Chapter 77 Aria
I never thought I’d be hiding behind the cafeteria vending machines at lunch, notebook pressed to my chest, heart hammering like it was trying to escape my ribcage. But here I was, crouched low with Max and Nora beside me trying not to be seen by the adult wandering through the hallways like he owned the place.
Mr. Holloway was new, technically a substitute, though the way he lingered around certain classes and students made him feel less like a fill-in and more like he had his own agenda.
“Why does he keep showing up here?” Nora muttered, her voice barely a whisper. She peeked around the corner, eyes wide as Mr. Holloway adjusted the strap on his satchel and glanced toward the science lab.
Max crouched next to us, leaning against the vending machine for cover. “He’s definitely not here for chemistry,” he said, frowning. “I’ve seen him hover near the office and sometimes he’s just wandering the hallways like he’s looking for someone or something.”
I bit my lip, trying not to breathe too loudly. “And he’s not officially part of the staff,” I reminded them. “So why is he allowed near the classrooms during breaks?”
Nora’s fingers drummed against the notebook she was clutching. “Exactly.”
I shivered, remembering the way Tyler had stiffened under Holloway’s gaze. There was something predatory in the way the man studied students. It wasn’t just curiosity.
We waited for the lunch crowd to thin. Max had a plan—typical Max, always thinking five steps ahead. “We follow him quietly,” he whispered. “Keep your phones off. If he sees us, we’re dead in the water.”
“Dead?” Nora said with a grin that didn’t reach her eyes. She was tense but trying to lighten the mood.
“Dramatic, yes, but accurate,” Max replied.
I swallowed hard and nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. The three of us slipped out from behind the machine, sticking to shadows, stairwells, and hall corners. Holloway moved with ease, unaware or maybe pretending to be that three students were trailing him like spies.
“Why do we even care?” Nora whispered after a few minutes, her voice low enough that only we could hear. “He’s a substitute. He’ll be gone in two weeks.”
I shook my head. “It’s the behaviour. The way he acts around certain students is off.”
Max and I exchanged a look that said exactly the same thing. We followed him past the library and into the back hallway near the gym. Holloway paused at a locker, tapping the side lightly, like he was making sure nobody was around. Max crouched behind the corner signaling us to stay quiet.
I pressed closer. I wanted to pull out my phone and record something but that would’ve blown our cover immediately. All we had were our eyes, ears, and instincts.
He opened the locker just enough to peek inside then pulled out a small stack of papers and a notebook that looked way too worn. He glanced over his shoulder and muttered something under his breath—words I couldn’t hear—but his tone made the hairs on my arms stand up.
“What is that?” I whispered.
Max’s eyes narrowed. “Looks like notes. Could be just lesson plans or…” He trailed off.
Nora leaned closer, squinting. “Or it’s connected to Quinn.”
“We need to see those papers,” I breathed. “Even a glimpse.”
Max shook his head. “Nope. Too risky. We wait for him to move then we get closer.”
We crouched behind the lockers. Holloway finally shut the locker, slipping the notebook and papers back into his bag, and started walking toward the gym. Our pulse quickened meaning he was heading somewhere more private, which meant we might catch a glimpse without getting caught.
I motioned for Max and Nora to split to two paths giving us the best angle. My heart was hammering so loud it felt like it would give us away, but I couldn’t stop myself from creeping closer.
And then it happened.
He paused near the gym storage room, glanced over his shoulder and muttered. “Can’t have them knowing.”
I froze, staring at him. Max and Nora were frozen too.
“He knows,” Max whispered under his breath. “He knows someone’s watching him.”
I held my breath, and for a moment, the world shrank to just Holloway and the three of us. He moved to the storage door and disappeared inside.
Max looked at me. “That’s our chance. We go.”
We moved, fast but careful, slipping into the doorway as quietly as possible. The room was dimly lit, gym mats stacked to one side, basketballs scattered, and Holloway rifling through boxes at the far end.
Nora clutched my arm. “Do we…?”
“Yeah,” I said. “We see what he’s hiding.”
We edged closer, crouching low, trying to get a peek at the papers spread across a table. There were symbols, diagrams, notes about students, locations around Silverpine, and a few names circled in red. My stomach dropped as I realized some of the names were students we knew.
“This is bad,” Nora whispered. “Really bad.”
Max nodded grimly. “This guy’s not just a substitute. He’s a spy maybe even the hunter.”
I swallowed hard. “And he’s been inside the school.”
Our whispers were interrupted by a sound of a floorboard creaking behind us. Holloway turned sharply, eyes narrowing.
“Did you hear something?” he asked, voice dangerous.
We froze. For a second, I thought we were done for. Max slowly raised a finger to his lips, a silent command to stay still. Holloway took a step toward the back of the room, adjusting his bag and not noticing the three of us pressed behind the mats.
Nora leaned close. “We need proof,” she hissed.
I nodded, and Max slid forward, crouching just enough to snap a few pictures with his phone quickly.
Holloway glanced down at something on the table and muttered again, frustration clear in his voice. “They’re too close. Can’t risk exposure.”
He picked up the papers and shoved them into his bag, slinging it over his shoulder. We stayed hidden until Holloway left the storage room. Once the coast was clear, Max signaled for us to retreat.
We scrambled back to the lockers, hearts pounding and faces flushed.
“Did you get anything?” I asked, breathless.
Max held up his phone. “Some. Enough to know we’re not imagining it. He’s connected to all these.”
Nora let out a shaky laugh. “I feel like we’re in one of those spy movies Max always talks about. Only with less explosion and more panic.”
I let out a nervous laugh too, trying to shake the adrenaline. “Except if we get caught, no one’s saving us.”
Max looked at us both, serious now. “Exactly. So we keep moving.”
As I sank into my seat, I realized high school had always been funny but now it wasn’t just rumors or social games.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Okay, lovelies, let’s be real. This chapter gave me chills writing it. I hope you felt the tension like I did, crouched behind lockers, trying not to breathe too loud. We’re just getting started. Who do you think Holloway really reports to? Drop your thoughts. I live for them💙.