CHAPTER 54 A new alley

Chapter 54: A New Ally

Anita lingered after class, her fingers drumming nervously on the desk as she waited for Ms. Rivera to finish grading papers. The history teacher had always been kind, her warm smile a stark contrast to Mr. Harris's stern demeanor. But today, Anita wasn't looking for kindness—she was looking for answers.

“Anita,” Ms. Rivera said, glancing up and adjusting her glasses. “Something on your mind? You’ve been distracted lately.”

Anita hesitated. How could she explain everything without sounding completely insane? But there was something about Ms. Rivera’s calm, steady presence that gave her courage.

“It’s about the fox bead,” Anita blurted out before she could stop herself.

Ms. Rivera froze, her pen hovering mid-air. “The fox bead?” she repeated, her tone sharp but curious.

Anita nodded. “I—uh—found something connected to it. At the old temple in the forest.” She decided to leave out the part about Jace for now.