Morning sunlight filtered into the library through stained glass, painting everything in fragments of red, gold, and blue. But the beauty didn’t reach Isabel. She sat curled in the far corner, the confidential files laid out on the table in front of her like knives.
Each name. Each secret.
One misstep, and the whole house of cards would fall.
She liked that.
Rose walked into the common area like she owned it—because for the past three years, she had.
Everything about her screamed control: her crisp uniform, perfect posture, and unreadable expression.
But as soon as she saw Isabel waiting by the grand staircase, something flickered in her eyes.
Not fear.
Not yet.
But recognition.
A threat.
“Good morning, Rose,” Isabel said sweetly, holding a single manila folder.
Rose’s eyes dropped to it. “What’s that?”
Isabel handed it to her.
“Something you lost.”
Rose opened it slowly.
The words leapt off the page:
Psychiatric Referral9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOLbYE4wur
Manipulative Behavior – Resulted in hospitalization of peer.
For a second, Rose didn’t breathe.
Then she looked up, jaw clenched. “Where did you get this?”
Isabel tilted her head, all innocence. “In the dark, dirty places you pretend don’t exist. Places you’ve buried versions of yourself.”
“Give me all of it,” Rose said, voice low, tight.
“No,” Isabel whispered. “Because I’m not here to be part of your system, Rose. I’m here to tear it down.”
Rose’s eyes narrowed. “You think you’re strong enough to play this game?”
“I think I’m the only one who’s not afraid to lose.”
Karoline watched from the top of the stairs. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she didn’t need to.
The way Rose’s body tensed. The way Isabel stood her ground.
She’d never seen anyone do that before.
And deep in her chest, Karoline felt something unfamiliar rise: hope.
Later, in the music room, Mark caught Isabel alone, her fingers trailing across the old piano keys.
“You’re starting something,” he said quietly.
“I already started it.”
He leaned on the piano. “You sure you want to go there? Rose doesn’t play fair.”
Isabel met his eyes. “Neither do I.”
He paused. Then added, “You know... if you need backup—”
She smiled. “You want to be my knight?”
Mark laughed softly. “No. I want to watch you burn this place down.”
That night, an anonymous message lit up every student's inbox:
“They say power corrupts. But maybe it just reveals.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqWXWQNi6r
Ask Rose Whitmore why a girl disappeared three years ago.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzCWrFzydY
Ask what the school buried.9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GrctOKhS4
Ask what you’re too scared to see.”
Attached: a scanned copy of the psychiatric referral.
In her dorm, Rose stood frozen. Her phone buzzed over and over.
Her kingdom was cracking.
And the monster she’d tried to bury?
Was wide awake.
9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0l3dqNanO
Stay Tuned For Chapter 7
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