Veiled Vendetta

CHAPTER TEN

As the girls strolled across the school grounds, a baseball was hurtling directly toward Nina. Reacting swiftly, Izzy intercepted the ball just in time, preventing it from hitting her friend. Concerned, she inquired if Nina was alright, to which Nina nodded in confirmation. With a swift throw, Izzy returned the ball to the players. Observing the incident, Jade inquired, 'How did you anticipate that, Izzy?' Izzy casually replied, 'I guess I'm just observant.'

Blake, along with the other boys who witnessed the incident, rushed over. He immediately checked on Nina's well-being, to which she reassured him that she was okay. Luiz, noticing Izzy's attempt to conceal her hand, approached her. He gently grasped her hand and escorted her to the infirmary, disregarding her repeated assertions that she was fine. Izzy couldn't shake off the feeling that the ball's speed and precision were unusual, as if it had been deliberately aimed.

Meanwhile, on the field, Evy remarked, 'Luiz seems to care about Izzy.' Alex, noticing Evy's momentary shock, asked if she was okay. With a smile, Evy responded, 'I'm fine.'

Upon returning to class, Luiz accompanied Izzy while Evy expressed concern about Izzy's well-being. Despite Izzy's reassurance that she was fine, Luiz pointed out, 'Her hand was red and a bit swollen.' Izzy, feeling uncomfortable with the attention, looked at him and responded, 'Please don't mention it.'

Observing Nina's guilty expression, Izzy sensed her friend's worry and quickly assured her, 'It's not your fault, Nina. The ball just came toward us.' Although Izzy sensed something unusual, she couldn't quite pinpoint what was amiss.

Izzy hurried to her apartment right after her classes, seeking GD's help to access the school's CCTV system. With his hacking skills, GD delved into the school's records, and Izzy soon spotted three girls in conversation with some baseball players. A deeper investigation revealed that these were the same girls responsible for the suspicious box that had been given to Evy. Izzy's instincts signaled that this wasn't just a harmless prank. She urged GD to hack into the girls' phones, and as they delved deeper, they uncovered call recordings on their devices. Izzy felt a surge of anticipation; things were about to get interesting.

The day dawned with an air of anticipation, set for an assembly that promised to break the monotony of routine school days. Students gathered, excitement crackling in the air, ready to hear the principal's address. Izzy sat with her friends, flanked by the boys, as the principal began his motivational spiel about the upcoming exams. However, the speech seemed to lull into mere rhetoric, failing to grasp the attention of the students. Suddenly, the room plunged into darkness, casting a curious hush among the crowd. A video started playing, catching everyone's attention. Three girls were shown in the video, engaged in a conversation with baseball players.

Intrigue spread as the audio became clear; the girls seemed to be orchestrating something. 'So, can you do it or not?' one of them asked the players. 'I don't think we can do that,' replied one of the guys uncertainly. 'You have to do it. Or else you will suffer too,' warned another girl firmly. Tension rippled through the room as the video continued. A third girl glanced at the two others, asserting, 'You better do your job well.' Then, the startling revelation came as another voice chimed in, 'So, you want us to hit a ball toward Nina and her friends.'

Gasps reverberated through the assembly hall. The shocking footage, depicting a plot to harm Nina and her friends, stunned everyone. In the next clip, the girls appeared to signal the players to aim the ball at Nina, only to witness Izzy valiantly intercepting the ball to protect her friend. Abruptly, the lights flickered back on, and the principal swiftly concluded the assembly. Students dispersed, murmuring with a mixture of disbelief and concern, heading back to their respective classes, the unsettling video lingering in their minds.

In the aftermath of the incident, the school administration called in the three girls and the two baseball players for questioning. In the dimly lit office, the teachers probed for answers, employing typical interrogation tactics. As they delved into the motives behind the event, an unexpected twist occurred. Suddenly, the school radio buzzed to life, emitting an unexpected conversation. The voices of Carrie and Karen filled the room, speaking about the recent events. "Why are we doing this again, Carrie?" questioned Karen. Carrie's response echoed, "Because we deserve more respect than those girls, Karen." The conversation shifted to the absence of Riley, leaving an eerie sense of secrecy lingering in the air.

Then the second call was between Carrie and Riley, Carrie said 'God Karen is so annoying. She thinks she is so innocent.' Riley then said 'I know right, What happened about the prank?' Carrie replied 'I put it in Eve's desk already.' Riley then replied 'I can't wait to hear about it tomorrow. Those girls think they are queens just because Luiz and the boys hang out with them.'

The last call was between Karen and Riley, Riley said 'Carrie is so bad, she backbites about you.' Karen replies 'She did about you too.' Riley then said 'Someday, I will bully her so badly.' Karen then asked 'Why are we doing this to Nina, Eve, and their group Riley.' Riley replies 'Because they are annoying Karen, why are you doing this?' Karen replies 'For fun.' They both laugh and the audio ends.

Jade, Blake, and Alex joined Izzy and the others in their class. After the radio announcement, every student and teacher was aware of the situation. The principal summoned the three girls to his office and berated them, commanding, 'Go and apologize to the girls. I don't want to see you at this school tomorrow, even if your parents intervene.' The three girls entered Izzy's class to a sea of disdainful glances and boos. Luiz addressed them, his tone laced with disgust, 'What you did was bad. It's clear why your kind of people can't hang out with us.' Humiliated, the girls swiftly fled to their class, met with similar disdain. Chris's group arrived, reveling in the commotion. Vivian seized the moment to taunt them, sneering, 'If you want to do something, at least don't get caught. You losers.' Meanwhile, amidst the chaos, Izzy sat silently, waiting for the final act to unfold.

In a hurry to retrieve their belongings, the three girls attempted to open their lockers, only to find them stubbornly stuck. Pulling with all their might, they desperately sought to escape the confines of the area. But to their horror, their efforts unleashed a swarm of lizards and cockroaches, which wriggled and scuttled across their bodies. As their classmates fled in fear, the girls screamed, ran, and leaped about, desperately trying to rid themselves of the live insects. The commotion caught the attention of Izzy's class, who rushed to investigate the source of the disturbance. Peering through the classroom windows, they too witnessed the unsettling scene unfolding in the corridor.

Luiz and Alex glanced at Izzy, who sat calmly in her seat, engrossed in her music with her earphones on. Izzy was well aware of the chaos unfolding outside, but she chose to mind her own business. Curiosity got the better of Luiz and Alex, prompting them to approach her. Alex gingerly removed her earphones and Luiz questioned, "Was that your doing?" Izzy, feigning innocence, replied, "What are you talking about?" Alex chimed in, "Those girls out there, covered in insects. Did you have something to do with it?" Izzy met their gaze and coolly stated, "I'm a recent student. I don't know them, and they don't know me. How could I possibly know their class, their lockers, or their keys?" The boys exchanged puzzled glances before turning back to the window to observe the unfolding spectacle. Unbeknownst to them, Izzy sported a mischievous smirk as she resumed her music, secretly reveling in the chaos she had orchestrated.