Life Within The Halls

Chapter 3: "Like a Movie Scene"

LIFE WITHIN THE HALL

Victoria

Tuesday, February 10th, 8:00 a.m.

As I sat next to my mom in her helicopter, which had just touched down on the sports field, I gazed out the window at the compound of my school. I couldn't shake the weight of expectations resting on my shoulders. Being the school founder's granddaughter, class president, and a politician's daughter came with its own set of pressures, but there was another burden I carried—one that wasn't written in the history books.

Among the students, I saw few faces that resembled mine. I was that brown-skinned girl, the one with a white mother and a black father. The one who inadvertently became a symbol of hope for many students.

I wasn't my parents' only child, but since I was the oldest of two, I took on all the responsibilities. And now, with the school's 30th anniversary just a month away, I was too busy planning to even check my phone or watch television. I had no idea what was happening in the outside world.

Following the helicopter's departure, I walked into the entrance, weaving past Principal Wilson and the detective handling Hannah's case. They were obviously discussing the tragedy that had occurred the previous day.

My attention shifted from them to a small group of students reading the school newspapers. Their reactions to whatever was in the papers made me curious about the headlines. What was making the news?

The School Magazine Society had started again with their unnecessary big headlines. I had hoped they would have left it in our previous semester, but they didn't seem to disappoint me. After all, Ella Anderson was still their Editor-in-Chief, so nothing better to expect.

I quickly rushed to the newspaper stand, just inches away, to read the headlines. The first headline, "Fly High, Hannah Bentley: Beloved Head Cheerleader Remembered," didn't surprise me, since I was already aware of it. But the second one left me stunned:

"Pray for Daniel Blay"
Just In: Daniel has been missing for hours in the aftermath of his girlfriend's death...

Missing? Where did this news of him being missing come from?

I took out my phone to check the news about Daniel's disappearance. I never liked reading the school papers in full—they seemed biased and focused on trivial things—so I opened the X app instead. On the trending list, there wasn't a single hashtag or mention of Daniel's name. I then searched for his name, thinking the news probably hadn't made it to the trending list yet, but still, nothing showed up.

The social world had no idea Daniel Blay was missing. I guessed it was because he had been missing for only a few hours, and the school hadn't issued a press statement yet, hoping he would return.

Daniel's family was outside the country, making him a resident student. So, where could he have gone? How could he go missing with all the school's security measures in place? And incredibly, on the very day his girlfriend died.

As I pondered, a burst of whispers erupted behind me. I turned to face three girls. Their faces flushed with guilt, and they hastily turned off their phones. It was clear I was the one they were laughing at. I beckoned them over, and they came closer, one of them holding out her phone for me to see.

On the screen, a video of me giving a speech at the previous day's ceremony played, but with a ridiculous twist: my head had been replaced with a chicken's.

My face burned with humiliation, and my eyes constricted into slits as I glared at the phone. I managed to temper my anger, and then gestured for the girls to leave.