Timeline - Early 2000's

Maya's POV:

I was standing before one of the reputed libraries of the town–Blossom Bookhouse.

Its ancient facade was a testament to the countless stories it held within its walls. The brick exterior was weathered and ivy crept along the edges, giving it a timeless charm. I took a deep breath, the air filled with the scent of old paper and ink, and stepped inside.

Blossom Bookhouse was renowned for its vast collection of rare books and manuscripts. It had been a cornerstone of our town for over a century, founded by an eccentric bibliophile who traveled the world to amass the treasures now housed here.

Rumor had it that there were volumes here you couldn't find anywhere else, stories that had been forgotten by time itself.

Today, I wasn't here for stories or rare manuscripts.

My mission was more urgent. I needed to sift through the newspaper collections, particularly those focused on current affairs, to uncover any leads about QuanDatum.

Something about the company had been gnawing at me and I suspected they were involved in unethical practices. The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that there was something dark lurking beneath their polished corporate image.

The main reading room was vast, with high ceilings and wooden shelves that reached up to the sky. Dust motes danced in the shafts of sunlight streaming through the tall windows, creating a serene yet slightly eerie atmosphere.

I approached the librarian's desk, a sturdy oak structure that had probably seen generations of book lovers pass by.

"Good morning," I greeted the elderly librarian, Mrs. Rekha, whose spectacles balanced precariously on the bridge of her nose.

"Good morning, dear," she replied with a warm smile. "How can I help you today?"

"I'm looking for newspapers, particularly those covering current affairs. I need to find something about a company," I explained, hoping she wouldn't ask too many questions.

Mrs. Rekha nodded. "I believe we have some materials that might help. Follow me."

She led me through the labyrinthine aisles of the library, past rows of ancient tomes and forgotten manuscripts. The air grew cooler and heavier with the weight of history as we descended into the basement, where the library's extensive newspaper archives were kept.

The basement was dimly lit, with rows upon rows of metal shelves filled with bound volumes of newspapers, some dating back to the early 1500s.

The musty smell of old paper was stronger here, mingling with the faint scent of mildew. Mrs. Rekha guided me to a section marked "Current Affairs," which seemed to span the last few decades.

"Here we are," she said, gesturing to the shelves. "You should find what you're looking for in this section. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you." I replied shortly.

I began pulling volumes from the shelves, starting with the most recent issues.

Each book was heavy and bound in leather, the pages yellowed with age. I sat down at one of the large wooden tables, the surface worn smooth by countless researchers before me, and began flipping through the pages.

Hours passed as I scanned article after article, my eyes growing tired and my mind numb from the endless stream of information.

I found numerous articles about QuanDatum, but they were mostly benign–announcements of new products, charity events, and corporate milestones. Nothing seemed to hint at any unethical behavior.

As the day wore on, my frustration grew. I had been so sure that I would find something here, some clue that would validate my suspicions. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples and staring at the ceiling in defeat. The library's ancient clock chimed softly, reminding me that time was slipping away.

I couldn't give up, though. There had to be something.

I pulled another volume from the shelf, this one covering the late 60s. As I flipped through the pages, an article caught my eye. It was a small piece buried in the back pages, a report about a former QuanDatum employee who had raised concerns about the company's practices. The article was vague, mentioning only that the employee had left under mysterious circumstances and that their claims had been dismissed as baseless.

This was the first real lead I had found. I carefully noted the details, my mind racing with possibilities. If I could find this former employee, maybe they could provide the information I needed to uncover the truth about QuanDatum.

Just as I was about to close the volume, Mrs. Rekha appeared at my side.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" she asked gently.

"Maybe," I responded, trying to keep the nervousness out of my voice. "I found a mention of a former employee who had concerns about the company. Do you have any other resources that might help me track them down?"

Mrs. Rekha thought for a moment. "We do have a collection of business directories and employee registers. They might be able to help you find more information about this person."

"That would be great," I said, feeling a renewed sense of hope. "Thank you so much for your help."

"It's my pleasure," she replied with a smile. "I'll show you where they are."

As we made our way to another section of the library, I couldn't help but feel a surge of determination.

This was just the beginning.

Present Timeline [2008]

Karan's POV:

This was just the beginning.

We were rummaging through some old diaries, magazines and newspapers but we only found one article that vaguely pointed to the existence of QD, which we discovered was QuanDatum.

We had a long way to go from here, the journey looked steep and full of obstacles but we refused to give up.

"QuanDatum, huh? Who would choose such a weird name for their company?" Jay asked as he scratched his hair.

"It sounds like a first solid clue in the whole uncovering of QD, but we might have a long way to go." Arav observed.

"But, if they're long gone, who's operating at our school now?" I pondered, "If they were supposedly vanished and we didn't find anything about them, but their name and general announcements, what about all the clues and leads about a suspicious organization that's lurking right around the corner?"

"You're right," Jay answered, "Its impossible that they were seemingly erased but were still operating. They could've officially "demolished" but if they're truly as evil as we might have a reason to believe, they were still operating, just under the covers."

"Wouldn't the police or authorities suspected anything?" Arav asked as he fiddled with his fingers. He still felt anxious about these searches, but was now more determined than before.

"Maybe. But, they try to steer away from cases that are very controversial." Jay responded, "Like the time our parents forbid us from searching or knowing about you when we were really just worried about you."

"Yeah... that," Arav said, "I am sorry for the troubles you guys had to go through, because of me. I couldn't have known what was waiting for me either."

"Very well," I tried, "No one deserves to go through what you went through, but don't worry, we're not letting the criminal out of our hands."

"I had a question though," Jay turned to Arav as he spoke, "How old are you now?"

"A little over 19, why do you ask?"

"Wait, you're elder than both of us?" I ask in surprise.

"Technically, yes. I turn 20 in September."

"And to think you'd be 18 like both of us," Jay let out a wistful sigh, "Anyways, so at the time of incident you must've just turned 18, yeah?"

"That would have an effect on the trial?" I ask cautiously. This was a sensitive minefield to walk on.

"It would," Jay responded, "But its mere hours of difference. A thin line between him being a minor and him being a legal adult... but, that shouldn't change the line of actions so much."

"Wait... guys, trial? That doesn't sound like a good idea. Me and my parents have tried so far in trying to bury and keep that incident out of our lives, how could we... No. This isn't happening, Jay. I just want to get to the truth because you guys are enthusiastic about it and I am willing to find it to hopefully find some peace of mind. But, this would just feel like re-opening old wounds. Karan, please try to explain him!" He covered his face with his hands, trying to hide away from the embarrassment even as he was shaking violently.

"Oh god," Jay said as he wrapped his hands around Arav. I quickly took to action and wrapped him from the other side to catch both of them from falling.

"Make him sit on the chair!" I yelled with a high tone, and Jay quickly followed the cue.

Jay scrambled to find his water bottle and quickly gave it to him as he himself panted in short breaths.

"Are you okay?" I asked Arav. He was still shaking but managed to nod his head.

I looked at Jay, his breathing was returning to normalcy but he was clearly distressed. I offered him my bottle.

The door to the library creaked open with a soft rustle, revealing the one person we dreaded to see at the door.

"What is going on here?"

❛Jesus said the truth will set us free. Francis Bacon said knowledge is power. Yet to recognise something as true is to be influenced by evidence or affected by the world—and in many ways knowledge limits our freedom.❜
— Excerpt from an article