Stoll didn't even show up, that's what hurt Orchid. But she should have known better—Saira and Stoll weren't her friends, they were a reliance on the treaty. She had never spent so much time with the two, they just lurked in the background to gather info for each other. Get over yourself, Orchid gritted her teeth. He's not your friend, or anything else.

At least Saira showed up. "We don't need Stoll, we don't need boys," she said, jutting her chin out. She crossed her arms, turning to the mirror. She fixed her makeup while talking.

"Do we have any leads?" Orchid asked.

"There's Sam and S. C., but that's it."

"Wait, you think that S. C. did it? But why? Professor Green wrote about him, he genuinely sounded concerned," Orchid countered. "Besides, we don't actually know who S. C. is."

"There's a possibility that maybe S. C. wanted revenge on Professor Green. As much as I loved the guy, he put a student's life in danger and S. C. was 'in too deep.' S. C. wanted to hurt Green the way he was hurt if he was hurt at all." Saira plucked out a mascara clunk. "These deaths are taking a toll on Silverleaf Academy."

Orchid swallowed hard. "I know, Saira."

Saira spun around. "We need to stick together, no matter what, okay?"

"Okay." But Orchid knew what happened when she and Navaeh Naylor stuck together. Orchid Gray had secrets of her own as well. "I don't think Headmaster Roux is planning on telling anyone, he didn't mention Scarlett's death on the PA system. Or maybe he did, it's just the PA system is faulty."

"Yeah, same with Yarwood and Asher, they're just miserable robots in class today," Saira agreed. She smudged her eyeliner and groaned. Orchid tossed her a makeup wipe from Saira's makeup bag. "Thanks. Ugh, these past few days are the worst, it's like hell outside and we're literally trapped in Silverleaf with a killer."

Orchid froze. "Wait, Saira, that's it. Because of the flood, the killer isn't a flight risk, they're boxed in, they're trapped in Silverleaf."

"Yeah, with us. Also, there are over a hundred students!" Saira looked irritated. Orchid knew that Ruth hadn't returned to her dorm and Roux said that she was getting a new roommate due to dorm transitioning issues. "I'm sorry if I'm snappy, Gray. This is just a super sucky day for me. I need to keep up my average if I'm going to keep this scholarship and I haven't even done the Azure Eyes of Blood assignment that Professor Yarwood handed out—"

"Wait, Azure Eyes of Blood?" Orchid and Saira exchanged knowing glances. Was it a coincidence that Mr. Smith and Scarlett Mako both got axed and fed to pigs to hide the body? "No, that's so far-fetched..."

"But possible," Saira finished for her.

"Mr. Smith in Azure Eyes of Blood was murdered the same way that Scarlett was. That is insane," Orchid said quickly, starting to pace around the washroom. She stopped briefly, turning to Saira. "Professor Yarwood. He gave us the book assignment, oh my god."

Saira tossed Orchid a notepad and a ballpoint pen from her tote bag. "If you're onto something, write down like the good journalist you are, Gray." Orchid quickly began to scribble down a list of suspects. Yarwood was the one who handed out the book, she thought skittishly.

List of suspects:

Sam Finnegan

S. C. (To be identified)

Professor Yarwood

Orchid licked her lips. "If we're right... Well, this is a big discovery, Saira."

"Well, then, there's only one way to find out if we're right."

┉┈◈◉◈┈┉

The two girls went their separate ways. Suddenly, on her way to Professor Yarwood's classroom, Orchid received a notification on a new email. She read it quickly, discovering it was from Stoll. At least he thought of me, she thought, tucking her phone away. That's sweet.

She arrived at Professor Yarwood's door, knocking on it. The last time she knocked on a teacher's classroom door, she found a dead professor's corpse. She hoped it would be different.

"Coming!" Yarwood's voice brought relief to Orchid. He opened the door, looking stunned. "Miss Gray? Er, you are Orchid Gray, correct?" When she nodded, he allowed her inside. "Forgive me, the juniors and seniors just gave me hell. Don't tell Roux I said that."

Orchid smiled slightly. "Don't worry about it, Professor Yarwood."

"What can I do for you, dear?" Professor Yarwood leaned against his desk, arms crossed. Orchid chewed on the insides of her cheeks, playing with her fingers behind her back.

"You said that your juniors and seniors were also reading Azure Eyes of Blood, but it was their second assignment," Orchid said slowly. "I was wondering if you could tell me what the first book they did was."

