The four of them sat huddled in the back corner of the old library—Jace, Lena, Jovic, and Dora. It was nearly midnight, the storm outside masking their voices and any footsteps. The tension between them was thick—half fear, half adrenaline.
"Cameras in the dorms. Deleted files. Redacted transcripts," Jace whispered. "Whatever's going on here, it's not just school politics."
"They watched us," Dora said sharply. "In bed. Without permission. That's a crime."
Lena nodded. "And Ssegona Emma… he knew something. They made him disappear."
Jovic leaned forward. "The administration building. There's a locked records room in the basement. I've seen Coach Kasekende go down there late at night. That's where they're keeping everything."
Jace raised an eyebrow. "And you know how to get in?"
"I know how to pick locks," Jovic said simply.
Silence. Then Lena stood up.
"Tonight."
They all looked at her.
She was already pulling her hoodie over her head.
"We go in tonight. Before they realize we're onto them."
---
1:24 AM – Admin Building, East Haven High
The rain poured hard, drumming against the windows as Jovic slipped the lock open with a practiced hand.
The hallway was pitch-black. Jace carried a flashlight. Dora kept watch.
They descended into the basement.
The air was colder down there. Older.
A heavy steel door stood before them. "Records Room – Authorized Personnel Only."
Jovic popped the second lock. The door creaked open.
Inside were filing cabinets, drives, old surveillance equipment—and a wall lined with monitors.
Live feeds.
One of them showed Lena's dorm. Another showed Jovic's room—until recently.
Then a voice rang out behind them.
"I was wondering when you'd find your way here."
They turned.
Coach Kasekende stood in the doorway.
Not surprised, not alone.