Chapter 5 Silence is louder

11:03 p.m. – Practice Room 4

Dalex's confession hung in the air like smoke.

"I loved him," he had said.

"And I failed him."

He didn't cry. But something in his voice cracked - like a note held too long. And that was worse than tears.

We sat on the floor, backs against the mirrored wall. The glow from his phone lit our faces in ghostlight.

"I tried to cut ties with them," Dalex said, staring at nothing. "Z said if I helped keep Zion quiet, they'd protect me. Help me debut. Make everything disappear."

"Who is Z?" I asked, voice soft.

"I don't know. I've never seen their face. Only messages. Printed photos. Envelopes left in my locker. They knew everything. About Zion. About me."

My throat tightened. "About you being... together?"

Dalex flinched. "Not even our managers knew. We were careful. Zion was scared. But we wanted to debut and come clean. Together."

A pause.

Then he whispered, "That's when the messages started."

11:46 p.m. – Dorm Hallway

I made it back to Block B just before the hallway lights dimmed.

Sasha was leaning against the door to our shared room, arms crossed like a fashion editorial villain.

"You disappeared," she said coolly. "Again."

"I went for a walk."

"In full uniform? With lip gloss?"

I pushed past her, brushing her shoulder harder than necessary. "Don't worry, I'm not breaking your perfect little idol fantasy."

She didn't follow me in. But her voice lingered behind me like a curse.

"Be careful, Kimora. The last girl who went poking around things that weren't her business... stopped coming to practice."

7:15 a.m. – Morning Roll Call

Coach Tae didn't even look up when he said it.

"Mfon Umoh has left the program."

Just like that.

No warning. No goodbye. No explanation.

Mfon was a second-year trainee. Good dancer. Kept to herself. Too quiet to cause drama - or attract enemies.

She was in the showcase lineup just yesterday.

Now? Gone.

"Left the program."

Same words they used for Zion.

I looked around the studio. Mei's eyes were wide. Tomilola's brows were furrowed. Even Sasha looked... off. Like she knew something but wasn't going to say it.

Coach Tae paced slowly.

"Debut isn't a right. It's a privilege. And privileges can vanish. Like that."

He snapped his fingers.

And it felt like a warning just for me.

1:22 p.m. – Cafeteria Courtyard

Tomilola pulled me aside after lunch, hands shoved deep in her pockets.

"You need to be careful."

"I'm not the one messing with people."

She sighed. "That's the thing. You don't have to mess with anyone. Just asking the wrong questions is enough."

I leaned closer. "Do you know something about Zion?"

Tomilola looked around, then pressed a tiny folded note into my palm.

"I found this in the old locker room. It had your name on it."

Stop while you're ahead, Kimora.

You're not the first to try. But you might be the last.

-Z

My hands trembled.

Z knew my name.

6:44 p.m. – Dance Lab Studio 1

Dalex was waiting by the mirrors. He looked more put together today - face powdered, clothes crisp - but his eyes were still tired.

He saw the note and nodded slowly. "They're escalating."

"They know I have the notebook. And the flash drive."

He ran a hand over his face. "Then they're going to try and shut you up. One way or another."

My stomach churned.

"I need more. More proof. More names. You said Zion mentioned March 10th - the rehearsal footage."

Dalex hesitated. "There's only one person with access to the internal cameras."

"Coach Tae?"

"No," he said, jaw clenched. "Worse."

7:12 p.m. – Surveillance Office, VAERA Admin Wing

Dalex unlocked the door with a stolen staff keycard.

Inside, it was sterile - too clean. One desk. One monitor. One chair.

I sat. He watched the hallway.

I typed.

Showcase Night: March 10th.

The screen blinked, then loaded silent footage. A wide shot of the practice stage.

Timecode: 10:17 p.m.

Zion and Dalex were there. Alone.

They were arguing. Dalex reached out. Zion pulled away. Then Zion stormed off.

At 10:23, a third figure entered the frame.

Wearing black. Hoodie up. Face blurred by the poor angle.

They reached into Zion's locker. Took something.

Then - they turned.

And looked straight at the camera.

I paused the frame.

I knew those eyes.

Not Dalex. Not Coach Tae.

Sasha.