Chapter 2: Suspicions and Secrets

"What do you mean, ‘no hope left’?"

I watched her closely, sweat prickling my palms as I gripped the guardrail. Aubrey’s shoulders shook with silent sobs, her hands locked so tightly on the rail I worried her fingers might snap. A seagull circled overhead, a silent witness to the drama below.

When she wouldn’t speak, I turned to Mr. Lewis. "Mr. Lewis, what’s going on?"

He shook his head, voice hoarse. "I’m not sure. Aubrey’s scores have tanked on every recent practice exam. She’s at the bottom now, and she can’t answer even the daily quizzes."

My eyes widened. "How is that possible? She used to be top three in the city! How could her scores fall so fast?"

Mr. Lewis looked down, voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know. She works hard, in and out of class, but her grades keep dropping, like she’s a different person…"

I felt a chill crawl up my spine. No matter how hard a top student works, she’s suddenly at the bottom? The answer seemed almost supernatural.

Could it be… a system?

A long time ago, I noticed something strange at this school.

Some students would awaken mysterious systems—usually right before the SATs. These systems could make average kids into top scorers, swap scores, even steal intelligence.

And for some reason, only I could hear their conversations with their systems—like being stuck on a secret radio frequency.

I’d seen a top student’s grades get stolen, her future ruined, while the thief basked in glory and a full-ride scholarship. No one believed me. All I could do was watch, helpless, as systems turned the SATs into a battlefield.

Now, hearing Mr. Lewis’s words, I was almost certain: Aubrey’s scores had been swapped away.

I steadied my breath, approached Aubrey, and said, "Aubrey, come down first. I have a way to help you get your grades back."

She looked at me, stunned. "Ms. Grant, are you serious?"

"I am." I reached out my hand, voice steady: "I promise."

I didn’t know if I could actually fix anything. But right now, hope was all either of us had.

I held her gaze, willing her to believe me, feeling the crushing weight of her desperation on my shoulders.