Chapter 6 — Marcus pulls a test paper free and sees the metal teeth instantly rip it apart
Marcus picked up a blank test paper from the stack sitting beside the keyboard.
He held the bottom edge firmly in his right hand.
He positioned the sheet a few inches away from the metal document holder.
The electric desk fan continued to hum at a low, steady speed.
Its rhythmic breeze fluttered the upper corner of the test paper.
Marcus gently guided the paper toward the vertical steel divider, exactly mimicking the movement captured on his phone camera.
The moment the smooth corner of the test paper brushed past the first metal slot, it caught.
He felt a sudden resistance against his fingertips.
Marcus pulled the test paper free.
The metal teeth instantly ripped it apart.
A clean, jagged tear ripped straight through the center of the sheet.
He held the damaged test paper up to the light of the desk lamp.
The edge of the paper matched the school notices perfectly.
The teeth had left identical micro-tears across the fibers.
Marcus looked down at the desk in silence.
The mystery of the ruined school papers was entirely solved.
Marcus picked up the test strip and turned back toward the dining table.