CHAPTER FOUR175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoF9dloAVP
Jabari175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nxgtDTs0l
They want blood. I can see it in the way the principal’s eyes narrow during assemblies, in the clipped tones of teachers stalking the corridors. The school’s pride is wounded, and someone has to pay. As student council president-and the Order’s shadow leader-I know that someone can’t be me or any of my inner circle. But the Order won’t survive unless I give them a name.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70tnFuyeSa
I spend my evenings piecing together scraps of information from my lieutenants. The Order’s network is always listening-hallway whispers, club rosters, even the subtle shifts in who sits with whom at lunch. The order keeps tabs on all the important connections between our school and the girls on the other side. It’s not hard-there are always interschool events, debate competitions, and student council forums that bring us together, even if just for a few hours at a time. 175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD05MHXPzxX
That’s where I first notice Juma and Seline. At first, it’s just a note in a report: Seline, the girls journalism club’s editor-in-chief, has been spotted talking with Juma after meetings and other joint engagements, sometimes laughing, sometimes deep in conversation. 175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIigpGtwYMz
It clicks. Seline trusts him, maybe more than she trusts anyone else on our side. And Juma, for all his youth, has always wanted to prove himself. This is the connection I need-a bridge straight to the heart of the girls’ journalism club. That’s all the leverage I need.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN63Z72GnAT
The plan is simple: I’ll feed Seline enough evidence-some real, some carefully curated-about Mercy’s power plays, her manipulation, maybe even her hand in the cheating scandal. All of it sourced from Mercy’s own allies, or at least made to look that way. In return, Seline and her club will focus their next big story on Mercy, not the Order. It buys us time, maybe enough for things to cool down.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXndRvARz2s
I call Juma into the office. “You’re going to make an introduction for me,” I tell him. He’s nervous, but he nods. I can’t afford hesitation now. 175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5wNjb6Tfy
“Seline needs a new angle, and we need the heat off our backs. Mercy’s gotten too comfortable on her throne. It’s time someone reminded her that power is never permanent.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp5n101O5u
This is survival. If I don’t act, the Order burns-and with it, everything we’ve built. As I watch Juma walk off to set up the meeting, I feel the weight of the decision settle on my shoulders. 175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0YwiUdLaC
This is the price of leadership: knowing when to trade a pawn to save the king. And in this school, the game never really ends.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1lhM9mvtH
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Juma is more determined than ever as he moves to carry out Jabari’s orders. This time, the stakes are higher-he knows he can’t afford to fail. Luckily, he already has a way in: Mary Achieng Form Two White. It was Juma who, earlier, convinced Mary to help Kim clear her name; in return, Mary (through Kim) managed to steal the Order’s inventory book from locker 14.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmx1yI6d1xX
Now, with the inventory book in their possession-a piece of stolen school property that could have serious consequences if exposed-Juma realizes they hold leverage that could shake the Order to its core. 175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREyWauo0fC
He reaches out to Mary, careful to keep up the appearance that he’s simply following Jabari’s instructions to make contact for the sake of the deal with Seline. But beneath the surface, Juma and Mary are plotting something bigger: a coordinated assault on the Order’s secrets, using the stolen inventory as their weapon.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeECFVZ7jlj
As they plan, Juma knows the risks are immense. Theft of the order property like the inventory book can lead to severe disciplinary actions, including expulsion or even criminal charges if discovered. But for Juma, the chance to finally expose the Order’s inner workings-and perhaps settle old scores-outweighs the danger. 175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjyzQp9Thh
All he has to do is play both sides, keep Jabari satisfied, and trust that Mary will help him pull off the biggest coup the school has seen.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSd2Cw35mk
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Mary Achieng had never been the kind of girl to attract attention. She moved through Kisumu Girls High School with practiced invisibility, her silence a shield and her eyes always watchful. But now, in the wake of the cheating scandal and the tightening grip of the school’s authorities, Mary found herself drawn into a dangerous game-a game where secrets were currency and trust was always in short supply.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7AGJ0t6Lf
It was Mary who first approached Kim, the girl marked by the deputy’s red pen and the swirling rumors. In a quiet corner behind the science block, Mary offered Kim a deal: help her retrieve a small green notebook from locker 14-07, and in return, Mary would reveal the location of the evidence that could clear Kim’s name. The exchange was simple on the surface, but both girls knew the risks. For Kim, it was a chance at redemption; for Mary, it was a gamble with consequences she could barely predict.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5Zgied1Da
Kim kept her end of the bargain-she found the battered green notebook, unopened, just as Mary had demanded. When Kim handed over the notebook, Mary’s relief was palpable. She clutched it to her chest, her eyes scanning the shadows for unseen threats. True to her word, she gave Kim the final clue: locker 14-12, the key taped behind the fire extinguisher, and inside, a brown envelope with Kim’s name on it. The evidence was damning-a log, a signed note from a teacher, and a blurry photo that proved Kim was framed.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksUC83tjEW
She had always survived by keeping her head down. She was the Order’s shadow-trusted with secrets but never truly one of them. Now, with the green notebook clutched in her hands, she felt more exposed than ever.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNThsW5QLcS
