The Origin (Part 2)
Gwen had to excuse herself for a mandatory class, leaving Aiah, Colet, and Maloi to make the trip toward the Chemistry Department on their own. The transition from the musty, book-filled library to the sterile, chemical-tinged air of the science wing was a jarring one. The tiled floors gleamed under the fluorescent lights, and the faint hum of machinery mixed with the occasional bubbling of experiments behind closed lab doors.
Maloi led the way confidently, navigating through the maze of hallways until they reached a particular lab. Inside, shelves lined with glass beakers, labeled flasks, and metal instruments were neatly arranged. The air carried the unmistakable scent of ammonia and burnt rubber. In the middle of it all was a young woman with her hair tied up in a messy bun, safety goggles perched on her forehead as she carefully transferred liquid from one test tube to another. Stacey Salazar—one of the most meticulous chemistry students in San Antonio, and the person Maloi had come to see.
“Stacey,” Maloi called, leaning against the doorway with a smirk.
Stacey barely looked up from her work. "Busy. Come back later."
Aiah exchanged a glance with Colet, who crossed her arms. Maloi, undeterred, stepped further inside. "Come on, Stace. We need a favor."
Stacey sighed, setting down her equipment. "That’s what you always say, Maloi. And it’s never something simple. What is it this time?"
Maloi produced the plastic bag containing the bottle, holding it up. "We need this analyzed."
Stacey gave it a single glance before shaking her head. "Absolutely not. I’m not running an illegal lab here."
Aiah stepped forward. "It’s not illegal. We just need to know what was inside."
Stacey scoffed. "Sounds suspicious. What’s this for?"
Colet, leaning on a nearby counter, raised an eyebrow. "Do you really want to know?"
Stacey hesitated before shaking her head. "Nope. That’s the kind of answer that makes me think I don’t want to be involved."
Maloi groaned dramatically. "Stace, come on. Remember last semester? Organic Chem? Who sat through hours of review sessions with you so you wouldn’t fall asleep? Do you know how hard it is to hear you mumble some weird things, I can’t even comprehend?"
Stacey rolled her eyes. "That was one time."
"And who looks for someone to write your lab report when you had the flu?" Maloi added, tilting her head.
Stacey sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "That’s two times."
Maloi decided to push further. "And who covered for you when you accidentally mixed the wrong chemicals and nearly set off the fire alarms?"
Stacey groaned. "Okay, okay, I get it! I owe you."
Maloi grinned. "Exactly. So just run a test on this bottle, will you?"
Stacey eyed the bag again before snatching it from Maloi’s hand. "Fine. But if I find out this is something sketchy, I’m pretending I don’t know you."
Colet smirked. "Fair enough."
“But first you have to tell me what I’m looking for.”
Aiah hesitated before answering. “We don’t know exactly. But we suspect something was in that drink—something that caused a girl to pass out and lose her memory for two days.”
Stacey raised an eyebrow. “Wait… are you saying this is connected to the missing girl case?”
Maloi shrugged. “Maybe.”
Stacey let out a low whistle. “You guys are playing a dangerous game.”
Colet smirked. “More like solving one.”
Stacey sighed, pushing her goggles up onto her forehead. “Alright. I’ll run a preliminary test, but this kind of analysis takes time. Don’t expect results overnight.”
Aiah nodded. “Just let us know what you find.”
Stacey placed the bottle on her workstation, muttering under her breath. “You guys better not get me into trouble for this.”
Maloi grinned, clapping her on the shoulder. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
As they left the lab, Aiah couldn’t shake the feeling that they had just taken another step into something far more complicated than they had anticipated.
-------
Two days had passed since they handed over the mysterious bottle to Stacey. In that time, Aiah, Colet, Maloi, and Gwen had been tirelessly gathering more information—piecing together the fragments of Reina’s story, rechecking old rumors, and attempting to decipher the meaning of the clues they had found. The investigation was far from over, and frustration had begun to set in. Maloi had been particularly persistent, digging through forums and whisper networks when she finally received a message that made her sit up straight.
It was from Stacey.
[Meet me in the lab. Now.]
She lifted her gaze to Aiah, Colet, and Gwen, who were hunched over their notebooks, piecing together fragments of what they had so far.
“We need to go,” Maloi announced, sliding her phone across the table for them to see.
Aiah straightened. “Stacey?”
“She’s got something.”
"Finally," Colet muttered, stretching her arms. "Let’s see what our forensic nerd found."
The lab smelled sharply of chemicals, its fluorescent lights casting a clinical glow over the various glass beakers and test tubes. When they arrived, Stacey was already waiting for them, arms crossed and an unreadable expression on her face. "Took you long enough," she muttered before motioning for them to follow her further inside.
They stepped into a smaller analysis room, dimly lit by the glow of a computer screen displaying chemical compositions. Stacey picked up a file from the desk and turned to face them.
"I wasn’t going to do it," Stacey admitted as soon as they approached. "I don’t like getting involved in weird business, Maloi. But curiosity got the better of me."
“And?" Maloi prompted, leaning forward with a smirk.
“I ran the tests, and what I found is… weird."
Aiah’s brow furrowed. "Define weird."
Stacey exhaled sharply and tapped the bottle. "This isn’t just water, obviously. It’s a strong sedative. I ran a few tests, and it’s a mix of a benzodiazepine derivative—basically, something meant to knock someone out for a few hours at least. It’s often used in medical settings, but in high doses... well, it could make someone sleep for an extended period. But that’s not the weird part. There were also chemical compounds that resemble those found in certain hallucinogens. It’s almost like someone wanted Reina to not only pass out but also experience memory loss and confusion when she woke up."
Colet let out a low whistle. "That’s some next-level sabotage."
Maloi leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "So it wasn’t just a stupid accident. Someone drugged her on purpose."
Gwen, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up. "That means whoever was involved in that ‘initiation’—if that’s what it really was—wanted Reina to forget something. Maybe even forget them."
Aiah exchanged a look with Colet. "Reina said she remembered drinking something before she blacked out. This has to be it."
Stacey observed their reactions, then sighed. "Alright, now I need to know—what exactly are you all investigating? Because this is sounding less like a school prank and more like a full-blown conspiracy."
Maloi smirked. "Told you it was interesting."
Aiah hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Fine. If you’re in, you should know everything. We’re trying to figure out what really happened to Reina—and why she was locked in that room. We’ve found strange clues, and we think there’s more to this than just some hazing gone wrong."
Stacey raised a brow. "Who exactly is Reina? And why are you all so invested in this?"
"She’s the student who was found in Room 406 after being missing for two days. No memory of what happened," Maloi said. "We think this was part of an initiation that went wrong."
Stacey clicked her tongue. "And here I thought it was just another stupid ghost story."
Colet pulled out her phone and showed Stacey one of the forum posts Maloi had uncovered earlier. "There’s a rumor that Room 406 was being used for secret meetings. Late at night. No one knew why."
