THE CHOICE

Elena's fingers shook against the cool plaster of the wall. The hallway seemed to get smaller around her. It was too bright, too quiet, and every sound was louder. The man in the grey hoodie stood to her left, and his pale eyes shone under the fluorescent lights. To her right, Professor Wells stood in a dark silhouette that radiated tension. She could smell their cologne and feel their heat because they were so close. Again, her phone vibrated in her hand. The same message kept flashing on the screen.

A.W.: You're in trouble.

Make your choice wisely. Her heart raced in her throat.

"What is going on?"

she yelled, her voice breaking.

"Who are you?"

You both? The man in the hood tilted his head and smiled, but it was a sad smile.

"I told you."

A person who sends messages. You've been talking to the wrong person. You don't know who he is. He jerked his chin towards Professor Wells.

"Adrian Wells."

Honoured professor. A knight in shining armour? Or something else? Professor Wells' jaw got tight.

"Don't pay attention to him, Elena."

He has been bothering students. He shouldn't be on campus. The man with the hood said softly,

"That's a lie."

"And you know it. "Adrian, tell her what you did."

Elena looked back and forth between them.

"Tell me what?"

Neither of them said anything. Her scholarship, her future, and her whole life were all hanging by a thread. This felt worse than a mistake on a dating app. It was darker and heavier, like she had walked into a trap she hadn't even seen. The man with the hood stepped forward and spoke more quietly.

"He has been watching you for months."

He knows more about you than you think. The look on Professor Wells' face changed.

"That's enough."

"Leave her alone."

"Or what?"

The man in the hood smiled more.

"You'll ruin me like you ruined him?"

Elena's stomach dropped.

"Who ruined?"

Professor Wells moved a little closer to her.

"Come with me."

Now. Before this gets worse. The man with the hood reached out his hand.

"Or come with me."

I'll show you everything. The lies, the messages, and the real reason he likes you so much. Elena's thoughts were racing. It was only a few doors down to the dean's office. She could go there, tell them everything, and ask for help. But if the dean already thought she was guilty, she might be giving herself up to be punished. Professor Wells's eyes were on her.

"Elena. "Believe me."

Her phone buzzed again. Another note.

A.W.: He's a threat. Get out.

She stopped breathing.

"Who's A.W.?"

she said softly. Both guys stopped. The man with the hood said softly,

"You know." "Don't you?"

"I thought it was him,"

she said, pointing her chin at Wells.

"But now—"

The man in the hooded jacket laughed quietly.

"That's right. You don't know who has been talking to you. Professor Wells moved quickly, grabbing her arm gently but firmly.

"That's enough."

We're going. The man with the hood blocked the hallway.

"Not without hearing the truth."

Elena pulled her arm free.

"Stop. You both. I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what's going on.”

There was a loud bang from a door down the hall. The echo sounded like gunfire. They all turned to look at the noise, but no one showed up. Again, her phone buzzed. This time,

a new message from a number you don't know: "Leave the building." Now!”

Elena's heart hurt a lot.

"This is crazy,"

she said in a low voice. The man with the hooded face spoke even more quietly.

"They're looking at us, Elena."

Cameras. Mics. You are already in trouble. The dean is involved. You think you're safe? You aren't. Professor Wells' face became hard.

"That's enough."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his faculty ID.

"Help is on the way."

"Come with me, Elena."

"Security?"

the man in the hood said with a laugh.

"You mean the people who are hiding your little experiment?"

Elena's head hurt.

"Try it?"

The man got a glare from Professor Wells.

"One more word and—"

The man smiled.

"And what? You will also make me quiet?”

Elena's heart was beating so fast that she could barely hear her own voice.

"Stop! "Stop it!"

She looked at the man in the hood.

"What test?" What are you saying?”

He moved closer and spoke in a low, urgent voice.

"He chooses students who are weak. Keeps records. You're the newest one. The app?”

He uses it to look for you. Her stomach turned. She gave Wells a look.

"Is that true?"

He looked into her eyes.

"No. No, God. Hey, Elena, listen to me. I had no idea you were my student. I never meant to hurt you. All of the things we said were true.”

The man with the hood laughed like a dog.

"He's good, isn't he?"

He tricked me once, too. Elena's hands shook. Her scholarship, her future, and her safety were all hanging by a thread.

"Why should I trust either of you?"

Neither of them answered. She stepped back.

"I'm going to see the dean."

The eyes of Professor Wells got bigger.

"Don't, Elena—"

She yelled,

"Get out of my way!"

The man with the hood smiled.

"At last, some sense."

She ran down the hallway to the dean's office, heart racing. The tile made her shoes squeak. She could hear both men behind her calling her name. She hit the office door hard and was out of breath. She pushed it open with her hand. Inside, it was dark.

"Dean Crawford?"

she yelled. No response. The blinds were closed. There were papers all over the desk. There was a faint smell of chemicals in the air. She stepped inside. The door clicked shut behind her. Her phone rang. Another note

. A.W.: Get out of here now. It's a trap. Elena turned around. The knob wouldn't turn. Locked. Her heart rate went through the roof. She hit the door hard.

"Hey? Dean Crawford?”

Someone was coming from outside. Soft voices. A key is shaking in the lock. She stepped back, holding her phone and looking around the dark office. There was another door on the other side, maybe a maintenance exit. She lunged for it, but it wouldn't move. The steps stopped. The handle turned slowly. One more time, her phone buzzed.

A.W.: Go away.

The door swung wide. The frame was full of a shadow. No, not the dean. Not Wells. Not the man in the hood. A different person. The voice said in a calm voice,

"Elena Torres."

"We've been waiting for you."