Quinn and Layla both set off around the school to search for Peter. One of the first things they decided to do was to check his bedroom just in case. Since Quinn lived there, he was able to unlock the door to the dorm as the door handles had finger print sensors on them.
The plan was to follow Peter and see who it was he talked to, then follow the high levels and see who they answered for.
The dorm room, however, was empty. It would make sense, after all since that was the first place they searched. Some part of Quinn hoped he was there so he wouldn't be with those high levels.
Since the dorm was a bust, the two of them traveled around the main campus building. They looked in as many classrooms as they could, and thoroughly searched the halls. While they were doing that, Quinn was sending Erin messages.
After a while, Quinn and Layla were starting to grow tired.
"How many places have we searched? And we still haven't found him," Layla said as she leaned against a wall.
Quinn was panting a little. Despite him exercising more these days, his body was still unfit.
"I don't know but…" Quinn was then reminded of the place where Erin took him recently, "There is a place we haven't checked."
—
They entered the training center, and saw several students working out. A few were practicing using their ability. It was a place where students could use the machines they were tested with at the start of the year, as well as see if they improved their abilities.
"This place has gotten a lot more busy since we were last here," Quinn commented.
"It's because we were supposed to go to the green portal planet," Layla replied, "If it weren't for Peter, then I would've trained my ability today too."
Quinn glanced at her. He could tell she was blaming Peter.
Looking around, Layla saw a group of boys all sitting around a corner of the building near a few vending machines. They were chatting it up ignoring the training equipment.
"Haven't I seen them hang around Peter a few times at breakfast?" Layla whispered.
Quinn turned to see what Layla was talking about, and that's when he recognized them. Namely, he recognized the boy named Earl. He had seen him when Peter said he was going to 'meet up with a few people' back when they were hanging out with Fex.
"I doubt we can ask them who they work for," Quinn nervously chuckled.
Layla shook her head, "We're just a pair of level twos."
Layla didn't need to say anything more. They both knew they wouldn't be taken seriously. Instead, what they did was walked away from the boys. The vending machines were lined against the wall that they hid on the side of. It was at the right angle where Earl and his gang couldn't see them clearly.
Despite the fact that Quinn felt out in the open, Layla reassured him that since they were several other students around, they weren't likely to be noticed. To look natural, they bought a drink and leaned against the wall while holding their sodas.
They waited around for a little bit, and nothing happened at first, until they heard one of them say something interesting.
"Ugh! Where is he anyways? He was meant to be here already," One of the boys loudly groaned.
It was just barely audible enough for Quinn and Layla to hear from the distance. A different boy elbowed him harshly Before giving him a look. Quinn and Layla exchanged a glance. A particular person came to mind as to who it might be.
It didn't take long until the boy they were thinking of arrived, Peter. He looked just as anxious as he was that morning as he slowly walked to the boys. He talked to Earl, but it seemed more like Earl talking to Peter as he just stood there with his head down.
Eventually, Peter started leaving with Earl's gang surrounding him. Quinn wanted to say something to him, to tell him that they're right behind him, but there was no easy way to do that without the others overhearing them.
Instead they waited a little bit to give them some distance. They made sure to keep some space, trailing behind while keeping to the crowds. Eventually, they headed to the backside of the second years building.
The second year's buildings looked very similar to the first year's. It was blue toned and futuristic with plenty of windows letting in sunlight. It was also surrounded by walls.
Ever since the assembly incident, the first and second years weren't allowed to go to each other's buildings unless necessary, or if the building was meant to allow both students, like the library. There were second year students standing outside, and Quinn and Layla didn't have a good reason to enter.
However, with Peter being accompanied by second years, no one would say anything, and entered without issue. The same couldn't be said for Quinn and Layla, they would stick out like sore thumbs. They didn't have the arm bands that the second years did, and looked a little on the younger end too.
Either way, they had to follow Peter. Both Layla and Quinn turned to look at each other, nodding in agreement. They were already this far in.
The backside entrance had a second year student guarding it. She was yawning as she leaned against the wall. While Layla was hiding behind a bush, she used her telekinesis ability to throw some rocks in the distance, causing the guard to get distracted. Quinn realized what her plan was, and threw some rocks using his own ability.
