The Hunt Read Free

rosy-cheeked office secretary.
    â€œThere’s an emergency,” Cassie said, catching Mrs. Karol by surprise. “In the gymnasium. A fight or something, I’m not sure, but people were screaming for someone to get the principal right away.”
    â€œNot again.” Mrs. Karol scooted off her seat and hurried over to the principal’s door. She knocked on it anxiously while turning the knob to let herself in.
    â€œSorry to interrupt,” she said, “but I think we’ve got a brawl on our hands, down in the gymnasium.”
    Mr. Boylan jerked backward, away from Laurel, the moment the door opened. He patted down his salt-and-pepper hair and straightened his gray suit. “I’m a little busy here.”
    He backpedaled to his desk and grabbed a pen andmanila folder, presumably to appear more official. “And how many times have I told you, you can’t just barge into my office like that.”
    â€œDon’t you snap at me,” Mrs. Karol said, with her bright smile fully intact. “It’s not my fault your students behave like wild animals.” She entered the room and took him by the elbow of his finely tailored jacket. “Now hurry up. You’re the only one who can handle this.”
    Cassie spotted Laurel seated across from Mr. Boylan’s large oak desk. She waved at her to try to catch her attention, but Laurel was entirely oblivious to everything going on around her. She was as pale as a ghost, and her eyes were focused on an invisible spot in front of her.
    With a huff, Mr. Boylan followed Mrs. Karol toward the gymnasium. “Let’s make this quick,” he said, and then noticed Cassie for the first time.
    â€œI won’t be long,” he called out to Laurel, while focusing directly on Cassie. “We’ll pick up right where we left off when I return. You can count on it.”
    It sounded like a threat aimed at them both. Cassie shuddered at the thought of what she might have walked in on if she’d arrived only a few minutes later.
    Laurel still hadn’t moved a muscle, even after the principal and Mrs. Karol were out of sight. Cassie ran to herand shook her by her thin, delicate shoulders. “Are you all right? What did he do to you?”
    Laurel’s face slowly came back to life, and she finally noticed Cassie standing there. “We have to get out of here,” she said, and leapt from her seat to run for the door.
    Cassie grabbed her by the hand and led her down the hall to the science wing. “Steer clear of the gymnasium,” she said, as she maneuvered Laurel in the opposite direction. It was only a matter of time before Mr. Boylan realized there wasn’t any fight. “We need a place to hide. At least until the bell rings.”
    Down the wing, there was an unlocked supply closet. Cassie guided Laurel inside and closed the door behind them.
    â€œIt smells like formaldehyde in here,” Laurel said.
    Cassie didn’t have the heart to alert Laurel, an avid animal lover, to the jarred pig fetus directly behind her. “You’re right, it does,” was all Cassie said, and then pulled Laurel in for a hug. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
    Among countless shelves of glass beakers and safety goggles, Laurel let herself cry and explained how Mr. Boylan had been interrogating her, trying to find out information about her friends.
    â€œHe was asking me about everyone in the Circle byname,” Laurel said. “And he was asking about our families. He knows we’re all witches, Cassie, and he wants to mark every one of us.”
    Cassie was gradually putting the pieces together. “Then we absolutely can’t perform magic until we figure out how to stop him.”
    Laurel’s eyes welled up with tears again.
    â€œYou’re okay now,” Cassie assured her. “And you’re not alone. We’re going to figure out a way to save you. I