A Step Past Darkness By Vera Kurian

In a gripping tale of suspense and intrigue, "Six Classmates" explores the fallout of a chilling crime that haunts a group of high school students for two decades. Set against the backdrop of Wesley Falls, a seemingly tranquil town hiding dark secrets, the story delves into the lives of six individuals who witness a murder in an abandoned coal mine during a fateful summer night in 1995.

Each character is distinct: Maddy, deeply religious; Kelly, the studious neighbor; James, a disillusioned rebel; Casey, a popular jock; Padma, a shy overachiever; and Jia, who begins experiencing inexplicable visions. Bound by their shared trauma, the group forms an unlikely alliance, vowing to keep silent and bury the evidence, only to be torn apart by the weight of their secret.

Twenty years later, Jia reunites the fractured group after Maddy's murder, compelling them to confront the past and uncover the truth. As old wounds resurface and buried resentments boil over, they are forced to reckon with the consequences of their pact and face the darkness that has plagued them for so long.

With the mine serving as a haunting backdrop, the group embarks on a dangerous journey to unravel the mystery, knowing that the answers they seek may lead to their own destruction. "Six Classmates" is a riveting tale of loyalty, betrayal, and the enduring bonds of friendship, where the past refuses to stay buried and the price of silence may be too high to pay.