The next morning, Hanna entered the school to a new kind of tension. The whispers felt sharper, more urgent, and as she walked past the lockers, she overheard fragments of conversations. She didn’t need to hear the whole story to know that something was wrong.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, dreading what it might say. It was a message from Emily.
Emily: Have you seen the forum?
Hanna’s stomach dropped. She opened the app, her eyes scanning the screen until the post caught her eye:
“BREAKING: Debate Team Theft Scandal—Talia caught stealing money! This is what happens when you trust the quiet ones.”
The words hit Hanna like a punch to the gut. The accusations were entirely fabricated, but it didn’t matter. It was enough to make people believe it. Hanna quickly texted Emily back.
Hanna: I’m on my way. We have to do something.
Talia stormed into the library shortly after, her face flushed with anger, and her hands trembling. She threw her phone onto the table in front of Hanna and Emily, the screen still displaying the post.
“She’s trying to destroy me all over again!” Talia’s voice was tight with frustration, her breath quick. “This is just like last time, but worse. It’s not even just a rumor now—it’s a full-out attack!”
Hanna stared at the post on the screen, her chest tightening with helplessness. The lies, the manipulation—it was relentless. Hanna knew exactly what this was: Ciara wasn’t just trying to ruin Talia; she was using her as a pawn to destabilize everything Hanna had worked for.
“We won’t let her win,” Hanna said firmly, her voice full of determination. She glanced at Emily, who nodded resolutely. “We’ll clear your name, Talia. I promise.”
But as Hanna spoke the words, a sinking feeling settled deep in her stomach. No matter how many lies they exposed, no matter how much evidence they had, it felt like they were always one step behind. Ciara was playing a long game, and Hanna wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep up.
Talia’s eyes searched Hanna’s face, looking for reassurance, but Hanna knew the truth: they were running out of time. Ciara’s web was tightening around them, and if they didn’t act fast, it might be too late.
Hanna took a deep breath and steadied her resolve. She needed a plan. They needed something that would turn the tables, something that would stop Ciara once and for all.
“We’re going to fix this,” Hanna said, her voice steady despite the doubt creeping in. “But we need to be smarter than her. We need to hit back harder.”
Elordi’s words echoed in her mind: Don’t overthink it. You’ve got the upper hand now. Use it.
But did they? Did she really have control over this situation, or was she already too far down a path she couldn’t turn back from?
Hanna pushed the thoughts aside. There was no time for second-guessing. She had to protect the people she loved, and she had to make sure Ciara’s reign of terror came to an end—before it consumed them all.