"Sounds cultish," Stacey commented.
"Or it was being used for hazing rituals," Aiah added. "If Reina was drugged and left behind, it means whoever did this either forgot about her or didn’t care."
Stacey sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Alright, this is officially more interesting than my lab work. I’ll help. But let me be clear—I’m not about to get expelled over this."
Colet crossed her arms. "This just got a whole lot messier."
"Which means we’re on the right track," Maloi said with a smirk. "Now, we just need to figure out who’s covering this up."
---
The library was unusually quiet that afternoon, the weight of midterms keeping most students buried in their books. Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, and their newest recruit, Stacey, were huddled in their usual corner, buried in books and notes, sifting through every possible lead connected to Room 406. The dim glow of laptop screens reflected on their faces as they tried to piece together Reina’s mysterious two-day disappearance.
Stacey, flipping through a thick forensic chemistry book, glanced up. "So, we know she was drugged. We just don’t know who did it or why."
Colet sighed, rubbing her temples. "Who would benefit from knocking someone out and leaving them in an abandoned classroom? That’s just sloppy."
Maloi, focused on her screen, suddenly sat up straighter. "Wait, guys. I think I found something." she announced, her voice barely above a whisper but commanding immediate attention. The others leaned in, their interest piqued.
"I swear, this guy is everywhere," Maloi muttered, scrolling through the forum. "Every time someone brings up Room 406, this user—'watcher406'—always has something to say, acting like they know something. And now, look at this."
The screen displayed an anonymous thread on one of the university’s underground forums. The post was fresh, barely an hour old. It read:
'Looking for new recruits. If you're up for something exclusive, something challenging, drop your contact. Only those who can handle pressure should apply.'
Aiah leaned closer. "That's vague as hell. No mention of what it's actually for?"
"Nothing concrete, but I’ve seen enough of these posts to know it’s how fraternities scout new members without making it obvious. No official name, no details—just an invite for the ‘worthy.’"
Colet adjusted her glasses. "And you think this is connected to Room 406?"
"Think about it," Maloi said. "Reina said she didn’t remember anything after drinking whatever they gave her. The initiation must've taken place in that room. If this is connected to Reina's case, we might finally get an inside look."
Stacey crossed her arms. "So, what? We just message this guy and ask for an invite? That’s really not suspicious at all."
Aiah crossed her arms, already seeing where this was going. "Are you suggesting we go undercover?"
The suggestion was met with a heavy pause. Then, the inevitable chaos.
"Oh, hell no," Colet said, crossing her arms. "I don’t know if you noticed, Maloi, but we’re very much not frat boy material."
"They’re not just boys, though. Some frats let girls in—"
"Oh, great," Gwen interjected. "So, we can get drugged and locked in a room on purpose this time? Fantastic plan."
Stacey leaned back, eyeing them all. "Even if one of us got in, we don’t know what they do to their recruits."
A heavy silence settled over the group before Gwen smirked. "Alright, so who's volunteering as tribute?"
"Not me," Colet said immediately. "I don’t exactly scream ‘frat boy material.’"
"Neither do I!" Stacey added quickly. "They’ll see right through me."
Aiah rested her chin on her hand. "Gwen, what about you?"
Gwen snorted. "Oh, sure. The girl who’s broken into half the rooms on this campus is suddenly going to pretend to be obedient and desperate for validation? Yeah, that’ll work."
Maloi raised an eyebrow. "You could act."
"I could, but I won’t."
Aiah sighed and turned to Maloi. "Then maybe you?"
Maloi gave an exaggerated gasp. "Me? A mere messenger of information? Never. Besides, I’ve probably pissed off half the guys in these groups already by exposing their drama online. I wouldn’t last a second."
Colet smirked. "Aiah, I think that leaves you."
Aiah blinked. "Oh, hell no. They’d eat me alive."
"You literally study criminology," Stacey pointed out.
"Yeah, so I know exactly how bad of an idea this is!"
Aiah tapped her fingers against the table, considering. "We need someone who won’t raise suspicion. Someone who fits whatever ‘type’ they’re looking for."
The group fell silent, each member glancing at the others, silently evaluating who would be the best choice.
Stacey frowned. "Well, that’s the thing. None of us fit."
"Exactly," Gwen said. "Maloi’s too loud. Colet’s too obvious. Stacey’s too smart. Aiah’s too nosy. And I look like I’d rather die than join some cult-y brotherhood."
"Then who?" Aiah asked. "We just gonna abandon the idea? Because like it or not, we need someone on the inside."
Maloi suddenly grinned. "Which is why we need an outsider. Someone who isn’t tied to us, someone who can infiltrate without raising any red flags."
Aiah narrowed her eyes. "You sound like you already have someone in mind."
Maloi smiled, looking satisfied with herself. "I do. And if we play this right, we just might get exactly what we need."
The others exchanged glances, curiosity and apprehension mixing in equal measure.
Maloi leaned back in her chair, her smirk widening. "Leave it to me. If we’re going to pull this off, we need someone who knows exactly how to blend in."
"Alright," Aiah said. "Who is it?"
"Mikha" Maloi stated with a face who looked to pleased for theirself.
"Mikha?" Aiah questioned, raising an eyebrow. "You're serious?"
Mikha Montemayor, a theater arts student with a sharp wit and an even sharper tongue.
Maloi leaned back against her chair, arms crossed, a sly smirk on her face. "Oh, I’m very serious. If there’s anyone who can pull this off, it’s Mikha."
Colet frowned, adjusting her glasses as she glanced around the table. "What makes you think she’d even agree to this?"
"Because," Maloi began, twirling a pen between her fingers, "she owes me a favor. A big one."
Stacey, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. "You keep a lot of people in your debt, Maloi. How exactly does she owe you?"
Maloi grinned. "Let’s just say I helped her out of a situation with one of the school deans. She was caught somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be, and I got her out of it before she landed in serious trouble."
Aiah sighed, rubbing her temple. "Even if she owes you, this is different. We’re asking her to go into a fraternity recruitment process that could be dangerous."
"That’s why she’s perfect for it," Maloi countered. "Mikha’s a chameleon. She knows how to blend in, how to get people to trust her. Plus, she’s naturally charming—she’ll have no problem getting into their good graces."
Gwen, who had been leaning against the bookshelf, arms crossed, finally chimed in. "I don’t know, Maloi. If this fraternity is really tied to what happened to Reina, we can’t risk her getting hurt."
"That’s why we’ll make sure she’s not alone in this," Colet reasoned. "We’ll give her a way to communicate with us at all times. And if anything seems off, we pull her out."
Maloi leaned forward, her tone serious. "Look, we need someone on the inside. Reina doesn’t remember what happened, the CCTV footage was tampered with, and the only solid lead we have is this anonymous forum user looking for recruits. We have no other way in."
A tense silence fell over the group before Stacey finally sighed. "Alright. Let’s at least hear what Mikha thinks."
