The rain outside Theo's apartment now sounded almost identical and he blinked back into the present, his pulse still uneven. He looked at the photo again and he just stared at the ninety-eight students standing then a thought came to his mind.
"If Richard really died that day…" he whispered, voice low, "then who was the one who told me to run?"
Silences followed his thoughts as thinking about this had caused his head to hurt deeply. How can this be? Is someone pretending to be Richard or is it just his imagination playing on him during that day?
He stopped his thoughts and he looked at notebook on the table. While he was looking at it, a shadow passed by his window and Theo sensed that someone was watching him which made him to quickly turn sharply towards the window. But when he looked at it, there was nothing there. Was he- was he hallucinating again?
He brushed it off and he went back on studying everything around his table. He looked at his drawer and took out a photo inside it, it was a photo of him and Richard back at the boyscout camp when they were younger. They were smiling widely, too innocently, and Theo stared at Richard's blurred figure in the old photograph, memories colliding violently inside his head. Richard's voice still sounded clear after ten years.
"Why? Why did it have to be you?"
He still remembered everything, Richard's voice telling him to run. Looking back at that time, his voice was nothing like the Richard he know. He wasn't scared, he wasn't panicking like the rest of the students, and he.... he was calm, too calm during the situation.
Theo clenched his jaw tightly and pushed himself away from the desk. His body ached from exhaustion and his head felt heavy from thinking too much, yet every new discovery only made things worse.
"Nothing in this mess make sense anymore..... What the hell is going on?"
Is everything all a lie? Is everything they know all lies? Nothing make sense anymore for him. The official reports were altered, all the evidences are short and missing all the information during that day, the survivors had been altered and two survivors were added afterward without any explanation.
During that day, he clearly talked to Richard before he escaped but it is reported that Richard died before Theo supposedly spoke to him and Mia also testified that Richard died protecting her, so is she lying?
And now, the only person who is close enough in finding out the truth, died without any evidence and explanation. Theo got up from his seat and went to his kitchen as he grabbed the edge of the sink near his kitchen and splashed cold water onto his face while he stared at his reflection afterward.
His eyes were tired, his hair was now messy, and his face was looking at him as if it was mocking him for not being able to uncover something with this clues Leonard's had handed out to them.
"I'm missing something important, aren't I?" He muttered softly.
Before he could even think another thought, it was suddenly interrupted when he felt his phone vibrating from him pocket. He hesitantly walked toward the Kitchen counter and pick up his phone from his pocket and saw that it was Sean calling him.
He opened his phone and answered it as he doesn't know if he should either tell Sean about his findings or not.
"Theo, did you get a day off from your work?" Sean's tired voice can be heard from the other side of the line and it looks like he doesn't have enough sleep either.
A scoff escpased from Theo as he looked at the time on his wall clock. It was already near afternoon, how much time had already passed since he tried uncovering the truth from Leonard's notes.
"After everything had happened? Ofcourse I would take a break for a while. I don't want to also bring down my workplace to ruin with me." Theo rubbed his temple as he sighed deeply.
For a brief moment, both of them didn't say anything as silence settled between them. Theo couldn't help but lecture himself inside since he shouldn't have talk to him like this, he was only worried for him.
Then Sean suddenly asked:
"You've been thinking about Richard again, haven't you?"
Theo froze slightly and his eyes widened upon hearing this, his eyes trembled slightly as he control his voice. "…Why would you ask that?"
"Because you always sound like this when you think about him." Sean said, his voice carried a deep worry for his friend.
Theo clenched his jaw quietly and the image of Richard standing in the gymnasium flashed through his mind again. That day, the last time he saw him, he was calm. Unnaturally calm, despite what was happening that day. He looked toward the rain-covered window and he couldn't help but sigh. "I saw him that night."
Sean sighed tiredly through the phone.
"Theo…"
"I'm serious."
"You were traumatized."
"I know what I saw."
