The sun filters through the half-closed windows as students shuffle into their classrooms, but one chair at the back of Class 12-A sits empty.
Dio's gone.
Ami catches herself staring at the seat a little longer than she means to. The morning feels quieter than usual-like the whole building's missing something. Or maybe just someone.
Soha bumps her elbow as they head toward their own room.
"You're zoning out. What's up?"
Ami looks away. "Nothing."
Soha grins. "Uh-huh. Sure. You're not thinking about Mr. Graduation over there?"
Ami laughs under her breath. "He's not 'Mr. Graduation.' He's just… in university now. Probably busy already."
"Uh-huh," Soha says with a smirk. "Sure , I bet he's already writing you sappy emails from his dorm."
"More like complaining about laundry and eating cup noodles for breakfast," Ami says, a tiny smile tugging at her lips.
"Wow. True love," Soha teases.
They step into class, joking like it's any other morning...
but Ami still feels the ghost of yesterday tugging at her chest.
Lunch comes quickly.
The two of them walk out together, laughing over Soha's ridiculous sketch of their physics teacher.
Then Alia appears from the far end of the corridor, Nyra trailing behind her like a shadow.
Ami's smile fades. Something in Alia's smile isn't right.
Before she can turn or say anything, Nyra slips behind her and presses a cloth over her nose. The scent is sweet, sharp, overwhelming.
Soha spins to shout, but another cloth smothers her words.
The world tilts. Everything goes dark.
When Ami wakes, her head throbs.
She blinks hard, shapes slowly forming-gray walls, wooden desks, a boarded-up window. The floor beneath her is coated in dust.
"Where…"
"Oh great, you're up," a sharp voice says.
Sneha sits against the opposite wall, arms crossed, dark eyes narrowing.
"Tell me this isn't you and your sister's idea of a sick joke."
Ami groans, rubbing her eyes. "If it was, would I be here with you?"
"Fair."
"Sneha, stop," Soha mumbles from Ami's right, sitting up and brushing dust from her shoulder. "Ami wouldn't do this."
The three of them take in their surroundings,an unfamiliar classroom, abandoned and dark.
Ami gets to her feet, wobbling slightly. "Where the hell are we?"
"Looks like the 7th floor," Soha says. "Remember the stairwell with the yellow tape?"
Sneha groans. "Perfect. Locked in an abandoned classroom after school hours. Genius."
Ami walks over to the window and pries one of the boards loose.
"We could try the window."
Sneha blinks. "Oh, sure. Let me grab my parachute."
That gets a small laugh from all three.
"Okay, sarcasm aside," Soha says, "we're stuck here until someone finds us."
Ami leans back against the wall.
"Which might be… tomorrow."
The room falls quiet.
After a few minutes, they sit in a loose circle, backs against the dusty desks.
"So," Sneha says, breaking the silence, "since we're stuck here, might as well talk."
Soha looked at her. "Got any cool stories dark secrets?"
Sneha shrugged.
"Or just… something to kill time." "I kinda miss my old school, honestly. Had a good group of friends there. Didn't want to leave, but my dad's job transfer said otherwise."
Ami gives a small smile. "Yeah, moving sucks."
Sneha glances at her. "What about you? You seem way too calm for someone who just got snatched and locked up. Are you hiding trauma or what?"
Ami tilts her head. "Maybe. Or maybe I just process things slowly."
Soha stretches her legs out with a groan. "Feels like we're in one of those bad horror movies where everyone makes dumb decisions."
Ami rests her chin on her knees, sighing.
"If I was behind this, do you think I'd trap myself too?"
Sneha snorts.
"I don't know, maybe that's your sister's specialty. Honestly....your sister? She's like a whole evil spirit in a schoolgirl disguise
Ami lets out a dry laugh.
"Trust me, I've had that thought more than once."
Sneha lifts her hand. "One older brother-total maniac. Used to read my diary and then threaten to tell my crush what was in it."
Ami raises hers. "One stepsister who literally drugged me and dumped me in this room. Beat that."
Soha grins. "My brother once sold my old shoes online. Told people they were designer."
They all burst out laughing.
Soha wipes her eyes. "We've all got sibling problems. Should we start a club?"
Ami exhales. "Sure. Membership requirement: one evil relative and a shared kidnapping trauma."
"Done," Sneha says with a grin. "Best club I've ever joined."
By the time the sun's almost gone, a faint creak echoes down the hallway. Heavy footsteps get closer, followed by the metallic screech of the door opening.
A man in janitor overalls stands there, eyebrows knitting together.
"What on earth are you kids doing here? This floor's off-limits."
Ami stands and brushes the dust off her blazer. "Long story. But thanks for getting us out."
The janitor mutters something about students being weird and steps aside.
They file out, heading down the stairwell. The fluorescent lights hum overhead now that the evening generator's kicked in.
Soha stretches with a groan. "Alright. We've officially been kidnapped and locked in a creepy classroom. What's next?"
"Revenge?" Sneha says with a half-smile.
Ami glances between them. "Oh… definitely revenge."
That night, a group chat was made. Titled: "Operation Payback."
As the chat fills with ideas and emojis, Ami leans back against her pillow, a real smile tugging at her lips.
This time, she's not alone. This time, she has real friends. And no one's taking that away.