Chapter 178

#45

The wind outside the school building is freezing, but it does absolutely nothing to cool the panic buzzing through my veins.

My uniform skirt whips against my bare knees as I march down the gravel pathway toward the side lawns, my vision slightly blurred by a volatile mix of tears and adrenaline. I can still hear the murmurs of the remaining students behind me, their eyes burning holes into my back, but my focus is locked entirely on the three figures standing near the stone benches by the auxiliary gym.

Priya and Emma are huddled closely around Chloe, who is sitting on the edge of the stone structure with her shoulders shaking violently as she cries hard into her hands. The sight of her completely broken state hits me with a wave of immense guilt and grief.

As I take a few halting steps closer, my boots crunch softly on the loose gravel and Priya looks up over her shoulder. Her expression instantly hardens the moment she registers my presence. She nudges Emm