Briar Preparatory Academy

Communication Connection

Kate POV

I roll over in bed, staring up at the ceiling. I think about the way Preston comforted me last night after we watched Celeste be tortured. He acted like he really cared, but I knew better. Once we returned to school it would be like none of this had ever happened; he will go back to being a popular jerk and it will be like all of this never happened. My mind wanders to Celeste and the image of her sitting alone burns behind my eyes. I sigh and tap out on my bed in Morse code out of boredom and nerves. I glance at my watch, its 10:16 a.m.

If only there was a way for us to communicate with her; a way to let her know she isn't alone; a way to let her know that we are going to help her.

Think Kate. How could we communicate to Celeste? Think... I press my hands against my temples, forcing myself to solve this problem. I'm good with problems.

Okay so what is in the room...? There's Celeste, a chair, four concrete walls, a heavily protected door and a security camera. My two best bets seem to be the door and the camera so far. If I were to open the door would she run for it? Could she run for it with her injuries? We don't know the extent of how badly she's hurt.

I pull the covers back off me and roll out of the bed. I walk into the bathroom and run a brush through my hair and wash my face, wiping the sleep out of my eyes. I walk out of the bathroom; too see Preston is already up, walking into my room with his hair in a mess.

"Morning." I tell him causally, glancing over my shoulder as he walks in.

"Morning." He replies, I look back to notice he is holding two cups of coffee, one is straight black. "I got you coffee." He tells me, handing me the cup.

"Thanks." I reach out and grip it between my hands, a small smile creeping across my face at his small act of kindness. It's straight black. He remembered. I instantly chug the drink, savoring the flavor.

The door between our adjoining rooms swings open, revealing a very tired and groggy looking Seth. "Did you tell her about the recording?" Seth asks Preston, still half asleep. He then looks to me and gives me that typical, dopey smile. "Good mornin', Half Size. Sweet dreams?"

Preston pauses for a moment, shooting Seth a look that could kill. "You took my laptop?" I ask them plainly, slightly irritated.

"Yeah we wanted to watch the other recording of Celeste." Seth says, shrugging his shoulders. He looks like he could care less that he was messing with my stuff.

"What was it of?" I ask him, curiosity pricking at the ends of my words.

Preston and Seth glace at each other, sharing a look that I know entails an entire conversation. "It was nothing." Preston tells me, his voice smooth and even. "Just her sitting alone." He tells me. I look between the two boys and I can tell there is something they aren't telling me.

"They were asking her questions about school, but she wasn't answering." Seth tells me, letting out a breath of air.

"She wouldn't give up information. She would die first. I know her." I tell them, furrowing my eyebrows.

"We need to figure out a way to get through to her. Fast." Preston says, changing the subject to focus on the issue at hand.

"The only thing in her cell is a camera. How are we supposed to communicate with her through a camera?" Seth snorts.

I pace back in forth throughout the room, tapping the schools motto in Morse code on my thigh as I walk.

Courage is Mandatory. Courage is Mandatory. Courage is Mandatory.