The entire campus was enveloped in intense silence. No one was laughing. No one was whispering. All eyes were fixed on the investigator’s phone. I was there. My heart was pounding. I could almost hear it at any moment. The woman in the video was almost identical to me. She had long hair. She was almost the same height. Even the jacket she was wearing was similar to what I often wear. But she wasn’t me. I was sure. I took the video from the CCTV in the hallway of the professors’ building. It was at 2:47 AM. The woman left the apartment of Professor Adrian Reyes. Then she quickly walked away while bowing her head. The investigator watched the video again. At that moment, she barely glanced back. Not even a second. But that was enough to see her face. There was a simultaneous gasp of surprise from the people. A female student shouted.
—That’s not Sofia!
The surroundings immediately became noisy.
—That’s true.
—I thought it was her.
—It really is different.
Marco turned pale. While Professor Adrian’s face was slightly furrowed. I didn’t look away from the screen. I felt something strange. It was as if I had seen that woman before. I was sure. But I couldn’t remember where. The investigator looked at Professor Adrian.
—Do you know this woman?
The professor’s hand tightly gripped his phone.
—No.
—I don’t know her.
At that very moment, I noticed something. Just for a moment. But clearly. Her eyes changed. She was lying.
That evening, the school administration held an emergency meeting. They ordered me to remove all the posts about her. I was also called to investigate. But there was one thing I didn’t understand. It seemed like no one was listening. After a long time, I finally spoke up.
—Why are you looking for her?
I told her about the video. After a long discussion, I finally saw her former roommate. As soon as I heard her name, her face changed.
—Why are you looking for her?
I explained the situation to her. After a while, she finally saw her former roommate. As soon as she heard her name again, her face changed.
—Why are you looking for her?
I told her about the video. She had been silent for a long time. After that, she finally spoke up.
—Sofia.
—If I were you.
—I will stop.
I was very upset.
—Why?
She looked around. She made sure no one was listening. Then she whispered.
—Before Bianca disappears…
—She said she has a big secret.
My body went cold.
—What secret?
—She said…
—When the truth comes out…
—Some will lose their jobs.
—Some will be imprisoned.
—And the whole university will be shaken.
It felt like cold water was poured on me.
—Why didn’t you tell me earlier?
She smiled bitterly.
—Who would dare?
—Two weeks after Bianca disappeared…
—Everyone close to her was called by the administration.
—Some were threatened.
I stopped. I heard only a faint breathing. A few seconds later, a woman’s voice came from the phone.
—Hello?
Still silent. Only a faint breathing was heard. A few seconds later, a voice came from the phone.
—Sofia.
I stopped.
—Who are you?
She didn’t answer. Instead, she asked.
—Have you watched the video, haven’t you?
Suddenly my heart beats faster.
—Who are you?
—I am the woman in the video.
My hands trembled. It was Bianca. I was sure.
—Where are you?
—Why are you gone?
I heard her bitter laughter.
—Sofia.
—You are in danger.
—Better stop.
I tightly held the phone.
—Marco is the one who spread the rumors.
—I am the one in the video.
—And Professor Adrian is involved.
—There is something I want to tell you.
—It’s about the USB drive.
—Three months have passed…
—That’s my question.
And suddenly the call ended. I called her back. But she couldn’t be reached.
I didn’t sleep that night. I kept thinking about what Bianca said. Marco is the one who is in the loop. There is someone bigger behind it. But who? The next day, when I came out of the dormitory, there was a brown envelope in front of my door. No name. No address. I slowly opened it. It was just a USB drive. And a small piece of paper. It said:
“Don’t trust anyone.”
“Not even Professor Adrian.”
My hands trembled. I immediately went to the library and plugged in the USB drive. There was only one folder inside. Dozens of audio recordings. I opened it first. After a few seconds, I recognized the voice. It was Professor Adrian. But what he said next shook me to the core.
—Whatever happens…
—Don’t let Sofia find out what happened that day.
Even though I haven’t recovered from the shock, my hands were shaking. I turned around, and there was the person I wanted to see the most at that moment. Professor Adrian. He was standing behind me. Looking at the computer screen. His face was pale. It was like he saw something he shouldn’t have.
—That USB drive…
He said softly.
—Where did you get that?
(To be continued…)