The Originals

Chapter Three: Orchid Gray

Orchid was outside the hall as Headmaster Roux and a few other staff went into the classroom. The academy went into lockdown and all students were confined to their dorms. Except, Orchid was stuck in place, unable to move.

Professor Green is dead. Hung in his own classroom. I saw his corpse.

Stoll arrived as soon as he could. "Stoll?" Orchid hissed, snapping out of shock. He was in a gray hoodie, covering most of his face. "You can't be seen with me, especially at a crime scene—"

"I came because I'm a janitor and Professor Green's classroom is on my cleaning roster. That will be my lie." Stoll shoved her into a dark corner and Orchid's cheeks went red. Stupid Saira planting stupid ideas in my mind. "Also, this corner is a blind spot," he clarified, seemingly thinking the same. "So is it true?"

"That Professor Green is dead? Yes, it is. I saw him hung in the classroom, his neck was so purple from how tight the r-rope was," Orchid spluttered, cursing. I don't stutter, she thought. "Oh my god, this is terrible."

"A professor died on campus," Stoll realized. "That means news outlets are going to be reporting on this, this time, Headmaster Roux can't control the school media regardless. And you..."

"I discovered the body," Orchid groaned, burying her head in her hands. "That means I'm going to be in the media. Crap, what if they trace the—" She lowered her voice, "stuff back to me. I don't need this extra coverage, Stoll."

"I know, Gray," Stoll grimaced. "But you're still a minor, so they can't really name you, right?"

"Everyone will know regardless." She shook her head, her lungs filling with dread. The spotlight will be back on you, her mind hissed. Everyone will find out your sins. "This is awful."

"It's not like you're doing anything wrong, you're exposing actual evil people like Ivory Kee, that girl is a witch. Silverleaf is cloaked in evil, lies, secrets, and so much more."

"But I'll be facing suspension or worse, expulsion by Roux."

Suddenly, Stoll grabbed her out of the blind spot and back by the door of Professor Green's classroom. Headmaster Roux came back out, sighing. "I'm so very sorry you had to stumble upon your professor's body."

Orchid felt tears coming and let them slip, furiously wiping them away. "Professor Green always o-offered me to come and study in his classroom since the Study H-Hall was too crowded. And I-I just saw his co-corpse—" Get the stutter out.

Headmaster Roux placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm very sorry...?"

"Orchid Gray."

He nodded. Headmaster Roux was an elderly man, but he served as headmaster nearly his whole life. Sure, his judgment might be tinted because of the whole Stan Crawford thing, but at least he wasn't harsh. Mostly. "This must be disturbing." He looked at Stoll, puzzled. "Mr. Finnegan?"

"Green's classroom was in my cleaning roster," he explained, looking pained. Orchid couldn't tell if the pain was fake or real, he had become as good a liar as she had. "I saw everything and this girl was crying, I didn't know what to do, sir."

Orchid swiftly changed the subject. "How did he die?"

The Silverleaf headmaster blinked. "That's hardly a concern of a student."

Orchid and Stoll exchanged a glance. "Suicide?" Stoll offered and Orchid wanted to punch him. You obviously don't offer Roux an idea, Stoll, she thought as the headmaster shook his head.

"Still not your concern—"

"He was hung by a noose—"

"Stoll Finnegan." Headmaster Roux was also swift when someone questioned his authority, something Orchid thought was his Achilles' Heel. The man's smile turned rather crooked. "Must I involve your brother, Sam?"