𝐔𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝙎𝙊𝙎𝙎 𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙨

S2EP: 3 No Turning Back

Mrs. Courtney's face painted with confusion, she clarified, "We're talking about Mia Mooneyham, right? The new kid?"

Griffin's eyes grew wide.

Mrs. Courtney's brow furrowed as she studied Griffin's reaction. His face had gone pale, his expression unreadable. She hadn't expected that.

"Hey, bud, what's wrong-" she started, concern lacing her voice.

"I gotta go," Griffin interrupted, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he pushed back. Without waiting for a response, he bolted toward the door, moving so fast it nearly slammed behind him.

His thoughts spiraled. She's a Mooneyham. Mia was a Mooneyham.

The realization sent a jolt through his system as he scanned the hallway. His heart pounded in his ears. Where was she? His eyes darted from side to side, searching for any sign of Mia, but the corridor was empty.

Maybe she went back to Metrover's room.

Without hesitation, he sprinted back, barely slowing as he shoved the classroom door open. The moment he stepped inside, every student turned to stare.

"Mr. Campbell," Mrs. Metrover said sharply, folding her arms. "That is not how we enter a classroom-"

"Where's Mia?" Griffin demanded, his chest rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath. His gaze swept the room, scanning every face.

She wasn't there.

Mrs. Metrover sighed. "Her mom picked her up. Said she wasn't feeling well. Poor girl looked like she was about to have a breakdown."

Griffin's stomach clenched. He exhaled sharply and dropped into his chair, running a hand through his hair.

Mrs. Metrover's voice faded into the background as Griffin's thoughts churned. He had to talk to Mia-first, to apologize, and second, to understand her connection to Lucas fully. But now she was gone, which meant he had to reach her himself.

Leaning forward, he whispered urgently, "Bailey?"

Bailey, sitting in front of him, tilted her head back against his desk, her hair spilling over the surface. "Hm?" she murmured.

"Do you know where Mia lives?" His voice held a thread of hope.

Bailey pondered for a moment before nodding. "I think so."

Relief washed over Griffin. "Can you send me her address?"

Bailey smirked. "Stalker."

"It's for a good reason, Moody. Please."

She gave him a long, exaggerated look before sighing and slipping her phone from her jean pocket. Under the desk, her fingers tapped against the screen.

A moment later, Griffin's phone vibrated. He glanced down to see a text from Bailey-with Mia's address.

"Thank you," he said sincerely.

Bailey shrugged. "Only because my wife is pregnant."

Griffin blinked at her, his face stuck in that deadpan mix of confusion and reluctant acceptance. "Alright."

**********

"Who are you?" Savannah's voice trembled with terror.

"Don't worry about that," the voice replied, calm and unreadable.

Footsteps approached, each one making Savannah's heart pound harder. She curled in tighter, clutching her knees to her chest. Then, suddenly-hands.

They weren't rough or forceful. Just... neutral. Steady.