*Oakridge — Administrative Tower, 11:48 PM*
Lucien Crowe stood before the giant glass window of his office. Below him, Oakridge slept — peaceful, unaware that its foundation was cracking. His assistant entered quietly. "Sir… student networks have formed closed groups. Anonymous messages spreading. They're planning something."
Lucien didn't turn. "I know."
"Should we shut down communications?"
Lucien finally looked at him — calm, terrifying. "No. We strike first."
*Next Morning — Hallway C-Block*
Aarvin walked with Adrien, Riyan, and John. Their group had grown overnight. Silent nods from passing students confirmed it. Then suddenly—
A loudspeaker screeched. "All students of Section C report immediately to the Assembly Hall. Mandatory attendance."
Adrien frowned. "That's fast."
John's eyes widened. "They traced us?"
Aarvin's face remained unreadable. "No. He's baiting."
Riyan grinned. "Then we bite."
*Assembly Hall — Minutes Later*
Students filled the seats. Teachers stood stiff at the sides. Security near every exit. On stage, Lucien stepped forward in a perfectly pressed suit. Spotlight on him. Silence everywhere.
"My dear students," he began smoothly, "Rumors have been spreading. Dangerous ones. Claims that Oakridge is unsafe. That its administration hides secrets."
He let the words sink in. "I will not tolerate lies that poison young minds."
Behind him, a screen lit up. *Security Footage.* A blurred video. Four silhouettes in the library basement. A stolen tablet. Faces unclear… but enough to suggest guilt.
Gasps spread across the hall. Lucien's voice stayed soft. "These individuals attempted to steal private institutional data. An act of sabotage."
Security shifted subtly. Ready.
John whispered, horrified. "That's us… but distorted."
Adrien muttered, "He edited it. Framed us."
Riyan cracked his neck. "Cute move."
Aarvin watched Lucien. Lucien watched Aarvin back. A silent duel.
Lucien raised his hand. "If any student has been misled into joining such activity… now is the time to step forward and confess. Oakridge believes in second chances."
Nobody moved. Then a student in the back row stood up. Elena. She looked around. Then spoke clearly. "There's something Oakridge should explain first."
Murmurs. Lucien's smile tightened. "And what would that be, Miss Elena?"
She lifted her phone. "Where did the students in this list go?"
She projected the screen. Names. Graduation dates. Missing records.
Shock rippled through the hall. Teachers whispered. Security looked uncertain. Lucien's eyes flashed — but only for a moment. He chuckled softly. "A fabricated list. Impressive editing."
Another voice joined. Aiden stood. "I cross-checked national databases. They don't exist outside Oakridge records."
More students stood. Ethan. Caleb. Noah. The chain reaction had begun.
Lucien raised his voice. "Enough. Sit down."
But his voice no longer held absolute control. Students murmured louder. Fear was shifting sides.
Then the hall doors slammed open. Armed private security entered. Black uniforms. No school badges.
John froze. "These aren't campus guards…"
Adrien's eyes narrowed. "Lucien brought his real army."
Lucien stepped back from the microphone. His tone dropped — cold and honest. "You children believed you could challenge systems built over decades."
He spread his arms. "Welcome to consequence."
Aarvin finally stood. Slow. Calm. Commanding. Every whisper died. He walked down the aisle, eyes locked on Lucien. Riyan and Adrien flanked him. John followed — heart pounding but steady.
Aarvin stopped before the stage. "You're right, Lucien."
Lucien tilted his head. "Oh?"
Aarvin's voice was quiet but cut through steel. "We are children."
He stepped closer. "But children grow."
Silence. Tension so sharp it felt like glass.
*To be continued…*