Chapter 6: The Man Who Left a Secret Behind
I had spent years telling myself I didn’t care about my father.
It was easier that way.
People asked about him sometimes.
At school.
At the doctor’s office.
Even neighbors who didn’t know better.
“Does your dad help?””
I always gave the same answer.
“He’s not around.””
Short.
Simple.
No explanation.
Because explanations hurt.
My father left when I was six.
That was the only story I knew.
My mother never spoke badly about him.
She just said he made choices.
I hated that answer.
Because children don’t understand complicated reasons.
They only understand who stayed.
And who left.
Now his name was on a hidden file connected to everything happening at my school.
I stared at the screen.
“Play it.””
Nobody moved.
Mr. Harris looked at Aaron.
“Are you sure?””
I looked at him.
“I need to know.””
Aaron nodded.
He pressed play.
The video was darker than my mother’s.
The camera shook.
Then a man appeared.
I didn’t recognize him.
Not at first.
He looked older than the pictures I had seen.
His hair was gray.
His face was tired.
But when he spoke…
I knew.
“Malik.””
My entire body went still.
That voice.
A voice I hadn’t heard in years.
My father.
“Son, if you’re seeing this, I don’t know if I’ll get another chance to explain.””
I looked away.
I didn’t want to cry.
Not there.
Not in front of everyone.
But I couldn’t stop listening.
“I know you probably hate me.””
My jaw tightened.
He wasn’t wrong.
“I deserve that.””
The video paused for a second.
Then continued.
“I left because I found something I wasn’t supposed to find.””
Aaron leaned forward.
Everyone listened.
“Your mother discovered problems inside the district. She tried to report them.””
My father looked directly into the camera.
“And when she did, they threatened her.””
My hands curled.
“Who?””
He continued.
“I tried to help her. I tried to expose them.””
A shadow crossed his face.
“But I failed.””
The room was silent.
“My mistake was trusting the wrong person.””
He looked down.
“That person was Gregory Wells.””
Everyone reacted.
Even Mr. Harris.
My father knew him.
Years ago.
The video continued.
“Gregory controlled records. Complaints. Investigations.””
My father took a breath.
“He could make people disappear from the system without anyone noticing.””
I looked at Aaron.
“What does that mean?””
Aaron didn’t answer.
He was watching.
My father continued.
“Malik, your mother wanted you safe. That’s why she never told you.””
The video ended.
Just like that.
No goodbye.
No explanation.
Just darkness.
Nobody spoke.
Then my phone buzzed.
I looked down.
Unknown number.
One message.
*STOP WATCHING THE FILES.*
My blood turned cold.
A second message appeared.
*YOUR MOTHER DIDN’T TELL YOU EVERYTHING.*
I showed Aaron.
His expression changed.
“How did they get your number?””
“I don’t know.””
Officer Reyes looked toward the hallway.
“Someone inside this school knows what’s happening.””
Before anyone could respond, the office lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then went out.
The room fell into darkness.
Someone screamed in the hallway.
A second later, the emergency lights turned on.
Mr. Harris looked toward the door.
The flash drive was gone.
Nobody had moved.
Nobody except the person standing outside the office window.
Watching us.
And when the emergency light reflected off the glass, I saw something on their wrist.
A bracelet.
The same bracelet Maya had recognized.
The same bracelet from the hidden video.
Maya whispered behind me.
“That’s impossible.””
I turned toward her.
“Why?””
Her face was pale.
Because she wasn’t looking at the person outside.
May you like
She was looking at me.
“That bracelet belongs to someone who died five years ago.””