--------
Finding Mikha wasn’t difficult. She was lounging in the outdoor seating area of one of the campus cafés, her long, dark hair pulled into a loose ponytail, casually flipping through a book while sipping an iced coffee. She looked up as Maloi approached, a knowing look crossing her face.
"Why do I feel like you’re about to ask me for something big?" Mikha drawled, setting down her book.
Maloi didn’t bother sugarcoating it. "We need you to go undercover in a fraternity recruitment."
Mikha blinked. "Excuse me?"
Aiah sat down across from her, Colet and Maloi flanking either side. "We’re investigating what happened in Room 406. There’s a lead, we think it might be connected to Reina’s disappearance."
Mikha leaned back, crossing her arms. "And you want me to be your little spy?"
"Not a spy," Maloi corrected with a grin. "A well-placed observer. See what you can find out. No risk."
Mikha let out a short laugh. "Yeah, because secret investigations are famously risk-free."
Aiah exhaled sharply. "We wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important. You’d be the only one who could do this without raising suspicion."
Mikha brows raised, arms crossed. "Let me get this straight. You want me to go undercover in some shady fraternity just to dig up dirt on them?"
Maloi grinned, resting her chin on her hand. "Exactly."
Mikha scoffed. "Do I look like a detective to you? Why don’t one of you do it?"
"We already went through this," Colet interjected. "They would sniff us out in an instant. Aiah and I are too obvious. Gwen is too blunt, Stacey is too much of a nerd, and Maloi… well, Maloi’s already on half the school’s watchlist."
Maloi shot Colet an offended look. "Excuse me?"
Aiah leaned forward. "Mikha, you’re perfect for this. You’re in the theater department, which means you know how to play a role. You’re charismatic, you know how to talk to people, they won’t suspect you."
Mikha still didn’t look convinced. "Yeah, but what if they catch me? What if I mess up?"
"You won’t," Gwen said firmly. "We’ll be feeding you information and keeping tabs on you the whole time. We won’t let anything happen to you."
Mikha sighed, tapping her fingers on the table. "And what do I even say? ‘Hey, I wanna join your cult’—is that it?"
Maloi pulled out her phone and slid it across the table. "We found a forum thread where someone is recruiting for the fraternity. The same guy has been lurking around posts about Room 406 for months. If there’s anyone who knows something, it’s him."
Mikha skimmed through the messages, her brows furrowing. "So, you want me to bait him?"
"More like… play interested," Aiah clarified. "Message him, act like you want to join, go through the process, and see if you can get any info out of them."
Mikha exhaled deeply, rubbing her temples. "This is insane. Absolutely insane."
"We know," Maloi said, smiling sweetly. "But you love insane."
Mikha glared at her. "No, I love a quiet life where I don’t get involved in possible criminal activities."
"Come on, Mikha," Stacey finally spoke up. "If they did this to Reina, they might do it again. If we don’t stop them now, someone else could get hurt."
Mikha studied them for a long moment before her gaze flickered to Maloi. "And if I say no?"
Maloi leaned in, smirking. "Then I might accidentally let slip to a certain dean that you were in his office after hours last semester."
Mikha groaned, rubbing her face. "You’re the worst."
"I know. But you love me anyway."
Mikha chewed on her lower lip, clearly wavering. The group watched her in silence, waiting for her decision. Finally, with an exaggerated groan, she threw her hands up. "Fine. But if I get caught, I am throwing all of you under the bus."
Maloi clapped her hands together. "We’ll take that risk!"
Aiah smiled, relieved. "We’ll be with you every step of the way."
Mikha sighed, staring at the forum thread once more. "I can’t believe I’m doing this…"
“If I get hazed, I’m coming after you first, Maloi."
Maloi just grinned. "Noted."
---
Inside Aiah's cramped dormitory, the atmosphere was tense yet charged with nervous energy. The dim glow of the desk lamp flickered against the walls, casting shifting shadows over the scattered papers, notes, and the laptop perched in front of Mikha. The small room felt even smaller with all six of them crammed inside, their voices overlapping in a mix of tension, excitement, and skepticism.
Mikha sat cross-legged on the floor, her phone gripped tightly in her hands. Her eyebrows were furrowed, lips pursed as she hovered over the chat box, staring at the blinking cursor. "I still don't know about this, guys. This is literally the worst idea”
"It’s the only idea we’ve got," Maloi countered, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "Unless you have a better way to infiltrate a shady fraternity that might be involved in some seriously messed-up hazing."
Colet, perched on Aiah’s bed, let out a long sigh. "She’s got a point. If we want answers, we need someone to get in. Mikha, you have the best chance."
“What if he sees through this? I don’t exactly scream ‘desperate recruit.’”
“That’s the point,” Maloi said, leaning in over Mikha’s shoulder. “You’re supposed to make them want you. Play it cool, make them think you’re already in the know.”
“You sure you don’t want to do this, Maloi?” Colet teased. “You seem to have a natural talent for deception.”
“Flattering, but no.” Maloi smirked. “They’d sniff me out in an instant. Mikha’s our best bet. She’s just the right mix of confident and reckless.”
Mikha sighed, glancing around at the expectant faces. “Fine. But I need help with this message. What exactly am I supposed to say?”
“Try something like, ‘Been hearing about your group. Think I might be interested. What’s the process?’” Aiah suggested, typing out the message on her own phone to show Mikha.
“That sounds too stiff,” Gwen chimed in. “Make it sound more natural. Maybe, ‘I’ve been looking for the right group. Heard interesting things. What do I need to do to prove myself?’”
"Keep it casual, but curious. Like, ‘Hey, saw your post about recruitment. What’s the process?’" Maloi suggested, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Mikha typed it out and hit send. Almost immediately, the group collectively leaned in closer, staring at the screen as the ‘typing…’ bubble appeared.
The reply came fast.
[Unknown User]: You interested? This isn’t just some club. Takes real dedication.
"Ooooh, interesting," Colet teased, snatching a pillow and hugging it.
"Say something like… ‘I don’t waste my time on things I’m not serious about. But I need to know more first.’ Make yourself sound like a challenge," Stacey chimed in.
Mikha raised an eyebrow. "Are we infiltrating a frat or trying to get a date?"
"Why not both?" Gwen smirked, making the group chuckle.
"Play it cool," Colet instructed. "Say something like… 'Maybe. What kind of people are you looking for?' Make it sound like you're not desperate, but you're open."
Mikha sighed and typed the message. Again, the response came quickly.
[Unknown User]: We’re looking for people who can prove their loyalty.
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
"Okay, that’s not creepy at all," Gwen muttered.
"Ask them how you can prove it," Aiah said. "We need to know what their process is."
Mikha hesitated again but did as she was told. Her phone buzzed almost instantly with another reply.
[Unknown User]: "Meet us tomorrow night. Room 406. 10 PM. Don’t be late."