Juma’s message came late in the evening, terse and urgent. He wanted her help again, but this time, it wasn’t about quietly moving evidence or passing coded notes. Jabari, the Order’s real leader on the boys’ side, had ordered Juma to use Mary as a bridge to Seline, the sharp-eyed editor of the girls’ journalism club. The plan was risky: feed Seline enough dirt to distract her from the Order’s own scandals. If it failed, Mary knew she would be the one left holding the blame.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxln7CS7LOG
Mary’s nerves frayed as she replayed Juma’s instructions. She remembered how Seline had taken down the last Order coordinator with a single exposé. If Seline caught even a whiff of Mary’s involvement, she would dig until she found everything-Mary’s role in the Order, the secret exchanges, the green notebook itself.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrpJO44mYf
For the first time, Mary felt truly trapped. Juma and Jabari expected her loyalty. Seline was a threat lurking in the background, and Kim-once a victim-now held all the power. The green notebook, once her shield, had become her greatest liability.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPciHrAYKH
Mary spent her nights in restless fear, unable to trust anyone. She knew that if she made a single mistake, she could lose everything-her place at school, her reputation, even her future. Yet she also knew she had to act. If she didn’t choose a side soon, the Order would fall, and she would be caught in the rubble.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoxKhZo1Th
But which side could she trust? And, more pressingly, would anyone ever trust her again?175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3war55Xel
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Mary lingered at the edge of the meeting spot, her heart thumping as she saw Seline approaching-and then, to her shock, Kim trailing just behind. Why was Kim here? Mary’s fingers tightened around the green notebook, suddenly slick with sweat. She’d thought this would be a simple handoff, a chance to manage Seline’s questions and keep her own secrets buried. Now, with Kim’s startled eyes meeting hers, everything felt exposed.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQUVnSjMuG
She watched Seline’s sharp gaze flick between her and Kim, suspicion already forming. Mary’s mind raced, searching for an escape, but she knew she was cornered. If she ran now, she’d lose her last chance to control the story. Alone, she was nothing-a shadow the Order could erase without a second thought.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tIL6rlU3k
But maybe, just maybe, she didn’t have to be alone. Kim had power now, and Seline’s reputation for uncovering the truth was legendary. If she told them everything-about Juma’s whispered orders, Jabari’s threats from the boys’ side, June and Mercy’s silent enforcement-maybe she could finally step out of the Order’s shadow.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV3UdI7N3Q
Mary took a shaky breath. She owed herself more than fear. She owed Kim the truth. And Seline… Seline would never stop digging anyway.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXsaGd3sZh
“I need to explain,” she said, voice low but steady. “-all of it. The Order isn’t what you think. And I can’t fight them alone.”175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09jwJLdXMr
As she spoke, she felt the weight of secrecy begin to lift. For the first time, she let herself hope that trust-fragile as it was-might be her way out.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjH1HVQt5r
Seline175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOsnSH0Zzh
Mary isn’t just another student caught in the Order’s web-she’s the thread that could unravel the whole thing. For weeks, Kim and I were stumbling in the dark, collecting rumors, piecing together timelines, and trying to make sense of the coded notes and vanishing furniture. But now, with Mary on our side, everything feels sharper, more focused. She’s lived on the inside, seen how the Order operates from the shadows, and knows the secrets that outsiders like us could only guess at.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5fTLox94U
What makes Mary invaluable isn’t just her knowledge, though that alone is staggering. She can tell us who attended which secret meetings, who delivered threats, and how messages were passed without anyone noticing. She knows the rituals-how initiates are tested, what symbols to look for, and even the hiding places for evidence. When she talks about Jabari’s coded instructions or the order’s subtle manipulations, it’s like she’s handing us the Order’s playbook.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGzFDe0sSS
But Mary’s value goes beyond information. She’s proof that the Order isn’t impenetrable. If someone like her-someone trusted enough to carry messages and keep secrets-can turn against them, it means the Order can be broken from within. Her courage gives us leverage: when we bring our findings to light, no one can dismiss them as gossip or jealousy. We’ll have a witness, a collaborator, and maybe even a symbol for other silent victims to rally behind.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEh5vjM5La
Still, I know we have to be careful. Mary is scared, and with good reason. The Order protects its own, and anyone who betrays them becomes a target. It’s up to us to keep her safe-never leaving her alone at meetings, making sure she’s not being watched, and keeping her name out of anything public until we’re ready. I’m already thinking about how to document her testimony, how to cross-check her stories with what Kim and I have found, and how to stash copies of everything somewhere secure.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rfyvAFI1t
Mary’s presence changes the game. With her, we can finally chart the Order’s hierarchy, understand the connections between the girls’ and boys’ sides, and predict their next moves. She can help us set traps, gather real evidence, and maybe even turn other insiders our way. For the first time, it feels like we’re not just fighting a rumor-we’re building a real case, with facts and witnesses and a plan.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EvFM1QcBj
If we play this right, Mary won’t just help us expose the Order-she’ll help us protect ourselves, and maybe even change the school for good
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Kim175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRsJnAm3VC
