Dark Woods Academy

Chapter 3

I wasn't stupid even when pissed so I headed to my dorm and pulled on a black hoody jacket and changed my jeans into a black joggers. My cell phone had a quarter of a battery remaining so I slipped it into the pocket of the joggers, replaced my sneakers with a pair of running shoes and slipped out of my dorm room, hood on trying to fade into the background as I made my way to the forest.

It was easy considering the campus was barely awake yet, it was too early in the morning.

Also, the team of searchers were way ahead in the forest and the trail had yellow caution tape that was pulled taught across two trees.

Like that was going to stop me. I just needed to take a look again. I knew that they had removed the body...

I snuck under the caution tape relieved that the searchers had passed this area and were deeper into the woods and unable to see me interfering with a murder investigation.

A thought occurred to me suddenly and I wanted to slap myself for not thinking of it before. Calling their phones. I first dialed James, straight voicemail. Then Arianne, straight voicemail and then Ashton... what the actual hell?

It was on, it paired with my bluetooth on my phone since the last time Ashton and I had shared a bluetooth connection to share a file. I went down on my knees and hands patting the leaf littered forest floor looking for it.

There it was under a patch of leaves at the trunk of a tree hidden under its buttressing roots. Damn.

I grabbed it and turned down the volume my heart pounding both in fear and anticipation. How the hell had the investigators skipped over his cell phone? And why was it here under a tree hidden that was way off the trail we had been on, especially since Ashton had disappeared first. I had only found it because Ashton's phone and mine had paired before and connected automatically when within range. Maybe it was a single shred of luck.

I could hear voices in the distance, they were far off but would come back to this area soon enough. I made my way to the site of the fire and felt the same rush of fear that stopped me from approaching the spot and getting any closer.

A white line tracing the body's position was the only indication that there had been a body there. Suddenly even though there was sunlight falling in patches through the canopy of trees, the air seemed more chilly and darker.

I turned back and headed back on the trail needing to get out of the woods not feeling as brave as I had when I had first entered.

I froze suddenly hearing footsteps and ducked low behind a trunk peering through a few leaves as a man walked through the woods, close to the trail I was on.

All I could see were a pair of brown hiking boots from my crouched position. The man walked away and I stayed there counting to one hundred before I got up and followed the trail back to the front.

I had no idea if he was an investigator since he was alone in the woods especially since the team of searchers had combed this area already and all the officials were up ahead deeper into the woods.

I didn't stop to think about it though, just made my way towards the dorms where I saw the campus principal standing looking at me with a pissed expression.

Shit, I was busted. "Miss Morgan, go wait in my office," he said and I swallowed my fear wondering how bad it was going to be. But it was worth it right? At least I had gotten Ashton's cell phone.

I would turn it over too as soon as I had a chance to go through it. Did Ashton try to call someone when it all happened?

I clenched my hands into fists at my side trying to steer my thoughts elsewhere. Being ushered into Principal Webster's office saved me from going down that dark road in my mind and I was almost grateful for it.

"This is a murder investigation," he started fixing me with a stern look. "You can't go traipsing into the woods like that especially with what happened last night," he bellowed peering at me over his round spectacles.

He was talking as if I didn't know like I wasn't there last night. I shook my head biting my tongue.

"There could be serious charges laid against you for interfering with a murder investigation," he threatened his voice rising a little.

The door opened stopping his rant and there stood Blaze. Good timing. He didn't look surprised to see me there. Had he been the one to tip Principal Webster off that I was going into the woods? I had ignored him earlier when I had finished with the Detective making a beeline for the exit. He must have suspected where I was heading. "Webster, I can take it from here," he said and I was surprised to see the principal nod at him and then cast me a stony look before making a get lost gesture.

Blaze grabbed my arm, his grip tight enough to stop my circulation as he walked me back to his office which was on the same building block as Principal Webster's.

He shut the door and gestured at me to sit.

"You need to leave this investigation for the police," he said simply in a patient voice.

"You were the one that told him, didn't you?" I asked knowing that he understood what I was asking. I had my confirmation by his moment of hesitation that he had informed Principal Webster that I had gone off into the woods.

"Look, a killer is on the loose," he said firmly. "And he's out in those woods," he said his voice raising, his tone more sinister.

"You could have gotten hurt," he said to me like that was supposed to justify him ratting me out to Webster.

"My friends are still out there," I responded icily and stood up heading for the door.

"You could have been charged with interfering with a murder investigation but I convinced Principal Webster that you're still traumatized over what happened," he said the bite absent from his tone.

"I'm not the bad guy here, Ace. I'm just trying to protect you so we won't lose another student," he said simply, the worry evident in his tone.

I nodded not turning back to look at him and then made my way to the door heading to my dorm.