A heavy silence filled the room as they all processed the message. Room 406. Again.
"Well…" Mikha exhaled shakily. "That escalated quickly."
"So it really is connected," Stacey murmured, deep in thought. "Whatever happened to Reina wasn’t random. It’s part of something bigger."
Maloi leaned forward, looking at Mikha seriously. "Are you sure you're okay with this? If you don't want to do it, we can figure something else out."
Mikha let out a slow breath, then squared her shoulders. "No. I’ll do it. If this is how we find out the truth… then I’m in."
Aiah met her gaze, admiration flickering in her eyes. "Then we’ll make sure you’re not alone in this. We’ll be watching. Every step of the way."
Mikha stared at the message for a moment before locking her phone. "Well, guess I have a date with some potential cultists tomorrow. Can’t wait."
The group chuckled, but there was an underlying tension beneath their banter. This was the closest they had gotten to something concrete, and now they were finally stepping into dangerous territory.
And they all knew it.
----
The group once again gathered in Aiah’s dormitory; tension thick in the air as they planned how to support Mikha in her undercover mission. The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from Colet’s laptop screen and the soft glow of the bedside lamp. Everyone was seated in a loose circle, their voices hushed despite the closed doors. Mikha crossed her arms, leaning against the desk. "I still think this is a bad idea. Why me again?"
"Because you’re the most convincing," Maloi smirked, tossing a stress ball at her. "And you have that ‘I’m cool but not too cool’ vibe. You look like someone who’d be curious enough to join a frat."
"I feel like that’s an insult disguised as a compliment."
“So, let’s go over this again,” Aiah said, running a hand through her hair. “Mikha’s going in as a potential recruit. We need a way to stay connected with her at all times.”
“I have something for that,” Colet interjected, reaching into her bag and pulling out a tiny earpiece. “This is a low-frequency communication device. It’s small enough to go unnoticed but powerful enough to keep us in contact with Mikha. We’ll be able to hear her, and she can discreetly respond by tapping once for ‘yes’ and twice for ‘no’ if she can’t speak.”
Mikha took the earpiece and examined it with raised eyebrows. “You guys realize this is starting to feel like some kind of spy movie, right?”
Maloi smirked. “Welcome to the team.”
“Alright, so we have eyes and ears on Mikha,” Gwen said. “What about visuals?”
Colet tapped her laptop. “I’ll be hacking into the school’s CCTV system. I can’t get audio from their cameras, but I can monitor her movements in real-time. If anything seems off, we’ll be ready.”
Stacey adjusted her glasses, reviewing the list of things Mikha needed to ask during her meeting. "The goal isn’t just to get recruited, it’s to find out what they actually do in that room. They won’t just tell you outright, so steer the conversation subtly. Let them feel like you’re genuinely interested."
Mikha groaned. "So, I basically have to act?"
"You do have the charm for it," Aiah added with a teasing smile. "And if things go south, just give us a signal."
Mikha sighed. “So my job is to get close enough to them, figure out what they do in that room, and report back.”
Aiah nodded. “Exactly. And if it gets too dangerous, you get out. No heroics.”
Mikha stare at the earpiece intently and rolled it between her fingers. "You guys better not be munching on snacks too loud while I’m out there risking my dignity."
"No promises," Maloi grinned. "But seriously, we’ll be listening the whole time. You’re not alone in this."
The room fell into a brief silence, the weight of what they were about to do settling in. Finally, Gwen clapped her hands together. "Alright, let’s run through this one more time. What’s the plan?"
---
The next evening, the team gathered inside the dimly lit classroom on the first floor. The tension was palpable as they set up their operation.
Colet’s laptop screen showed the hacked CCTV feed from the hallway outside Room 406. The grainy black-and-white footage flickered slightly as she adjusted the angle, locking onto Mikha as she made her way up the stairs.
"She’s in position," Colet whispered.
Mikha’s voice crackled through the earpiece. "I swear, if you guys breathe too loud, I’m gonna lose it."
"Shhh," Aiah hushed, biting back a laugh.
On the screen, Mikha reached the third floor, where she was supposed to meet the fraternity contact. A tall figure in a hoodie leaned against the wall, waiting. The group held their breath as Mikha approached and started the conversation.
"You the one asking about recruitment?" the guy asked, his voice low.
Mikha nodded, shifting her weight. "Yeah. I heard about it online. Figured I’d see what it’s all about."
He studied her for a moment before glancing around. "We don’t just take anyone. You gotta prove yourself. Show that you can be trusted."
Mikha raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do I do that?"
The guy smirked. "Simple. We have an initiation. You complete it, you’re in. No questions."
Colet’s fingers hovered over the keyboard as she zoomed in on the footage. "What kind of initiation?" Mikha asked, her voice smooth but curious.
The guy looked around again before leaning in slightly. "We meet late at night. Room 406. No one else knows about it except us. You’ll be given something to drink, then you stay inside until morning. If you can handle it, you’re one of us."
Mikha tensed, but her face remained neutral. "Stay inside? Alone?"
He nodded. "That’s the deal. You game?"
The earpiece crackled slightly as the team exchanged looks. Aiah clenched her jaw. "That’s exactly what happened to Reina," she whispered.
Mikha exhaled slowly. "I mean...sounds kinda weird, but sure. I’ll do it."
“Good. We don’t waste time. The initiation is happening right now.”
The entire group stiffened. Aiah’s stomach dropped.
“Now?” Mikha echoed.
“Yeah. We do things fast here. You in or not?”
The group stared at each other in horror. They hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
“We are so not ready for this,” Gwen whispered.
“Already?!” Aiah hissed, gripping the edge of the table. “We thought they’d take more time scoping her out.”
“That’s what we get for underestimating them,” Maloi muttered, eyes narrowing at the screen as they watched Mikha ascend the stairs, trailing behind a tall, broad-shouldered recruit.
Colet’s fingers flew across her keyboard, shifting to different camera angles. “They’re moving fast. Too fast. Something’s off.”
Maloi’s phone vibrated. A message. She read it aloud. “Initiation starts now. No backing out.”
A lump formed in Aiah’s throat. “Shit. Mikha, do you copy?”
“Yeah, I hear you. They’re talking about taking me to Room 406 now. I don’t think I can stall,” Mikha murmured, voice laced with unease. “They’re expecting me to follow everything they say. What do I do?”
Aiah’s mind raced. “Just go along with it for now. Act like you belong. We’ll find a way to get you out if things go south.”
Mikha’s laughter came through, forced but convincing. “Easy for you to say, I’m the one walking into the lion’s den.”
Gwen crossed her arms, brows furrowed. “We need to be ready in case something happens.”
Stacey leaned in closer to the screen, analyzing the body language of the recruits. “They’re leading her in. We might not have much time.”
“Stay cool,” Maloi instructed. “You’re just another recruit.”
