Lily had never paid much attention to him, but now his every movement seemed significant.

The bell rang at the end of the school day, and Lily stood by the door, waiting for him to pack his things. His hands were clammy, her heart racing as he gathered his stuff, laughing with his friends as they made plans for the evening.

Lily waited until the boy was out of sight, then began following him. He stayed a few paces behind, careful not to make a sound. She wasn’t sure why she was doing this—was it because the janitor had told her to? Or was it because a part of her needed to know what this girl was hiding? What secret was she carrying.

The streets were quiet, the late afternoon sun. They passed the usual landmarks: the small convenience store, the streetlight with the broken bulb, the corner where a group of students often hung out. But as they walked, Lily began to feel a strange unease settle in her chest. 

And then, they reached the alley.

The girl turned down a narrow path between two apartment buildings, her pace quickening. Lily hesitated for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. Something didn’t feel right. She should have stopped, turned back. But she couldn’t. There was something pulling her forward, urging her to continue. He paused at a store went in , came back.

Lily crept closer, careful not to make a sound. She watched as the boy paused by a trash can, glancing around nervously. Then, with quick, deliberate movements, she pulled something out of her bag.

Lily squinted. Was that... a bag of meat?