Chapter 221: 221-Don’t Trust The Ringleaders
Clementine:
I just had a feeling something wasn’t right, but I kept walking until I reached the last step of the stairs.
I noticed the silence downstairs except for one room that was lit. I could tell it was Mr. Rick’s room because the door and its frame were white, unlike the other rooms. The black one came before the red one, so the first room was Miss Rue’s office, as she called it. I guessed those rooms were also their bedrooms, which they called offices.
I started walking toward Miss Rue’s room. The door was open, so all I had to do was turn on the light, but curiosity got the better of me. I stepped ahead, reaching the red room and then the white door that stood fully open.
"And what about the ones that are dead?" I heard Ms. Lenora ask.
They were having a casual chat, but it wasn’t casual for any of the Crusaders to hear, because it was about us.
"Well, they’re gone. What can we do about them?" Mr. Rick replied, sounding casual and nonchalant.
"I never thought we’d live to see the day the Crusaders came back from the cleaning task. They were supposed to die." Lenora’s words made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
"Yeah, I kind of expected it too. I was disappointed when I watched them come back, but it is what it is. They’re pretty strong, and it’s good for us, so who cares," Mr. Rick responded, making me close my eyes for a moment.
Were they really upset that the Crusaders came back?
"It’s just that there are so few left. Until all of these are gone, we won’t get new ones. I kind of miss the whole crowded vibe," Ms. Lenora said, confirming they were pure evil.
For them, this was just a game. They sat behind closed doors, safe and secure. We were the ones going out into the north, watching our friends fall.
"What do you say about that girl?" Then Mr. Rick mentioned something that made my ears perk up even more.
"Clementine?" she asked, and I clenched my fist.
"She’s sharp. She seems to have some hidden talent, but let’s not forget we haven’t seen her wolf yet. I was thinking about it the other day too," Ms. Lenora said, making the ground feel like it shook under my feet.
"Well, whatever it is, just remember there are a few we need to make sure are safe," Mr. Rick commented, causing my eyes to narrow again as I focused on their words. They were sharing so much information that it was hard for me to keep up. If only I had one of those books Ian used to scribble everything down.
"Most importantly, that Yorick kid. He’s getting himself into trouble here and there."
I was stunned when Ms. Lenora mentioned Yorick. Why? He wasn’t the one causing issues with them. Why single him out?
"Oh yeah, and that Ian. Sometimes I just wish I’d leave him in the north." As soon as Mr. Rick said that, my fist clenched.
"Oh, you better not. If you don’t want to end up dead, just leave that kid alone," Ms. Lenora warned, and I began to hear my heartbeat rise.
What the fuck was going on?
"Anyway, I was thinking we should ask them to transition. I just want to see their wolves. I did catch a glimpse of Joshua’s wolf, and let me tell you something. There’s something we need to discuss," Ms. Lenora remarked, and I scratched the back of my neck.
When had Joshua transitioned? I didn’t really remember. Maybe he did when I was in the hospital, or maybe it happened during regular times, because it’s not like our squad kept an eye on the others. But why was she so concerned about the wolves? And what about Joshua’s wolf?
I had so much on my mind that I started to back away. I didn’t want them to catch me eavesdropping, especially now that their conversation had shifted to something random.
"Are you gonna buy that expensive watch you always had your eyes on?" Ms. Lenora asked, changing the topic nonchalantly to luxuries, brands, and stuff.
Of course, they were heartless.
I carefully stepped back and slipped into Miss Rue’s office. When I turned on the light, I noticed there was an office in the front and a bedroom in the back. She had some food items placed around, but I could tell she was more fond of sushi rolls.
I set my tray down and had just turned when I accidentally knocked some books off her shelf.
"Oh shit," I muttered, quickly picking them up until my eyes landed on something that made my heart skip a beat. The biggest beat ever. Almost like my heart had stopped.
I froze, staring at it, and then swallowed hard. I recognized it immediately. The images of the Harry Potter characters. I had seen it. I remembered it.
It was Bodhi’s diary.
I covered my mouth in shock. Why the hell would they keep his diary? The same leather-brown diary he once held in his hand, wanting to show us something.
I instantly grabbed it and opened it. Something was scribbled all over the pages.
’Don’t trust the ringleaders. They are watching us every minute we spend in the north. They are the ones who—’
I frowned as I noticed the rest was cut out, and panic began to rise.
Someone had meticulously scribbled over the words, but that wasn’t all. There was so much more going on. He had written a lot about the North and what he had noticed.
I just had a feeling I was in the wrong place. I needed to get out, to inform my squadmates before it was too late, or before something happened to me.
But before I could do anything else, I heard Miss Rue coming back, and I had to leave the diary behind. I quickly slid it under the other books, and as soon as the door opened, I saw Miss Rue looking at me, her eyes filled with shock.