I used to think the Order was just a story-something the older girls whispered about in the dorms, a way to explain the weird things that happened when no one was looking. But now, after everything with Mary and Seline, after all the secrets we’ve uncovered, I see how naïve I was. The truth is messier, scarier, and so much more real than I ever imagined.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLyMzQlvgn
It started with rumors, but Mary gave us names and faces. She described the Order as a network-a living thing that stretched its roots through both sides of the school. Jabari, on the boys’ side, was the strategist, always calm, always watching. Mercy, on our side, was the master manipulator, the one who seemed to know everything before anyone else did, always three moves ahead. June and Juma were their enforcers, the ones who carried out orders, delivered threats, and made sure everyone stayed in line.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9GlOLKTAj
Mary explained how the Order worked like a pyramid. At the top were Jabari and Mercy, then a handful of trusted lieutenants, and below them, dozens of ordinary students who did the grunt work-sometimes without even knowing who they were really working for. There were secret meetings, coded messages, and a rule that was never broken: never talk about the Order to anyone outside. The punishment for breaking that rule was social exile at best-and at worst… Mary never finished that sentence, but her silence was enough.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UhfuEeWVS
The rituals always seemed like pranks or traditions-furniture disappearing, cryptic notes, midnight tasks. But Mary told us these were tests, designed to pull new members in and see who could be trusted. She told us about her own initiation: the fear, the secrecy, the feeling of being watched all the time. Each task was a way to prove loyalty, but also a way to trap you. Once you’d done something for the Order, you were implicated. You couldn’t just walk away.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtIfF3iS3Z
With Mary’s help, Seline and I started building a literal map. We wrote down every name, every rumor, every connection. We drew lines between people: who reported to whom, who seemed afraid, who was always at the center of things. It was slow work, and sometimes it felt like we were just making things up. But Mary would point to a name and say, “She’s the one who delivers messages,” or “He’s the one who handles punishments.” She knew the subtle signs: who always sat together at lunch, who disappeared after games, who suddenly stopped talking to their old friends.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxe9PKsTHp
The more we mapped, the more we saw that not everyone in the Order was there by choice. Some were ambitious, hoping to climb the ranks. Others were just scared, doing what they were told because they didn’t want to be targeted. A few, like June, seemed tired, maybe even ready to break away if given the chance. That realization changed everything. The Order wasn’t a monolith-it was a web, and some of the strands were fraying.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf6VRGhtt5
Looking back, I can see how Mercy played us. She was always so supportive, so encouraging, nudging Seline and me to ask questions and follow leads. But Mary showed us how Mercy used us as tools. She let us expose her rivals, kept us busy with small mysteries while she handled the big ones. She never got her own hands dirty. Even now, I’m not sure if she cares about us at all, or if we’re just pawns in her game.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJhwKLAo0R
Mary told us about the times Mercy intervened to protect certain people, or how she would spread rumors to distract from what was really going on. Mercy’s greatest weapon is information-she knows how to use secrets, both to reward loyalty and to destroy threats. It’s hard to accept that someone I admired could be so calculating, but the evidence is there, in every story Mary tells.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemv2rfetuG
The cheating scandal was the turning point. At first, it seemed like just another case of students breaking the rules. But as we dug deeper, it became clear that the Order was behind it all. The phones were smuggled in with military precision, the exam answers circulated only to those who had proven themselves, and the prefects looked the other way. When the journalism club published the exposé, the school exploded. Suspensions, investigations, whispers in every corridor. But underneath it all, I could see the Order’s fingerprints-everything designed to protect the core and sacrifice the expendable.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv2AVutwtr
Mary’s confession made me realize how the Order uses fear to keep everyone in line. She described the threats: whispered warnings, ruined reputations, sudden isolation. I felt it too, after the exposé-people avoiding my gaze, rumors swirling about me. The Order doesn’t need to be violent; their power is in making you feel alone, making you doubt yourself.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGQ2nJQlhE
Even now, I’m scared. I know that by working with Seline and Mary, I’ve made myself a target. But I also know we have something the Order fears: knowledge. We have evidence, we have a map of their secrets, and we have each other. For the first time, I feel like we’re not just reacting-we’re planning.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0qEv8bshq
We’re still figuring out our next steps. Part of me wants to go straight to the administration, lay everything out, and let the adults handle it. But Mary warns me that the Order has friends everywhere-even among the teachers. Seline thinks we should gather more evidence, maybe find a way to turn some of the Order’s own members against them. I’m torn, but I know one thing for sure: I won’t let fear stop me. Not anymore.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZlcEps8x8
For now, we meet in secret, compare notes, and watch for signs that the Order suspects us. Every day, I feel the tension rising, but also a strange sense of hope. We’re not alone. We’re not powerless. And with Mary’s knowledge, we finally have a chance to change things-for ourselves, and for everyone who’s ever been afraid to speak up.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvBKL5UH7f
This is what I know now, and what I’m holding onto:175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3xIEmzS3l
The Order is real. Their power is built on secrets and fear. But secrets can be exposed, and fear can be overcome. Step by step, with Mary’s help, we’re going to find a way to bring the whole thing down.175Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AFKV8a03M
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