Isla approached the door, her hands deftly manipulating the tools she held to unlock the entrance. With a soft click, the mechanism disengaged, and she carefully stowed the tools in her jacket. As she pushed the door open, a wave of stale air and dust wafted out, carrying with it the scent of abandonment. The school had been closed for only a few months, but the air was already heavy with the weight of disuse.
As she stepped inside, Isla's gaze swept the interior, taking in the dusty remnants of a once-thriving institution. Despite the layer of grime that coated everything, it was clear that the school had been an expensive and well-appointed facility. Isla's curiosity was piqued as she wondered what circumstances had led to its closure. "What could have driven someone to shut down a school like this?" she mused to herself.
Isla's wristwatch, a sleek and advanced device, caught her attention. She tapped it twice, and a holographic representation of the building's layout sprang to life above the watch face. The image was intricate and detailed, providing Isla with a comprehensive understanding of the school's layout.
Amaya's voice crackled through the covert earpiece nestled in Isla's ear. "Have you found anything suspicious?" she asked, her tone crisp and professional. Isla's response was succinct. "I haven't."
As she examined the holographic display, Isla noticed two red beeping lights. She pointed them out to her team, asking, "Why are there two red lights in the hologram?" Royal's voice responded, "One is for the file room, and the other is for the principal's office."
Isla decided to investigate the file room first, as it was closer to her current location. She activated the small touch light she had been holding, casting a warm glow over the dusty surroundings. The light revealed a space that was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft creaking of old wooden furniture.
As she made her way to the file room, Isla flashed her touch light around, searching for any signs of disturbance or potential threats. The beam of light danced across the walls, illuminating cobweb-shrouded corners and dusty alcoves. Finally, she arrived at a door with bold lettering that read, "The File Room."
As Isla approached the file room, she encountered yet another obstacle: a locked door. Undeterred, she carefully placed the touch light on the floor, its beam casting an upward glow that illuminated the surrounding area. With the light safely positioned, Isla focused on unlocking the door, her skilled hands working the mechanism with ease.
Once the door swung open, Isla retrieved the touch light and stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit space. The air in the file room was heavy with the scent of stale air and dust, but it was accompanied by a pungent, acrid smell – the unmistakable odor of rotting paper. It was as if some of the documents had been left to decay for years, their deterioration accelerated by the humid environment.
The file room was a testament to the school's history, with rows of bookshelves stretching towards the ceiling, their shelves laden with piles of meticulously organized files. The sheer volume of documents was overwhelming, a tangible representation of the countless students who had passed through the school's halls. Isla's gaze wandered across the shelves, her mind reeling with the task ahead. "How do I even begin to search through this vast collection of files?" she wondered aloud.
Khayce's voice, calm and collected, emanated from the covert earpiece. "Some of the files belong to the teachers. Look for bookshelves that appear different or have a distinctive sign. In Summer Cove High, files of students with a troubled history are stored separately." Isla's eyes sparkled with understanding as she acknowledged Khayce's guidance. "Okay, thanks."
With renewed purpose, Isla began to methodically scan the bookshelves, her touch light casting a warm glow across the space. It didn't take long for her to discover the anomalous bookshelf, tucked away near the wall. While the other shelves faced uniformly to the right, this solitary bookshelf stood out, its orientation diverging from the others.
A paper sign, strapped to the top of the bookshelf, caught Isla's attention. In bold, unambiguous letters, the words "The Black Shelf" were emblazoned across the page. Isla's curiosity was piqued as she inferred the shelf's purpose. It was likely that "The Black Shelf" housed files of students who had committed serious infractions, violating the school's rules and regulations.
As she gazed upon the bookshelf, Isla noticed that it was not only designated as "The Black Shelf" but also physically black in color, its surface glossy and smooth, like it had been dipped in a dark, viscous liquid. The overall effect was ominous, implying that the contents of this shelf were not to be taken lightly.
As Isla prepared to embark on a meticulous search of the files, her gaze fell upon a small, peculiar pile of documents situated by the side of the bookshelf. Her curiosity piqued, she wandered over to investigate, her eyes scanning the pile with interest. "Why was this one kept separately?" she wondered aloud, the question slipping from her lips unintentionally.
