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Listen to this thriller.
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| The
high school’s annual talent show was buzzing with energy, the
auditorium packed with students, parents, and teachers. Amelia, a seventeen-year-old with a knack for solving puzzles but plagued by self-doubt, had just dazzled the audience with her magic act. But as the clock struck midnight and the lights dimmed for the final performance, the applause quickly faded into murmurs of confusion. “Where’s Jess?” a voice called from the crowd. Amelia’s heart sank. Jess, her best friend and the next performer, was supposed to be center stage for her grand finale. But instead, she was gone. In her place was a single piece of paper fluttering on the stage floor. Amelia picked it up, her pulse quickening as she read Jess’s scrawled handwriting: “Find me before the final bow.” Amelia’s mind whirled. Who took Jess? Why would she disappear in the middle of the show? With the police on standby and only a few acts left, Amelia had no choice but to jump into action. She had to find Jess before the curtain fell—before time ran out. Panicking, Amelia sprinted backstage, weaving through the tangle of props, costumes, and tangled extension cords. The eerie silence was broken only by the faint hum of the show continuing onstage. “Jess?” Amelia called, opening every dressing room door she passed, each one revealing nothing but the eerie emptiness. She pulled out her phone and opened Jess’s last message: “The spotlight’s on you tonight.” Amelia’s stomach churned. Who sent this? And what did it mean?* Jake, the stagehand, was pacing nervously near the soundboard. Amelia grabbed his arm. “Jake, have you seen Jess? She’s gone!” Jake looked up, guilt flickering across his face. “I... I saw her arguing with some guy in a hoodie earlier this week,” he stammered. “I didn’t think much of it, but... something was off.” “Why didn’t you say anything?” Amelia demanded. “I thought it was just Jess being Jess, you know? She’s always in some kind of trouble,” Jake mumbled, running a hand through his hair. Amelia shook her head and turned to Clara, a quiet girl who rarely spoke but was always observing. “Clara, did you see anything?” Clara hesitated, glancing nervously around. “I... I saw someone messing with the stage lights right before the show started,” she whispered. “But it was too dark to see who.” Amelia’s mind raced. There was a pattern here—strange messages, altered lights, a missing friend. The clues were scattered, but they pointed to one thing: someone was playing a dangerous game. Suddenly, Jess’s phone buzzed in Amelia’s hand. The message read: “Two hours left. The clock is ticking.” Amelia clenched her fists. “I have to find her before it’s too late,” she muttered, fear tightening her throat. With adrenaline pumping, Amelia stormed down to the school basement, the dim lights flickering overhead. She cornered Jake, who was nervously fidgeting with his flashlight. “Tell me everything,” she demanded. Jake sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I messed with the lights because I thought it would be funny,” he admitted. “But I didn’t take Jess, I swear! There’s a secret room behind the stage, one only Jess knows about. Maybe she’s hiding there.” Amelia didn’t wait. She sprinted back to the stage, heart pounding as she yanked back the curtains and found the hidden door Jake had mentioned. Locked. She kicked at it, throwing her weight against the wood until it burst open. Inside, Mr. Blackwell, the drama teacher, sat calmly at a table, sipping tea. Jess sat across from him, unharmed but visibly shaken. “What the heck is going on?” Amelia shouted, breathless. Mr. Blackwell glanced up, unfazed. “Amelia, calm down. This was all just a lesson.” “A lesson?” Amelia repeated, incredulous. “You made her disappear in front of everyone!” Jess stood, her face pale but defiant. “He said I needed to learn about consequences,” she muttered. “That my pranks had gone too far.” Mr. Blackwell sighed dramatically. “Jess, your reckless behavior has affected more people than you realize. I wanted you to understand that actions have consequences.” Amelia, still furious, glared at Mr. Blackwell. “You could have just talked to her! This was dangerous and unnecessary.” Mr. Blackwell shrugged. “I never put her in harm’s way. I just needed to make a point in the most... theatrical way possible.” Jess looked at Amelia, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m sorry, okay? I thought it was just a game. I didn’t think it would get so out of hand.” Amelia’s anger slowly melted into relief. “Just promise me you’ll be more careful next time. This was beyond stupid.” Jess nodded. “I promise.” The police arrived just as Mr. Blackwell was finishing his half-hearted apology. Jess’s parents rushed in, relieved but furious, and the principal quickly ushered Mr. Blackwell away to face the consequences of his “lesson.” Amelia and Jess stood outside the school, the stars twinkling above them. Jess leaned against the wall, rubbing her eyes. “Thanks for finding me, Amelia. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Amelia smiled, feeling a surge of newfound confidence. “Just remember, Jess. Sometimes the biggest mystery isn’t about disappearing acts or strange messages, it’s figuring out who you are and what you can handle.” Jess nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll try to keep that in mind. And maybe… I’ll keep the pranks to a minimum.” Amelia laughed softly. “Yeah, let’s work on that.” Together, they walked away from the school, ready to face whatever challenges, and mysteries came next. |
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