CHAPTER 6: Shadows of Truth

Over time, Samantha and Jake's connection deepened in ways neither of them had anticipated. What had started as cautious interactions had blossomed into something genuine—effortless conversations, laughter that came easily, and an unspoken trust that settled between them.

Their study sessions weren’t just about academics anymore. They had become moments filled with inside jokes, stolen glances, and a quiet understanding that neither of them could quite put into words.

Samantha had started to notice the way Jake listened—really listened—whenever she spoke. And Jake found himself drawn to the warmth in her presence, the way she made him feel seen.

Now, they sat under a wide oak tree on campus, the afternoon breeze rustling through the leaves above them. Samantha leaned back against the trunk, her fingers idly twisting a loose thread on her sleeve. Jake sat beside her, his posture relaxed but his mind elsewhere, specifically on her. He had gone too deep, his feelings stronger than he'd anticipated. Now, he was waiting for the right moment to tell her his intention.

He felt them pressing against his chest, desperate to escape. But his lips never moved.

Instead, he glanced at her, watching how the golden sunlight caught in her hair, how her fingers absentmindedly twisted that loose thread. She was here, right beside him, close enough to touch, close enough to hear him if he spoke…

"I love you, Samantha." That is the moment he is waiting for.

But that moment never came.

Instead, Samantha suddenly shifted, her voice cutting through the comfortable silence.

"Jake," she said, looking at him with curiosity. "I've been meaning to ask you something."

Her tone was calm, but Jake felt the air change. He turned slightly, meeting her gaze, wary of where this was going.

"What led you to stab that boy? What did he do to you?"

His heart skipped.

The question hit harder than he expected. His fingers stiffened on the grass. His mind scrambled for the right words—something convincing, something that wouldn't change the way she saw him.

He hesitated. "The boy—the boy—i—I..."

Samantha raised an eyebrow, laughing at his stammering. "Jake, I only asked a question. I’m not here to kill you."

He exhaled, forcing a chuckle. "Right. Sorry."

Jake swallowed hard, the truth clawing at his throat, begging to be set free.

For a fleeting second, he considered it—telling Samantha everything.

The anger, the heat of the moment, the chaos that had consumed him before realizing what he had done. The weight of his actions, the choice he had made, and the reasons he did it.

But then, he looked at her.

The way she listened so intently, the way her presence made him feel like maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t completely lost. She had a way of making things seem lighter, easier—like the world wasn’t as dark as it had always felt to him.

And suddenly, the truth became something he couldn’t risk.

Not now.

Not when her kindness was the only thing keeping him afloat. Not when losing her would mean losing the only person who made him believe he could be more than the mistakes that haunted him.

He had fallen too deep, cared too much, and dreamt so much about her.

And if she knew—if she saw him for what he was—would she stay? Or would she turn away, disgusted, disappointed, convinced that he was beyond saving?

The thought twisted something inside him, made his chest tighten.

No. He couldn’t afford to let that happen.

So, he lied. Avoiding eye contact.

The words left his mouth effortlessly, smooth, convincing. Crafted with careful precision, designed to shield him from the fallout he wasn’t ready to face.

But deep inside, his thoughts spiraled.

Choking on guilt.

Drowning in doubt.

He could feel the weight of his deception settling heavily on his shoulders, sinking into his bones. Lies had a way of unraveling, of creeping into the cracks until they shattered everything.

"He was bullying another student. I stopped him, but he stabbed me with a biro. I had a pair of scissors in my hand, and... well, I lost my temper."

Samantha leaned back, processing his words. "So that boy must be stubborn, huh?"

Jake nodded quickly, eager for her to believe him. "Yeah. He’s done it to a lot of students before. That’s why I didn’t let him get away with it this time."

A slow smile stretched across Samantha’s lips. "That served him right. I bet that taught him the lesson of his life."

Jake forced a laugh, relieved at her reaction.

But then she spoke again, and his entire body tensed.

"You have to be careful next time, Jake," she warned. "You know, there are a lot of cult issues on campus. You never know who’s connected to whom… You could get caught in their fury."

The mention of cults made his pulse spike.

Jake masked his emotions quickly, giving her a reassuring nod. "Yeah, I know. But don’t worry, Samantha. Trust me, I’ll be careful."

Jake spoke easily, but inside, he felt overwhelmed with worry."

Because Samantha was right.

Things were happening on campus that no one discussed openly—dark alliances, unspoken rules, people who held power in the shadows. Crossing the wrong person could mean more than just trouble—it could mean danger.

But then the only question still haunting Jake—the uncertainty that gnawed at his thoughts, refusing to let go was simple.

Would Samantha still stand by him when she learned everything?

His involvement in the cult wasn’t just a side story. It was a reality that clashed with everything Samantha believed in—her values, her trust, her unwavering stance against lies and secrecy.

And when the truth finally surfaced, would she see him as the same Jake she had come to know, or would everything between them crumble?

Would she still be his friend, support him in his academics, and stand by him through the chaos?

Or would she walk away, leaving him to face the consequences alone?

Would she start to avoid him, step by step, until she was gone completely?

Jake wasn’t sure if he was ready for the answer.

But one way or another, it was coming.

He didn’t know if he could handle losing her.

But more than that, he didn’t know if he deserved to keep her.

The cult presence on campus wasn’t just a rumor. It was real. And he had been a part of it. Whether he wanted to admit it, whether he tried to distance himself from them now, the truth remained. She will know it sooner or later.

That was the question haunting Jake—the uncertainty that gnawed at his thoughts, refusing to let go.