4 Chapter 3 | Hunting Secrets

My lovely Autumn,

If you want to survive, now on you'll do what you're told. Your first task is to leave the dog alone if you want him alive.

Love, 7734

I could feel the sweat drench my skin, the throbbing of my own eyes, the ringing screams vibrating in my ears, and the thumping of my heart against my chest. My fingers were curled into a fist, nails digging into my palm. I couldn't hear my rapid breathing, but I could feel the oxygen flooding in and out of my lungs.

"How's this possible?" I dropped the torch. Its sound echoed in the room as it clacked against the floor and then rolled until it hit the wall. Bruno's growling sound still reached my ears. I sat on the edge of my bed and gripped my phone. The email from 7734 was still on the screen. I rubbed my sweaty palms on the bedsheet and tapped on the screen to return to Confessed.

As the black screen appeared again, Bruno's voice went dead quiet, like there wasn't any sound, ever. I glanced at the window and then back to the black screen. After a few seconds of pause, another screen appeared. It was as black as the previous one but instead of saying Confessed, there was a white box in the center of the screen saying,

Type a name

With no hesitation or thinking about what can this be, I typed the first name in my head: Zen Eaton

And then pressed the button below it:

CONFESS

There was a couple of minutes loading and then appeared another screen with a single statement in the center. My face washed blank with confusion, like my brain cogs couldn't turn fast enough to take in the information from my wide eyes. Every muscle in my body just froze. I tried to say something, but a scream burst out. I covered my lips with my hands not to make any type of noise.

I didn't know what to do.

To scream at the top of my lungs or cry out loud. My forehead was sweating. I rubbed my fingers on it and tried to calm myself down. Then came the same ding sound from my phone. This time I knew what it is.

Another email from 7734.

I quickly tapped to open it without even knowing what could wait for me.

Autumn, my dear!!

We thought you might need some information, before using Confessed. Just to make you sure that, it is real.

CONFESSED

CONFESSED is a vague app designed for paranormal people. When you type in the name of a person, it reveals a single secret they hide. Before typing a name you must have the courage to read their secret, so take care of what you type. Enjoy hunting secrets!

Love, 7734

I threw the phone away and rested my head in my hands. What a night. White knuckles from clenching my fist too hard, and gritted teeth from the effort to remain silent, my hunched form exuded an animosity that was like acid-burning, slicing, potent. My face was red with suppressed rage. Now, I'd understood what Confessed was for. It was just to confess other's secrets despite that. I couldn't believe the secret about Zen.

It was impossible.

I was the one with whom he shared his every secret but, why did he hide it from me?

Why?

Tears well up in my eyes. I missed him. Confessed had revealed the secret he was hiding from me and it was:

Zen Eaton has blood cancer