Forbidden Equations: Love In the Dark
Episode 3: "The Missing Girl"
Crestwood University Archives | Wednesday Afternoon
Lila’s fingers trembled as she scrolled through microfiche records. Damien’s accusation about Noah’s fraternity haunted her. The screen flickered with a decade-old campus newspaper headline:
**"Sophomore Vanessa Cross Missing After Omega Phi Party"**
The grainy photo showed a smiling girl with Damien’s piercing eyes. *His sister.*
Chloe
(leaning over her shoulder) "Whoa. That’s Black’s sister? I heard rumors but..."
Lila Evans
"Noah swore his frat had nothing to do with disappearances."
A shadow loomed. Professor Hayes, the faculty advisor for Omega Phi, snatched the film.
Prof. Hayes
"These records are restricted, Miss Evans." His grip whitened. "Some things are better left buried."
Off-Campus Diner | 8:00 PM
Damien slid into the vinyl booth, his leather jacket creaking. Lila pushed a chocolate milkshake toward him—the same order Vanessa had scribbled in a margin of her notebook.
Damien Black
(freezing) "Where’d you find that?"
Lila Evans
"Archives. They’ve erased almost everything, but..." She showed him a photocopy. *Vanessa’s handwritten note: "If I disappear, check the boathouse."*
Damien Black
"I searched there. Nothing."
Lila Evans
"What if we missed something?"
His phone buzzed. Unknown number. A photo of Lila leaving the archives flashed onscreen with a caption:
**"Stop digging. Or she’s next."**
Lakeside Boathouse | 11:30 PM
Moonlight bled through broken windows as they pried up floorboards. Rotting wood gave way to a rusted lockbox.
Damien Black
(voice raw) "Vanessa’s diary."
Pages fluttered open to a final entry:
*"Noah promised me a scholarship. Lies. Saw them bury something in the quarry. If they find out I know—"*
A flashlight beam cut through the dark.
Noah Reed
(from the doorway) "I knew you’d come here."
Behind him, three frat brothers advanced.
Lila Evans
"You knew about Vanessa?"
Noah Reed
"She was hysterical. Accused us of crazy things." His smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Give me the diary, Lila."
Damien stepped in front of her.
Branches lashed Lila’s arms as she fled, the diary clutched to her chest. A hand yanked her behind an oak tree.
Chloe
(panting) "I followed you! What the hell—"
Lila Evans
"Noah’s involved in Vanessa’s disappearance!"
Tires screeched on the road below. Noah’s Range Rover sped toward town.
Chloe
"We need proof. That diary’s not enough."
Lila flipped to the last page. A map of the quarry, marked with an X.
Damien burst in, shirt torn, blood trickling from his brow.
Damien Black
"They have friends in the police. If we go to the quarry—"
Lila Evans
"We’re going. Tomorrow."
Damien Black
"Why risk it for me?"
Lila Evans
(softly) "Because someone should’ve risked it for Vanessa."
His lips crushed hers in a searing kiss—desperate, grateful, terrified.
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