Whispers of Unity High – Episode 5: Prefect or Puppet?
A New Ambition
Sunlight poured into Unity High, but Mara felt no warmth. The events of the night still churned in her mind—the bell that shouldn’t have rung, the secret meeting, the teachers plotting in the dark. And now, the file on Sarah Ukeje.
Beside her, Jude seemed deep in thought. They were seated under the mango tree near the Science Block during break time. Jude suddenly cleared his throat.
“I’ve decided to run for Head Boy,” he announced.
Mara nearly dropped her water bottle. “What? After what we heard last night?”
Jude leaned closer. “Exactly. The Circle controls this school through prefects. If I’m Head Boy, maybe I can find out who E.M. is… and what really happened to Sarah.”
Mara stared at him. “Or you’ll end up on their list, like me.”
But Jude just gave her a determined look.
Sabotage Begins
That afternoon, Jude submitted his nomination forms. Posters with his photo and bold letters VOTE JUDE AS HEAD BOY appeared on the school noticeboards. For a moment, Mara felt a flicker of hope.
The next morning, the entire school gathered at Assembly Hall. As the students chattered and laughed, a hush suddenly fell.
Mr. Lawal walked up the stage holding a stack of papers. “Attention, students. It has come to our notice that certain campaign posters contain unauthorised messages. These are being taken down immediately.”
He held up one of Jude’s posters. Someone had hacked it to add sinister words across Jude’s face:
“THIS BOY WILL DESTROY UNITY HIGH. STOP HIM BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.”
Gasps filled the hall. Jude clenched his fists. Mara felt her heart sink.
A Threatening Message
During lunch, Mara and Jude found a note slipped into Jude’s locker. It was written in neat handwriting:
Back out of the election, or you will disappear like the others.
Mara’s hands trembled as she read it.
“They’re watching us,” Jude whispered. “Even closer now.”
Suspicions Grow
Later that evening, Mara sat in the library, flipping through old Unity High yearbooks, hoping for a clue about “E.M.”. Suddenly, she paused. Her eyes widened as she found a photograph of a former student, Emmanuel Musa, in a prefect uniform, from 2021.
Mara traced his name with her finger. Emmanuel Musa… E.M.
But under the photo, someone had scribbled a chilling note in red ink:
EXPELLED – Reinstated 2022. The Circle’s prodigy.
Mara snapped the book shut, her mind racing.
Danger at the Polls
Election day arrived. Despite the threats, Jude insisted on continuing his campaign. But as voting began, mysterious whispers spread across the school:
- “Jude is working for outsiders.”
- “He’s a traitor.”
- “He wants to expose the school.”
Jude lost the election in a landslide. The new Head Boy was Tobi Akande—a quiet boy who never seemed involved in school politics. Mara noticed Mr. Lawal giving Tobi a subtle nod after the announcement.
A New Resolve
Jude met Mara near the Assembly Hall later that evening. He tried to smile, but his eyes were troubled.
“They made sure I didn’t win,” he said. “Whoever ‘The Circle’ is… they’re controlling everything.”
Mara nodded slowly. “And Emmanuel Musa is back. He’s part of this.”
Jude looked at her. “What do we do now?”
Mara took a deep breath. “We find Emmanuel Musa. And we get that file on Sarah before they destroy it. No matter what.”
Above them, the school bell rang for prep. But to Mara, it sounded more like a warning. Unity High was a school full of secrets—and someone was willing to silence them forever.
To Be Continued…
Next Episode Preview: Episode 6: The Confession Under Lock
Summary: One of the junior students confesses in secret that his brother, a Unity High alumnus, was part of the society and tried to leave — but something terrible happened. He gives Mara a locker key and disappears the next day.
