The Originals

Chapter Thirty-Six: Orchid Gray

Last night was chaos, Orchid thought. After stealing Stanley Crawford's student file from Roux's office, she rushed straight to her dorm. Passing by, she saw the bloodshed that Bailey created, it was terrifying. Ivory's blood on the floor of the hall... It wasn't a pretty sight. At last, she had managed to escape the cops and hide out in her dorm, sitting on her bed.

She flipped through the file, though it was short and orderly. She stopped on his medical file, seeing the words Mental Health Disorder on a page. Did Stanley have mental health issues? On the file, it stated that S. C. had undiagnosed schizophrenia. Orchid thought back to the registration forms that the Silverleaf Gothic Literature Club had, it asked questions about their mental health, didn't it? And Stan's journal entries that were found in the secret room in the Cleaners' Quarters.

What if the club was accepting members with mental health problems? Wait no, that didn't make sense, she didn't have any of that. Right? She didn't know about Tommy Asterion either, but looks could be deceiving. Orchid's mind lingered on Tommy, thinking about that cocky smirk for a few minutes before emailing a message to Stoll.

To: stole_ur_effing_cash@gmail.com

From: og@gmail.com

Hey, I was wondering if you could meet me up at the secret room at 4:00 AM tomorrow. I think it's early but it's to assure that no one will get in our way. Also, I'm pretty sure Gil the security guard is half-dead at this point lmao.

Orchid knew that this email was more playful than usual, but decided to send it anyway. Hiding Stanley Crawford's file in her mattress' slit and went downstairs to face the music.

There were cops crawling around everywhere and the area where Bailey bashed Ivory's head into the wall was closed off with caution tape. Shit, Silverleaf is actually a crime scene now. Orchid averted her gaze, not stopping until she reached the nurse's office.

She knocked on the door and Helen, the office lady, greeted her. She had medical credentials, so she doubled as the school's nurse. "I'm here to see Bailey," Orchid said meekly, keeping up the mousy-and-quiet-girl act.

Helen sighed. "She's... not well at the moment."

Orchid widened her eyes innocently. "W-What? Oh no, is she okay?"

"Yes, she suffered minor injuries, she's resting right now."

"Can I please see her?" Orchid begged, sniffling. Bring out the fake tears. Helen softened as she explained. "You see, Bailey's just been so alone and if she gets so lonely, well, it'll be bad for her mental health and—"

Helen pinched the bridge of her nose, slightly aggravated. "Alright, go visit her, she's at the corner of the room, you have ten minutes." Helen left and Orchid dashed towards Bailey.

"Bailey!" Orchid cried out once she saw Bailey in a hospital-like bed, her wrists bound to the rails. She looked as if she was in a psych ward, having to be tied down. Bailey blinked, unsmiling, but sighed weakly. "Oh, thank God, it's just you, Orchid. I hope you were Officer Saige, grilling me for another question."

"Are you okay?" she asked, settling in a plastic visitor chair.

Bailey blinked back tears, having a black eye, bruised knuckles, and a few scratches from Ivory's sharp nails. "No," she muttered. "I just found out I-Ivory Kee screwed my boyfriend, who's dead."

Orchid flinched. "Oh right, Rob." His death seemed a lifetime ago with everything going on. "It must be hard to lose someone, especially a lover. Sorry for your loss."

"He was a cheater, he slept with Ivory, you know. I fucking love Robert, Orchid." I fucking love Robert. Bailey used the present tense, it was almost as if he never died. The girl tilted back her head, her eyes void of any emotion. Orchid was anxious, she knew Bailey Preston—at least, she hoped she did—but she was still a threat. She was just so violent when attacking Ivory. "I killed her, Orchid."