Khayce's voice, attentive and inquiring, emanated from the covert earpiece. "What did you find?" he asked, his tone encouraging Isla to share her discovery.
Isla's response was forthcoming. "I found the different bookshelf, but... there's a pile of files just beside the bookshelf." She paused, her mind racing with the implications of this unexpected find.
Khayce's voice conveyed a sense of excitement and anticipation. "That might just be the information we're looking for," he said, his words sparking Isla's curiosity.
With renewed enthusiasm, Isla bent down to retrieve the pile of files, carefully placing them on a nearby table. She gently dusted the files with her hand, blowing off any remaining particles. As she opened the first file, she discovered that it belonged to a student named Roman Blake. The file contained a wealth of personal data and family information, but Isla's search for a specific reason why Roman's file had been segregated from the others proved futile.
Perplexed, Isla decided to investigate further. She withdrew a file from the black bookshelf and scrutinized its contents. As she had expected, the file contained a detailed account of the student's transgressions, including the specific rules they had broken. This discovery only served to deepen Isla's confusion regarding the files kept beside the black bookshelf.
Undeterred, Isla continued to examine the remaining files, searching for a common thread that might explain why they had been kept separate. As she delved deeper into the documents, a disturbing pattern began to emerge. Each student represented in the pile of files had been a victim of bullying within the school. Furthermore, they all shared either a troubled family history or a precarious financial situation.
A new question formed in Isla's mind, one that only added to the enigma. "If they were all victims of bullying and had no records of breaking school rules, then why had their files been kept beside the black bookshelf?" she pondered, her thoughts consumed by the mystery.
As Isla delved deeper into the mystery, she experienced a sudden epiphany - she had overlooked one final file. With a sense of trepidation, she reached for the file and opened it, her eyes widening in astonishment as she discovered that it belonged to none other than Annabelle. Isla's curiosity was piqued as she meticulously scrutinized every detail within the file, only to find that Annabelle's circumstances were eerily similar to those of the other students - a victim of bullying, with a troubled family background.
Isla's mind was racing with questions, and she swiftly communicated with Khayce via the covert earpiece. "Khayce, can you check the name of the boy who went missing before Amaya?" she asked, her voice laced with a sense of urgency. Khayce's response was immediate, but he was cut off mid-sentence. "Yes, but why...?" he began, only to be interrupted by Isla's insistent tone. "Just do it now," she urged.
After a brief pause, Khayce's voice returned, his words sending a shiver down Isla's spine. "The boy who went missing before Annabelle was named Roman Blake." Isla was stunned, her mind reeling with the implications of this revelation. Khayce, sensing that something was amiss, inquired via the covert earpiece, "Isla, what happened?" His concern was palpable, and Isla's response only served to heighten the sense of unease.
"The pile of files I told you I found," Isla began, her voice measured, "what about it?" Khayce asked, his curiosity piqued. Isla's response was forthright, and it sent shockwaves through the team. "The files of two students who went missing recently are among them." The team, who had been listening intently from the underground lair, was visibly stunned, their faces etched with concern. They couldn't help but wonder if the presence of the missing students' files in the mysterious pile was merely a startling coincidence or something more sinister.
As the team grappled with the implications of Isla's discovery, Khayce's phone suddenly beeped, signaling an incoming notification. He swiftly checked the message, his expression darkening as he read the news. Another student had gone missing, and Khayce quickly switched on the news broadcast on his computer. The news anchor's voice was somber, relaying the details of the latest disappearance. "Just this evening, it has been confirmed that two more students have gone missing. They go by the names Wesley Blair and Alora Cole..."
Khayce's eyes narrowed as he swiftly turned off the computer, his mind racing with the possibilities. He quickly communicated with Isla via the covert earpiece, his voice laced with a sense of urgency. "Isla, we just received news that two students have gone missing. Please check if the files of Alora Cole and Wesley Blair are among the pile of files you found beside the black shelf." Isla's response was immediate, and she swiftly searched through the files. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she delivered the devastating news. "Their files are here, Khayce. They're among the pile of files beside the black shelf."