The House in the Woods

Volto Strikes Again

Sang POV

Today is Wednesday, and it the first day of finals for the first semester. They changed the schedule around today to allow an hour and half for each exam. Day one of my finals is the hardest because I have AP English, AP Geometry, AP Biology and Gym. Tomorrow will be AP World History, Violin and Japanese. I have studied for weeks for my AP class exams, but gave no thought to the fact that we would actually have to take a final exam for gym. I thought we would be doing something physical, but Mrs. Miller told us two days ago that we would have to write at least a four page essay on the rules and safety while playing dodge ball. Seriously, is that really the takeaway that she wants us to have for the semester? I was able to research it last night, and think that I wrote a halfway decent paper, but I am glad only one semester of gym is required for graduation.

I went to my locker, starting to open the extra lock that Luke installed after the thefts earlier in the year. I brought an extra backpack to carry home the extra clothes that I kept in the locker. I see some papers propped up on my backpack and pull them out. It was a stack stapled together with a cover page that said, 'Crimes the Academy has Committed: An Essay by Volto'. My knees felt weak, but I grabbed both my backpacks and the papers and ran out of the locker room to find Nathan and Gabe.

Gabe saw me first and said, "Oy Trouble, get a move on it. I have the afternoon off, and I don't want to miss a minute with you."

I stumble towards him, and he gets a concerned look on his face. "What is wrong, Sang?"

I cannot speak, I just hand him the papers. Nathan looks over Gabe's shoulder.

Gabe says, "Fuck, we need to get this to Mr. B."

Nathan picks me up and starts to carry me. I was about to say something when Nathan whispers in my ear, "You are pale, shaking, and you look like you are about to faint. Don't say you can walk."

Mr. Blackbourne POV

I am thankful that the day is over. Today was the first day of fall semester final exams at Ashley Waters, and to say that the student body is stressed would be an understatement. The students are trying on a normal day, but they changed the schedule to allow extra time for taking the exams, and it has been a day of chaos. Classes are twice as long as normal, and lunch is at a different time. At least tomorrow school lets out at 2:00, and we are off Friday and all next week.

On top of the finals, two high dollar recovery missions came up for the Academy that granted us four favors. I did not want to have the added stress, but right now we can use all of the favors that we can get. The team has only had about three hours of sleep each night, so I hope that no one fell asleep during their exams. We are getting closer to finding out Mr. Hendrick's plans, and the last thing we need is for him to complain to the school board that we are not setting a good example with classroom behavior.

I hear a knock on my door and Nathan walks in carrying Sang with Gabe following right behind. She looks pale and is shaking.

I look at them and say, "Mr. Coleman, report."

Gabe hands me a stack of papers and says, "This was left for Sang in her gym locker. She found it about five minutes ago."

I look at Sang. "Miss Sorenson, are you okay. Did you actually come in contact with Volto, or was it just in your locker? Did you read it?"

She shakes her head and simply says, "No, I did not see him, it was just in my locker. I did not stop to read it. I grabbed my stuff and gave it to Gabriel. I am fine; I was just a shock to see the papers in my locker."