Hearing My plea

16

My backpack was already about to burst as I shoved things in it I thought I would need. A couple bottles of water, a jacket, extra socks, some apples, a first aid kit, a flashlight, and a hunting knife.

After Nora had told me the Korla had taken Willis, there was no question I was going after her. They had messed with me, crashing the truck, haunting my dreams, and according to Aspen, he suspected they wanted me, but for what reason I had no clue. Taking Willis was the last straw. So I gave Nora a look and ran from the cafeteria, leaving everyone staring after me, confused.

You refuse to give us back what is ours.

But now that I was packed, I had to do something risky. I remembered in class that the border between us and the Koriatis was not far, about a couple of miles or so into the woods. There was no way I was getting there on my own, and Nora would flip shit if I told her my plan. So, I had to do something I didn't want to do.

I had to go behind her back and sneak into her office to get a map.

I figured I would be back later to grab my backpack for when I would leave tonight. As I stepped out the door, I noticed the sky was abnormally dark, despite the fact it was early in the afternoon. I was wasting daylight.

The jog to the main building was silent accept for the crunch of my feet along the path. It was unnerving. Every shadow lurked and seemed to spread it's dark fingers toward me.

The moment the building came into view, I breathed with relief. I crept up to one of the back windows and peered through. The dining hall was empty, the counter to the kitchen closed off. Where had everyone gone?

I snuck through the doors, closing them quietly, and stuck to the shadows. If it weren't such a serious situation, I would have laughed from how rediculous I felt creeping down the school halls. My steps didn't echo, to which I was grateful, but just as I was about to round the corner to the far wing towards Nora's office, I heard someone walking. I turned and hid in a corner. It was just the janitor sweeping the halls.

I breathed a sigh a relief and quietly ran down the hallway, making it to Nora's office door. I pressed my ear quietly to the door. I didn't hear anyone, but that didn't mean she wasn't in there. I decided to knock, because if she were in there, the last thing I wanted was to give her suspicion by behaving out of the ordinary.

I tapped the door lightly, but much to my delight there was no answer. I slowly opened the door open nonetheless, and found it empty. But if anything, that left me feeling more on edge. Where had everyone gone? I didn't have much time- who knew when Nora would be back.

I quickly began looking through filing cabinets and drawers on the desk. I found student files, letters, taxes that needed to be filed, but no maps. I even checked the bookshelf in the corner, but there was nothing. Honestly, there had to be one somewhere.

I stood in the middle of the room and threw my head back in frsutration. If I were Nora, where would I hide the map? And why didn't she want me to go save my friend? There had to be another reason other than it was "too dangerous". We were beyond the point of keeping important things from each other, we were like sisters to each other, she even said so. So why not let me help? Why was she hiding things from me? Aspen would act the same way if he knew I was planning to go, he would probably physically try to keep me here himself, what with his whole "they want you" conspiracy. The entire thing was just rediculous, it almost made me want to laugh. I mean, there couldn't possibly be a connection...

But regardless of if there was a connection or not, Aspen thought it had to do with me. So what if... what if Nora thought the same thing?

I snapped my head forward and immidiatly scanned her coffee table and her book case. If Nora thought I was connected to this, she may have information on the Korla hidden with something about me, something she was trying to find connections for herself.