-Poisonous-
(continued)
Once Jaiden reached the administration, he could see how limp Rune’s body looked as they carried them on a white stretcher. The campus officer and dean of students were the ones carrying Rune and being followed by a nurse, and three teachers.
One of the teachers stopped to redirect Jaiden, “Sir, go to your next class. We’re taking care of him.” Jaiden recognized him as Mr. Reaber, the P.E teacher he had in freshman year. He was much younger than many of the other teachers, although stress made his jet black hair turn with streaks of silver. He looked like a mess with a lanyard of keys and a whistle around his neck. Jaiden remembered he always participating in mile runs and exercises whenever he taught his P.E class. The one exception was when he sprained his leg from a bad bull-machine-riding experience. He was definitely very enthusiastic and Jaiden’s favorite P.E teacher. Not to mention his colorful past at Ollen Valley High.
“Mr. Reaber, I know what happened to Rune. They’re my best friend and I need to make sure they’re okay!” Jaiden demanded.
“Sorry, Jaid, but it's not up to me. If it were, I’d let you come along,” Mr. Reaber started to walk away. Jaiden thought he should at least tell him what had happened to Rune.
“They ate two berries before they passed out… they were poisonous!” Jaiden held up the small otherworldly cloth. The crows seemed to have followed Jaiden and perched themselves once again. He continued with his explanation, “They said that the lady that runs the fruit post gave it to them for free…. Ms. Crowfer?”
Mr. Reaber stopped in his tracks as the last bell for the passing period rang. There was an eeriness about the way he turned to Jaiden, confused and paranoid.
“You mean Ms. Crodsfer?”
Jaiden nodded, although, he wasn't sure. Mr. Reaber thought for a moment and continued, “Okay, you can come, but only to tell them what had happened to Rune… You’re lucky I’m one of the only people aware of the other sketchy stuff she’s done.”
Jaiden followed Mr. Reaber into the nurse’s office, where they would wait for an ambulance.
What Mr. Reaber said puzzled him. What did he mean about Ms. Crodsfer? Had she poisoned kids before? Jaiden didn’t know much about her and had only ever bought oranges from her.
When they entered the health office, the nurse was checking Rune’s temperature while an office administrator tried to contact Rune’s mother. The campus officer walked up to Mr. Reaber and Jaiden, her hands set pridefully on her hips.
“This is Rune’s friend. He said that he-”
“They were Poisoned by Ms. Crodsfer! She gave Rune three red berries, they ate two and I stepped on the last,” Jaiden interrupted. He handed the cloth to the officer and she inspected it briefly before looking back at them, annoyed.
“Listen, kid, I doubt it’s anything that dramatic. I know Ms. Crodsfer personally, and I doubt that sweet old lady would ever have purposely poisoned your friend. She probably had a few extra berries left from a batch, wanted to give them away, and Rune just happened to not be so lucky,” the officer handed the cloth back to Jaiden and waved her hand to dismiss him.
“Didn’t you read what it said? ‘A debt finally paid?’ Don’t you think that's a little alarming?” Jaiden argued to the officer but all she did was shoot him a dead-eyed glance and left. He was certain a message like that wouldn’t end up on the cloth by mistake or coincidence, but what else was he to do? The ambulance siren drew into the school campus. Jaiden was written a late pass for his next class and Mr. Reaber led him out of the office.
“Let me take a look at that cloth,” the P.E teacher asked as they walked out. Jaiden sluggishly handed him the cloth. He felt defeated and exhausted.
“What's this?” Mr. Reaber asked as he pointed out the symbol in the center. It was a smooth bronze color and a perfect circle. The detail in the thread almost looked printed, as if microscopic spiders made up a pattern.
“I don’t know, probably her new brand logo or something,” Jaiden mumbled.
“I don’t think so, Jaid. I’ve definitely seen it before…” Mr. Reaber wrinkled his nose as he thought until his face was swept with realization. He gasped and patted Jaiden on the shoulder.
“Come with me to the library! I know where I’ve seen it!” The younger side of Mr. Reaber shown in his eyes. Jaiden hesitated for a moment.
“But what about… They said…”
“Don't you wanna help your friend!?” Now it was as if Jaiden was talking to a whole other person. After all, Mr. Reaber, the rule-abiding P.E teacher, was once Alex Reaber, the kid that ran conspiracy theory club. Besides, Jaiden cared more about Rune than whether or not he showed up to his math class at a decent time.
“Okay,” Jaiden agreed in a sigh. He went into the school library with Mr. Reaber leading the way.
Alex Reaber greeted the librarian as an old friend. She was a thin lady, with natural red hair in her mid 60’s and worked at that high school longer than anyone. She always let Jaiden and Rune eat in the library during lunch, even though the campus was very strict about food indoors.
“Good morning, Mr. Reaber, Jaiden. How can I help you two?” Her voice creaked softly as she spoke.
“We’re looking for,” Alex leaned into a whisper, “‘The Book’… Is it still in the same spot?”
The librarian thought for a moment before turning her chair to open the smallest drawer at her desk. She pulled out a wooden box with foreign engravings and set it in front of them. Red chipped paint lined the rim of the top. It wore a tiny keyhole on the side which she unlocked with a small key hidden on her staff lanyard. She slid off the lid to reveal yet another key. It was an intricate bronze with the same weaving pattern that surrounded the symbol on the cloth.
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