Mikha gave a slight nod, as if agreeing with herself, and turned the corner. At that exact moment, the camera feed covering the fourth-floor hallway flickered.
Colet’s fingers froze over the keyboard. “Wait. What the hell?”
“What’s wrong?” Aiah asked, leaning in.
“The feed—it's glitching,” Colet said, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. “Right when Mikha got to the hallway.”
Gwen frowned. “That’s not a coincidence.”
On the screen, Mikha was now in front of Room 406, speaking to a guy in a dark hoodie. Their voices, picked up faintly by her earpiece, were the only insight the group had.
“You sure you’re up for this?” the guy asked, his voice calm but laced with something unreadable.
“Of course,” Mikha answered smoothly. “I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
There was a pause before he responded, “Good. Then get inside.”
The camera glitched again. This time, completely blacking out.
“Damn it,” Colet cursed. “We just lost visual. Someone is interfering with the feed.”
“Do you think it’s intentional?” Maloi asked, eyes narrowing.
“No doubt,” Colet replied. “Someone in the security team must be involved. They’re covering this up.”
A shiver ran down Aiah’s spine. This was bigger than they thought.
Inside the room, Mikha was taking slow steps. The space smelled musty, and the faint scent of something metallic clung to the air. The only furniture was an old wooden desk and scattered chairs. The walls had faint markings—numbers, barely visible, written in chalk near the whiteboard. A timer, similar to the one they had found before, sat ominously on the desk.
The voice of the guy with her crackled in. “Take a seat.”
A heavy silence filled the room as the girls listening in held their breath.
Mikha hesitated. “What happens next?”
A low chuckle from the guy. “Simple. You drink, you stay. You don’t, you leave. But if you leave, you’re out—no second chances.”
In their hidden classroom, Maloi’s eyes widened. “It’s the same as Reina’s story.”
Aiah nodded grimly. “They drugged her.”
Back in Room 406, Mikha let out a nervous laugh. “So, it’s a drinking thing?”
A metallic clink sounded, and through the earpiece, they heard the unmistakable sound of liquid sloshing inside a bottle.
Colet tensed. “That has to be it.”
Mikha took the bottle hesitantly. “And after I drink?”
The guy’s voice was casual. “You’ll find out.”
Mikha glanced around, trying to stall. “Anyone else done this before?”
A scoff. “Of course. You’re not special.”
In the hidden classroom, Gwen clenched her fists. “We have to do something. If she drinks that, she’ll black out like Reina.”
“But if she refuses, they’ll kick her out and we lose our way in,” Stacey reasoned, looking at Aiah for guidance.
Aiah’s mind raced, calculating their next move. If Mikha drank, they would have no way to get her out safely. If she refused, their investigation might end before they got closer to the truth.
“Mikha,” Aiah’s voice was firm over the earpiece. “Fake it. Make them think you drank it.”
On screen, Mikha inhaled deeply before lifting the bottle to her lips.
The room held its collective breath as she tilted her head back, the liquid pouring into her mouth—but instead of swallowing, she let it pool under her tongue.
A few tense seconds later, she lowered the bottle and wiped her lips. “Done.”
The guy smirked. “Not bad. Let’s see how long you last.”
Mikha forced a grin. “I’ll be fine.”
Then, a after a few minutes of silence she suddenly feigned a dizzy sway, catching herself against the desk. “Whoa… I don’t feel so good.”
The guy’s expression shifted slightly, a mix of concern and impatience. “Already? You barely took a sip.”
Mikha groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. “I don’t know, I think—” Then, with perfect timing, she let herself collapse onto the desk.
Outside, the group held their breath as the earpiece picked up the sound of movement.
“She’s faking,” Aiah whispered. “She’s good.”
Through the static-filled feed, they heard the guy sigh. “Shit. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
The sound of hurried footsteps followed. Then, a door creaked.
The camera flickered back on just in time to catch the hooded guy leaving the room alone, wiping his hands on his jeans before disappearing down the hall.
The static buzzed in Colet’s ear. “Mikha?” Aiah called quietly. “Can you hear us?”
A long pause.
Then, Mikha’s voice—breathy but steady. “I’m still here. He left.”
The entire group exhaled in relief, but their minds raced.
Whoever was behind this initiation had been careful enough to ensure no evidence remained. But they had just confirmed one thing: Room 406 was no urban legend.
--------
Mikha moved cautiously inside Room 406, her fingers grazing over the old wooden desks that had been pushed to the sides. The air was thick with dust, and the only source of light was the dim glow of the hallway seeping in through the door’s narrow glass panel. Her eyes landed on a small pile of papers stacked haphazardly on an old podium.
She flipped through the top few sheets and her breath caught.
It was a list. Names. Dates.
Some were crossed out, others left untouched. And then, at the bottom, was Reina’s name. The date next to it matched the night she had gone missing.
Her hands trembled slightly as she dug further through the stack. Logs. Instructions. Even a checklist of tasks. It wasn’t just an initiation. It was a ritual. A structured, repeated event.
She pulled out her phone and snapped a few pictures before whispering into the hidden earpiece, "Guys, I think I found something."
Meanwhile, the air was thick with unease as Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, and Stacey moved in silence, their footsteps barely making a sound in the dimly lit hallway. As they reached the fourth floor, the weight of what they were about to do settled in. The corridor stretched out before them, empty and silent except for the faint buzz of an overhead light flickering inconsistently.
Once outside Room 406, Gwen had crouched in front of the door, picking at the lock with expert precision. The hallway was eerily silent, the occasional flicker of the overhead fluorescent lights casting jagged shadows on the floor.
Aiah and Colet stood behind her, keeping watch while Maloi anxiously bounced on her heels. “Let’s hurry before someone shows up,” Maloi muttered, shooting a glance down the empty hallway.
“I’m working on it,” Gwen murmured, adjusting her grip on the tension wrench. “But something’s off with the knob.”
She paused, narrowing her eyes at the metal. There was a strange residue on it—thick, slightly smeared. Cautiously, she wiped some off with the sleeve of her jacket and sniffed it.
“Grease?” she muttered, confused. “Why would—”
“Aiah,” Colet hissed, tapping her. “We’re getting interference again.”
Aiah bit her lip. The CCTV glitching had been a problem ever since Mikha’s initiation started. Someone in security was definitely covering for the fraternity. “Try to stabilize it,” she whispered back.
“I’m trying,” Colet muttered, fingers flying over her laptop. “It’s like someone is manually overriding me. Every time I get control, they kick me out again.”
Inside the room, Mikha’s voice crackled through the earpiece. “Guys, I found something. Logs—entries about past initiations. This isn’t just a recent thing. They’ve been doing this for years.”
The group collectively tensed. Stacey exchanged a glance with Maloi, who frowned. “Years?” Maloi whispered. “How many?”
“I don’t know. But a lot.” Mikha’s voice was hushed. “And Reina’s name is here. Right under a list of pledges.”
