Chapter 4

The next morning, I went back to my old dorm to grab my textbooks.

Two clear plastic bins were piled up outside the door.

My towel, mug, face wash, and slippers were all stuffed inside.

A sticky note was taped to the top:

[Please do not bring your personal belongings back into the common area.]

A few students walked down the hallway, slowing their pace.

"Is that her?"

"Yeah, I heard she’s quarantined in the basement."

"She actually has the nerve to come back and get her stuff?"

I crouched down and began transferring my things into a tote bag, one by one.

Hailey came out of the suite. When she saw me, she turned pale.

"Chloe, why didn't you text us before coming?"

"Do I need a permit to get my own books?"

Her lips trembled.

"No... it’s just, everyone is really scared right now."

"Scared of what?" I stood up. "Scared of me breathing?"

Her face flushed red.

Jessica poked her head out from the door.

"Cut the sarcasm, Chloe. Mindy is in a really fragile state right now. Can you please stop triggering her?"

I looked past her into the room.

Mindy was lying in her bed, her privacy curtain half-drawn.

She didn't show her face, but she let out a soft, dry cough.

As if to remind everyone that she was the victim here.

I walked over to my desk and noticed my drawers had been rummaged through.

My notebooks were piled messily, and my class materials were scattered all over the floor.

I turned around.

"Who touched my things?"

Jessica braced herself and said, "We just helped you pack them so no one would accidentally touch them."

"Helped me?" I picked up a notebook with a ripped cover. "Did you have my permission?"

Hailey said softly, "It's an emergency situation."

Jessica let out a cold laugh.

"You seriously have time to complain about this? If the Dean confirms the infection, you might not even be allowed to stay enrolled."

At 10:00 AM, Dean Vance called me into his office again.

A printed document lay on his desk.

He got straight to the point.

"Chloe, the situation is escalating. Mindy’s parents contacted the Chancellor last night, and they are extremely furious."

"The university suggests that you voluntarily submit a withdrawal form."

He pushed the paper toward me.

"This way, it won't look too bad on your official transcript, and you’ll still have options for your future."

I looked at the bold letters on the paper: Voluntary Withdrawal Application.

I pushed it right back.

"I’m not signing it."

Dean Vance’s face darkened.

"Chloe, don't back yourself into a corner."

"I’m not backing myself into a corner. You are trying to force me to confess to something I didn't do."

Dean Vance frowned. "Your attitude is highly problematic. Mindy has suffered severe trauma. As her suitemate, the least you can do is cooperate."

"Cooperating doesn't mean admitting guilt."

Dr. Cooper, who had been quiet, finally spoke up.

"Chloe, from a medical standpoint, we need you to take a test as soon as possible to rule out any possibilities."

I turned to him.

"I can take a test, but not under the assumption that I am already guilty."

Dean Vance slammed his hand on the desk.

"You are in no position to bargain right now!"

More students gathered outside the open door.

The walls in this building were paper-thin. Any raised voice could be heard across the entire floor.

Dean Vance lowered his tone.

"We have a departmental town hall meeting this afternoon to announce the administration's decision. You’d better think it over before then."

I grabbed my bag.

"I’ve already thought it over."

As I stepped out of the office, I saw Mindy standing at the end of the hallway.

She was wearing a white coat, her face completely drained of color.

Seeing me leave, she slowly pulled down her face mask.

She stared at me, her lips curling into a smug, triumphant smirk.

Like she was looking at a bug she had finally crushed into the dirt.