“We’re going to break into their house?” Isis asked, unsure.
“Just to borrow a few things of hers. She’s our friend and was our friend before she was his boyfriend. Let’s remember that.”
“The dark side is finally coming out,” Harvey muttered as he reached to pull my chair even closer to his. “It would be crazy if this whole time she’s been trying to talk to you all and tell you where she is…maybe through an unknown number or hell…a reflection in the water or––––”
Asha slammed her hand on the table before shooting up. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was open, remaining stuck in place. We all stared at her, unsure of what was happening before she quickly wiped around her mouth.
“We have to get to that pool,” she said. “Oh my God, oh my God. Maggie was calling out to me that day in class.”
“Wait, what?” Isis said.
“Maggie! She–––” Asha looked around before lowering her voice. “She was calling out to me! I think it was her voice I heard before the attack happened!”
“Wait a minute!” Isis called out as Asha left her food on the table. I smiled as I grabbed my things. Harvey bit into the other buttered roll before heading out with us.
The crowd outside this evening was growing as maroon and white confetti fluttered in the air, surrounding the main courtyard and entrance to and from Cedar Park. The entire school grounds were officially decorated with strings, flyers, and artwork on the pavement for the games. The large arena where the games were held was just in the distance hidden within the thick forest. The bright stadium lights surrounding it shined as it bounced off the glass dome. It was the Olympics and Hunger Games of the Underground all in one.
“Only the best of the best will compete and survive!” Namir shouted on the mic. “These four students here will carry the Trojans on their back and bring home the win because I don’t know shit about losing! DREW COLLINS DOES NOT LOSE! So when we welcome the athletes from the rival schools to Drew Collins, let’s give them a welcome they won’t forget as we send them on their way, packing!”
The students cheered and clapped as we squeezed through the growing mass, keeping a hold on one another while Harvey bluntly moved people out of his way or occasionally stopped to talk and dap hands in a casual greeting. I looked back at Namir, seeing Quan and Solomon behind them and when I caught his eye, I could see the confusion on his face. Namir knew we were on to something, he just didn’t know what.
“Also! Drew Collins!” I heard a familiar squeaky voice say into the mic. I knew it was Clementine, but she sounded off, nervous even. “Before celebrations can continue…as head of Beta Nu Pi Sorority Incorporated, on behalf of my sisters, wewant to send our prayers and wishes for a safe return back to Drew Collins for our fellow sister Maggie Grey and our dearest new student who showed the most potential, Danielle Jackson.”
I stopped and tried to look over the crowding heads as she continued to speak against the protesting crowd. The sorority girls in their green and white that would normally stand behind her were scattered or just not present at all which meant she was moving on her own accord, and they possibly didn’t agree.
“What is she doing?!” Asha let out.
“Say what you want! I understand your frustration and anger, but it’s misguided, misdirected and full of ignorance! We as a sorority and the leading Greek organization on the Grounds will do whatever it takes to protect our sisters!”
“You’re protecting a murderer!”
“A traitor!”
“FUCK THE FIRST FAMILY!”
Clementine ignored the growing hate and instead shot up something dark in the sky, tossing it like a ball before it burst into tiny lights that popped. Fireworks…this was the sign.
“I don’t care what anybody has to say!” She argued as they attempted to take the mic away from her. “MAGGIE GREY IS DREW COLLINS!”
I looked up at the sky seeing the sun and moon continuously bursting into an animated loop as they came together. This was the sign. This is it! I turned back seeing Asha and Isis already halfway across the yard, waving for me to come on. So we were all on the same page for once. Namir’s brows furrowed together with suspicion just as a set of screams broke out.
“Aye!? Aye!?” He shouted, jumping into the crowd that began tearing at one another. “Stop! Somebody call security!”
I took off running to catch up with Isis and Asha as we stuck close together.
“She started an entire fight!” Asha laughed. “I can’t believe it!”
“She said the fireworks…Wait for the fireworks…Clementine knows she’s going to get in trouble for this,” Isis said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does if you know there’s a big pay out in the end. She doesn’t do anything unless it benefits her,” I said, feeling more confident than ever. “Now is the time to do this. Hillary is waiting for us. So what about this pool, Asha?”
When we came up to the building, it was unfortunately locked but Isis, forever the clever and resourceful one had a way in. She pulled out a makeshift key that was able to turn into any shape of the lock.
“Stole this from the magical artifacts department at my brother’s job when I was younger,” she whispered. She shoved the side door open, and the smell of chlorine and salt water instantly pinched and teased at my senses. The building was dark and damp, but we followed Asha until we reached the main level where the massive Olympic size pool was. The bleachers were pushed up against the wall when we came up on the edge of the pool, seeing the dark waters as calm as they wanted to be. The only source of light was from the windows that showed the school lamp posts. None of us said a word at first until, just taking in the calm waters.
“I heard her say my name,” Asha said, voice full of emotion. “I heard her call out to me. I thought it was just another…awakening moment or some weird juju…but this felt familiar.”
“What did she sound like?” I asked as I bent down to touch the water.
