13/07/2026
OLD DAYS
‎Episode 10: The Library at Midnight
‎
‎11:45 P.M.
‎The city was unusually quiet.
‎Jayden stood outside Grand Crest High School, staring at the locked front gate.
‎In his pocket...
‎His mother's necklace.
‎He remembered the message.
‎"Come alone... and bring the necklace."
‎Marcus had insisted on coming.
‎Sophia had insisted on making a plan.
‎Riley had insisted it was a trap.
‎Jayden ignored all of them.
‎"I'm doing this alone," he whispered.
‎He climbed over the school gate.
‎For once...
‎He landed perfectly.
‎Jayden smiled.
‎"I still got it."
‎Then—
‎"You're getting better."
‎A voice echoed from the shadows.
‎Jayden spun around.
‎Standing under a streetlight...
‎Was Ethan Blake
‎Jayden clenched his fists.
‎"Were you the one texting me?"
‎Ethan shook his head.
‎"No."
‎"Then why are you here?"
‎"To stop you from walking into a trap."
‎Jayden frowned.
‎"I don't even know if I can trust you."
‎Ethan sighed.
‎"You can't."
‎"...But you should."
‎Jayden laughed.
‎"That's the worst argument I've ever heard."
‎Meanwhile...
‎Across the street...
‎Marcus, Sophia, Riley and Alexander watched from inside a parked van.
‎Marcus munched on chips.
‎Sophia glared at him.
‎"We're on a secret mission."
‎Marcus shrugged.
‎"I'm secretly hungry."
‎Alexander smiled.
‎"You remind me of Jayden's father."
‎Marcus grinned proudly.
‎"I'll take that as a compliment."
‎Inside the library
‎The old library was dark.
‎Rows of books stretched endlessly into the shadows.
‎The grandfather clock near the entrance read:
‎11:59 P.M.
‎Then...
‎DING!
‎A bookshelf slowly moved aside.
‎Marcus almost dropped his chips.
‎"I KNEW BOOKS WERE EVIL!"
‎Jayden and Ethan stepped through the hidden doorway.
‎The bookshelf closed behind them.
‎The Secret Archive
‎Hidden beneath the library was another underground room.
‎Unlike the basement...
‎This place was spotless.
‎Computers hummed quietly.
‎Shelves were filled with old journals.
‎Every wall displayed the Old Days Club emblem.
‎In the center of the room stood a single desk.
‎On it...
‎A chessboard.
‎One black chess piece.
‎One white chess piece.
‎And a note.
‎"Make your move."
‎Jayden reached toward the chessboard.
‎Ethan grabbed his arm.
‎"Wait."
‎"What?"
‎"This room is designed to test people."
‎Jayden rolled his eyes.
‎"Everything in this school is a test."
‎Before Ethan could reply—
‎The room locked itself.
‎A screen lit up.
‎Victor Blackwood appeared again.
‎"Congratulations."
‎"You have reached the Archive."
‎"If you're standing here..."
‎"...then you've already lost."
‎Marcus whispered from the ventilation shaft above,
‎"I officially hate dead people."
‎Sophia covered his mouth.
‎"Quiet!"
‎Victor continued.
‎"Project Phoenix was never about creating the perfect student."
‎"It was about creating the perfect leader."
‎Images flashed across the screen.
‎Students.
‎Graduation ceremonies.
‎Government officials.
‎Business leaders.
‎Police officers.
‎Some of the most powerful people in the city.
‎Every one of them...
‎Former members of the Old Days Club.
‎Sophia gasped.
‎"They're everywhere..."
‎Alexander nodded sadly.
‎"The Club never ended.
‎Marcus accidentally sneezed.
‎"Loudly."
‎The ventilation cover broke beneath him.
‎CRASH!
‎He landed right in front of Jayden.
‎Everyone stared.
‎Marcus slowly stood up.
‎"...I meant to make an entrance."
‎Even Ethan laughed.
‎Jayden shook his head.
‎"Only you."
‎Without warning—
‎Smoke filled the Archive.
‎Masked figures stormed into the room.
‎"Take the necklace!"
‎Jayden immediately threw the necklace to Sophia.
‎"Catch!"
‎Sophia caught it.
‎A masked attacker charged at her.
‎Riley stepped in.
‎The two exchanged fast punches and kicks.
‎Meanwhile...
‎Jayden and Ethan fought side by side.
‎Marcus picked up a history book.
‎"I've always wanted to do this."
‎THWACK!
‎He smacked one attacker with the book.
‎The man fell unconscious.
‎Marcus stared.
‎"...Knowledge really is power."
‎
‎The attackers finally retreated.
‎Silence returned.
‎Jayden turned to Ethan.
‎"No more secrets."
‎Ethan nodded.
‎"My real name isn't Ethan Blake."
‎Everyone froze.
‎"My name is..."
‎Noah Blackwood.
‎Alexander's eyes widened.
‎"...Impossible."
‎Noah lowered his head.
‎"I'm Victor Blackwood's grandson.
‎Jayden stepped back.
‎"You've been lying this whole time?"
‎Noah nodded.
‎"My grandfather raised me."
‎"But I don't believe in what he created."
‎"I came here to destroy it."
‎Sophia looked at Alexander.
‎"Do you believe him?"
‎Alexander didn't answer immediately.
‎Finally...
‎"Yes."
‎
‎Just as everyone relaxed—
‎A loud explosion shook the library.
‎BOOM!
‎The lights went out.
‎People screamed.
‎When the emergency lights came on...
‎Someone was missing.
‎"Sophia?"
‎Jayden looked around.
‎No answer.
‎"SOPHIA!"
‎Only the necklace remained on the floor.
‎Beside it...
‎A black card.
‎Jayden picked it up.
‎Written in silver ink were the words:
‎"PHASE THREE HAS BEGUN."
‎On the back...
‎One sentence.
‎"If you want Sophia back... come to Blackwood Manor."
‎TO BE CONTINUED...
‎Episode 11: "Blackwood Manor