Chapter 66 – Valuable Insight – Holly Hayfield

Ms. Sampson was letting me worry in silence before saying anything further. I was used to her scare tactics. This was the way she did things. She wanted me to feel like she had me cornered. With Erica standing behind me, just in front of the locked door, she wanted me to feel trapped. That was why I steeled myself against this childish mind game. No matter what she had to say to me I’d hear it with my chin up.

“I know you were talking to Abby privately on multiple occasions.” Ms. Sampson said. “Erica told me about your private meetings with her. Ms. Kinsley confirmed to me that you were regularly leaving study hall to counsel Abby, a teacher you’ve never officially had.”

“It’s nothing personal, Holly.” Erica said. “It’s just that it’s become important.”

“It’s true.” I said without offering further explanation.

Ms. Sampson put her hands out to me questioningly with a matching questioning look.

“So…?” She asked, “What sort of conspiracies did she share with you? Did she talk about me? Did she talk about this school? What was it?”

“We talked about her.” I said honestly, “We talked about bringing some joy into her life.”

“Why?” She demanded.

“Why not…?” I asked. “Isn’t the pursuit of happiness one of the main drives of all human people?”

“Why was it you that was helping her to pursue happiness?” She asked.

“Ms. Logan had difficulty with authority. She had difficulty with her family trying to intervene on her. She’d never let any unfamiliar person get close enough to her to help untangle the heavy knot that was her life.” I said. “I helped her because I believed I could.”

“That’s the only reason?” Ms. Sampson asked doubtfully.

“Do I need another?” I asked coyly. “She leaned on me first. She broke down to me. I could’ve ignored her. I could’ve walked away. I know. However, I decided not to. I decided to lend her my ear, and eventually my heart.”

“Why?” She asked as impatiently as before.

“If I have to explain empathy to you then you’ll never understand.”

“So that’s why?” Ms. Sampson asked. “Because you felt sorry for her…?”

I looked back at Erica. She was standing patiently, listening in on all this. Then I looked back at Ms. Sampson who was waiting to see if I had some sort of ulterior motive. I sighed.

“That poor woman was in a state of decay long before the events of last Friday.” I said. “You knew that. That was why you and other teachers regularly sent students to help her out. That was how I met her in the first place. Years at this school and no one had shown her an ounce of love, not even her fellow staff. I reached out to her because no one else would. I reached out to her because that was how my mother raised me to be. Do I need any other reason?”

Ms. Sampson sat back in her seat and looked on me like she was trying to weigh my words. She was torn. She didn’t seem to believe in the concept of empathy. Her heart was too rotten. Trying to place my motivation without incorporating empathetic reasons was difficult for her.

“Did she say anything to you about the past?” Ms. Sampson said in a cautious voice.

“No.” I said firmly, “And I tried not to pry too much. I realized that something must’ve happened back then to make her the way she was. The few times I tried to bring up her past she danced around the details. I never got anything concrete out of her and so I stopped trying. I didn’t want to risk pushing her over the edge by asking her too many personal questions.”

Ms. Sampson leaned forward and looked me directly in the eyes to see if I was lying.

“So she didn’t tell you anything that you feel was out of the ordinary.”

“She told me a few things that I consider out of the ordinary, but they were all personal.” I said. “They didn’t concern you or the school if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Ms. Sampson leaned back into her chair again and let out a sigh.

“That means I’m no closer to finding what I’m looking for.” Ms. Sampson said tiredly.

“Which is…?” I asked.

“I think Abigail left a confidant.” She said. “She knew she was going to be fired. She knew it. That was why she created all these rumors about the basement and the Killing Cat. She wanted to destroy my reputation, and the school with it. Are you sure she didn’t say anything outlandish during your little counseling sessions?”

“Never anything to that ends. She was in a particularly troubled state of mind these past few weeks but I don’t think she was out to get anyone. What we talked about changed day-to-day, but it was mostly little things concerning her home life. I let her air out everything so that she had a way to vent her feelings.”

