Rose And Aaron : Shadows Of Rosewood

Chapter 18: The Hidden Network

With Mr. Wallace’s confession in hand, Rose and Aaron thought they had exposed the depths of the corruption at Rosewood High but the tension in Rosewood High had reached a fever pitch. Whispers filled the hallways, and every glance seemed loaded with suspicion.

In the midst of it all, Rose and Aaron were determined to unravel the truth. Aaron’s latest discovery, a hidden network of students and staff involved in the gambling ring, was a breakthrough—but it also painted a target on their backs.

Aaron and Rose met in their usual spot behind the gym, the only place they could speak freely. Aaron’s laptop was perched on his knees, its screen illuminating his intense expression.

"You won’t believe this," Aaron said, not looking up from his screen. "This network goes deep. It’s not just a few students; it’s teachers, staff, even some parents."

Rose leaned in closer, their proximity sparking a familiar electric charge. "Leana must have found out about this," she murmured. "That’s why they killed her."

Aaron nodded, his jaw clenched. "She was too close to exposing them. And now we are too."

Rose’s breath hitched at the thought. "We have to be careful. If they knew about Leana, they probably know about us."

Aaron finally looked up, his eyes locking onto hers with a mix of determination and something else—something more intimate. "We’ll be careful. But we can’t stop now."

Rose felt her heart skip a beat, not just from fear but from the intensity in Aaron’s gaze. She nodded, swallowing hard. "So, what’s the plan?"

Aaron’s fingers flew over the keyboard. "We need to gather more evidence. We can’t just go to the police with half-baked theories. We need concrete proof."

Rose watched him work, admiring his focus. She couldn’t help but tease him, trying to lighten the mood. "You know, I think you get a little too excited about this hacking stuff."

Aaron smirked, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "And you get a little too excited about playing detective."

Rose rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her amusement. "Touché."

They spent the next few hours piecing together the clues. Aaron’s skills uncovered encrypted messages, secret meeting locations, and coded transactions. Each discovery was a small victory, but it also painted a clearer picture of the danger they were in.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the school grounds, Rose’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and frowned. "It’s Emily. She says she needs to talk to us. Urgently."

Aaron’s expression darkened. "Do you think she knows something?"

"Only one way to find out," Rose replied, standing up and stretching. "Let’s go."

They found Emily waiting by the bleachers, her eyes darting nervously around. When she saw Rose and Aaron, she hurried over, her voice trembling. "I don’t have much time. They’re watching me."

Rose placed a comforting hand on Emily’s shoulder. "Take a deep breath and tell us what you know."

Emily swallowed hard, her eyes wide with fear. "Leana... she told me she found something big. A list of names. People involved in the gambling ring. She was going to turn it over to the principal, but then... she was killed."

Aaron’s eyes narrowed. "Do you know where this list is?"

Emily nodded, glancing around again. "She hid it in the library, in one of the old history books. She thought no one would find it there."