Lena
The flash drive sat between Coach Hale’s fingers.
Small.
Black.
Ordinary.
And somehow—
More frightening than the collapsing rink.
Nobody moved.
The gas hissed behind us.
The corridor groaned overhead.
But all I could see—
Was that drive?
Ava’s drive.
The missing truth.
My pulse hammered painfully.
No.
Coach Hale looked calm.
Too calm.
Like he had expected this moment.
Like he had rehearsed it.
The emergency lights flickered weakly across his silver hair and unreadable face.
And suddenly—
Campus legend didn’t fit anymore.
He looked different.
Smaller.
Colder.
Dangerous.
Rowan stared at the drive.
And I watched his expression break.
Not anger.
Not hatred.
Fear.
Real fear.
My stomach twisted.
No.
Coach Hale smiled faintly.
“You look surprised.”
Rowan’
