Page 71 of Artifice

“And the next day, Colin was gone.” Abe swallowed hard. “They said he ran away, but we know that’s not true. I heard the doctor and principal talking when they thought no one was listening. Something went wrong with Colin.”

Olive’s heart pounded harder in her ears.

Her gaze shifted as something in the distance caught her eye.

A light.

A flashlight.

Someone was coming their way, she realized.

Abe saw it at the same time as Olive, and panic raced through his gaze. “I’ve got to get out of here.”

“Who is it?” she asked.

“I don’t know. But whoever it is, you don’t want to be caught out here.” The tone of his voice was clearly fearful.

Teens shouldn’t have to live in this kind of fear.

The people running this place needed some major accountability.

Olive’s resolve hardened. Whatever was happening here had to be stopped.

“How will you get back without being seen?” she rushed.

“I know the way.” He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. “You just worry about yourself.”

Olive didn’t like the sound of his words. But she planned on heeding his warning.

She watched him disappear before she darted toward the woods where Tevin hid.

She made it to cover and peered from behind a tree. Tevin gave her a look that said, “That was close.”

The flashlight came nearer.

Soon, Olive would see who was holding it.

But as the figure came into view, it was no one she’d expected.

Ms. Strickland.

What was she doing here at this hour?

Olive watched as the woman paused near the lighthouse.

The beam of her flashlight scattered on the ground as if she were searching for something—or someone.

Then she paused.

“What is she doing?” Olive asked softly.

“Good question,” Tevin said.

Olive knew one thing with certainty. She didn’t want to be caught. If she was, she’d blow her whole cover, and she couldn’t afford to do that. Especially not now as she was getting closer to answers.

But what Abe had told her left her feeling unsettled.

Exactly what kind of supplements were these students being given? And was it being done under supervision?