“Shit,” Aiah exhaled. “We need to get inside.”
Gwen reached for the doorknob again but hesitated. “I don’t know what’s on this thing, but I don’t want to touch it until I know it’s safe.”
“Step aside,” Maloi said, pulling out a handkerchief from her pocket. She was about to wrap it around the knob when—
A loud, sharp whistle pierced the silence.
The group froze.
Every muscle in Aiah’s body tensed as they all whipped around to find a familiar figure leaning lazily against the wall. From the end of the hallway, bathed in the dim, flickering light. Arms crossed, leaning slightly to one side, A smirk played at Sheena’s lips, her eyes gleaming with unmistakable mischief.
“What exactly are you guys doing?” she asked, her voice laced with amusement.
She was dressed in her usual disheveled style—hoodie slightly oversized, sneakers worn from constant running, and an unmistakable air of someone who thrived in chaos and judging by the way she was practically vibrating with amusement, she had been watching them for a while. The fact that she had managed to sneak up on them undetected was concerning enough. The fact that she was watching them like a cat watching cornered mice was worse.
Colet was the first to recover. “Sheena.” She forced a casual tone. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Sheena countered, stepping closer. Her sharp eyes flicked between them, lingering on Gwen and the half-picked lock. “Breaking and entering? That’s new.”
Maloi crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “And what about you? What are you doing sneaking around here?”
Sheena grinned. “Oh, you know. Looking for idiots doing suspicious things. Seems like I hit the jackpot.”
Gwen let out an exasperated sigh, standing up from her crouch. “Sheena, just mind your own business.”
Sheena gasped dramatically. “Ouch. So rude.”
“Go home,” Stacey said, forcing a smile. “Nothing interesting here.”
Sheena’s eyes flickered to the door behind them. “Really? Because it kinda sounds like you’re hiding something.”
“Nope,” Maloi said flatly.
Sheena leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing. “Then why do you all look so guilty?”
Before anyone could respond, a muffled voice from inside the room called out. “Uh, guys?” Mikha’s voice crackled faintly through the earpiece, but to their horror, it was loud enough to be heard outside as well.
Sheena’s smirk widened. “Now what was that?”
Aiah swallowed. “Nothing.”
Another pause. Then Mikha again, louder this time. “Hello? Are you guys out there?”
Sheena’s grin was downright predatory as she tilted her head. “You’re hiding something. And now I’m curious.”
The group tensed. Maloi opened her mouth, probably to come up with another excuse, but Sheena didn’t wait for an answer. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she took another step forward, assessing the situation.
“Move,” she said simply.
Before anyone could stop her, she took two steps forward—and with one swift motion, lifted her leg and kicked the door just above the knob. The old frame groaned before the lock gave way, the door slamming open.
Mikha, standing in the middle of the room, jumped in shock. Papers were scattered around her feet, an old folder open in her hands. Aiah and the others barely had time to process before Sheena turned back to them, her grin triumphant.
Sheena lowered her foot, hands on her hips, looking very pleased with herself. “Well. That was fun.”
Aiah sighed. “This is not how we planned it.”
Sheena turned to them with a wicked grin. “You planned something? That’s cute. Now, are we going to talk about what’s going on, or do I have to keep kicking doors down to get answers?”
---
The group stood in the dimly lit hallway, adrenaline still pumping through their veins from their discovery inside Room 406. Mikha had just spilled everything she found—old logs with dates and names, all pointing to the room being used for an initiation ritual. It was undeniable now.
“We have solid proof,” Aiah said, flipping through the notes Mikha had collected. “This isn’t just a rumor. This is a full-on initiation ritual.”
Before they could discuss their next steps, a loud voice cut through the hallway.
“Hey! Who are you?!”
The girls all turned at once, their eyes widening in horror. It was the guy Mikha had been talking to earlier, the one who led her to Room 406. And he looked pissed. His face was twisted in confusion and anger, as if he'd just pieced together that something was very, very wrong.
For a split second, no one moved.
"RUN!" Maloi shrieked, already bolting in the opposite direction before realizing she wasn’t actually running toward an exit.
The girls erupted into pure chaos. Colet nearly tripped over Gwen, who had stopped mid-step to turn back. Stacey let out an unintelligible yelp as she grabbed Aiah’s wrist and tried to pull her away. Mikha, still acting the part of the dazed recruit, suddenly snapped out of her performance, eyes widening.
"Why are we running?!" she gasped between hurried steps.
"I don’t know! Maloi said to run!" Gwen huffed.
"If Maloi runs, we run!" Colet justified, barely avoiding a trash bin.
But not everyone had followed.
Sheena, their resident chaos gremlin, had other ideas. Instead of fleeing, she had turned back, facing the guy with a devilish smirk.
“Wait, what is she—” Aiah barely had time to process before Sheena lunged, tackling the guy to the floor with surprising strength.
There was a loud thud, followed by a groan.
The guy barely had time to react before Sheena barreled into him, sending both of them crashing onto the floor. A strangled sound left his throat as he hit the ground hard, Sheena pinning him down like a wrestler.
"I GOT HIM!" she declared triumphantly.
The group collectively skidded to a halt, blinking at the sight before them.
"Wait... We outnumber him," Stacey murmured, the realization dawning.
Aiah groaned, rubbing her temple. "We didn’t have to run in the first place!"
The girls exchanged glances before collectively turning back, forming a semicircle around the struggling guy.
"You little—! Get OFF me!" he growled, trying to shake Sheena off, but she only grinned, tightening her grip.
"Oho, not so tough now, huh?" Sheena taunted, pinning his arms down.
"Someone tie him up," Maloi suggested, catching her breath. "Before he tries to run."
"With what?" Gwen asked.
Sheena pulled out her shoelaces. "These?"
"That’s not—You know what? Fine," Colet sighed, kneeling down to help.
Within minutes, the guy was sitting against the wall, hands bound behind him with a combination of shoelaces, hair ties, and Stacey’s ID lanyard. He glared at them, refusing to speak.
Aiah crouched in front of him, arms resting on her knees. Her sharp eyes analyzed him like a hawk eyeing prey.
"Talk."
The guy scoffed and looked away. "I don’t have to say anything."
"Oh, but you will," Aiah said, her voice smooth but commanding. "Because you know we’re not leaving until you do."
"Tch. You don’t have anything on me."
Aiah tilted her head. "Don’t we?" She gestured around them. "Let’s see… you were seen bringing a recruit into Room 406. That same recruit is sitting right here, alive, and fully aware of your little game. We know about the bribes. We know about the security footage tampering. And if we press a little harder, we might just find out more."
The guy stiffened slightly but didn’t respond.
Aiah smirked. "I can play this game all night, but you? You’re outnumbered. And let me guess—you were never supposed to get caught, right? Now tell me, what happens if we let people find out about your little operation?"
Still, silence.
Aiah sighed dramatically. "Alright. Maybe you need a little push." She turned to Sheena. "Sheens, you have your phone?"
