page57 (1/2)

A door was opened, and I was brought inside a space where the air ar over carpet The only carpet I knew that was upstairs was in the library

Another door opened, perhaps to one of the study rooms near the back I wasn't familiar with this library

I was put down on some sort of table, held up by one of theether, and shortly after, bound thes as well

“I only need a minute,” Volto said

“That hts on soon,” said the woo” A door closed

The hood over my head was lifted

Volto's green-glowingelse was dark around us

I breathed in deeply to get the fresher air into ue If I could, I would have stuffedto let hi

His head tilted slightly, creating shadows on the ive him an almost coy look “I told you I needed to talk to you”

I said nothing I turned my head away, to let him know I didn't care

He captured my chin and turned my head his direction The mechanical voice from the modulator in his mask continued “You can't stay with them Blackbourne is in serious trouble”

I glared at hiive into this

“Your friends arein areas they shouldn't be” He releasedan arm in the darkness to motion to the rest of the school “I'd tell you to tell the”

“You're with hi to talk, it would be about hi else “You're with Hendricks”

“No,” he said “I’m not I work alone”

“Then who’s the woman?”

“She neededdown to look at me The mechanical voice ca”

“We already figured he set this food thing up to get Mr Blackbourne in trouble,” I said “We don’t need you to tell us this”

He tilted his head again “Food?”

“The night you took Nathan on a wild chase and you left hi inside ofthe food being swapped Students have called in sick We’re pretty sure it was a set up”

“I was following McCoy,” he said “He’s with Hendricks” He leaned in, but his voiceHe’s lost McCoy, but he’s after you”

“You mean them?”

“I et them into a heap of trouble they’ll never be able to weasel their way out of”

I strained atto separate them “How?”

“Like how I got to you Only he’s more stupid than your Acadeet me to stop “I caain And so they won’t, either Maybe now they’ll avoid using you like a pawn and leave you the hell alone”

He turned away fro for the door

“How does he listen?” I asked hi?”

He paused without turning back to utter rat,” he opened the door, letting it slam behind himself after he left

Before I could call after hi htness

I was alone in one of the study rooms Withoff the desk in an effort to get away

The others would find me soon I hoped

Fishing for a Rat

It didn’t take long, less than ten ain and Mr Blackbourne popped his head in Once he spotted me, he opened it wide “She’s in here!” he called out

“Hi,” I said, a little more defeated now I’d calmed down a lot and ay more annoyed than I was afraid All this just to tell et to them And who knew if it was a lie or not?

He ca out my face at first and then the bands around my wrists and ankles

Nathan burst through the door next, finding us and checking me out “What the hell?”

“He just wanted to talk,” I said While Mr Blackbourne took out a pocketknife to use against the bonds, I told theht have utter rats”