Chapter 1 the lock in
The loudspeaker crackled, slicing through the low buzz of voices in the classroom.
“Students, remain in your classrooms. This is a lockdown.”
Every head snapped up. Even Mr. Kelley froze mid-sentence, marker hovering over the whiteboard. Lockdowns weren’t new here—this was a big city school—but the way the principal’s voice wavered made my stomach tighten.
I leaned back in my chair, pushing my braids out of my face. “What now?” I whispered to Maddie, my lab partner. She just shrugged, eyes glued to her phone, refreshing Twitter like answers might appear out of nowhere.
The room fell silent, except for someone sniffling in the back.
Minutes later, whispers broke out—soft, scared. Then someone said it loud enough for the whole room to hear: “It’s another one.”
I whipped my head toward the voice. “Another what?”
No one answered, but I didn’t need to hear it to know. My heart sank. They meant the killings. First Marcus from the track team. Then Alyssa, the cheer captain. And now… a third.
I tried to breathe slowly, but my mind spun with all the unanswered questions. Three students. Same school. Same year. And no suspects.
My phone buzzed.
One new message.
From Unknown: Stay out of it, Taye.
I stared at the screen, throat dry. My locker combination flashed through my mind like muscle memory. How did anyone even know I was thinking about getting involved?
A whisper came from behind me—maya, her voice trembling, barely audible. “We have to get out of here. We have to help.”
I looked over my shoulder. Her eyes were wide with fear but fierce, like she was already planning the next move.
“Help?” I breathed. “How? We’re locked in.”
She bit her lip. “Doesn’t mean we have to stay silent.”
The room felt colder, heavier, like the walls were closing in. I glanced at Maddie, maya and Lucas—all staring at me, waiting. The question hung in the air.
What if we were the only ones brave enough to uncover the truth?