Ms. Sampson let out a half-hearted laugh.

“That must’ve been painful to listen to. I think I’m starting to understand your point from earlier. You have my full sympathy.” She said with a crooked smile.

I didn’t smile back. Instead, it felt wrong to talk about Ms. Logan like this so shortly after her death.

“What happened to the two of you?” I asked. “Ms. Sampson, I know for a fact that you two went to school together. You used to be her friend.”

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Ms. Sampson scoffed.

“Did Abby say that? If so, she lied, or was misled. We were never friends. She knew that much, I’m sure. Circumstances brought us together, and now circumstances have taken her away. I wish I could say I’ll miss her.”

“Still, that was someone who relied on you. Don’t you feel even a little remorseful? Perhaps if you were closer to her then she wouldn’t have died that Friday night.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t talk about things you don’t know.” She said angrily.

“I’m serious.” I said and looked back at Erica. “Erica and I talked about her passing privately. She blamed herself for not being able to stop Ms. Logan, and not being able to break up your fight.”

“I…” Erica started to say. She couldn’t find the words to express herself.

I turned back to Ms. Sampson. She was no longer smiling.

“I blamed myself since my counseling sessions had failed her altogether. I thought I could save her from herself. Instead, she just continued to spiral far out of my control.”

“That was a force of nature.” She said. “She was always spiraling. She ran into something that caused the spiraling to stop permanently. It was always going to happen. No one is to blame.”

“Maybe not,” I said, “If you had reached out to her long ago and offered real friendship then this wouldn’t have happened.”

Ms. Sampson shook her head.

“You’re in grief. I understand, Holly. I do. The thing you don’t seem to get though is that this has been going on with her for years and years. You think I never tried to reach her? I tried for years! I threw myself at her again and again and every time she pushed me away! Accept it. She’s at peace now. You should find peace in that. She’s not suffering anymore.” She said.

I sighed.

“That’s the only thing we agree on then. She’s at peace.” I said.

Ms. Sampson let the moment of silence rest in the air before going on.

“That’s not the main reason I called you hear though.” Ms. Sampson said. “You’re student council group has become incredibly popular after Abby’s death.”

“I think so too.” I said plainly.

“Isn’t that convenient?” Ms. Sampson asked. “I’ve heard the recent stirring about the massive chat group that Val is starting.”

“She’s trying to reach across all school groups to unite everyone in solidarity.” I said.

“She’s trying to capitalize on Abby’s death and people are too stupid to see into her little game.” Ms. Sampson said.

Erica walked up to the desk and took a seat in the chair beside mine.

“I joined just this morning to take a look.” Erica said. “Everyone is practically worshipping her for starting the group.”

“Why didn’t you call Val to the office instead then?” I asked. “She’s an office assistant. It wouldn’t be very hard.”

“Because I have no good reason to shut down what she’s trying to do.” Ms. Sampson said. “If I did, then it would look even more suspicious if the police were to find out. All I’m saying is that Val had a lot to gain from Abby’s death.”

“It sounds like you’re trying to say more than that.” I said suspiciously.

“Were you with Val all night last Friday?” She asked.

“I wasn’t, but I wouldn’t go considering Val a murder suspect based on that. I’ve been making great progress getting Val to stay on the right path. Erica can attest to this.” I said and looked over at Erica.

Erica grimaced.

“Holly did manage to help me talk to Val during the Fall Festival, like I asked. In fact, the whole idea to use masks was to my benefit. Holly was helping me get close to Val so that I could finally talk to her personally. If Holly wasn’t there then Val might’ve acted more rashly. She’s at least taught her to be less aggressive.” Erica said.

It was good that she could be honest at a time like this. Ms. Sampson didn’t look impressed, however.

“How did this conversation with her go?” She asked.

“Not like I’d hoped.” Erica said. “Holly warned me about that beforehand. I might’ve pissed off Val even more.”

