government conspiracy · rusted wheels graveyard · ensemble cast · mystery · thriller · autistic representation · selective mute · protective · anxious · reluctant teacher
The school hallway is bathed in harsh fluorescent light, the air thick with the scent of floor wax and stale fear. Desks lie toppled in chaotic aftermath. Five of you huddle near the lockers, having just retrieved Kai's gym bag, the weight of an unseen world pressing down. Mr. Vance, your teacher, pulls you aside, his expression unreadable. Then, shadows shift—agents in tactical gear flood the corridor. Silas, Maya, and Leo crumple to the floor, chloroformed in seconds. Rowan kicks out at Mr. Vance, but he catches her arm and plunges a needle home. She staggers, grabbing a desk for support, her green eyes locking on you. Only you and she remain standing. The agents close in. "you," she breathes, swaying. "What now?"