"Tick Tock: A Countdown to the Truth"

The ride home felt heavier than usual. My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter as I tried to prepare myself for whatever was waiting for me. When I pulled into the driveway, the sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow over the house—a warmth I didn't feel inside.

I stepped through the front door, and there he was. My father, sitting at the dining table, his expression unreadable. The air around him felt cold, distant.

"You're late," he said without looking up.

"I lost track of time," I murmured, setting my bags down.

He finally met my gaze, his face unreadable but heavy with something unspoken. "Sit down, Luna."

I hesitated before taking the seat across from him, my heart pounding. My father wasn’t the kind of man who talked much—unless something was wrong.

"Your grades," he started, sliding a report card across the table. "Explain."

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. "I—I’ve been trying. School’s just… a lot right now."

His jaw tightened. "Trying isn’t enough. You’re better than this. You know what’s at stake."

I nodded silently, the familiar weight of expectations pressing against my chest.

"No more distractions," he said firmly. "I want you home after school. No more shopping trips. No more wasting time with those girls."

My stomach twisted. I should’ve expected this, but it still stung. "Yes, sir."

He studied me for a moment longer before standing up. "I only push because I know you’re capable, Luna. Don’t disappoint me."

As he walked away, the silence he left behind felt heavier than his words. I sat there, staring at the report card, wondering how much longer I could balance the person I was expected to be with the person I really was.

The walls of the house felt tighter as the sun dipped below the horizon. My mind raced—what if I couldn't meet his expectations? What if I failed again? I wanted to scream, but instead, I just sat there in the quiet, the weight of perfection pressing against my chest, threatening to crush me.

I pushed myself up from the chair and made my way to my bedroom, shutting the door softly behind me. My hands trembled as I laid the report card on my desk. The numbers felt like a judgment, bold and unforgiving. My chest ached as I fought against the overwhelming pressure. I wanted to be enough, but it felt like I never would be.

Collapsing onto my bed, I let out a shaky breath. The echoes of my father’s words lingered, twisting in my mind. The mask I wore around my friends was exhausting enough—but at home, the mask felt heavier, like I could barely breathe beneath it.

I grabbed my phone and stared at the picture Olivia had posted earlier. Our smiles were flawless, the image perfectly curated to show the world how happy we were. But behind my smile was a girl barely holding herself together.

A message popped up on the screen.

Olivia: Don’t forget—we’re meeting at the mall again tomorrow.

I hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard. I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell them how tired I was—how much I needed a break. But I knew how Olivia would react. And I wasn’t ready for that battle.

Sure, I typed back, hitting send before I could change my mind.

I dropped my phone onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. The walls felt too close, the silence too loud. No matter where I was—at school, with my friends, or at home—I felt trapped.

Tears stung at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away. Crying wouldn’t change anything. I had to keep going. I had to be perfect.

The next day, the air felt heavier as Luna walked through the school gates. Her mind swirled with thoughts of last night's conversation with her father. The weight of his words still clung to her, an invisible chain she couldn't shake.

"Hey, Luna!" Amelia's voice cut through her thoughts as she bounded up beside her. "Ready for the mall later?"

Luna forced a smile. "Yeah, sure."

Olivia and Victoria were already waiting by their usual spot near the lockers. Olivia's perfectly manicured fingers tapped away on her phone, while Victoria adjusted her hair in the reflection of a pocket mirror.

"Finally," Olivia said as Luna approached. "I thought you'd ghost us or something."

"I wouldn't do that," Luna replied softly, though a small part of her wished she could.

The day dragged on, each class blending into the next. By lunchtime, Luna's head pounded from the pressure. She barely touched her food, her appetite lost in the noise of her thoughts.

"Luna, what's up with you?" Victoria asked, studying her closely. "You've been acting weird."

"Just tired," Luna lied, pushing her tray aside.

After school, they made their way to the mall as planned. The bustling energy should have been a welcome distraction, but it only made Luna feel more out of place. Olivia led the way, dragging them from store to store, her excitement as bright as ever.

"Try this on!" Amelia shoved a dress into Luna's arms. Without much thought, Luna went to the dressing room. As she stared at her reflection, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. Was this really who she wanted to be?

When she emerged, Olivia gave a quick nod of approval. "Looks cute. You should totally buy it."