Sheena grinned, pulling out her phone and opening the voice recording app. "Oh, I sure do."
"One confession on record, and suddenly your little group won’t be so secret anymore," Aiah mused. "I bet your higher-ups wouldn’t be too happy about that."
The guy visibly tensed, jaw clenching.
"C’mon, man," Maloi chimed in. "You were caught. Might as well just come clean. What’s the worst that can happen?" She paused. "Actually, don’t answer that. Just spill."
After a long moment, he exhaled sharply. "Fine."
The girls leaned in.
"We… We didn’t mean for anything to happen to Reina," he muttered, avoiding their gazes. "The initiation—it’s not some cult or secret society or whatever you think it is. It’s just… a test. A challenge."
"What kind of challenge?" Stacey asked.
"Staying inside Room 406 overnight. Alone."
A tense silence filled the air.
"And the drink?" Aiah pressed.
The guy hesitated. "It’s just to make them sleep. That’s all. So they wouldn’t… panic."
"You drug them?" Gwen’s voice rose in disbelief.
"It’s not like that! It’s just a mild sedative—just enough to make them drowsy."
Aiah narrowed her eyes. "Then what happened to Reina? Why was she found two days later?"
The guy swallowed hard. "Someone forgot."
The group collectively froze.
"Forgot?" Colet repeated.
"We… We were supposed to let her out in the morning, but there was a mix-up, and everyone thought someone else did it." He sighed. "No one realized she was still inside until the news broke out."
"Unbelievable," Maloi muttered, rubbing her temples.
Aiah gritted her teeth. “And what about the CCTV? The footage was tampered with every time someone was brought to that room.”
The guy hesitated again, then sighed. “We have a guy in security. He messes with the cameras for us. We just bribe him, and he makes sure there’s no record of anything.”
Colet crossed her arms. “That explains why I had a hard time accessing the feed earlier. Whoever your guy is, he’s good at covering his tracks.”
The group exchanged looks. This was bigger than they had anticipated. A fraternity initiation gone wrong was one thing, but a security officer being involved meant this wasn’t just some underground tradition—it was something actively being protected.
Before they could press for more details, a new voice rang through the hallway.
"What the hell is going on here?!"
The group collectively froze. Standing at the far end of the corridor was a security guard, his expression a mix of confusion and authority, his flashlight illuminating the group.
The girls exchanged frantic looks.
"Uh-oh," Sheena muttered.
Aiah stood quickly. "Sir, we can explain—"
Maloi muttered a curse under her breath. “Well… this is awkward.”
"You better start talking. Now." The guard’s glare flickered between them and the tied-up guy. "What’s going on here?"
For a brief moment, no one spoke. Then, in perfect synchronization, every head turned to Aiah.
She sighed, cracking her knuckles. "Well, you see… it’s kind of a long story."
---------
The aftermath was a whirlwind of explanations, accusations, and consequences. Aiah and the rest of the group stood in the security office, their faces a mixture of determination and exhaustion as they recounted everything from the very beginning.
The security team, led by Officer Ramirez, a broad-shouldered man with a perpetually unimpressed expression, listened intently as Aiah detailed the events that had led them to that moment. She explained how Reina had been found locked inside Room 406 two days after going missing, confused, weak, and with no memory of what had happened. She described how the group had slowly pieced together the truth—starting with Colet’s hacked CCTV footage, Maloi’s deep dive into the online forums, Gwen’s expertise in breaking into the locked room, Stacey’s forensic analysis of the suspicious bottle, and ultimately, Mikha’s infiltration of the fraternity’s recruitment process.
At first, the security officers were skeptical, raising their brows at the group of students who had, quite obviously, taken matters into their own hands. But as each girl presented their findings—the tampered CCTV footage, the suspicious logs found in the abandoned room, and finally, the confession they had forced out of the fraternity recruit—there was no denying that something serious had been going on within the university walls.
“This is a serious accusation,” Officer Ramirez said gruffly, rubbing his temples. “A fraternity using an abandoned classroom for their initiation rites? Drugging recruits to make them ‘pass’ the test? And then just… forgetting them?”
“It’s not just an accusation,” Aiah said firmly. “It’s the truth. And we have evidence to prove it.”
The guy they had interrogated earlier—now properly identified as Mark Santillan, a sophomore who had been acting as the ‘handler’ for new recruits—shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had been reluctant to speak at first, but under Aiah’s calculated pressure, he had finally confessed: the fraternity had been using Room 406 for years as an off-the-record initiation site. The recruits would be blindfolded, given a drink laced with a heavy sedative, and then left alone for a few hours as part of a test of ‘endurance.’
Only this time, they had made a crucial mistake.
They had forgotten about Reina.
“She was supposed to be let out the next morning,” Mark had admitted, his voice shaking. “But there was some kind of mix-up. Everyone thought someone else had done it. By the time we realized she was still in there… the rumors had already spread. We panicked.”
“You panicked and did what?” Maloi had asked, her arms crossed tightly.
Mark hesitated before muttering, “We bribed a security officer to cover it up. To make sure the CCTV cameras didn’t show anything. To erase any footage of us going in or out.”
At that, Officer Ramirez had stiffened. “Who?”
Mark hesitated again, but under the weight of Aiah’s stare, he cracked. “A guard named Siero. We paid him to glitch the cameras every time we used the room. He’s been doing it for a while.”
The revelation sent a ripple of tension through the room. A university security guard being complicit in covering up a fraternity’s hazing activities was beyond reckless—it was criminal.
The security officer straightened up. "This is going to the administration. The fraternity will be investigated, and the students involved will face disciplinary action."
With this information in hand, the university wasted no time launching an investigation. Siero was brought in for questioning, and after some pressure, he folded, admitting to accepting bribes in exchange for tampering with the security system. He was immediately relieved of his duties, pending legal action. The fraternity itself faced severe consequences, with the university administration suspending all of their activities indefinitely.
As for Reina, she had been reluctant to say much when Aiah and Maloi had spoken to her, but after the truth came out, she finally acknowledged what had happened to her. While she couldn’t remember everything, the fact remained that she had been left alone, abandoned by the very people who had promised her a sense of belonging.
Justice, in some form, had been served.
Suspensions were handed out to those involved. The fraternity members responsible for Reina’s abandonment faced disciplinary action from the university. Policies surrounding initiation practices were tightened, with stricter enforcement against hazing rituals.
In the end, they had uncovered the truth— a strange sense of fulfillment settled among the group. They had come together by chance, each bringing their own skills to the table. And while the case was closed, a lingering feeling remained.
They were good at this. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be the last time.
----------
Aiah sat in her usual spot in the library, a secluded corner near the towering bookshelves, a half-filled notebook in front of her and a cup of now-cold coffee at her side. For the first time in weeks, she wasn’t trying to decode cryptic clues or analyze pieces of evidence. She was simply studying, catching up on the readings she had neglected during the chaos of the past week.
