Orchid found Bailey's bed empty the following morning and guessed she must have gone to Robert's. Her thoughts were confirmed when she spotted a note taped on the wall.
Planning on staying at Robert's dorm for a while. Don't snitch on me if any of the professors ask where I am, cover for me, Orchid. I'm sorry.
Orchid definitely screwed up last night.
She got to her closet and threw on a quick outfit—a cream collar shirt and a long black skirt with the school's crested blazer. If you wore a skirt below your knees and you wore the school's official jacket with it, professors wouldn't say anything. Considering she went to a Catholic high school, even if she wasn't Catholic herself, Orchid had to get creative.
I should send a message to Saira and Stoll, Orchid went to grab a pen and some scrap paper.
I got our first solid lead.
Meet me in my dorm at 7:00 in the evening, my roommate isn't not coming back any time soon. On your way, grab a Silverleaf Gothic Literature Club registration form for all of us, I'll explain later.
Don't forget to burn this letter.
-Flower
Orchid slipped the two letters into her school bag and threw it over her shoulder, heading out the door. In the Girls' Dorms hallway, she saw Ivory Kee, recognizable anywhere with her glossy black hair.
She turned around, spotting Orchid and coming over. Great. "Oh, you're Orchid Gray in Professor Green's class, right? You're always lurking in the ground of the Silverleaf Newspaper Club meetings," she said with venom in her voice. "You were totally the teacher's pet, yeah?" Ivory reminded Orchid of Hillary Arthurs. Ugh. "Students already miss him so dearly."
"Yeah, it's so tragic about what happened to Professor Green. I mean... Who's going to lead the club now?" She shook her head, but closely analyzed Ivory's face for any hint of emotion.
Ivory looked over her shoulder before glaring back at Orchid. God, if looks could kill. Bad choice of words, she winced.
"You're smart, right?" Ivory asked.
"Uh, what?" Orchid blinked, pushing up her glasses. Ivory rolled her eyes, sighing as if the whole conversation exhausted her.
"Yes or no?"
"Yes, I guess."
She leaned closer to Orchid's ear, making her flinch. "Let me tell you a secret, Orchid because you were always Professor Green's favourite—Stanley Crawford never left the goddamned school grounds. And if you truly think that Henry Green cared about his students, you're dead wrong."
Orchid was left confused, wanting more information. "Wait, Ivory, what do you mean?" Before she could properly let this sink in, Ivory walked away, her glossy black hair swishing behind her. It seemed the girl felt most glorious with giving vague yet critical information.
Orchid Gray knew better than to run after her and make herself one of Ivory Kee's targets to bully, so she stood in the hallway, grasping the strap of her school bag, wondering. If you truly think that Henry Green cared about his students, you're dead wrong. What did she mean? Did Ivory know about S. C.?
Ivory Kee had also told her, Stanley Crawford never left the goddamned school grounds.
Stanley Crawford.
S. C.
Holy crap.
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The Originals
Mystery / Thriller"I know all your secrets, I know all your lies...your secrets and lies..." -Get Even (Secrets and Lies, Ruelle) ●○● Orchid Gray writes exposés on the bad students of Silverleaf Academy alongside Stoll Finnegan and Saira Levine, known as the Original...
