Jay's POV
Nobody took their eyes off the photograph.
The stranger held it tightly, and even from where I was standing, I could see David's expression change the moment he looked at it.
Not anger.
Not annoyance.
Fear.
Real fear.
"Show us," Keifer said.
The stranger nodded and slowly turned the photograph around.
All of us stepped closer.
At first, it looked like an ordinary picture from a school event. The stage was decorated, students were everywhere, and Section E was gathered near the front.
Then I noticed what had everyone's attention.
David.
He was standing off to the side with another student.
The student's face was visible, but none of us recognized him immediately.
"What am I looking at?" Calix asked.
The stranger pointed at the date printed in the corner.
It was the same date circled in red on the paper.
The same date from the video.
The same date every clue had led us to.
"Three years ago," the stranger said, "this photo was taken a few minutes before your section fell apart."
"Stop talking like we're in a horror movie and explain properly," Ci-n snapped.
For the first time, the stranger laughed.
"Fair enough."
He looked directly at us.
"Three years ago, a student wanted to transfer into Section E."
The group exchanged confused looks.
"Transfer?" Felix repeated.
"Yes."
"Then what happened?"
The stranger's gaze shifted to David.
"Ask him."
Every eye in the auditorium turned toward David again.
David clenched his fists.
"I don't owe anyone an explanation."
The words echoed through the room.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing anymore.
"David," I said quietly, "if this isn't true, then just tell us."
He looked at me.
For a second, I saw something in his eyes that made my chest tighten.
Guilt.
Then it disappeared.
"You don't understand."
"Then help me understand."
My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Weeks ago, maybe even days ago, I would've trusted David without question.
Now it felt like every answer led to another secret.
The stranger stepped forward.
"That student never joined your section."
"Why?" Eman asked.
Nobody answered.
The stranger didn't need to.
David already had.
The silence said everything.
"You told them no?" Felix asked slowly.
David looked away.
"Oh my God," Ci-n muttered.
The auditorium suddenly felt much colder.
"Wait," Keifer said. "You're telling me all of this is because somebody couldn't transfer classes?"
"No."
The stranger shook his head.
"It's because of what happened after."
My stomach dropped.
After.
There was always an after.
Always another piece nobody knew.
The stranger reached into the folder and pulled out a second photograph.
This one wasn't from a school event.
It showed David and the same student arguing outside the auditorium.
The timestamp matched the video.
"That student found out David lied."
Nobody spoke.
The words hung in the air.
"What lie?" I asked.
The stranger looked at me.
Then at David.
Then back at me.
"When the administration asked for opinions about the transfer, David told them Section E didn't want him."
My heart sank.
"What?"
The stranger nodded.
"He spoke for all of you."
The group erupted instantly.
"What?!"
"We never said that!"
"Are you serious?"
David shut his eyes.
And that was the worst part.
He wasn't denying it.
Not even now.
"You told them we didn't want him?" Felix asked.
"We didn't even know there was a transfer request!"
Calix looked furious.
"So somebody got rejected because of a lie?"
"Enough!" David shouted.
The entire auditorium fell silent.
His voice echoed through the building.
For the first time that night, he wasn't trying to avoid the truth.
He looked exhausted.
Like he had been carrying something heavy for years.
"You think you know what happened?" he said bitterly. "You don't."
"Then tell us," Keifer replied.
David laughed humorlessly.
"You all want answers now? After three years?"
I stared at him.
My head was spinning.
Nothing made sense anymore.
The messages.
The photos.
The video.
The transfer student.
Everything seemed connected, but there were still pieces missing.
The stranger slowly closed the folder.
"That's because this isn't the whole story."
Every muscle in my body tensed.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
The stranger looked directly at David.
"The transfer request was only the beginning."
David's face went pale.
"The real secret," the stranger continued, "is what happened the night after he found out."
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
The stranger took a folded document from the folder and held it up.
"This is the reason David has been terrified all night."
I stared at the paper.
David stared at it too.
And judging by the look on his face, whatever was written there was something he had prayed nobody would ever see.
To be continued...