The Lost Students
Chapter 8: "The Secret Passage"
Lunchtime had arrived, and everyone gathered in the school cafeteria to have their meal. But one person was missing… Khadija. No one paid her any attention; they had gotten used to her constant annoyance.
Adam (thinking to himself):
"I caught her eating in secret… I wonder if she's starting to feel guilty?"
He glanced at Haroun and the others as they ate, then continued his inner thoughts:
"That's why I won't tell them she's been stealing food."
In a far corner of the cafeteria, Ammar was eating alone. Hani walked up and sat next to him, then pointed toward Ziyad.
• "I heard you taught Ziyad a lesson… looks like you're strong. I'm rich—how about you protect me from him? When we get out of this place, I'll pay you a huge sum."
Ammar stood up without replying, uninterested in both his words and his money.
Hani looked around and spotted Adam and Louay, but he didn't need them. The only one left was Haroun, who wasn't on good terms with Ziyad, so Hani decided to stick with him as a shield against the arrogant bully.
Elsewhere, Khadija was still tied to a chair lying on the floor. She tried rolling it, but Fatima stopped her with her foot.
Khadija (angrily):
• "You insolent girl! Untie me!"
Fatima pulled out some duct tape and sealed Khadija's mouth shut, then began dragging the chair toward a mysterious hall door, covering her with a white cloth.
Fatima (thinking to herself):
• "Now… what should I do?"
She stepped toward the strange door, placed her hand on the handle, and was about to open it—when suddenly Khadija ambushed her from behind, throwing the cloth over her face and trying to choke her.
Khadija:
• "I managed to get free because the rope rubbed against the floor and weakened… Now you'll pay for this!"
But Fatima shoved her back with force, slamming Khadija against the wall. Fatima caught her breath while Khadija, in pain, decided to run instead of fight, aiming to tell the others what had happened. Fatima tried to chase her, but Khadija was faster, so she stopped.
Fatima (thinking):
• "They might not believe her if I hide the rope and chair… but she'll lead them to the hall! What should I do?"
Meanwhile, Adam, Louay, Haroun, and Hani left the cafeteria after lunch, walking and chatting—until they saw Khadija running toward them from afar.
Louay (mocking):
• "Look! She's running because she missed the food."
Khadija arrived, panting, and pointed behind her.
• "There's a secret place… I have to show you."
Louay raised his eyebrows, the mockery gone from his face.
• "What did you just say?"
Khadija:
• "Fatima… she's one of the kidnappers! She's hiding something in that hall!"
They all exchanged shocked, skeptical glances.
Haroun:
• "And how do you know that? Are you joking?"
Khadija:
• "She tied me to a chair with rope!"
Hani then remembered something.
Hani:
• "Yeah, I saw her carrying a chair and a rope, but I didn't follow her."
Louay:
• "Show us where the hall is."
Khadija:
• "Follow me!"
They all ran after Khadija—but she was leading them toward a solid wall with no door.
Haroun (confused):
• "All I see is a wall!"
Louay:
• "Didn't you hear her? She said it's a secret place!"
Khadija stood in front of the wall and began feeling it with her hands, which irritated Haroun.
Haroun (angrily):
• "Are you making fun of us, you idiot?!"
Suddenly, the wall opened. Everyone froze in shock.
Khadija:
• "That's how Fatima did it! I followed her and pressed on something here…"
Behind the wall was a passage leading downward. They all descended, eventually reaching an old hallway—where they found Fatima standing on a chair with a rope around her neck.
Before she could jump, they rushed forward, pulled her down, and cut the rope.
Khadija (furious):
• "You fools! Why did you save her?!"
Haroun:
• "Fatima… explain everything."
Fatima:
• "Explain what?"
Khadija:
• "Don't act innocent, you liar!"
Fatima:
• "I don't know what Khadija made up… I just wanted to end my life."
Louay:
• "And how did you even find this place?"
Fatima went silent for a moment, then raised her head.
Fatima:
• "A dream told me."
Khadija stepped toward her, seething.
• "A dream?! What a pathetic excuse!"
She grabbed a chair and slammed it into Fatima's face, knocking her unconscious.
Adam (shocked):
• "What did you do?!"
Khadija:
• "She's lying! She's hiding something in that hall!"
Adam:
• "That was insane… say something, Haroun!"
But Haroun ignored him, walking toward the hall door and trying to open it—it was tightly locked.
Haroun:
• "I don't believe Fatima… We need to find out what's behind this door."
Hani:
• "But… how are we going to open it?"
Louay:
• "Ammar can break it down—his legs are like steel. I'll go get him."
…to be continued