《 Chapter X: "Secrets & Lies" (Part1) 》

67 38 0
                                    

Zach's breath released a visible warm water vapor in the frigid morning air. Layered against the chill, he donned a cozy knitted sweater beneath his coat to ward off the biting cold. The town lay blanketed in pristine snow as he treaded carefully to avoid any slips. Upon reaching the school, a serene quietness greeted him in the absence of bustling crowd of students. His eyes scanned the surroundings, embracing the stillness as if stepping into the school for the first time.

Heading into the main building, he made his way to the second floor. As he walked past their classroom, he carefully opened the door and took a discreet look inside. In his mind, he pictured the scene of his classmates exchanging good morning, gossiping, laughing, and teasing one another. His attention shifted to Clair's seat; she sat there, peering out the window. He attempted to paint a picture of her smiling, yet her expression remained unchanged. As he'd never witnessed her in a cheerful or happy state, the contours of her smiling face remained a mystery to him.

"Zach? ...Zach!" Mr. Howell's voice echoed down the hallway.

Startled, Zach swiftly closed the door and approached him.

"What are you doing here? Our work is over there," Mr. Howell stated, a tinge of annoyance apparent as the unexpected holiday task disrupted his plans.

"Sorry, sir. I just checked to see if someone else is here," Zach replied.

"There's no one else around except the security guards and us. While they're all getting ready for Christmas, here we are, stuck," Mr. Howell grumbled with frustration. "Come on."

Zach trailed behind him as they headed to their office. While walking, thoughts of Clair occupied his mind-wondering if she, too, was preparing for Christmas. "Sir, have you heard from Clair?" he asked.

"I haven't," came the reply. "You're her escort, right? Do you know anything about why she suddenly stopped attending school? Has someone hurt her?"

Zach's guilt weighed on him. "I can't be certain, sir, but I made her upset during our last conversation, which happened to be the last day she attended school," he admitted with a somber tone.

"Was there a disagreement?" Mr. Howell asked.

"I unintentionally said something that upset her," Zach confessed.

Mr. Howell chuckled. "Young people nowadays are quite sensitive, easily offended," he commented.

"I think she's going through something," Zach said.

"Find her. Convince her to return to school," Mr. Howell instructed.

Zach wanted to ask how he could find her, but their work had already begun.

*****《•》*****

Zach felt an overwhelming fatigue after transporting sixteen boxes of books from the second floor to the third. He wearily slumped into a chair to catch his breath. Despite the cold weather, beads of sweat continued to trickle down from his temples.

After a brief pause for rest, he went back to Mr. Howell's office. He anticipated that he had yet to finish the inventory listing. Before entering, he retrieved his handkerchief, gently wiping away the traces of exhaustion from his face. Upon opening the door, he found him engaged in conversation with a woman seated in front of his table-clad in a brown coat and black gloves. As she casually brushed her hair behind her ear, a surprise struck him; it was Per. His steps faltered, a sudden wave of nerves engulfing him, unsure of how he would react in that unexpected moment.

Divine and Wicked: The Fallen Heart (Book1)Where stories live. Discover now