CHAPTER 2 – THE VIDEO EVERYONE HAD TO WATCH
The ambulance doors slammed shut.
The siren echoed across the school parking lot.
Inside the classroom...
No one spoke.
Miss Drenic stood frozen beside her desk.
The principal rushed in.
"What happened?"
The lead paramedic didn't raise his voice.
"Your student presented with signs of a medical emergency."
He packed away the monitor.
"She requested medical help."
"She did not receive it."
The principal turned toward the class.
"Is that true?"
Silence.
Then one small hand went up.
"She asked twice."
Another student nodded.
"I heard her."
"So did I."
One by one...
Nearly every hand in the room went up.
Miss Drenic swallowed.
"They're children."
"They misunderstood."
A quiet voice came from the back.
"No."
Everyone turned.
It was Noah.
The shy boy who barely spoke all year.
"I recorded it."
Every face changed.
"What?"
Noah slowly held up his phone.
"I was recording our science presentation."
"The camera was already running."
He pressed play.
The classroom filled with sound.
My weak voice.
"Miss Drenic..."
"I don't feel right."
Her answer came immediately.
"Sit down."
A few minutes later...
Again.
"Please..."
"Can I go to the nurse?"
Her voice was even sharper this time.
"No."
"You've interrupted enough today."
The recording continued.
Then...
The sound of my chair hitting the floor.
Gasps from students.
And finally...
Miss Drenic saying the words everyone wished they hadn't heard.
"Ignore her."
"She's pretending."
The video ended.
No one moved.
The principal slowly lowered his head.
"Collect every copy of that recording."
Miss Drenic looked relieved.
Then the principal added,
"...because the district's legal team will need it."
Her knees almost gave out.
Just then...
The principal's phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed instantly.
He looked at Miss Drenic.
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"The hospital wants to know exactly how long she was unconscious."
End of Chapter 2...
