Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 34

"Tonight, we honor the tragic passing of Finn Delacroix."

I shiver as a few stray glances flit my direction from other students. At this point, I wonder how many people knew the full story. Next to me, Tessa reaches over and grips my hand tightly. I don't have to look at her to know that she's crying as her hand trembles. 

Could others suspect that I could have killed him? 

I try to keep my gaze focused on Headmaster Hallewell, who is standing in the center of the gymnasium on the mascot seal. He is dressed in a dark charcoal suit and he nearly looks like a funeral director himself. Even now, his eyes briefly skim over mine as he continues speaking.

I'm being watched. 

Did he think I could have done it?

"Finn was a bright, hopeful student whose life was cut much too short," Headmaster Hallewell says, his baritone voice filling the gymnasium to the brim as it echoes and reverberates like a massive bell has been rung.

I can hear the faint sound of other students crying as they sit in the bleachers, packing the stands on both sides. Tears fall down my face without my permission or knowledge and I feel Astrid reach over to put a hand on my shoulder, but I only just barely notice. It's like I've been slapped, my skin tingling with numbness like it would right before the pain would roll in. But the pain never comes.

I'm just numb.

"What happened to him was tragic, completely senseless violence," Hallewell continues, "and the faculty and staff are doing everything in their power to work with local law enforcement to seek justice for him. We ask that anyone who may have any leads to please report them to Officer Marshall of the Salem PD, all you need to do is ask any teacher or staff of the academy and they can give you her number." 

Silence settles for a long beat and the few stares I received earlier multiples. 

"Are people looking at me?" I reach out tentatively to Astrid next to me.

I can feel her shift uncomfortably in her seat before she sighs softly.  

"Ignore them," she encourages me. "Officer Marshall has been questioning you and has cleared you, she is the one uncovering the truth, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks happened." 

But in my chest I know that fear is dangerous. 

The students here could turn on you just as easily. 

I shiver at the thought. 

"We ask that everyone proceed outside so that we may have this final ceremony," Headmaster Hallewell continues and students lift their heads as they look to him. "Please head for the doors now and gather on the west lawn."

I stay sitting for a long moment as other students get up and walk down the stairs of the bleachers. Their footsteps are heavy and loud in my ears. I can hear some people whisper amongst themselves as they walk by, glances that last far too long to be coincidence. I take a few, shaking breaths as Astrid squeezes my other hand. Tessa helps me to my feet and I walk in-between her and Astrid as we descend the stairs and head for the exit doors that the others are silently filing through.

Far in the distance across the immaculate lawn, the sun is beginning to set, the sky growing dark as the color leaches away. Pale orange trails into shades of gray, the underbellies of a few, puffy clouds fading. It's a fitting sunset, one that is not brilliant, but merely slipping away like water through cupped hands. We gather on the lawn in front of the gymnasium, which is facing the sunset as Headmaster Hallewell stands before us.