Chapter 9: The Office With No Cameras
The principal’s office had always looked welcoming.
A small couch.
A bookshelf.
Pictures of smiling students.
Awards on the wall.
But that morning, it felt different.
Like the room was pretending to be safe.
I stood outside the door.
My hand hovered over the handle.
Then I remembered Malik’s warning.
Nobody gets called here unless something bad is about to happen.
I opened the door.
Principal Harrison sat behind his desk.
Mrs. Baxter was standing beside the window.
My stomach tightened.
She wasn’t supposed to be there.
“Close the door,” Principal Harrison said.
I did.
Slowly.
“Where is your phone?”” he asked.
I stared at him.
“Why?””
His expression remained calm.
“Because we need to discuss the video.””
“I don’t have to give you my phone.””
Mrs. Baxter stepped forward.
“You’re making this harder than necessary.””
I looked at her.
“You hurt a student.””
Her jaw tightened.
“I disciplined a student.””
“No.””
My voice shook.
“You hit him.””
The room went silent.
Principal Harrison leaned back.
“You need to understand something, Olivia.””
“What?””
“Adults have responsibilities.””
I almost laughed.
“So do teachers.””
His eyes narrowed.
“You’re very confident for someone your age.””
I didn’t answer.
He opened a drawer.
Inside were papers.
My papers.
My school records.
My assignments.
My attendance.
Everything.
“You’ve had a few academic issues.””
I stared.
“You’re threatening my grades.””
“No.””
He smiled.
“I’m explaining reality.””
My hands curled into fists.
“You can’t do this.””
“Can’t I?””
The worst part was that he sounded like he truly believed he could.
Mrs. Baxter crossed her arms.
“You should have thought about consequences before recording.””
I looked between them.
“You’re both afraid.””
That surprised them.
“What?”” Mrs. Baxter asked.
“You’re afraid because the truth finally exists somewhere you can’t erase.””
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Principal Harrison stood.
He walked toward a cabinet.
“I think it’s time you understand something.””
He pulled out an old folder.
A very old folder.
“This is why you should stop.””
He placed it on the desk.
The label was faded.
But I could read the name.
*Carter, Marcus.*
My breath caught.
“You kept his file?””
Principal Harrison smiled.
“Not just his.””
He opened it.
Inside were dozens of pages.
Complaints.
Notes.
Names.
My heart raced.
“How many?””
He closed the folder.
“Enough.””
The room felt smaller.
“You’ve been hiding all of this.””
Mrs. Baxter looked annoyed.
“Careful, Harrison.””
He ignored her.
That was when I noticed something strange.
They weren’t working together.
They were afraid of each other.
A tiny crack in their perfect story.
Principal Harrison looked at me.
“You think Mrs. Baxter is the problem.””
I said nothing.
“You’re wrong.””
The words shocked me.
“What?””
He leaned closer.
“The person who buried these files wasn’t me.””
My heart stopped.
“Then who was it?””
He looked toward the folder.
Then toward the door.
And whispered:
“Someone you trust.””
My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket.
I didn’t move.
I didn’t want them to know.
But the screen lit up.
One new message.
From Marcus.
*He’s lying. Don’t believe anything he says. The missing file proves it.*
I looked up.
Principal Harrison was watching me.
He knew.
And then he smiled.
Because he realized exactly who had contacted me.
“Interesting,” he said quietly.
“What?””
“You really should ask yourself one question.””
My heart pounded.
“What question?””
He pointed at the folder.
“Why would Marcus Carter disappear for three years…”
May you like
He paused.
“…and only come back now?””
