The Cipher: Locks and Keys

The sound of shuffling feet and the hum of idle chatter filled the classroom as students slowly settled into their seats. Lockey sat in his usual spot near the back, leaning back in his chair, his gaze half-focused on the window beside him. The events from his last conversation with Lee weighed heavily on his mind. An investigation? On me?

Just as the bell rang, the classroom door swung open, and a tall, stern-looking teacher strode in, clutching a clipboard in one hand. The murmur of voices immediately died down. The teacher, Mr. Gale, set his materials down on the desk before addressing the room. "Alright, class, before we begin today's lesson, I have an important announcement to make."

Lockey straightened up slightly, his attention piqued. Mr. Gale continued, "We have a new student joining us today. I'd like you all to give her a warm welcome." He motioned toward the door. "Emma, come in."

The door creaked open, and in walked a girl with long, flowing black hair that seemed to shimmer as it caught the light. Her presence alone commanded the room. She was striking—every eye turned toward her, admiration and curiosity filling the air. Lockey’s breath caught in his throat. So, she’s the one...

Mr. Gale gestured for her to stand at the front of the room. Emma stood tall, her expression calm but confident. She scanned the classroom briefly before speaking in a soft yet firm voice. "My name is Emma, and I'm 16 years old. I like reading and sketching. I hope we all get along." Her tone was measured, not too formal but also not too casual. A perfect introduction that revealed little yet was polite enough to deter further probing.

Lockey’s eyes narrowed as he observed her. She didn’t seem out of place or nervous. In fact, she appeared... calculated. Her entrance, her words, the way she held herself—it all felt too deliberate. Interesting, he thought. She’s not just here for school.

The boys in the room whispered among themselves, admiration clear in their tones. A few nudged each other, already planning to introduce themselves after class. Some of the girls exchanged glances, though whether they were intrigued or jealous, Lockey couldn't tell. He wasn’t paying much attention to them. His focus was solely on Emma.

She exchanged a brief nod with Mr. Gale before moving to take an empty seat near the center of the classroom. As she sat, the whispering grew louder, a ripple of excitement running through the class.

"She's beautiful," someone muttered from the row in front of him.

"I heard she's smart too," another whispered.

Lockey remained silent, though his thoughts churned. He rested his chin on his hand, feigning boredom. So, this is who they sent to keep an eye on me, he mused. She doesn’t look like a regular student, but I guess that’s the point.

Lockey’s eyes lingered on her for a moment longer before returning to the window. He wouldn’t do anything to stand out just yet. As far as the investigation went, he was in control—or so he convinced himself. But Emma's arrival was a reminder that the WCM was always watching.

Mr. Gale cleared his throat, reclaiming the class's attention. "Alright, now that introductions are out of the way, let’s get started with today’s lesson. Open your textbooks to page 32."

As the class resumed, Lockey remained alert, watching Emma from the corner of his eye. She might have introduced herself as just another student, but Lockey knew better. This investigation is only beginning, he thought, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. I need to be careful.

He settled into his seat, his mind working. Emma’s presence wasn’t an immediate threat, but she could become one if he didn’t play this right. He'd have to stay one step ahead of her—and the WCM.

“We’re going to continue today’s lesson on advanced calculus,” Mr. Grey said, scribbling formulas onto the board. “So open your textbooks to page 134.”

The class begrudgingly flipped their books open. Lockey followed suit, but his thoughts were far from the black-and-white numbers scattered across the page. He couldn’t stop replaying his last conversation with Lee. Was she really just here to observe? Or was there something else lurking beneath the surface of this investigation?

Emma, meanwhile, seemed perfectly at ease, her eyes on the board as she diligently copied down the equations. But Lockey wasn’t fooled. He’d caught her glancing his way more than once, and he knew it was only a matter of time before she made her move.

Lockey and Adam joined the cafeteria queue, trays in hand, silently selecting their meals. The noise of the bustling cafeteria faded into the background as they navigated through the crowd. After paying for their food, they found a corner table and sat down.

Adam sighed, poking at his mashed potatoes. "Everyone’s really going nuts because of the new student."

Lockey raised an eyebrow, taking a casual bite of his sandwich. Who knows, he thought, momentarily surprised. Adam, of all people, seemed unfazed by Emma's presence, despite how stunning she was.

"Strange," Lockey mused aloud, breaking the silence. "I thought you’d be one of them. Guess I was wrong about you."

Adam shifted uncomfortably, his face flushing. “It’s just… I’ve got my heart set on someone else.”

Lockey nodded, unfazed. “I see.”

Adam frowned, clearly expecting more. "Aren't you at least going to ask who?" he pressed, his voice tinged with disappointment.

Lockey let out a quiet sigh, setting his sandwich down. “Alright. Who?”

Adam glanced around the room as if guarding a secret. “It’s Isabella. You know… Rina’s friend.”

Lockey gave a noncommittal hum. “I see. Good luck with that.”

Adam slumped in his chair, frustration creeping into his tone. “You’re really boring, you know that, Lockey?”

Lockey just shrugged, unfazed by the comment. He was about to take another bite when the cafeteria suddenly grew quieter—something unusual for this time of day. A soft murmur spread through the room.

“She’s here.”

Whispers floated through the air as Emma entered the cafeteria, gracefully carrying a tray. Every head turned, and students from Year 1 scrambled to straighten their posture, desperate to look cool. She walked calmly through the rows, seemingly unfazed by the attention.

Students awkwardly shuffled around, creating an empty seat near Lockey and Adam. Emma approached their table, her movements measured and deliberate. Adam's face turned pale, his breath catching in his throat as his heart raced.

"May I sit?" she asked, her voice cool but polite. The question sent a ripple of confusion through the room. All eyes were on them, waiting for Lockey’s response.

Lockey felt a twinge of annoyance. So this is what you’re planning, he thought, his eyes narrowing. Trying to get close to me through this?

Lockey shot her a sharp glance, his irritation barely contained. "Sorry," he said flatly, standing up. "I don’t like sitting with popular people."

Without waiting for a response, Lockey grabbed his tray. Adam, clearly shocked and unsure of what to do, fumbled with his own tray before hastily following Lockey. Together, they left the now silent crowd behind, Emma’s eyes tracking their departure.