Then—
"You found something, didn't you?" Sean's voice become serious, he knew that Theo is a smart man. A type of man that is observant than the rest of them, he knew that he wouldn't stop until he find the answer he has been looking for, and hearing his voice right now, means that he had found something.
A short surprised gasp escaped from Theo's voice as he looked puzzled on how could Sean have suspected about this. He tried to compose himself as he went back to his room.
Once he was inside, he looked at the scattered documents, photos, and notes around his tables, and he looked Richard's photo on his table. He didn't answers Sean's question for some time now and he is hesitanting if he should tell him or not so he put on the courage to just tell him.
"Yeah, I do."
"What is it?" Sean didn't seems to be surprised by this and he just waited for Theo to tell him everything.
Theo hesitated before answering.
"The survivor records were altered. All the reports are altered by someone, someone is messing with the whole information about the case."
A moment of silence came after that and no one between them had the nerve to speak for a while. Until, Sean surprise voice echoed again the phone.
"What?"
Theo grabbed the earlier archive copy again and he state the report written inside the paper. He steady his voice and looked at the paper.
"The original report only listed ninety-eight survivors."
"What did you say? But the official report says one hundred."
"I know." Theo swallowed slowly as he continued his words. "Someone added two names later."
A loud sound can be heard from Sean's line as if he had broke a glass of cup. Sean cursed quietly under his breath as he couldn't help but feel everything from this new information from Theo.
"Are you sure?" Sean let out a huge sigh of frustration and worry.
"I checked it multiple times." Theo said seriously as he looked at his window again. Rain was still hammering harder outside, but, he can feel that something was truly watching him early since he now felt safe unlike earlier.
Theo looked back toward Leonard's note.
"They said that the survivors were one hundred but I counted the survivors that day when no one was looking and I remembered that I counted only ninety-eight."
After a while, Sean finally spoke again.
"So.…Leonard was telling the truth.... The whole time."
Theo didn't answer beecause deep down—He already knew that, he already know that someone was messing with them. Someone was keeping them from finding out too much, if he find out much more than this, what will happen to him? Thinking of this made Theo shuddered but he shrugged this off. Finding out the truth is what matter the most, even if he sacrifice himself, just like Leonard.
Then Sean quietly asked:
"Did you tell the others?"
Theo clasp his lips together as he thought about this for a moment then he answer. "Not Yet."
"You should, it would be dangerous if only you know the truth." Sean said, his voice was filled with worry.
Theo hesitate for a while and he went back to his seat. He leaned back in his chair again.
"I will tomorrow."
Sean stayed silent for a moment before speaking again. "And Theo... About what happened last night.... About the Attacker."
Theo tightened his grip on his phone while he answered. "What about him?"
Sean hesitated for a while before continuing his words.
"…Didn't you think he moved strangely?"
Theo frowned slightly and said "What do you mean?"
"I don't know," Sean muttered. "It felt like he already knew where we'd run before we did."
Theo looked toward the rain-covered window again and he felt his breathing become heavy suddenly. Sean's word made him think of something, as if the attacker is like someone who already knew every exit. That was too familiar for him, too familiar as the memory immediately returned to him. The two figures walking through the corridor ten years ago, they are like that attacker.
They were slow as if they are just playing with their prey before they hunt them down to death, they weren't panicking if they lost track of their prey, they were always calm. Thinking of this made Theo suddenly feel cold and a sweat broke out of his face.
Before he could answer—
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
*KNOCK*
A slow knock echoed echoed through his apartment which made Theo immediately straightened his posture as tightened his grip towards his phone much more tighter than before. He became silence as he just waited for the knocking to stop.
Sean noticed the silence instantly and immediately became worried for his friend. Is he in trouble? Should he go there and check it out? He waited for Theo to answer and after a moment of no sound coming from Theo, he just called out to him.
"…Theo?"