“I’ve also noticed Val has been more on edge lately while carrying out her office duties.” Ms. Sampson said.

“She’s not getting as much rest as she needs.” I said with a sense of urgency. “I’ve been telling her again and again to take it easier. I’m starting to feel like a nagging mother. Please don’t take Val’s recent attitude as proof of some crime.”

“I’m considering it.” Ms. Sampson said. “I’ll look past whatever Val is up to. In exchange, I want in on what you’re up to.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” I said.

“You’ve been counseling people in the student council room, right? I think I remember even giving you permission to do so. Tell me you have information about what the students come to you about.”

I paused for a moment. It sounded like she was asking for inside information. It was an underhanded thing to ask for, but I had already been creating such a notebook for Val. I tried avoiding taking notes of anything too personal. I only took notes concerning information on the different groups throughout the school. This was meant to serve Val as an in to each group. Maybe it would help get Ms. Sampson off of Val’s back though.

I took off my book bag and went through it until I found my counseling journal. I handed it over to Ms. Sampson across the desk. She took it with a curious expression. She flipped through the first few pages and her expression changed to something outright devious. Her eyes were wide and she was grinning devilishly. She nodded confidently.

“This is it.” Ms. Sampson said. “This is exactly the sort of thing I need.”

“I was making that to help Val learn what’s going on throughout the school.” I said.

“And now it’ll be used to let me learn what’s going on throughout the school.” Ms. Sampson said.

“I don’t know about that…” I started to say.

She shot a sharp look up at me.

“You don’t want Val to be considered a suspect, right? You want me to lay off whatever she’s doing, right? This is my price. You’re going to help me out, Holly Hayfield. You’re going to help me and I’ll help you out in return.”

This felt like I was negotiating some sort of shady deal.

“How…?” I asked.

Ms. Sampson flipped through the pages of the notebook with interest.

“Our official counselor Mrs. Douglass isn’t loved by anyone, just like Ms. Logan. She’s so nasty that Ms. Logan herself couldn’t even bear to be around her. I have it on good information that she is to retire soon, within a few years, I don’t know, maybe 3 or 4? Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have an empathetic counselor that has experience with students from this school?”

Ms. Sampson looked up from the notebook with a sly smile and I realized just what she was getting at. Erica and I looked at each other with equal surprise. This was a massive opportunity for Ms. Sampson to leverage.

“You mean I could eventually work here as a counselor?” I asked.

“I mean you could start interning right now. We have a student career program, of sorts. I can have the principal officially accredit your time spent counseling as job training time.”

This sounded amazing to me. I sat back in my seat, weighing my choices. I still planned to go on with the notebook for Val’s sake, but this would make things much sweeter. Was I a terrible person for considering something so selfish? Nothing I wrote down would be incriminating for anyone, but spying for her was a shady thing to do behind counseling sessions.

“What would I have to do?” I asked.

She smiled.

“There’s someone specifically that I’d like you to look into.” Ms. Sampson said. “It’s concerns this.”

She pointed at the pamphlet sitting on the table in front of me.

“The Night of the Killing Cat, by Malorie Noelle,” I said.

“At first there were only a few of them floating around the school,” Ms. Sampson said. “Now someone has made copies of this and started handing them out. I know exactly who’s responsible for this.”

“…You do…?” I asked.

“Alyssa Montenegro and Sofi Sullivan,” Ms. Sampson said. “You weren’t the only one having conversations with Ms. Logan.”

“I…” I started to say in confusion.

“They’re two members of the Occult club.” Erica said. “I’ve been keeping tabs on them and I’ve seen them hand these out to people during lunch.”

Ms. Sampson stood up and began to pace behind her desk.

“This will be your first act as an intern, so listen up. You’re going to go to them with official concerns from the school. These two girls have been causing trouble for the schools. Go to them. Talk to them. Get them to sing. Bring me notes like the ones you made in your journal and I’ll talk to the principal on your behalf.”