The second year student left her post to investigate the source of the sound, allowing Quinn and Layla to sneak in.
Entering the second year building, they found themselves in a slightly crowded hallway, giving the two of them some way to blend in. A few students glanced their way, noticing their lack of arm band, but no one said anything. Quinn was nervous since this was his first time here, and everyone around him was of a higher level, but that was when Layla put a hand on his shoulder.
"Just act natural. You'll stand out more if you keep looking around frantically," Layla advised.
Soon enough, they turned a corner, and Peter's group was right outside of Duke's office. It was located at the end of the hall. Peter headed inside, while Earl's gang hung around outside.
There was a janitor room that was on the opposite side of the corner, which Quinn and Layla decided to wait inside of. They leaned against the door to see if they could hear anything, even though it had a small window. They would avoid using the window to prevent anyone seeing them use it.
"I can't hear anything clearly," Quinn commented.
"I bet a vampire could," Layla replied with a smile, "Now you can see why I'm jealous of them."
Quinn quietly chuckled, "Yeah I guess that's… true…"
His voice trailed off when he got a notification from Erin's side.
[Erin's hunger grows]
[She can no longer suppress her need for blood]
[Her HP will decrease by -1 HP every hour until she has consumed human blood]
Quinn nervously gulped, however, Layla was distracted as she heard Duke's door open. She thought that was the reason why his voice trailed off. Peeking through the small door window, she spotted Peter leaving Duke's office holding some books. He didn't look as miserable as before, and in fact looked a little happy.
"What?" Layla couldn't help but be shocked, "He has more ability books! Are you sure he was actually forced into pushing Erin instead of getting bribed?"
Quinn was a little surprised too with what he was seeing, but he knew what it was he saw last night. Maybe being paid in ability books was part of the reason why Peter almost pushed Erin in, but Layla wasn't there to see Peter break down as he described his torture. There was also something that Quinn didn't tell Layla, but there was apparently someone named Emily who Peter knew, and was killed. It felt too personal to share, and he didn't know enough to do so anyways.
"Peter had his reasons. You know how us low levels are treated," Quinn replied.
Layla's brows slightly furrowed, but she looked back outside.
"He left Duke's office. He has to be the one that the second years are answering to. How else would Peter have those books?"
Quinn didn't immediately respond as he was thinking about Erin's situation. She had just defeated an intermediate beast, but only had 26 hours to drink blood or else something was going to happen to her.
"Quinn?" Layla said as she slightly shook his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Hmm? Yeah, I agree."
With how much trouble the second years had made already, it was only reasonable that a second year staff member was responsible.
"Let's head inside, we might be able to find out more," Layla said.
Suddenly, Quinn wasn't sure he heard right.
"What? But why?" Quinn said, "We figured out it's Duke who they're answering to. What else do we need to figure out?"
Quinn wanted to head back. He needed to help Erin out, but he couldn't do so while he was in a janitor's closet.
Layla then turned to look at Quinn, a serious look to her eyes, "We can find out what planet Erin was sent to, and if there's any portals she could use to get out. Look, there wouldn't be any cameras. The originals didn't want the military to spy on their children, so they had no choice but to comply. "
It was then that it clicked to him. This was the best way he could help Erin. If he could get this information, as well as find out if there were any portals to earth or military base 2 on that planet, then Erin will be able to save herself.
That was when he saw Layla fidgeting with her hands, and she was biting her bottom lip nervously.
"No, I shouldn't get you involved," Layla muttered, looking off to the side, "You're right, this IS risky, but the teachers might not even send help…"
She started biting one of her fingernails as she started mumbling stuff.
"She's a level 1 now, so they might not even bother to send someone to save her, same with your roommate, but she was known as a level 5 so maybe they would? If we just knew what planet she was at, then we could maybe hire a traveler to save her, but by then it might even be too late, and travelers are expensive…"
It was Quinn's turn to put his hand on Layla's shoulder, which got her to stop mumbling, "We'll go inside, find out what planet they're on, then leave. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can save Erin and Fex."
Layla let out a deep sigh, and nodded, "Okay… All of the office doors have finger print sensors on them. We wont be able to go inside unless we figure that out, and we have to make sure Duke isn't going to be in there for a while."
They sat there, figuring out what to do when almost simultaneously, they both had gotten ideas.