It had been a week since Reina’s case wrapped up, and the campus had finally settled down. The fraternity responsible had been suspended, the security officer caught tampering with footage was fired, and Reina—despite everything—was trying to move on. The case was over. Reina had gotten justice. The fraternity had been exposed.
But even now, Aiah couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. That something had been set in motion.
She sighed and returned her attention to her laptop, attempting to focus on an upcoming exam. But before she could get past the first page of notes, someone plopped down across from her with an exaggerated sigh.
And then, one by one, they started appearing.
First was Maloi, sliding into the chair across from her with a dramatic sigh. “Studying? Boring. Let’s do something illegal.”
Aiah raised an eyebrow. “That’s exactly the kind of statement that got us into trouble last time.”
“No, no. That was ‘investigating for the greater good.’”
“Heard the fraternity’s officially disbanded. Some of the higher-ups got expelled.”
Aiah finally looked up, arching a brow. “And you came all the way here just to tell me what I already know?”
Maloi grinned. “Not exactly.”
“I miss the chaos,” Maloi announced, dramatically resting her chin on her palm. “Things feel so... normal now.”
Aiah raised an eyebrow. “I’d hardly call almost getting arrested for tackling a guy in the hallway ‘chaos.’”
Maloi smirked. “That was Sheena’s doing, not mine.”
Before Aiah could argue, Colet arrived, plopping down beside her with a coffee in hand. “Maloi bothering you too? Don’t mind her. She’s just sad we don’t have a new case.”
“I am not sad!” Maloi protested. “I’m just… mildly disappointed.”
“You were literally pouting when we got the email that the case was closed,” Gwen said as she sat down, adjusting her glasses. “You even said, and I quote, ‘What am I supposed to do with my life now?’”
Maloi gasped. “You too, Gwen?”
As if summoned by the chaos, Stacey joined them next, dropping a notebook on the table. “If this is a ‘how do we get arrested’ meeting, I’m leaving.”
Aiah smirked. “So if it’s a ‘how do we do things legally but still have fun’ meeting, you’d stay?”
“…Maybe.”
Then came Sheena, dramatically flopping onto the table. “I have arrived. Who’s fighting? What are we doing? Are we breaking into something?”
Mikha was the last to arrive, tilting her head at the gathering. “Did I miss a memo? Are we starting a club or something?”
Aiah looked around at the familiar faces. They had all been drawn into Reina’s case for different reasons, and yet, they had worked together so seamlessly that it felt strange to just walk away from it all.
Maloi smirked, leaning forward. “Well, it was fun.”
Stacey rolled her eyes. “Fun? We almost got caught sneaking around multiple times.”
Mikha grinned. “But admit it—you enjoyed it.”
Colet crossed her arms. “We did good work. And if there are more things happening in this school that need uncovering…”
Gwen groaned. “I hate that I know where this is going.”
That’s when the idea clicked.
Aiah leaned back in her chair, tapping her pen against the table. “What if we did?”
The table fell silent. Then Maloi leaned forward. “Wait. You’re serious?”
“Think about it,” Aiah said. “We worked well together. And I know we said we’d stop after Reina’s case, but… what if we didn’t?”
Gwen adjusted her glasses. “So what? We become some kind of campus investigative group?”
“That sounds nerdy,” Sheena said. “I love it.”
“And we’d need a name,” Maloi continued. “Something badass. Something that says, ‘We investigate things, but also, we could totally pull off a heist if we wanted to.’”
“I don’t think that’s the message we should be going for,” Stacey said dryly.
“Okay, hear me out—” Maloi straightened. “The Secret Seven.”
Silence.
“…Maloi,” Gwen deadpanned, “That’s literally from an Enid Blyton book.”
“Fine! How about ‘The Underground Detectives’?”
“That sounds like we live in a sewer,” Colet muttered.
“How about— “
“Maloi, stop!! if we’re doing this, we need…,” Colet pointed out. “Something cool.”
“Something mysterious,” Stacey added.
“Something mildly intimidating,” Gwen said.
Mikha shrugged. “Something that doesn’t sound like a high school band name.”
That’s when the naming chaos began.
“The Ghost Hunters!” Mikha suggested, grinning.
Maloi scoffed. “Please. We’re not chasing ghosts.”
“What about The Investigators?” Stacey offered.
Colet wrinkled her nose. “Too boring.”
“The Watchdogs?” Gwen suggested.
“Too police-y,” Colet shot down.
Maloi interjected. “How about ‘The Midnight Society’?”
“That sounds like we run an underground fight club,” Colet deadpanned.
“The Chaos Crew?” Sheena tried.
“Absolutely not,” Stacey said immediately.
“The Mystery Busters?” Maloi grinned.
“Maloi, please,” Aiah groaned.
“How about The Phantom Detectives?” Gwen offered.
“This isn’t a noir film,” Colet muttered.
“Midnight Whisperers?” Sheena tried again.
“…Are we a ghost-hunting show?” Mikha raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, okay— ‘Maloi and Her Trusty Sidekicks’!”
Everyone groaned in unison.
“You’re hopeless,” Sheena said, shaking her head.
Maloi snapped her fingers. “The Tea Spillers.”
“Maloi, I will throw you out of this library,” Aiah said with a straight face.
The conversation continued for a while, bouncing between the ridiculous and the absurd, until Aiah finally leaned forward.
“What about ‘The Veil’?”
Everyone paused.
“The Veil?” Stacey repeated, tilting her head. “Explain.”
Aiah tapped her fingers against her book. “A veil hides things, right? But it can also be lifted. We uncover things. Secrets. Mysteries. We see through the veil.”
The table went silent. Then, slowly, Maloi grinned. “Okay… that’s kinda cool.”
“It does sound mysterious,” Gwen admitted.
“It’s short, simple, and doesn’t make us sound like a group of twelve-year-olds,” Mikha added.
“And most importantly, it’s not ‘The Tea Spillers,’” Colet said, giving Maloi a pointed look.
Maloi pouted. “You all have no taste.”
Sheena stretched her arms behind her head. “Alright, I’m in. ‘The Veil’ it is.”
Stacey sighed, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression. “Fine. But if we get arrested, I was not here.”
Aiah smirked. “Deal.”
Maloi snapped her fingers. “Alright, fine. I’ll accept defeat—on one condition.”
Aiah raised an eyebrow. “Which is?”
“We all get cool code names.”
“No.”
“Yes!”
“No, Maloi.”
“Too late,” Sheena smirked. “I’m already thinking of mine.
Aiah couldn’t help but laugh at how easily they had all come together. What had started as a group of strangers with different skills, backgrounds, and personalities had somehow turned into something more. Something real.
She glanced around at the six faces around her—brilliant, mischievous, reckless, and determined.
The Veil had been formed.
And something told her that their adventures were only just beginning.