The ticking started the moment Elias stepped out from under the bell tower. Not just in his head—but from the watch. A soft, eerie tick, like a metronome counting down to a disaster only he could see.
Time left: 47 hours, 59 minutes, 11 seconds.
The world hadn't changed—but Elias had.
He walked back through campus, not just a student anymore, but a hunter in a jungle of masks. Every glance felt sharper, every whisper more sinister. And now, he had a target: Professor Luwanda. The smiling, silver-haired ethics lecturer whose office had become a graveyard of truth.
---
10:08 AM – The Next Day – Campus Food Court
The food court was buzzing with noise—students sipping overpriced smoothies, arguing over assignments, influencers taking selfies with filters that smoothed their skin and erased their lies. But Elias sat alone at the corner booth, sipping a bitter black coffee and staring at the list Mila had given him.
Potential Evidence Sources:
1. Shania's phone (confiscated by school after her "accident")
2. Luwanda's office archive – access restricted
3. Dorm CCTV archive – secured at tech admin building
4. Mila's deleted texts (recoverable with hacking)
He didn't know much about tech—but he knew someone who did.
---
11:37 AM – Auto Shop Behind Dorm G
The air reeked of burnt rubber and cheap cologne. Music blasted from someone's speaker while Leah, the fiery mechanic girl, welded something onto a busted motorbike. She didn't look up as Elias approached.
"I need your help," he said simply.
She raised an eyebrow, welding torch still sparking. "You're finally asking?"
"I need access to some… deleted files. Messages. Maybe video feeds."
She grinned, shutting off the torch. "Now you're speaking my language."
In a dark corner of the shop, she popped open her ancient laptop and plugged in a stolen flash drive. "Who's the target?"
"Professor Luwanda."
Her hands froze for a second.
"I always knew there was something slimy about him. What'd he do?"
Elias hesitated. "He hurt people. A lot of people. One of them died."
Leah's jaw clenched. "Give me thirty minutes."
---
Meanwhile – Elsewhere on Campus
In the lush gardens outside the music department, Ava, one of the Top 15 Campus Beauties and famous livestream violinist, was filming a new video. Her eyes were soft, her voice delicate—but behind that was a cutthroat ambition. She wasn't just beautiful—she was dangerous.
And she was Luwanda's favorite.
She'd received an anonymous message that morning:
> Your name's in the next file to be leaked.
Ask Luwanda what "Room Seven" really means.
Tick, tock.
She'd almost dropped her phone reading it.
And now she was scared.
---
1:44 PM – Tech Admin Building
Elias wore a hoodie and borrowed staff ID as he slipped through the back entrance. The halls reeked of toner and burnt circuits. He passed a janitor—an old man with tired eyes who gave him a knowing nod.
"This place watches everything," the janitor muttered. "But no one watches it back."
Room 104 was where the CCTV data was kept.
He slipped inside, heart pounding, and found the archive drive.
Rows and rows of digital footage.
But one file was password protected. It was labeled:
"SHANIA-LAST-ENTRY.avi"
His watch vibrated violently.
New Mini-Task: Unlock the file in 4 hours.
Reward: "Truth Projection" – Let others witness what you see.
---
Back at the Auto Shop
Leah whistled. "Mila's messages weren't just deleted. They were overwritten by a hidden protocol—university level. Someone really wanted this gone."
"Can you get them back?"
"Already did."
She turned her laptop, revealing a long string of texts—terrified, emotional, sent at 2:43 AM on the night of the gala.
> Mila: He said she talks, we both go down.
Mila: He promised to make her vanish. And he did.
Mila: I was there, Elias. I watched. I saw her hands reach out and… slip.
Elias clenched his fists.
Another ping.
Sub-Task Complete. Reward: "Truth Projection" unlocked.
Main Task Updated: Deliver Truth to 3 people of influence in 24 hours.
---
Later That Night – Gala Rooftop Planning Meeting
Mila sat with other top students, influencers, and organizers in a glass conference room. Elias stood outside, watching through the pane. His eyes scanned the room—Mila, Ava, Troy (the rich boy who always wore white suits), two board members, and a news anchor from StreamNet.
Three targets. Perfect.
He pushed the door open without knocking.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said, voice cold.
Troy laughed. "This isn't some poor boy protest, Elias. It's a planning meeting."
Elias pulled out the recovered phone.
And the flash drive.
Then clicked the play button.
Shania's final scream echoed through the speakers.
Everyone went still.
Mila broke into tears.
Ava covered her mouth.
Troy turned pale.
"Now," Elias whispered, staring directly at the news anchor, "you're going to help me expose this—or you'll be the next file."
---
Outside the glass tower, the watch buzzed again.
Part 1 Complete: "The Fall of Luwanda."
New Chain Unlocked: "The Wolves of Power."
Next Task: Bring Luwanda to public shame.
Reward: Unlock Campus System Override.
Time Limit: 72 Hours.
Elias stared at the skyline, wind rushing through his hair.
He wasn't just completing tasks now.
He was becoming something else entirely.
And everyone was starting to notice.