Chapter 71: Sparks and Shadows

Aveline’s POV

The massive homecoming bonfire was finally lit. The fire caught the dry wood very quickly, and huge orange flames lit high into the night sky. The heat from the fire was immediate and strong.

Hundreds of students stood in a massive circle around the giant fire. They were shouting, jumping, and cheering at the top of their lungs. Loud music was blasting from two speakers near the field, making the ground vibrate.

The entire atmosphere felt like a classic high school celebration, full of wild energy, loud laughter, and school pride.

I stood close to the flames, right between Theo. The heat coming off the wood was incredibly intense. It baked my face and made my skin feel hot. Theo stood right next to me on my left side. His shoulder occasionally bumped into mine as the crowd pushed forward to get a better look at the fire.

Theo looked down at me and smiled, trying to be friendly. But my mind was not on the party at all. I did not care about the big game tomorrow. My mind was entirely focused on my secret mission. Tonight was the perfect night to strike. Tonight was the only night the school would be completely empty.

Suddenly, Daphne walked past our small group with a few of her girlfriends. They were laughing and talking about the homecoming dance. As Daphne passed us, she paused her steps for a short second. She looked right at me. She sent a shy, sweet smile, her cheeks turning a little pink.

I nodded back to her quickly, I felt another pair of eyes. Cassian was standing all alone. He had his arms crossed over his chest, and his body looked tense and stiff. He was watching us with a glare. His jaw was clenched so tight I could see through him. He did not like Daphne smiling at me. He did not like anyone looking at her.

A few minutes later, the hockey coaches stepped up to the front of the crowd. They held megaphones in their hands and waved their arms in the air to get everyone's attention. The students began to quiet down, turning away from the fire to look at the coaches. The head coach raised his hands, and the entire crowd of students began to shout the loud school chant together.

"Crestwood! Crestwood! Go, fight, win!" everyone screamed at the top of their lungs. They stamped their feet hard on the grass, making a sound.

This was my exact moment. This was the distraction I had been waiting for all night. While everyone was looking at the coaches and screaming the loud chant, I took a slow, careful step backwards. No one looked at me. I took another step back, moving away from the fire

I turned around quickly and began to walk fast away from the field. I did not run, because running would draw attention.

The transition from the field to the school was instant. In just a few minutes, I moved away from the bonfire and entered the completely hockey arena. The sports complex was pitch black. The only sound in the entire building was the quiet, steady echo of my sneakers stepping on the floor.

I knew the layout of the building perfectly. I walked down the main hallway without using a light, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. Finally, I reached the door of the old hockey locker room. I grabbed the handle and pushed it open slowly making sure not to make a squeak or make a loud noise that could alert a janitor.

I stepped inside the room and closed the door softly behind me. I walked past the long rows of lockers. I headed straight toward the very back of the room.

Way in the back of the locker room, this was the place where the school kept the old team gear, broken sticks, and things from past years. I knew that this was the exact place.

I walked up to the wire cage. My eyes searched until I found Asher Carter's old personal locker. It was tucked away in the corner of the cage, looking old and forgotten. The door was locked shut with a rusty padlock.

I reached deep into my jacket pocket and pulled out a small hairpin that I had brought with me from home. My hands were sweating slightly from the nerves, making the tools slippery in my fingers. I wiped my palms against my jeans to dry them. I took a deep breath to steady my shaking hands. I leaned close to the lock and pushed the tool deep into the keyhole of the rusty padlock.

I began to twist the tool gently, moving it around the old pins inside the lock. I held my breath, listening closely.

Click.

The lock made a sound and clicked open in my hand. I pulled the lock off the latch and threw it onto a bench nearby. Then, I grabbed the door and swung it open.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my small flashlight. I stood there completely frozen, my eyes wide with shock at what I saw.