Page 66 of The Broken Note

To my sister.

She’s never hurt Vi before, but now that my sister is thirteen going on thirty, things might be different. Mom is extra sensitive when she’s using. If Vi gets mouthy while mom’s in a bad state…

I shudder.

Hoping to ease my mind, I shuffle to my sister’s bedroom door and peek inside. Viola is sprawled on the bed, one foot hanging over the edge and an arm flung over the headboard.

I should wake her, but it’s been a hard few days. Besides, it’s Friday. No one wants to be up this early right before the weekend.

Tiptoeing out, I grab my purse and catch the bus to the north side.

Redwood Prep stands before me in all its ruthless glory. Exposed brick. Trailing ivy. Valiant posts. The building is as elite as the children who walk through the doors.

But unlike the vapid students so easily shaken by scandal and treachery, Redwood Prep stands firm. Just a few days ago, a fire boiled in its belly, but you wouldn’t know by looking at it.

This place isn’t easily conquered. How do I find the secrets buried inside? Where do I even start looking?

My heart is hammering.

My palms feel sweaty.

With trembling fingers, I dig out my headphones and pop them into my ears. Brahms’Wiegenliedtickles my eardrums and settles my nerves.

I can do this. I can be a double agent. No one will find out.

I close my eyes, taking in deep breaths.

Ten hours.

Just ten hours to go.

Once the last bell rings this evening, I’ll have the entire weekend away from Redwood Prep. To clear my head. To form a plan. To remind myself that joining hands with Jarod Cross is what I should—no, what Ihaveto do. That’s the only way to fulfil Jinx’s command.

It doesn’t matter that I have two people holding me by the throat.

It doesn’t matter that mom is still out there, doing who knows what.

I’ll figure this all out.

As long as I don’t think too hard about the tangled mess that is my life, I can keep moving forward.

Right?

After a few moments, I force myself to step inside the dark building. My shoes thunder in the silence. Shadows flicker in and out. Lockers glint like sharp teeth.

I hear a noise and whirl around, my heart in my throat.

No one’s there.

Serena did her work service with me early in the morning. I got used to having her around. Ever since she left, I’ve been a little freaked out.

Deep in the caverns of Redwood Prep, secrets are buried.

What secrets was Jinx referring to? Why the hell does she have to be so vague?

In the distance, a door creaks open and shut.

I tear out one of my headphones, every nerve on high alert. My eyes jump around the dark hallway.What is going on here?