“What does that mean?”

“No idea.”

Neither did I.

So I invented meanings.

Threat.

Revenge.

Public humiliation.

A confrontation.

Something online.

Something worse.

Fear loves an empty space.

It will furnish one completely if you let it.

---

THAT NIGHT, I FOUND THE RED CASE

And Sophie’s message.

Tomorrow they finally pay.

I waited for Ethan downstairs.

When he came into the kitchen, I had the case on the table.

His face changed instantly.

“You went through my room?”

“What is this?”

“Mom.”

“What are you planning?”

“Put that away.”

“Who are these students?”

He looked toward the case.

“You opened it.”

“Yes.”

His jaw tightened.

“I told you not to.”

“You’re sixteen.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m not allowed privacy.”

“Not when I think someone could get hurt.”

His eyes flashed.

“Nobody’s getting hurt.”

“Then explain.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because it isn’t only my story.”

That should have told me everything.

Instead, fear translated it into danger.

I held up the notebook.

“Mason.”

Silence.

“Sophie.”

Nothing.

“The message says people are finally going to pay.”

Ethan shook his head.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then help me understand.”

“I have tried.”

“When?”

“Freshman year.”

The words landed harder than shouting.

I stared at him.

“You told me nothing.”

“No.”

He laughed bitterly.

“I told you pieces.”

“You asked what you could fix.”