A smart girl, indeed.

By the time I got back to the dorms after ridding the alleyway of evidence, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and darkness had wrapped around the sky. Stars glimmered over my head as I creeped back into my dorm, careful not to make any sound.

The floorboard creaked irritably as I entered Jake and I's dorm, shutting the door as gently as I could and slipping into my bed.

Jake's obnoxious snoring from the other side of the room assured me I'd been careful enough. I threw my head into the pillow with a sigh, staring up at the surface of the roof as the minutes passed by.

It would be a fool's errand trying to get some sleep, so I remained awake. That had become my curse; the remnants of a peaceful sleep lingered in me, but I'd never enjoy it again.

I don't expect anything when I finally shut my eyes, growing tired of staring at the dull paint on the wall. There was silence; I stirred, turned, twisted, and tossed, but I didn't sleep. I couldn't sleep.

KNOCK!

Knuckled rammed on the door. I leapt off the bed, glancing at Jake to ensure he hadn't stirred, and opened the door.

Rio's beautiful face caught my attention first, then the stacks of document clutched to her chest. Midnight black hair spilled over her shoulder, heightening her 'studious, promising' charms. She was soaked from head to toe, and the pouring rain had dampened her clothes.

"Jon, I need to talk to you." Her voice sounded urgent, and a pit of worry formed in my stomach.

"Is there something wrong?" My words were slow to come out, and when they did, they sounded different, somehow. I swallowed.

Rio eyed me for a brief heartbeat, an unreadable emotion crossing her face. She was slow to speak, "I— I think Monica's been kidnapped."

Instant relief passed over me at Rio's words. I sloped my neck down pensively. "I did think it was weird she missed classes for so long..." I raised my head, shooting her a curious look. "But why didn't you go to the police, rather than telling me?"

"I can't..." she said with a shaky voice and a look over her shoulder. We were alone in the hallway, as far as I knew. Her teeth clenched on her lower lips. "I think she's been kidnapped by the school."

My eyebrows shot up, in feigned surprise, of course, but Rio needed to feel like this was an alarming revelation to me, else her suspicion would narrow on me.

"The school?" A buzzing sound filled my ears as I repeated the words, to myself rather than to Rio. I contemplated her words, and how next to proceed.

It wasn't surprising that Rio would be the first to find and piece together the amateurish pieces left behind by whoever had kidnapped Monica. What startled me was how quick she'd done it.

"Why would they bother **** a freshman, and to what possible end? This is an university, not the elaborate cover to an illegal business." The buzzing intensified, and I fought the urge to grab me ear.

Silence filled the air between Rio and I for a moment. Uncertainty shadowed her face, and the way her lip quivered told me she was weighing her next words carefully in her mind. Then she smiled, albeit only a small, marginal curve of her lips, but still a smile, and she looked up at me. "What do you know about magic?"

....

I stilled for a brief moment, her question echoing and repeating in my mind. I'd always known Rio was the wisest of the students here, but to such an extent was borderline terrifying. Had I been leaving clues for her? No. I wasn't that reckless. I gave a look of measured bewilderment.

Her eyes gaze up into mine, searching for approval or confirmation. Had she believed I'd reached the same conclusion? That magic was the true power being the academy? It was, of course, but she, and others, had no need to be aware of that.

I cocked my head, flashing her an unsure smile. It was better to make her doubt herself than to doubt me and the sincerity behind my words.

"I'm serious, John." Her voice boomed in the empty hallways with firm resolve. "The students, teachers, the students here are capable to things you and I aren't." I snickered. Rio frowned, misunderstanding the reason for my mirth. "Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I had a theory about why Monica didn't come back to the dorms Sunday night. So tonight, I followed some of the faculty to the library. They had... girls with them. I don't know if they were students, but they were young. And... they were doing some kind of ritual with them. I — I had to run out of there. It made me sick,"

She turned away, eyes glossy as though she was tearing up, and her body shaking. I reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"If you thought something happened to Monica, why were you following the teachers on campus?" I asked when she turned around, curious to understand her reasoning.

Rio took a breath before answering: "Monica's roommate; Suzie. She was the last one to see her, and I know for a fact that the two of them went to meet with Suzie's mom, Professor Barberry."

"I've always thought the two were quite... odd," I offered an agreeing nod, and waited for her to continue.

"Yes! I don't know what happened to Monica that night, but that was the last time anyone saw her. And then Suzie started pretending like Monica was still in their room, but I knew she was lying. So I started following her, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. Professor Barberry, on the other hand, started exhibiting some very unusual behaviors," Rio said with a triumphant smirk.

"What kind of behaviors?" A curious look had become etched across my brows at this point. Could Professor Barberry be the leader of the Coven on campus? It was plausible... but from what I've seen, she lacked the strength.

"I noticed that she kept visiting the library, so I followed her inside. But once I was in there, I lost her around the Archives. And then the head librarian, Ms. Chang, shooed me away. I'm not sure, but I think she might be involved as well. It would certainly make sense. Now that I mention it, I'll have to add her to my suspect list."

"Wait, your suspect list?" I nearly stumbled over my words trying to get the question out. Fear crept up my body like a snake slithering on its prey.

Rio just nodded, seeming oblivious to my change in posture, and the uncertainty in my gaze. "Like I said, I don't know who's involved and who isn't. I've been reading every book I can find on the history of this place and magic rituals, but I know the real stuff is in that secret room."

"The room in the Archives, where they took the girl?" I sought for clarity.

She nodded brisky before adding, "It's where Professor Barberry kept disappearing to. And it's where I saw them... hurting those girls. I was able to sneak in during their... ritual... and I saw it, John. With my own eyes. It was like they were sucking the life **** out of them, turning them into... withered husks. And the girls... they were smiling while it happened!"

She continued, "You knew Monica. I know you were her friend before the two of you ever came here, so you wouldn't hurt her. I don't know who I can trust, but I think I can trust you. Just tell me you believe me. Please."

It hurt, almost, watching her place so much trust in me, just for me to be one of the people she was seeking out. Still, it was better to have her close to me than for her to be an enemy.

...

"I never trusted this place much, anyway." I said easily, leaning on one foot.

"Really?" Rio asked, blinking, sounding almost skeptical of my trust. "You don't think I'm crazy?"

"I need to find Monica, and if you end up being right, then we need to work together to get her back."

Rio's smile betrayed her relief. "Good, because I think this goes deeper than just the school. I've looked through a backlog of local newspapers, and I've found recurring stories of girls disappearing for years. I think the police have been covering this up for a long time."

Rio looks around the lonely hallway, shivering in her wet dress. "I should go, but we'll talk tomorrow. We're in this together now. I hope I can trust you."

If only you knew you couldn't.

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