Blackmail

The message arrived late at night. The phone screen flickered, dispelling the darkness of the room. You yawned, sleepily reached for the device, and unlocked it.
"Open it faster. Time's ticking."
Unknown number. You frowned. You were just about to put the phone down, but a second message came in.
"You know, I'd hate it if everyone at school saw these photos. But you can stop it. Meet me in the park by the old swings in half an hour. No questions."
Her heart sank. She reread the message again, hoping it was a prank. But anxiety was already rising inside her. With trembling fingers, she mentally reviewed which photos might have fallen into the wrong hands. It was impossible…
You jumped out of bed, quickly pulled on your jacket, and without a second thought, left the house. The cold night air hit your face, but adrenaline pushed you forward. The park was quiet. Only the swings creaked in the light wind.
"Well, I'll be darned, you actually came," a mocking voice cut through the silence.
Kirill. Classmate. With a smirk on his face, hands in his pockets.
You froze. Then you stepped closer and, without thinking, slapped him hard across the face.
"Where did you get my photos?!" your voice trembled with rage.
Kirill ran a hand across his cheek, then suddenly grabbed your wrist and pulled you towards him with a jerk.
"That was a mistake," he hissed. "Where did they come from? You gave them to your boyfriend, and he turned out to be unreliable. He shared them with us. You chose the wrong one."
You flinched, trying to break free, but his grip was strong.
"Listen carefully," his voice turned icy. "Either you do what I say, or tomorrow your photos will be plastered all over the school. New ones every day."
You looked at him, not believing your ears.
— Are you serious?
He grinned.
— Absolutely. And if you tell anyone… nobody will believe you. That's one thing. And secondly, you'll feel very bad.
He abruptly released your hand. You stood there, barely breathing.
"It's free," he threw over his shoulder and left, dissolving into the darkness.

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