Luna forced another smile and placed the dress back on the rack. "Maybe next time."

As they moved toward the food court, Luna felt her phone buzz. She pulled it out, expecting another message from her father—but instead, it was from an unknown number.

*I know your secret.*

Her heart pounded as she reread the message. What secret? Who could this be?

"Luna?" Olivia's voice snapped her back to reality. "Are you even listening?"

"Sorry," she mumbled, shoving the phone into her pocket. Her stomach twisted in knots. Someone knew—but what did they know?

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. Luna tried to act normal, but the message gnawed at the edges of her thoughts. By the time she got home, her nerves were frayed.

Her father was waiting, standing in the living room with her report card in hand. "Sit down," he ordered, his voice cold.

Luna swallowed hard and obeyed, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Your grades are slipping," he said, his face tight with disappointment. "I told you—distractions are unacceptable."

"I'm trying," Luna whispered, her voice shaking.

"Trying isn't enough," he snapped. "I expect better from you."

The pressure, the secrets, the constant pretending—it all boiled over. "I can't be perfect all the time!" Luna's voice cracked as the words spilled out. "I’m tired of trying to be who you want me to be."

For a moment, the room was silent. Her father's expression darkened. "You think life is easy, Luna? You think you can just throw away everything I’ve worked for?"

Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I'm not you," she said quietly. "I never will be."

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t say another word. He turned and walked away, leaving Luna alone in the heavy silence.

She fled to her room, her hands trembling as she pulled out her phone. The unknown number had sent another message.

*I know what you did.*

Panic surged through her veins. What did they mean? What did they know?

Her fingers shook as she typed back: *Who are you? What do you want?*

The reply came almost instantly.

*You'll find out soon enough.*

Luna's chest tightened as she stared at the screen. She felt like the walls were closing in—her father’s expectations, her friends' demands, and now this anonymous threat. It was too much.

Her phone buzzed again—this time, a message from Olivia.

*You okay? You seemed off today.*

Luna hesitated. Should she tell them? Could she even trust them?

*I'm fine\,* she typed\, sending the lie into the void.

But deep down, she knew things were only going to get worse.

The next morning, Luna woke up feeling drained. Her sleep had been restless, haunted by visions of unknown figures watching her. At school, the tension grew heavier with every passing moment.

During chemistry class, Luna’s phone buzzed quietly in her pocket. Another message from the unknown number.

*I know who you really are.*

A chill ran down her spine. She tried to focus on the lesson, but her mind raced. What if they told her father? What if they told everyone?

After class, she rushed to the bathroom, locking herself in a stall. Her hands trembled as she scrolled through her phone. No other messages. Just that one—enough to shatter the fragile grip she had on her emotions.

The door to the bathroom creaked open, followed by the sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor.

"Luna?" Olivia’s voice echoed softly. "I know you’re in here."

Luna wiped her eyes quickly and stepped out. "Hey."

Olivia leaned against the sink, arms crossed. "You’ve been weird lately. Are you sure nothing’s wrong?"

Luna hesitated. The words hung on the edge of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to trust Olivia completely. "I’m fine," she lied again.

For a moment, Olivia just stared at her. Then she sighed and pulled out her phone. "Whatever. Just don’t freak out when everything falls apart."

Luna’s heart stuttered. "What do you mean?"

A slow smile crept across Olivia’s lips. "Secrets don’t stay hidden forever, Luna." Without another word, she turned and left, leaving Luna frozen in place.

As the door swung shut behind her, Luna's phone buzzed one last time.

*Tick tock.*

That evening, Luna couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Every shadow seemed darker, every noise louder. She locked her bedroom door and paced restlessly.

Her phone buzzed again. Another message from the unknown number.

*Time's running out. Better tell the truth before I do.*

Luna's breath caught in her throat. Who was this? And what truth were they threatening to reveal?

A knock at her bedroom door startled her. "Luna?" It was her father.

She quickly hid her phone and opened the door. "Yeah?"

His face was unreadable. "Dinner's ready. Come down."

Luna nodded, forcing a neutral expression as she followed him to the dining room. But even as she sat across from him, her thoughts spun wildly. Who was sending these messages—and how much did they really know?

Across town, a figure sat in a dimly lit room, their phone glowing softly in the dark. A smirk curved their lips as they typed another message.

*You can't hide forever\, Luna.*

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