It's not a prank," Maya snapped. "Someone's watching us."
Jackie crossed her arms. "You guys are losing it."
"No," Maya said, voice sharp. "We're the only ones paying attention."
Eddie pulled her away. "Forget her."
They moved fast, adrenaline peaking. Every second ticking down.
Maya's phone buzzed again.
Check your locker.
"What the—" Her voice was barely a whisper.
They got there quick. Maya's hands trembled as she opened the locker.
Inside: a single envelope. No name.
She opened it.
A photo.
Her and Sally. Sitting at lunch. Smiling.
Taken from behind.
From inside the school.
"They've been watching us," she whispered.
Eddie flipped the photo over.
You're not players. You're the game.