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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"Quick!"
I darted through the door, my trainers squeaking on the polished floor just as Hendrix shut the door behind me. The turn of a lock followed shortly after. I quickly headed for the office chair, swinging on it and coming face to face with a computer screen. Hendrix joined my side as I powered the computer, knees knocking softly against the wooden desk.
The quiet was suffocating, thick enough to press against my ears. Not a single creak from the floor, no hum from the lights—just the soft whir of the computer struggling to boot up. Every inhale felt too loud, every heartbeat a drum in the stillness.
Even Hendrix's movements seemed muted, measured, as if the silence had wrapped itself around us and forced us to tread carefully.
"How long?" I asked quietly as the computer flickered on, and the password bar popped up.
"Four minutes, max." His voice came in a whisper as he eyed the door.
"Do your magic." I rolled aside, giving him access to the keyboard. Hendrix leaned closer, fingers hovering over the keyboard, eyes scanning the screen with practiced focus. Black boxes appeared on the screen but were soon replaced by a loading wheel, and soon enough he had gotten us through the password security.
Hendrix was definitely a jack in the back.
He moved back as I took my place again, clicking through open tabs. I scrolled through the maintenance tabs, eyes searching for the controls to every device this school had.
The room was silent, only the generator and keyboard clicking filling up the room. I scrolled through the different devices, mine and Hendrix's eyes scanning through the different texts briskly.
"Got it." Clicking on the tab, I pressed disable before giving a thumbs up to Hendrix.
Upon my signal, he moved to the large complicated box in the corner of room. The device loomed over him, a tangled mess of wires and blinking lights that seemed almost alive. He disappeared behind it for a few tense seconds, and I held my breath, every second stretching impossibly long. Then he reemerged, a triumphant smile on his face. The green blinking light in the corner went dark as the box powered down, silent at last.
The sudden stillness of the room felt heavier, almost like the air itself was holding its breath along with meHis smile slipped however, when footsteps began heading this way; his eyes widening. I motioned behind him, springing up from the seat and heading for the cupboard behind him.
I pushed open the door, cramming myself in with Hendrix shooting in behind me and he slammed the door shut just as the front door opened. We fell silent, holding our breaths as we listened to the sound of someone moving around.
Across from me, Hendrix crossed his eyes, sticking out his tongue. I clenched my jaw, - failing to hide a smile - swatting him with a look made to kill. He gave me a sheepish smile just as we listened to the door opening and closing once again.
