[Note from the Author]

This chapter is being updated page by page. New scenes added weekly as I fine-tune the story.

Check back every [Friday] for fresh updates!

Thanks for reading and supporting Code Red.

As Rose walked out of the hall still conflicted with her thoughts, she suddenly bumped into a student. Looking up, she said "Sorry," glancing at the face of the student. She noticed she had never seen them at school before.

"No problem," the student replied before quickly walking away, disappearing into the crowd.

Must be a new student, Rose thought. It was unusual for her not to recognize someone at school, but she shrugged it off and then made way to her class.

But each step she took felt like she was under the burden of heavyweights.

"Finally made it back to class," she muttered, trying to reassure herself.

She took a deep breath and scanned the room, searching for Bella among the murmuring crowd of students. Just as she took her seat in preparation for the class, Mr. Olajide, the chemistry teacher, called out, "Take your seats, everyone."

At last, Rose spotted Bella in her seat. She gave Rose a cheerful smile, and Rose smiled back (page 6)

As she thought to herself, I've got to keep it together. I need to concentrate before they notice. She tried to stay calm, but the overwhelming emotions within her made her remember when last she had felt like this.

Ten years ago, at her grandmother's funeral, as they all paid their final respect. The sky was grey, the air still. The gloomy weather mirrored their moods. She was sitting alone, her eyes glistening at the brink of tears. A six-year-old Rose seemed far from the crowd and lost in thought.

Just then, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. Turning, she found her mother standing beside her, her father close behind.

"Rose it's okay," her mom said softly, wiping her tears. She offered a soft smile—one that carried the warmth and love of a thousand words. "I know Grandma is gone now, but she's in a better place."

"Better place?" Rose asked, her voice shaky.

"Yes," her mother nodded. "A place where she would be happy forever. And we need to be happy for her sake. She might be gone, but we still have the memories we shared together and those would last till eternity."

Rose looked up to her father, her face filled with confusion and sorrow, and whispered, "Goodbye, Grandma". The chilling air seemed to echo the heaviness of her words, carrying then into the silent sky.

Her father gave a reassuring nod. "Sometimes," her mother added gently, "when our loved ones are hurt, all we can do.... Is give them all the love and support we can muster." (Page 7)

That line from her mom—about giving our loved ones love and support when they’re hurt—struck a chord within her. Right now, she needed to concentrate and figure out how to help him.

“ Rose ,” Mr. Olajide called.

“ Uh?” she muttered, as she pulled away from her thoughts.

“ We're taking attendance,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

“Oh—okay. Present,” Rose replied.

“ Well, the students absent today were Cynthia, Thomas, and Mark,” he continued. “I’ll need all of them—excluding Mark—to meet with the principal and explain their absence.”

“Okay, sir,” the students chorused.

Rose managed to get through the day. The storm in her mind had settled into quiet whispers, barely audible. On the outside, she appeared like her usual self again.

The closing bell rang, and students began moving out of their classes, heading home.

Bella waved as she approached Tony. “Hey, Tony, ” she said, trying to sound casual—though her voice wavered.

“Hey, Bella,” Tony replied.

“I think something’s up with Rose,” she said, concern written all over her face.

“I noticed too,” Tony responded, his tone serious. “Also... I haven’t seen Mark today.”

“That’s strange,” Bella murmured, tapping a finger against her head like she was trying to connect the dots. "He doesn’t usually miss school.”

“Right…” Tony nodded, a faint but uneasy smile crossing his lips. “Even when he’s sick, he still shows up. I wonder what stopped him today.”

Bella smiled back, as she pointed in her direction. “Let’s go ask Rose.”(page 8)

"Hey, guys," Rose said, smiling as they approached her.

"Hey, Pixie," Bella replied warmly, pulling her into a hug.

Tony cleared his throat. “Well, Rose… Bella and I have been meaning to ask you something.”

Rose’s heart skipped. What could they want to ask? Could they have found out?

She nodded slowly, giving them the go-ahead.

Tony studied her closely. She wore a calm expression, but he could see the tension behind it.

He stepped a little closer, voice gentle. “Is something bothering you?”

His hand rested lightly on her shoulder.

Rose didn’t move. She felt frozen in place, her thoughts screaming beneath a mask of stillness. The evening sun bathed everything in gold, but in her mind, there was only fog.

Bella, now clearly worried, glanced at Tony. Their silent exchange said it all: What's going on with her?

“Does this have anything to do with Mark?” Tony said rather loudly, though it went unnoticed by other students as they passed by them.

Rose’s breath caught.

I might have to tell them now.

“…Yes,” she muttered.

They both looked stunned.

Their minds spun with questions. What happened to Mark?

Rose hesitated, the words heavy on her tongue.

"He was involved in an incident that occurred during the weekend," she said, as a gentle breeze passed through, brushing their uniforms.

“There was… an article. I saw it over the weekend,” she said, her voice quiet. “It talked about a group that was arrested… something about stolen diamonds. From a mining company.”

She paused.

“There were pictures.”

Tony and Bella leaned in.

“And I saw one of them. It was Mark.”

Their eyes widened. Her boyfriend had been arrested, they thought.

“I—I didn’t believe it at first. I called his phone. Over and over. But it just kept saying, ‘The number you’re trying to reach is currently unavailable.’”

She shook her head slightly, as if trying to shake off the memory.

“I don’t understand. Why would he be involved in something like that?” (page 9)

As she finished, tears slipped down her cheeks—the feelings she had tried so hard to bottle up finally overflowed.

Bella immediately pulled her into a warm, tight hug. “It’s fine,” she whispered. “I’m sure it’s all a big misunderstanding.”

Tony added gently, “Mark isn’t that kind of person. He must’ve been framed.”

Rose sniffled and nodded slowly. “I think you’re right… he might’ve been framed.”

Just then, a sharp honk sliced through the air, jolting them back to reality. A sleek black car rolled to a stop nearby, and a suited man stepped out, scanning the trio with sharp eyes before signaling for Rose to come with him.

Time to go home already? Rose thought as she waved goodbye to Bella and Tony.

“Bye, Rose!” they called out.

“Bye,” she replied, stepping into the sleek black car.

The vehicle zoomed off. Rose gazed out the window, watching the streets blur past—people walking, buildings stretching tall—wondering where Mark could be.

Before long, the car pulled up to a grand mansion adorned with flowers all around and golden fountains scattered across the enormous lawn. Big enough, Rose mused, it could host a football match.

She stepped through the front door into her lavish home, decorated with ornaments and elegant furniture—most of which cost a fortune. But despite the beauty, it felt unusually quiet. Something about it felt… off. Or maybe it was just her.

Her parents weren’t home yet—as usual. Her father, a powerful politician, and her mother, a dedicated doctor, rarely returned early.(Page 10)