Chapter 3
Maya was not crying when Caleb first saw her.
That frightened him more.
She stood stiffly on the gravel path, arms slightly away from her sides because the paint made her clothes heavy and cold. Her hair was plastered to her cheeks. Blue streaks clung to her eyelashes.
Her lips looked pale.
Her breathing was wrong.
Too shallow.
Too controlled.
Like she was trying not to panic because panic had already failed her.
Caleb ran toward her.
“Maya.”
She looked at him, and only then did her face break.
“Daddy.”
He reached her and stopped himself from grabbing too hard.
Every inch of her was coated.
He did not know what was in the paint.
He did not know if touching it would smear it into her eyes or mouth.
So he put his hands carefully on her shoulders and lowered his face to hers.
“Can you breathe?”
She nodded.
Then shook her head.
Then whispered, “I don’t know.”
Behind him, Principal Shore said, “Mr. Rourke, please remain calm.”
Caleb did not turn yet.
“How long has she been like this?”
No answer.
He looked over his shoulder.
Principal Shore stood with three staff members near the school entrance. Her expression was tight, not horrified. Irritated.
“How long?”
She adjusted her pearl necklace.
“We were assessing the situation.”
Grant Hollister stood near the shed, phone upright, smirking as if he were filming a prank that would make him famous before dinner.
A silver paint bucket lay tipped near his shoes.
Cobalt-blue paint stained the gravel in a widening pool.
Another student stood beside the black SUV parked along the courtyard edge, face pale, looking like he wanted to disappear.
Caleb looked back at Maya.
“Did it get in your mouth?”
Her fingers clutched his sleeve.
“They poured it from the shed roof.”
His vision narrowed.
“Who?”
Maya’s eyes moved to Grant.
Grant smiled wider.
“Careful,” Principal Shore said.
Caleb slowly turned.
The courtyard went quiet.
Principal Shore stepped forward, palm raised.
“Stay quiet, Mr. Rourke, or this could affect her place here.”
That was the moment Caleb understood.
They were not trying to help Maya.
May you like
They were trying to keep her quiet.
Read Chapter 4 👉 Because Principal Shore’s warning told Caleb exactly what the school valued most.
