The boy stared at it.
His entire body went still.
“No…” he whispered. “That’s not possible…”
The woman’s face turned cold.
“Your father lied to you,” she said quietly. “About everything.”
The crowd pressed closer, trying to see.
Phones inches away.
Recording.
Waiting.
The boy shook his head harder now, stepping back.
“You’re lying… YOU’RE LYING!”
The woman didn’t react.
Instead… she turned the object slightly.
Just enough.
His knees buckled.
He dropped to the ground.
A broken sound escaped his throat.
The kind of sound people only make once in their life.
Someone in the crowd whispered:
“What did she show him…?”
The woman stepped closer again.
And this time… her voice was softer.
Almost calm.
“Ask him,” she said.
“…if he’s still alive.”
The boy froze.
His breathing stopped.
Slowly… painfully… he looked up at her.
“…What did you do to him?”
The woman didn’t answer.
She just smiled.
And right then—
A phone in the crowd started ringing.
Loud.
Sharp.
Unnatural.
Everyone turned.
The boy’s eyes followed the sound.
It was coming from—
His pocket.
He pulled it out with shaking hands.
Unknown number.
The entire street went silent.
He answered.
“Hello…?”
A voice came through.
Weak. Broken.
“…son?”
The boy’s eyes filled with horror.
“Dad…?”
The line cracked.
Then the voice whispered:
“Don’t trust her—”
The call cuts.