Professor Yarwood looked surprised. "Oh. Well, it's called The Loose Noose by Bill Johnston. It's a bit more advanced, so I didn't start class with it. However, you seem like a bright student, Orchid. Heed my warning, it's quite grotesque and violent, it's not for the faint of heart."

Considering that Azure Eyes of Blood was about a wife brutally murdering her unfaithful husband, Orchid was willing to take her chances. "Sure, thank you, professor."

Yarwood swiftly grabbed a book off his desk, smiling. "It's around seventy pages, and I do apologize for the inconvenience, but I will be needing that back before the end of the day."

"Oh, yes, yes, of course." Orchid nodded and said goodbye before leaving his classroom. She navigated the rest of the day, sneaking peeks at The Loose Noose between lessons, but she was also saddened to not have seen Stoll.

At the dinner, with Bailey and Robert as usual, she still hadn't seen him. Suddenly, the faulty PA system cracked. "Good evening, Silverleaf students," Roux's voice wasn't tense like it was last night when he discovered Scarlett's body.

"Huh, Headmaster Roux barely makes announcements, why the sudden shift?" Robert asked.

"Because a professor died, babe," Bailey replied. And a student, Orchid bit back bitter words. "Although I agree, it's a bit strange."

"As you know, there is a severe storm which will stop by tomorrow. During these past couple of days, a professor has tragically passed away. You may have known him, his name was Professor Henry Green." There was a hint of sadness in Roux's wavering voice. "He unfortunately committed suicide on Monday and so has another student... Scarlett Mako."

Orchid never felt more threatened and exposed. Suicide? There were gasps wavering through the Dining Hall. "Wait, is that why Scarlett wasn't in class today? I-I just thought she was waiting for the heat surrounding the Stanley Crawford scandal to die off," Bailey cried out.

"Do you think that's why Scarlett committed suicide?" Robert gushed. It's not suicide, it was murder, Orchid clenched her teeth. So, it appeared that Headmaster Roux was covering Scarlett's killing, disguised as a suicide. A poor and stupid excuse. But why? Did the headmaster want the students to stay calm until the cops come?

Headmaster Roux was lying to everyone in the room. Yarwood and Asher too, Orchid reasoned. As Saira said, they were just miserable robots, following what Roux did. Like lying about a homicide.

"In the hall, after dinner, there will be a candle vigil. We do not have candles for everyone, so you may use your phone's light or a flashlight. Please take this vigil seriously as it's a time for mourning," Headmaster Roux continued. "Thank you, that will be all." The PA system crackled with static.

Bailey nudged Orchid. "Hey, are you okay?"

No, nothing is okay anymore.

┉┈◈◉◈┈┉

List of suspects:

Sam Finnegan

S. C. (To be identified)

Professor Yarwood

Headmaster Roux

Professor Asher

┉┈◈◉◈┈┉

Orchid didn't manage to snag a candle but had her phone on her. The hall was flooded and cramped with students, Orchid thought she might suffocate. Next to her, Saira was comforting a crying Ruth Barlowe.

"Scar isn't gone, she can't be!" Ruth sobbed.

Saira patted her shoulder. "It'll be okay."

It was odd, they were arguing and Ruth left her dorm a few days prior, but now they were comforting each other. You forgot how friendship works, Orchid thought. Lizzy Connors was also there, resting her chin on Ruth's shoulder. "Scarlett's dead..."

Ivory Kee wore a black sweater with a leather skirt with a high slit. Apparently, everyone was breaking the dress code these days. "Scarlett is in a better place," she coaxed Ruth.

To think of it, Ivory didn't seem very upset considering one of her best friends was dead. Yes, her mascara was bleeding and she was releasing overly dramatic sobs, but under the surface, there wasn't a speck of remorse.

Also, Scarlett and Ivory were both on the student body council, maybe Scarlett didn't leave the council because the guilt of Stanley was too much, but because Ivory forced her hand. With Stan gone, Ivory must have realized that Scarlett might also have the ambition to become president.

I'll have to talk to Saira about this, she thought. And Stoll, Orchid added.

"Good evening, Silverleaf students and staff. Today is a day of mourning and grieving for our losses. What happened to Professor Green and Miss Mako was a true tragedy." Headmaster Roux's voice was even. "You may now let your candles or sources of light."

For you, Professor Green, Orchid Gray thought as she raised her lit phone in the air with many others. There was a moment of silence and respect for the deceased. I will find who murdered you and I will make sure the rest of their lives are going to be a living hell.