Chapter 10 - The Live Broadcast
The entire newsroom froze in absolute horror at the live, terrifying video of Jordan.
Principal Hale's voice echoed through the television speakers with chilling, sociopathic calmness.
He demanded that Nolan destroy the USB drive immediately, or the bomb would instantly detonate.
Nolan stared intently at the screen, recognizing the distinctive, crumbling brick walls behind his best friend.
It was the abandoned boiler room located deep beneath the high school's old gymnasium.
Nolan grabbed the main microphone on the broadcasting console and spoke directly to the entire city.
He boldly told the viewers exactly where the hostage was being held by the corrupt principal.
He yelled for every honest police officer and concerned citizen to swarm the high school immediately.
Then, completely defying Hale's threat, Nolan slammed his hand onto the master broadcast button.
The screen split directly in half, showing Jordan on one side and the corrupt ledger on the other.
The video of Mrs. Whitmore abusing Jordan played on an endless, undeniable, highly public loop.
The emails exposing the massive bribery scandal scrolled rapidly across the bottom news ticker.
The truth was finally out, completely destroying Hale's dangerous leverage and political power.
Within minutes, hundreds of enraged parents and honest state police descended upon the school campus.
A brave SWAT commander ignored the corrupt chief's orders and violently breached the boiler room.
They quickly disarmed the fake, intimidation-tactic bomb strapped to Jordan's chest.
Hale, Kessler, and Mrs. Whitmore were aggressively arrested while trying to flee the chaotic campus.
The corrupt politicians involved in the scandal were completely exposed and federally indicted by the end of the week.
Nolan and Ms. Davis were hailed as absolute heroes by the local and national media outlets.
Jordan was finally completely safe, reunited with his tearful, incredibly relieved parents.
The corrupt administration was entirely replaced, and the school finally became a safe place to learn again.
Nolan smiled as he sat at his desk a week later, completely free of fear and stress.
He felt the familiar, comforting vibration of a text message in his pocket.
He pulled out his phone, expecting a funny meme or joke from Jordan.
The message was from an unknown, entirely untraceable international number.
It read: "You only caught the buyers, Nolan, but you never found the real supplier."
May you like
Attached to the text was a crystal-clear, live camera feed of Nolan's own bedroom.
Someone had been secretly watching him sleep this entire time.
