Riddles at Midnight

Maya dragged herself through the school hallway like a zombie—three hours of sleep will do that to you. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, matching the static in her brain. Sleep was overrated anyway, especially when your ex-best friend decides to spread rumors about you across three group chats.

"You look like death," said Leo, falling into step beside her. He was the only person who still talked to her since the incident. Maya wasn't sure if that made him loyal or just oblivious.

"Thanks, Leo. Really selling the whole teenage angst vibe today." She adjusted her backpack strap, trying to ignore how everyone seemed to be staring. Or maybe she was just paranoid.

They were heading to the library for the Sphinx Club's annual puzzle tournament. Maya had accidentally joined last month when she was trying to avoid Jenna in the cafeteria. Now she was kind of obsessed.

"So, about Jenna," Leo started.

"Don't. Seriously. I cannot deal with another emotional debrief today. I'm running on caffeine and spite."

"Fair. But she asked about you."

Maya stopped. "What did she say?"

Leo looked away. "That she messed up. That she misses you. That the whole thing with Tyler was—a misunderstanding."

A misunderstanding that had involved Jenna kissing Maya's crush at homecoming and then telling everyone Maya was obsessed with him. Yeah, totally just a miscommunication.

The library doors loomed ahead. Inside, the Sphinx Club president—this intense junior named Solange who dressed like she was starring in a dark academia film—stood beside a banner. "Welcome, challengers. Today's tournament theme: Truth."

Perfect. Exactly what Maya needed. A whole afternoon about truth when her whole social life was built on lies.

The first round wasn't so bad. Logic puzzles, riddles about mirrors and shadows. Maya's brain, fuzzy as it was, actually worked pretty well when she didn't think about real life.

Then came the final round. Solange pulled out a wooden box carved with—Maya squinted—a bull's head. "This is the Minotaur's Box. Inside, each of you will find a personal question. Answer honestly, or you're eliminated. No room for bull here."

The pun was so bad Maya almost laughed.

When it was her turn, she opened the box and read the small slip of paper: *What's the hardest thing you're not telling anyone?*

The room went quiet. Everyone was watching.

Maya thought about Jenna. About how she'd been crying herself to sleep for weeks but acting like everything was fine. About how she pretended not to care when she cared too much. About how lonely it was to lose your best friend and realize half your friendship was performative.

She looked at Leo, who gave her this tiny encouraging nod. He knew. He'd been there when she found out.

"That I miss my best friend," Maya said, her voice barely loud enough to carry. "Even though she hurt me. Even though she probably doesn't deserve it. I miss her every day, and I hate myself for it."

Silence.

Then someone started clapping. Slow at first, then faster. Solange was smiling for the first time all day.

"Honesty," Solange said. "The rarest riddle's answer."

Afterward, as they walked home under actual moonlight instead of fluorescent buzz, Leo said, "You know, Jenna's gonna be at the fall festival tomorrow. Working the kissing booth."

"Gross. They still do those?"

"It's for charity. Anyway, you should come."

"So she can ignore me in person instead of over text? No thanks."

"Or so you can ignore her. On your terms."

Maya thought about it. About truth, and riddles, and how some questions don't have answers—you just keep moving forward like a zombie until eventually, somehow, you start feeling alive again.

"Fine," she said. "But if she tries to talk about Tyler, I'm leaving."

Leo grinned. "Deal. Oh, and Maya?"

"What?"

"You looked pretty alive in there today."

Maya smiled despite herself. Maybe she didn't need sleep after all. Maybe she just needed to stop running from the truth.