A Rift Between Us

Chapter 50 - Windswept Secrets

Keiko's gaze flitted between her peers, engrossed in their studies with heads bowed. She glanced at Alfie, who was turned away, evidently absorbed in his revision.

No...it wasn't him. Who threw this?

Her fingers carefully unfolded the crumpled note, revealing the unfamiliar lines of ink. Feathers and detritus fluttered through the air, battering the benches. The paper writhed in her hand, desperate to escape. A stray speck of dust stung Keiko's eye, sending the note fluttering away from her loosened grip.

Damn!

Her hand swiped recklessly to no avail, the message twirling away with the rest of the debris. Mr Dodge shielded his face, turning his back to the brewing gale.

"Why is the wind getting stronger all of a sudden?" he murmured, the intense blast sweeping away his words like a broom. 

A crackle erupted from his walkie-talkie, cutting through the air. He detached it from his belt and brought it to his face. A broken voice transmitted fragmented words through the static.

"Mr Dodge...Students...Back...In Library...Now...You..."

The crackling intensified, causing him to pull away from his ear. The static continued to screech, leaving him no choice but to clamp it back on his belt.

They can't even buy proper equipment for staff to use...

He waved his hands in the air.

"Year elevens! Time to go inside. The library situation is fixed, let's go, this wind is getting out of hand."

Clothing fluttered in all directions as everyone stood up, clutching their books and papers tightly. Alfie snatched up his backpack and swung it over his shoulder, his long hair whipping around in the wind.

I want my phone back. It's not like it's my fault anyway. Keiko honestly gets on my nerves.

A line quickly formed as Mr Dodge led the way, his back to the school. Newspapers and other large debris soared over everyone's heads. He gazed over his shoulder.

"Hurry up, we need to get inside now!"

The automatic doors closed with a soft thud, muffling the noise from outside. A persistent buzz filled the area as everyone worked their way to the library, gathering at its entrance. Mr Dodge, with a cracked finger pressed to his lips, scanned each student before leading them inside. He directed them to their previous desks. Alfie walked in, his breath catching in his throat. A cacophony of noise assaulted his ears as a team of workers in bright orange overalls swarmed around an exposed electrical panel.

"Alfie have a seat, you're holding everyone else up."

He glanced at him before moving towards a desk. Mr Dodge squinted at the overhead clock, his heavy eyes twitching like a moth's wings. Metal clinked in his pocket as he rummaged through it, pulling out a ring of keys that dangled from his finger. He stepped in front of Alara as she entered.

"Alara, take these and go to the registration room. My laptop is in the drawer. Bring it to me."

Her hand clasped around the keys. She snaked her way through some incoming students, briskly walking down the corridor. Mr Dodge rested his lower back on the library's front desk, his fingers drumming a nervous rhythm as Alara left. In an instant, the lights flickered and died, plunging the library into darkness. Gasps rippled through the space as everyone scrambled for their phones. Mr Dodge's fingers froze.

What the heck is all this now?

He rotated towards the maintenance crew. The glow from the faint exit sign reflected off their silver strips. One worker stood with hands clasped over his head, his eyes browsing the electrical panel. A smoky aroma filled the immediate area, triggering some coughs as the workers backed away. Small, white sparks briefly dispelled the darkness as one of the wires hung loose.

"Oh wow...this isn't good."