WHAT A TWIST!

Chapter 119

Racy stepped into the bright morning light, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a mixture of expectation and concern. She and Sarah were supposed to meet up to study for their 11 am exam, pouring over notes and cramming in as much information as possible. They had also planned to grab a cup of coffee and discuss the shocking news about Na Yeon. But as she looked around, Sarah was nowhere to be found.

A sense of unease crept over Racy, and she quickly pulled out her phone to send a text. "Where are you?" she typed, her fingers moving swiftly over the screen. She waited for a response, her eyes fixed on the phone, but none came. Frowning, Racy decided to try calling Sarah instead. She dialed her number, and after a few rings, she could hear the faint sound of a phone ringing nearby.

Confused, Racy walked around, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound of the ringing phone. It seemed to be coming from a nearby bench. Racy's heart began to beat faster as she approached the bench, her instincts telling her that something was wrong. And then she saw it - Sarah's phone lying on the bench, abandoned and still ringing.

Racy panic set in instantly as she picked up the phone. The wallpaper was a selfie of Sarah and Hyun Min, their smiling faces frozen in time. Racy's mind was racing with worst-case scenarios as she realized that Sarah would never just leave her phone behind, especially not with a valuable item like this and when they had a study session planned before the exam. Something had happened, and Racy's gut was telling her that it wasn't good. She felt a chill run down her spine as she realized that Sarah might be in trouble.

Racy burst into the principal's office, her knock still echoing in the air. "My friend's gone missing!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with panic. The principal, caught off guard, pushed down her glasses and leaned forward in her chair. "What do you mean? What happened?" she asked, her tone measured but concerned.

Racy held out Sarah's phone, her hand shaking slightly. "I found this on a bench outside. She'd never leave her phone behind,Something's wrong, I just know it!" The principal's eyes widened as she took in the situation. "When was the last time you saw her?" she asked, her voice firm but gentle.

Racy's words tumbled out in a rush."last night, but we spoke this morning, We were supposed to meet up to study for our exam, but she never showed up. I tried calling her, and that's when I found her phone." The principal's expression turned serious, and she stood up immediately. "Let's review the CCTV footage and see if we can find any leads," she said, her voice decisive.

Without hesitation, Racy followed the principal out of the office, her heart racing with anxiety. "Please, we have to find her," Racy said, her voice barely above a whisper.

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As they entered the CCTV room, the principal's authoritative presence commanded immediate attention. The security personnel, a group of seasoned men, abruptly ceased their conversation and turned to face her, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The principal's voice was firm, her tone unyielding. "Are you gentlemen diligently monitoring the cameras? A student has gone missing, and it's disturbing to think that you may not have been aware of the situation."

The security personnel exchanged uneasy glances, some of them looking guilty, while others seemed taken aback by the principal's words. One of them hesitated before speaking up, "Ma'am, to be honest, most of us...we didn't exactly start our shifts on time. We were running a bit behind schedule, and as a result, we may not have been keeping a close eye on the monitors."

The principal's gaze narrowed, her eyes piercing as she scrutinized the security personnel. "Running behind schedule? What exactly does that mean?" Her voice was laced with a hint of incredulity, and the security personnel shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

One of them elaborated, "Some of the team members arrived late, ma'am. We apologize for the oversight. We'll do our best to rectify the situation and find any relevant footage."

The principal's expression turned grave, her voice firm. "I expect you to review the footage immediately. Let's see what happened around 7 am. Racy, can you confirm the last time you spoke with Sarah and where was she?"

Racy thought for a moment before responding, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think it was around 7, almost 8."We were supposed to meet at the school statue, a spot we'd claimed as our own for last-minute cramming sessions," Racy explained, her voice laced with worry. "I arrived, expecting to see Sarah already seated, surrounded by notes and textbooks. But she was nowhere to be seen."

The principal turned to the security personnel, her voice decisive. "I want you to check the footage from around 7 am around the school statue. See if we can find anything. Every minute counts, and I expect you to work efficiently to locate her."

The security personnel sprang into action, their fingers flying over the keyboards as they searched for the relevant footage. The principal and Racy watched anxiously as the screens flickered to life, displaying grainy images of the school's grounds and corridors. The search was on, and Racy could only hope that they would find Sarah safe and sound.

The security man's fingers flew across the keyboard, and suddenly, the grainy images on the screen coalesced into a clear picture. Racy's eyes locked onto the monitor, her gaze intense. "That's her!" she exclaimed, her finger extending towards the screen like a arrow pointing to the truth.

The footage showed Sarah pacing back and forth, her phone held aloft as if searching for a signal. She typed away on her phone, her brow furrowed in concentration. Then, a figure emerged from the crowd, brushing past her with a hurried apology. Sarah's eyes widened as she examined her hand, her face contorting in distress. She called out to the person, but they had already vanished into the sea of students.

As the footage continued to roll, Sarah's movements became increasingly unsteady. Her legs wobbled beneath her, and her body swayed like a tree in a storm as she stumbled to a bench. That's when a woman appeared out of nowhere, her grip firm yet gentle as she grasped Sarah's arm. her eyes betrayed a sinister intent,she dragged Sarah away, despite her feeble attempts to resist.

Sarah's body began to sway, her eyes glazing over like a canvas being painted with the colors of unconsciousness. Whatever she had been injected with was taking effect, rendering her helpless against the woman's grip. The security men's eyes widened in horror, their faces pale as ghosts. The principal's expression was grim, her jaw clenched in anger, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination.

Racy's voice trembled as she whispered, "I think she's been kidnapped!" The room fell silent, the only sound the soft hum of the monitors, as the weight of their discovery sank in like a stone dropped into a still pond. The seconds ticked by, each one stretching out like an eternity, as they grappled with the reality of Sarah's disappearance.

The principal's voice was laced with disappointment and frustration. "This is what you're paid for. You're supposed to be vigilant, to monitor the premises and ensure the students' safety. And yet, a student is kidnapped right under your noses, and you didn't even notice because you weren't paying attention."

One of the security guards spoke up, his voice hesitant. "Ma'am, I think...even though it's not an excuse...the woman who took her, she didn't look like she was abducted her. She looked like she was trying to help her."

The principal's expression turned incredulous. "Help her? By injecting her with who-knows-what? We need to take action, and fast. That first person who brushed past her must have injected something into her system. We need to find out what happened and who was involved."

She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed a number, her eyes scanning the room as she waited for someone to answer. "I need to call the police and report this incident. We need their help to find Sarah and bring her back safely."

As she spoke, her voice was firm and commanding, her tone brooking no argument. The security guards looked on, their faces somber, knowing they had failed in their duty to protect the students. Racy's eyes were fixed on the principal, her face etched with worry and fear for her friend's safety.