*KNOCK*
Another knock followed through Sean's voice then a calm voice came from the other side of the door. "Theo, it's me.... Eryos."
'Eryos?' Theo thought to himself, why would he be in this hour of day in his apartment?Theo frowned immediately and another thought came to his mind, how did he know where he live? He didn't remember giving him the address before.
Sean's voice came through the phone again.
"Who is it?"
Theo answered quietly.
"Eryos."
Then Sean responded:
"Eryos? I thought he works at his office job in the morning…What is he doing at your partment at this time of day?"
Theo didn't answer as another knock echoed throught his apartment. He was thinking of whenever he should open the door or not but he knew that Eryos looks like someone who wouldn't do anything to someone.
"Theo?" Eryos called gently. "Are you alright? Is there something wrong?"
Theo sighed and he slowly stood from his seat as he looked at his phone. "I'll call you back."
Before Sean could answer, Theo ended the call. It's strange, he could feel something was wrong but at the same time he doesn't. Theo approached the door carefully before unlocking it.
Outside stood Eryos with his usual friendly smile, he was far too innocent than others but something about him made Theo feel something is off, though, he just turned a blind eye towards this.
Eryos was soaked from the rain, water dripped from his dark hair while his jacket clung slightly against his shoulders.
"I met Mia earlier while I was going to work and Mia said you weren't answering her calls so," Eryos said calmly. "I got worried."
Theo stared at him and he rubbed his temple then he put his hand on his hair while he raised his eyebrow. "How did you know where I live?"
The question came out sharper this time than Theo was expecting but he didn't back down as he just continue staring towards Eryos. Eryos blinked once before giving a small awkward laugh. "Sean mentioned it before.... Besides, how else would I have known?"
"When?"
"At the café." Eryos chuckled again as his answer came instantly. For Theo, it was too smooth, making Theo to frowned slightly. Based on his memories, he didn't remember Sean mentioning it, but maybe he forgot, his thoughts is sure is messy today.
Eryos noticed Theo's situation and he tilted his head slightly. "You look exhausted. Did you even sleep since last night?"
Theo didn't answer but Theo stepped aside silently, letting Eryos to come inside his house. "Come in... Sorry for the mess."
Eryos slowly walked further inside the apartment while his eyes wandered toward the scattered files and photographs around the room. His expression remained calm as always— too calm even, but Theo noticed how carefully Eryos was examining everything around him.
"You've been busy." Eryos muttered softly as he looked around the apartment.
Theo shut the door behind him and unconsciously locked it before answering. "You could say that."
Eryos noticed the old survivor photograph resting near Theo's laptop. The picture containing the ninety-eight students standing beneath Linwood Academy's banner.
And behind them—
The two blurred figures.
Theo quietly watched Eryos carefully, trying to see if his expression would change even slightly after seeing the photograph. But Eryos only stared at the picture for a brief moment before his attention shifted toward the pile of reports instead.
"What did you find?" He asked calmly while Theo hesitated for a while.
Something inside him was telling him not to reveal too much information yet, but another part of him desperately wanted answers badly enough that he ignored that feeling so Theo answered Eryos quietly. "The survivor records were altered."
Eryos eyes widened and he looked toward him again before continuing. "The official reports?"
Theo nodded his head and handed him the earlier archive copy. "The original report only listed ninety-eight survivors."
Eryos accepted the papers carefully and began reading through them beneath the dim lamp light. Rain tapped softly against the windows while silence settled heavily between them. Meanwhile, Theo kept observing him closely since most people would've reacted immediately after hearing something like this. Some would be shock, confused, and be disbelief of everything, but, Eryos remained strangely composed. Almost as if the information itself didn't surprised him at all.
After a while, Eryos finally spoke. "The final two names were added later."
Theo's eyes narrowed slightly. "You noticed?"
"The font changed," Eryos answered simply. "And the ink density is slightly darker than the rest."
