Clear Lake Academy holds the worst of the worst delinquents from around the country. Each and every student there holds a notorious background that led them there and almost everyone avoids them.
After setting the tenth building on fire, which just...
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"You're a red?" Laken enquired, hands stuffed into his jogger pockets, shoulders squared as he fought against the cold wrapping around them. I tightened my own arms around myself, regretting not changing into something warmer or even grabbing a jacket."It's been a while since we've had a new kid on the block."
I hummed in answer, eyes flickering across the silent campus now bathed in a inky sheet of black, still as if holding its breath. The brick walls loomed above us as we walked down the stone path towards the main building. I leaned my head back, letting it rest comfortably on Hendrix's arm as exhaustion gnawed at my frayed edges.
"I'm orange." Hendrix shrugged as he pulled his arm away from Laken and rooted in his pockets till a small silver key sat timedly in the palm of his hand. I silently watched as he unlocked the door, slipping in beside him and letting Laken quietly shut it behind us.
Hendrix and Laken made small talk - my energy spent on the day - as we wandered the hallways till we stumbled across the canteen. The room was empty, the lights switched off, and we stood there in the dark.
For a moment, all we could hear was the low hum of the refrigerators along the back wall. The faint smell of leftover lunches hung in the air-warm bread, something sugary, and that unmistakable scent of floor cleaner janitors always used.
Our eyes slowly adjusted, shapes forming out of the shadows: rows of tables, chairs pushed in at odd angles, and the gleam of the serving counter across the room. It felt strange being here at night, like we'd stepped into a version of school that wasn't meant for us.
"Well, this is interesting." I whispered, as if the air could bite if I raised my voice.
"Snacks in the dark -so much better!" Hendrix shrugged, voice echoing as he cheered. Laken slapped him above the head in response, the sound stark against the calm.
"Quieten down, will you? before we get caught."
"I'm guessing you're not supposed to be in this building after dinner?" I interrupted before they could start squabbling -from their faces alone they seemed the type to bicker a lot - as my eyes continued to adjust to the dark.
I should have ate more carrots.
"Yep," he sighed, shooting a pointed look at Hendrix. "Well let's get to it then."
The weight around my shoulders disappear and I felt cold air replace the space Hendrix had occupied as he stepped forward. I shrugged, following him. I treaded carefully, trying to avoid making contact with anything as we navigated our way through the multitude of chairs and tables.
I flinched when a chair scraped sharply against the floor, shattering the silence with a deafening screech. A second later and a body hit the ground, the impact echoing through the room, followed by a loud "Ow!"
I squinted as a bright light burnt through the darkness, hands coming up to shield my eyes from the onslaught.
I blinked, barely seeing the outline of Laken with his phone's flashlight on. He pointed it at the still body on the floor -Hendrix sprawled half beneath a table, lips twisted in defeat. "You couldn't have turned that on earlier." Hendrix grumbled, eyes fluttering shut.
