Crimson Ties

Moving stealthily down the academy's deserted hallway, Vince knew he had to work quickly. Hundreds of lockers stretched across the corridor in neat, identical rows, each one anonymous, unremarkable. But Hannah's had to stand out—there had to be something, anything that would lead him to the right one.

He focused, scanning the subtle details: minor scratches on the handles, the faded edges of tape where labels had once been, and finally, a locker with the faintest residue of an old sticker—a faded butterfly, almost invisible in the dim light. His gut told him this was it. He'd seen a similar sticker in the photo of Hannah's room, something she'd likely chosen herself. A small thing, but he couldn't ignore it. Carefully, he crouched to pick the lock.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" The voice was sharp, but hushed, laced with an edge of disbelief.

Vince moved instinctively. He spun around, his hand covering her mouth before she could make a sound, his other arm restraining her, pressing her back firmly against the cold locker. She struggled, her wide eyes flashing with fear. He leaned in close, lowering his voice to a murmur. "I'm not here to hurt you," he said, his gaze steady, intense. "But I need you to stay quiet. I'm looking for someone—Hannah Kensington."

The girl—Chloe Mitchell, he read her name tag on her blouse now—stopped struggling, her breathing shallow as she met his gaze, wary but strangely intrigued. He could see her weighing his words, the spark of recognition flickering in her eyes.

In her mind, Chloe's thoughts raced. Is he here to kidnap me? Some kind of madman prowling the academy? Maybe... The thought was there before she could suppress it, an unbidden thrill. She felt a warmth stirring, spreading through her, her cheeks flushed against his palm. What the hell is wrong with me? Why is my body reacting like this? Her pulse quickened as she glanced down, hoping he hadn't noticed her wrong reaction.

Releasing her mouth slowly, Vince kept his voice low, leaning just close enough for her to hear. "Now, are you going to scream, or can we talk like civilized people?"

His eyes settled on Chloe, her distinct appearance striking even in the dim light. Her hair was a vibrant shade of blue, cut just at her shoulders, framing her face with a softness that matched her slightly hesitant expression. The academy's uniform fit her in a way that bordered on alluring despite its conservative design. The blazer was tailored and crisp, while her skirt fell just above her knees. Though it was clearly standard-issue, the way she wore it—with her blouse untucked slightly and the top button undone—hinted at a quiet rebellion, softened by her natural shyness.

When Vince saw the flicker of surprise in her eyes, he eased up, lowering his hands and gesturing quickly for silence.

"Look," he whispered, keeping his voice calm. "I'm Vince, detective Vince Kane, here on an investigation. I need your help, Chloe. I think you know Hannah well, right?"

Chloe's gaze darted between his face and the shadows around them, but her curiosity was winning out over her initial shock. She gave a small nod, chewing her lip as she processed the request. "Yes... I mean, we were in the same class, and I know a bit about her. But why would you need my help?"

"Because I'm trying to find her" Vince replied, his tone direct but soft enough to reassure her. "I need to know things about her that might not be on record. Her habits, where she liked to go, things like that. Can you help me?"

Chloe hesitated, glancing over her shoulder at the silent hallway behind them. "Okay... but this is risky" she whispered. "If someone catches us…"

Before Vince could respond, they heard the steady echo of approaching footsteps. The clacking of shoes against the polished floor drew nearer, and Chloe's eyes went wide with alarm. Vince pressed himself into the corner, sinking back against the lockers and motioning for Chloe to stand in front of him, using her small frame as a shield.

"Who's there?" one of the guards called out, a mix of suspicion and familiarity in her tone. Two figures in sharp, tailored uniforms appeared, flashlights in hand. Both were female, their uniforms giving off an air of rigid professionalism. Chloe quickly adjusted her stance, brushing her hair back to look as innocent as possible.

"Is there a reason you're out here this late, young lady?" the taller guard asked, her flashlight's beam cutting through the dimness and shining directly on Chloe's hand-covered eyes.

Chloe cleared her throat, mustering up a shy smile. "I, uh… I left my English notes in my locker" she murmured, fidgeting with her hands. "I didn't want to fall behind, so I thought I'd come get them…"

The guards exchanged skeptical glances, their flashlights sweeping the lockers, the floor, and then lingering a little too close to where Vince was hidden. He held his breath, muscles coiled as he waited for any sign they'd spotted him.

"Fine" the second guard finally said, her tone clipped. "But be quick. You're supposed to be in your dorm by now, you know that. We'll let this slide—this time."

Chloe gave a quick nod and started moving toward the end of the corridor, casting a quick glance back as if to assure herself that Vince was still hidden in the shadows.

Inside Hannah's locker, Vince found a small pile of essentials—a couple of worn textbooks, a scrunchie tucked between pages, a nearly empty perfume vial, and a small compact mirror, scratched and clearly well-used. Just as he started to close the locker, his fingers brushed against a folded piece of paper, almost too thin to notice. He turned it over, but there was nothing written on it. Still, he slipped it into his coat pocket, making a mental note to inspect it more closely later.

Vince waited until the guard led Chloe away from her locker, their footsteps echoing faintly down the corridor. Staying a few paces back, he followed them through the dimly lit hall, matching his steps to theirs to keep his presence unnoticed.

Finally, the guard stopped at Chloe's dorm room, giving her a stern reminder to stay in for the rest of the night. Once the guard's footsteps faded away, Vince approached the door, letting himself in just as Chloe flipped on the bedside lamp.

Chloe's dorm room was cozy but neat, decorated with soft pastel tones. A small bed pressed up against one wall was draped with a blanket, embroidered with delicate floral patterns, and an assortment of pillows that seemed both decorative and essential. To the right, her desk was cluttered but orderly, with textbooks stacked next to a potted plant and a half-burnt scented candlesthat left a faint lavender scent in the air. The light hum of the small electric fan in the corner filled the room, mingling with the quiet creak of floorboards under Vince's step.

Chloe turned around, jumping a little as she noticed him. He held up a hand, signaling her to keep quiet.