Writers 
Chapter 10: Zara's Truth
Amara sat on her bed, still holding the piece of paper.
“Meet me that night. Don't tell anyone.”
She read it again.
It was Mia's handwriting.
Amara was sure of it.
But there was one thing she couldn't understand.
Why had Mia asked her to meet secretly?
And what had happened after that?
Amara put the paper inside her drawer and closed it.
She needed to talk to Zara.
The next morning, she got to school early again.
She found Zara standing near the back of the school building.
“Zara.”
Zara turned around.
When she saw Amara, she looked nervous.
“You came.”
“You said you would tell me the truth.”
Zara looked down.
“I know.”
“So tell me.”
Zara took a deep breath.
“Amara, before you moved away, you and Mia were very close.”
“I remember that.”
“You both told each other everything.”
Amara nodded.
“Then what happened?”
Zara was quiet for a few seconds.
“Mia found out something.”
“About what?”
“About you.”
Amara frowned.
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“What did she find out?”
Zara looked at her.
“She found out that someone was lying to you.”
Amara's stomach felt strange.
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You do know.”
Zara shook her head.
“I really don't.”
Amara looked frustrated.
“Then why are you scared to talk?”
Zara looked around before answering.
“Because after Mia found out, everything changed.”
“What changed?”
“She stopped trusting people.”
Amara slowly sat on the bench nearby.
“What did she find?”
Zara sat beside her.
“I don't know exactly. Mia wouldn't tell me everything.”
“Then how do you know she found something?”
“Because she showed me a message.”
“What message?”
Zara looked away.
“I can't remember the exact words.”
“Try.”
Zara thought for a moment.
“She said someone had been hiding the truth from you.”
Amara's heart started beating faster.
“My mother?”
Zara didn't answer.
“Zara, was it my mother?”
“I don't know.”
Amara looked down.
She didn't want to believe it.
Her mother had always told her that leaving the old school was for the best.
But what if there was another reason?
“What happened the night Mia disappeared?” Amara asked.
Zara took a deep breath.
“You met Mia that night.”
“I remember the note.”
Zara looked surprised.
“You found it?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“In my old school bag.”
Zara became quiet.
Amara watched her closely.
“You knew about the note, didn't you?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I was scared.”
“Of what?”
Zara looked at Amara.
“Of losing you again.”
Amara didn't know what to say.
Zara continued.
“That night, Mia wanted to tell you something. She asked you to meet her.”
“I remember.”
“You went to meet her.”
“What happened?”
“I don't know everything.”
“Zara…”
“I swear.”
Zara looked close to tears.
“I saw you two talking, but I didn't hear what you were saying.”
“Then what happened?”
“You and Mia started arguing.”
Amara closed her eyes.
A small part of the memory came back.
Mia standing in front of her.
Her voice shaking.
Amara being angry.
Then someone else arriving.
“Who came?” Amara asked.
Zara looked at her.
“Daniel.”
Amara opened her eyes.
“Daniel was there?”
“Yes.”
“What did he do?”
“I don't know. I left.”
“Why?”
“Because Mia told me to.”
Amara sat quietly.
“So Daniel was there that night.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew all this but never told me?”
Zara looked down.
“I was scared you would hate me.”
Amara shook her head.
“I don't hate you.”
Zara looked at her.
“But I don't understand why everyone kept this from me.”
“I know.”
There was silence between them.
Then Amara's phone vibrated.
She checked the screen.
It was another message from the unknown number.
“Zara still hasn't told you everything.”
Amara slowly looked at Zara.
Zara noticed her expression.
“What is it?”
Amara didn't answer.
She showed her the message.
Zara's face changed.
“Who keeps sending you these?”
“I don't know.”
Zara looked frightened.
Then she whispered,
“Maybe you should stop asking questions.”
Amara shook her head.
“No.”
She put her phone back in her pocket.
“I'm done being scared.”
Zara looked at her.
“Amara…”
“I want the whole truth.”
And this time, Zara didn't try to stop her.