Chapter 3

It was not fair. It was not what I wanted.

But at least it meant I could keep testing.

I pressed my lips together and nodded.

Stiazky's face showed a flash of dissatisfaction, but even he knew the site director had reached her limit.

"Fine," he said. "But I will be watching him the whole time. If he makes one suspicious move, I'm filing the report myself."

Director Darby turned to Mr. Lewis.

"Take them to the backup room. Record the transfer and make sure the room is in proper condition."

Mr. Lewis nodded and signaled for me to follow.

We had barely left the review room when Stiazky began walking at a crawl.

The backup room was less than a hundred yards away. He stretched the distance as if we were touring a museum.

I stared at his back, my chest tightening.

"Mr. Stiazky, please," I said. "Can we walk faster? I've already lost so much time."

He glanced back with a faint smirk.

"Why the rush? The backup room still needs to be checked. What if there are hidden materials inside? Safety first."

Mr. Lewis frowned.

"The room was inspected before the exam. The checklist is signed and filed."

"Filed by your school," Stiazky said. "That doesn't reassure me."

He slowed even more. Twice he stopped to adjust his cuff. Once he bent down and pretended to retie a shoe that had not come loose.

Every second on the hallway clock felt like a weight pressing down on my lungs.

A walk that should have taken one minute took nearly ten.

By the time we reached the backup room, the math exam had been running for almost forty minutes.

Mr. Lewis reached for the door, but Stiazky blocked him.

"Wait. I need to check it myself."

He pulled out a handheld metal detector and began sweeping it over the doorway, the desk, the chair, the floor, and even the gap beneath the door.

The detector stayed silent the entire time. He kept going anyway.

"Mr. Stiazky," Mr. Lewis said, struggling to keep calm, "the inspection record is complete. These areas have already been cleared. If we delay any longer, Darius truly won't have enough time to finish."

"I don't trust your records."

Stiazky did not look up.

"I need to confirm there are no security risks with my own eyes. If he cheats in here, none of you will take responsibility."

I stood beside them, watching him move the detector over places no reasonable person would search twice.

It was obvious by then. He was not checking the room. He was draining my exam time until my paper became impossible to finish. Then he could point to my incomplete work and call it proof that I had panicked because I was guilty.

Mr. Lewis could not take it anymore. He called Director Darby and reported what was happening.

Whatever she said on the other end made his face stiffen.

Stiazky heard enough to know trouble was coming. Only then did he stop.

"Lucky you," he muttered.

He pushed the door open.

The backup room was empty except for a single desk in the center.

Stiazky slapped my answer booklet and answer sheet onto the desk, then dragged another chair beside mine, so close that his sleeve nearly brushed my arm.

"Sit down," he said. "And understand this. If you make one unnecessary movement, I will report it. Then it won't just be this paper you lose."

I ignored the threat and picked up my pen.