Chapter 3: The Library Key

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It took a mountain of self-control to wait until after the last bell to make my way to the library, Jasper trailing behind me, muttering things like, "This better be good" and "If we get caught, you owe me lunch for a week."

Mrs. Lou, the librarian, was stacking books at the far end of the room, and we managed to slip past her unnoticed. The library was mostly empty, the quiet broken only by the occasional scrape of a chair or the soft rustling of pages.

I pulled the key from my pocket, its rusty surface cool against my fingers, and looked at Jasper. "Ready?"

"Not remotely," he whispered, though he was clearly curious.

There were a few locked sections in the library, mostly old storage closets and an ancient wooden cabinet that had been there since my freshman year. I'd heard rumors that it held fragile manuscripts from when Oak Ridge High first opened, but I'd never had a reason to believe it... until now.

The first lock we tried was a dud, but the second—an unassuming cabinet with a large metal padlock—clicked open with a gentle twist of the key.

Jasper's eyes went wide. "What are the odds?"

"Slim," I replied, grinning as I opened the cabinet door. Inside, stacks of dusty manila folders and books lined the shelves, each labeled with a name or date. I pulled out the first one within reach and dusted off the cover.

"Oak Ridge High Historical Society, Class of 1963," I read aloud, glancing at Jasper.

"That sounds boring."

"Maybe to you, but I have a feeling it's exactly what we're looking for." I flipped it open, and the first page revealed a list of names—all of them with small symbols penciled next to them.

Jasper squinted at the page. "Weird. Why would a historical society need symbols?"

I was about to answer when a soft cough echoed from behind us. We both froze, turning slowly to see Eli leaning against the bookshelf, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Didn't think you'd actually find anything," he said casually.

"How long have you been standing there?" I whispered, torn between being annoyed and... curious.

He shrugged. "Long enough to wonder what you two are planning to do with that old notebook."

Jasper looked between us, clearly trying to hold in a laugh. "Looks like he's invested in your mystery, Rowan."

Eli ignored him, his gaze fixed on me with a glint of challenge. "Well?"

I straightened, pulling the book a little closer. "Maybe I don't feel like sharing."

"Maybe I'll find out anyway," he shot back, not missing a beat. He held my gaze, something quiet and intense in his expression. "Or you could tell me."

For a second, I hesitated. Part of me wanted to keep him in the dark, to unravel the mystery on my own. But another part—the part that liked how confident he was, how unfazed he seemed—wanted to see how he'd react.

"Fine," I said finally, flipping the notebook around so he could see the page. "Do you know what these symbols mean?"

Eli studied the page, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something unfamiliar cross his face. Recognition.

"Maybe," he murmured, almost to himself. "These symbols... they're part of an old code. The Founders' Society used it to mark their meetings."

I blinked, taken aback. "And you know this how?"

He shrugged, eyes glinting. "Just picked it up. Let's just say Oak Ridge High isn't the only place with a history of societies."

I stared at him, intrigued despite myself. "And you just happened to stumble upon that knowledge?"

"Let's say it was passed down," he replied, giving me a faint smile. "Now, are you going to let me help?"

Jasper gave me an exasperated look, one that said he had absolutely no interest in a "society" or "symbols" or anything that might drag him into more mystery.

But I had a feeling that Eli was exactly the person I needed for this. If he knew something about the Founders' Society, he could be the missing piece to figuring out Locker 23F and its strange messages.

I closed the book, squaring my shoulders. "Fine. But if you double-cross me or mess with any of my clues, you're out."

"Deal," he said with a smile that almost looked... genuine.

We spent the next hour in that cramped corner of the library, poring over the pages of historical society records, finding symbols, dates, and even names that matched some of the older faculty at Oak Ridge. Everything pointed to a group of founders who wanted to keep certain parts of the school's history buried.

"So what's next?" Jasper asked, yawning as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Because I've read enough history for three lifetimes."

Eli glanced over, a glint in his eye. "Next, we decode the rest of these symbols."

"Yeah, that's all well and good," Jasper muttered, leaning against a nearby table. "But let's not forget, we're just supposed to be high school students, not wannabe detectives."

"Then consider it extra credit," I replied, grinning. "If we can figure out where the Founders' Society met, maybe we'll find out who's behind these notes and why."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "You think there's more to it than just a few notes?"

I nodded. "If these founders wanted secrets to stay buried, then someone's definitely trying to dig them up. And I'm not letting anyone beat me to it."

He smiled, a hint of admiration in his expression. "Neither am I."

As we walked out of the library, my mind buzzed with possibilities. The strange symbols, the hidden records, and the challenge of Eli Martinez—all of it felt like the start of something big, something dangerous. And even though every instinct told me to be careful, to turn back before it was too late, I knew I was already in too deep.

Because if Oak Ridge was hiding something, I was going to find it. And nothing—not Mrs. Kowalski, not Eli, not even the Founders themselves—was going to stop me.

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