Luminara's Shadow

Eliott was in the apartment above the restaurant, a temporary hideout where he had taken refuge with his parents. The atmosphere was thick with tension. The noise from the restaurant below was kept to a minimum, and they had turned off all the lights to avoid drawing attention. They remained silent, aware that every sound could betray their presence. Eliott, lying on a folded mattress in the corner of the room, stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. The day had been exhausting, marked by events that had shaken his faith in justice and his hope of finding a solution to their problems.

The heavy silence was interrupted by the vibration of his phone. Eliott grabbed it, looked at the screen, and saw a message from Kai. His trembling fingers unlocked the device and opened the message. The questions Kai asked were precise, and Eliott knew he needed to provide full details for Kai to understand and act effectively.

Message from Kai:

"Hi Eliott, I'd like more information on how the landlord treats you. Can you detail:

The rent increases and changes to payment dates. The ransacking of the restaurant and its consequences. The difficulties you've faced when filing complaints and the authorities' refusals."

Eliott sighed deeply, knowing that answering these questions was crucial to understanding the situation fully. He couldn't ignore this valuable help, even if it meant revisiting painful memories. He got up slowly, aware of the worried looks from his parents standing a few steps away, desperately seeking answers and a solution to their distress.

He began to type a response, his mind recalling the most heartbreaking details:

Response from Eliott:

"Hi Kai, thanks for your message. Here is the information you asked for:

Rent increases and date changes: The rent has been abusively increased, and the payment dates have been changed multiple times without notice. This puts us in a difficult financial situation, especially with the unexpected expenses from the restaurant.

Ransacking of the restaurant: The landlord's henchmen recently ransacked our restaurant. They broke furniture and caused significant damage, worsening our financial situation. It also affected our morale and our ability to keep working.

Difficulties in filing complaints: We have tried to file complaints multiple times, but the officer in charge systematically rejected them. It's clear he's in league with the landlord, as he even destroyed evidence my father had gathered."

Message from Kai:

"Which police station did you file the complaints at?"

"Dad, which police station did you file the complaints at?"

"If I remember correctly, it was the Luminara station, at 5 Rue des Fleurs."

Message from Eliott:

"The Luminara station, at 5 Rue des Fleurs."

Message from Kai:

"Who was your contact there?"

"Who was the person who rejected the complaint? Do you remember who it was, Dad?"

"It was a man in his thirties, stocky, balding, with a long black mustache. His name was… Inspector Sat, Sato. Inspector Sato."

Message from Eliott:

"Man in his thirties, stocky, balding, long black mustache, Inspector Sato."

Eliott sent the message, his heart heavy yet hopeful. His parents, though worried, watched in silence, grateful for their son's determination and courage. They knew the situation was desperate, but the hope of finding an ally was a small ray of light in their dark days.

Eliott lay back down, aware that every piece of information he shared could make a difference in their fight against the injustices weighing them down.

One day, when apparent calm reigned in the school.

A mysterious message appeared on the school intranet. The sender was unknown, and the message contained no text.

"Phone ringing."

"Phone ringing."

"Phone ringing."

"Phone ringing..."

Notification tones began spreading throughout the class. However, they were accompanied by shocking and disturbing photos.

Anonymous (555):

"Download image."

"Download image."

The images showed Eliott jumping off the school roof, followed by another photo of him covered in blood, lying on the ground.

At first, no one seemed to notice this disturbing message. Marc, surrounded by his friends in a corner of the school courtyard, was engrossed in a lively conversation. They were talking about the last party and their plans for the weekend. The conversation topic seemed unrelated to the recent turmoil.

Then Julie, one of Eliott's friends, made an unexpected remark. "Hey, guys, have you seen the intranet?" she asked, her face pale and worried. "There's something urgent to check out."

Marc, initially amused by what seemed like a new joke, casually logged into the school intranet. However, upon seeing the photos, his amusement turned into deep concern. The images were clear and horrifying: Eliott falling off the roof, then Eliott, bloody, lying on the ground. Marc, examining every detail, wondered if it was a prank or a troubling reality.

Whispers began spreading through the class, then the hallways. The students, surprised by the discovery, exchanged worried looks and alarmed murmurs. The message had caused a wave of panic, even though the origin and authenticity of the photos remained uncertain.

Marc, realizing that the situation could escalate, turned to his friends. "Don't do anything for now. We have to stay calm and not show any reaction. Don't let others realize we've seen these photos," he ordered firmly. He knew that any hasty reaction could draw attention and complicate matters.

Marc and his friends continued their day trying to appear carefree. Despite their efforts to maintain a façade, the worry and persistent whispers could be felt at every corner of the school. The photos had sown anxiety and fear among the students, making the atmosphere heavy with speculation and dread.

The hours passed slowly, with every student becoming more and more concerned about the troubling images circulating on the intranet. Marc, though disturbed by the photos, managed to keep his composure outwardly, but he knew that the consequences of this revelation were still uncertain.