Whispers in the Shadows: A School of Secrets

Sky

Sliding my phone to vibrate, I made it to first-period Chemistry. The day felt like a monotonous gray blur, the teacher's voice blending into the background as I absorbed only what was necessary.

My gaze drifted out the window, bored, when something caught my eye—a figure standing still outside. Dressed in a long coat with the hood pulled up, their face was completely obscured by shadows. Normally, I wouldn't care, but there was something unsettling about them, something almost unnatural.

The school bell echoed through the halls, signaling the start of third period. The sharp sound jolted me from my daze. I looked at the teacher, then back outside—but the figure was gone.

Had I imagined it?

"ALL THOSE HEADING TO THE TRIP, PLEASE HEAD TO THE PARKING LOT," the principal's voice blared through the intercom.

I winced at the sudden noise, annoyed by how loud it was. With a sigh, I packed up my books from the table and turned to leave.

"Um, excuse me?" a soft voice called out.

I glanced up to see a girl standing awkwardly near my desk. She wore an oversized black hoodie, its hood pulled over her head, casting a shadow over her face dotted with red pimples. Black-rimmed glasses, the kind you'd expect on a stereotypical nerd, sat on her nose.

Instantly, my mind connected the dots. Victoria Skasila. Younger sister to the notorious troublemaker Natasha Skasila. Dating Tobi, one of the sheriff's twins. She'd only moved here a few months ago and had already found her place with the emo crowd—Amelia and Cassandra specifically. As far as I knew, she wasn't in any clubs. Internally, I groaned.

"Hey?" she waved her hand in front of me, breaking me out of my train of thought.

"Yeah?" I replied.

"You're Sky Blake, right?"

"That's me," I said, slinging my bag over one shoulder and heading out. She trailed behind me.

"I heard that if I wanted info, you're the guy to ask," she said, keeping pace as we navigated the crowded hallway.

"You heard right," I replied nonchalantly.

"How much?" she asked without hesitation.

"That depends on what you're looking for." I turned a corner, and she followed like a lost puppy.

"I just need the basics, you know? Who to know, who to avoid, places to steer clear of... that kind of stuff."

When we reached the schoolyard, I stopped and faced her.

"So, you want the social survival guide?"

"Yeah."

"Can't your friends fill you in?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"I prefer details from a professional," she replied with a sly smile.

I raised an eyebrow. "Right... whatever. That'll be $100."

Her eyes widened. "Isn't that a bit steep?"

"Sure, but you're buying the entire social map of the school. It's worth it."

She hesitated, but after a moment, pulled out a crumpled $100 bill from her hoodie pocket and handed it over.

"Pleasure doing business," I smirked, shoving the cash into my jeans. "Follow me."

And she did.

We started walking past some outdoor tables, and I gestured with my chin. "See those guys over there?"

Victoria followed my gaze to a group of nine sitting at a table, laughing loudly, some getting overly touchy and kissing without a care in the world.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Those are the 'bad kids.' They've earned the title from all the shit they've pulled around town. Total drama magnets with more skeletons in their closets than a haunted house."

"Like what?" she asked, curiosity piqued.

I pointed to a guy making out with a girl, his hands roaming freely. "That dude? Already got three girls pregnant and made each one get an abortion."

Her eyes widened in disbelief, but I moved on.

"The guy laughing with the other girl? Broke into his ex's house once and beat her up. Got arrested for it."

Victoria's expression shifted to shock, but I wasn't done.

"And that girl glued to her phone?" I added, nodding toward the one sitting slightly apart. "Rumor has it she stabbed her father in the stomach."

She whipped her head toward me. "You're kidding, right?"

I kept walking, my tone flat. "Stay away from them. If they talk to you, be polite, but don't get comfortable. Ever."

Victoria hurried after me. "Wait—were you joking?"

I glanced at her over my shoulder, dead serious. "I don't joke about my job."