Theo stayed quiet as that was exactly what Leonard noticed too and Eryos noticed it instantly. Eryos slowly placed the papers back down before sighing softly.
"Theo."
Something about his tone immediately made Theo look at him and Eryos suddenly said. "You need to stop this."
Theo frowned and he looked Eryos with pure disbelief. "What?"
What the hell is he even telling him to do? After everything he had done? He is close to the truth, he can feel it, but, Eryos is telling him to stop?
Eryos leaned slightly against the desk while his expression remained calm but serious now. "You haven't slept."
"That's not important." Theo said defensively as he looked at Eryos.
"It is."
Theo scoffed quietly and crossed his arms. "Someone altered official police records and you think my sleeping schedule is the problem?"
Eryos didn't reacted to Theo's sarcasm. Instead, he calmly looked around the apartment again. "Look at yourself."
Theo's jaw tightened slightly but before he could answer, Eryos continued with his words again.
"You're surrounding yourself with dead people and old memories."
"That's not the point." He retorted.
"No," Eryos interrupted smoothly. "That's exactly the point."
The room suddenly felt smaller after those words and his words made Theo frowned more harder now. "What are you trying to say?"
Eryos looked directly at him. "I think you're hurting yourself chasing something that should stay buried."
Theo immediately felt irritation rise inside him. "Leonard died because of this....And now you want to follow him?"
The question instantly silenced him, but Eryos' voice softened slightly afterward. "Theo… not every truth is worth finding."
Theo looked away toward the rain-covered window. "Easy for you to say."
Eryos stayed silent briefly before speaking again. "You think finding answers will fix what happened that day?"
Theo clenched his fists slightly. "No."
"Then why keep going?"
Eryos words cut him deep and Theo tried to say someone so he opened his mouth.But no words came out, because honestly— He didn't know anymore, because, maybe because Richard's death never made sense and maybe because Leonard died terrified, maybe because deep down, Theo knew something was horribly wrong with the story they were given ten years ago.
Eryos slowly picked up the old photograph from the desk and his eyes rested briefly on Richard standing near the back row, then he calmly placed it back down again.
"The past destroys people," he said quietly. "I don't want it destroying you too."
Theo frowned slightly after hearing those words. For him, something about the way Eryos said them felt strangely personal and he doesn't know why. Then—
*BUZZ*
Theo's phone vibrated violently against the table and upon checking it, Theo was unease about it. It was an unknown number.
Both of them looked toward it immediately and Theo slowly picked up the phone. "…Hello?"
"You found the photograph." The voice was too calm and sounded familiar for Theo, making his blood instantly ran cold immediately.
Theo slowly stood from his chair. "Who is this?"
Soft laughter echoed quietly through the speaker, making Theo shivers.
"You still investigate things the same way."
Theo's heartbeat quickened violently and that voice, something about it felt horribly familiar to him but it was impossible. That voice sounded more feminine than the one he heard from the massacre, he doesn't know anyone who had the same voice as he so how can it sounded familiar to him?
Theo tightened his grip around the phone. "What do you want?"
The caller ignored the question and instead, they softly asked: "Do you still remember the library hallway?"
Their words made Theo froze on the spot and the fragments immediately flashed through his mind. Those emergency lights flickering red, smoke covering the halls, and footsteps approaching slowly through the corridor.
Theo's breathing became uneven. "How do you know about that?"
The voice laughed quietly again, but it was not mocking as if it was almost nostalgic.
"You were always bad at hiding when you were scared."
Theo's eyes widened slightly since nobody should know that. Nobody except—
The line suddenly crackled violently, then the voice whispered one final sentence.
"You should've kept running that night."
The call disconnected and silence swallowed the apartment immediately afterward while Theo slowly lowered the phone and his hands trembled slightly.
Across from him, Eryos quietly asked:
"…What did they say?"
Theo slowly looked toward him and for some reason... Eryos looked far too calm again.