Chapter Seven — The Erased Files
The school felt different the next day.
Every hallway, every classroom, every locker suddenly seemed like a trap.
I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Halden watching.
River and I didn't speak much in the morning.
The events at the abandoned studio replayed in my mind like a nightmare.
Thirteen names. Thirteen shadows. And Halden… Number Five.
---
By third period, River leaned toward me.
"I think I know where we can start," he whispered.
I raised an eyebrow. "Where?"
"The records room. Halden's office has a locked cabinet — old files from the fire. I've seen him go through them before. There's something there he doesn't want anyone to find."
I froze. "You mean… stolen evidence?"
"Not stolen," River said, voice low. "Hidden. He erased some files from the main office, then kept the originals here. If Eli had found them, he might've known the truth."
My pulse jumped. "Then that's where we go after school."
River nodded, glancing around. "Careful. Halden is smart. And he's protective. That's why he's Number Five."
---
During lunch, I tried to act normal.
Chloe waved at me from across the cafeteria. I smiled faintly, but I couldn't focus.
Instead, I kept my eyes on Halden.
He walked past, clipboard in hand, looking calm, untouchable, like he hadn't haunted my dreams last night.
My stomach tightened.
---
After the final bell, River and I made our move.
The records room was tucked away behind a stairwell, rarely used.
The door was heavy, its lock old and rusted. River jiggled it until it clicked open.
Inside, rows of metal cabinets stretched from floor to ceiling.
Dust and the smell of old paper filled the air.
River pulled out Eli's notebook from his bag. "We match names to files. One by one."
I started pulling drawers at random, flipping through yellowed papers.
Fire reports, student records, maintenance logs.
Then, in the third drawer, I found it.
A folder marked: "ART BUILDING FIRE — CONFIDENTIAL"
Inside were reports that didn't make sense:
Witness statements that contradicted each other
Notes on students "involved" in the fire
Photos of the building before and after
And one small slip of paper with Eli's handwriting:
> "They know too much. Keep it hidden."
I looked at River. "He left a clue."
River nodded. "He always does."
We pulled the folder out and started scanning the files.
Something clicked — patterns, names, incidents.
The fire wasn't an accident.
It was planned.
And someone at the school had covered it up.
---
Suddenly, the door creaked.
We froze.
A shadow appeared in the doorway.
"Going through old memories, are we?"
Halden's voice. Calm. Menacing.
River stepped in front of me. "We're just… looking."
He didn't move closer. Didn't reach for a phone or scream. He just stood there, as if testing us.
"You shouldn't be here," Halden said. "Eli knew better than you. You'll regret this."
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "Why? Why cover it up?"
Halden's eyes flickered for the briefest second — almost like he considered telling the truth.
Then his mask returned. "Some truths are dangerous, Zara. Some things are meant to stay buried."
River tightened his grip on my arm. "We'll find out anyway."
Halden smiled — cold, small, cruel. "Careful. Curiosity killed more than cats around here. Number Six knows that."
Before we could respond, he was gone.
The door slammed behind him, leaving us alone.
I leaned against the cabinet, shaking.
"Number Six?" I whispered.
River shook his head. "Another one on the list. Someone we haven't met yet. And if Halden just mentioned them… we're running out of time."
I stared at the files.
Eli had been close.
He had known what would happen if the wrong people found out.
And now, so did we.
The notebook and the files felt heavier in my hands.
The list of thirteen names wasn't just a puzzle anymore.
It was a warning.
And someone was watching.