I didn't try gazing in his eyes as the teacher gave out instructions on the activities.

"In your little groups, it will be a team to team competition. Rope climbing, huh, ain't that exciting?"
There were murmurs. But I didn't budge. Not when I could feel her deathly glare skinning me from behind.
           
       I hadn't realised the many knotted ropes hanging from the roof at the back of the large gym.
Probably because you never pay attention. My inner voice accused... 'Shut up!' I mumbled lowly.

   "Ag?"
Will's voice struck.
   
    My eyes looked up at him.
"Let's go. I hope you're a better rope climber than a thinker."
   "Is that an insult, William?"
I demanded refusing to move to his tug.

  Other students hurried past us, heading to pick the 'best' and easy rope to climb.

    Out of nowhere, the she-devil appeared. Her eyes full of solid darkness as the midnight.
"You're our rivals," she breathed scowling at me.
        "You didn't have to do this Alex. Can't we have a normal school day-" "Not with the princess of doom around."

  I inhaled calmly. She was only trying to wake the demon in me.
   Control.
A one word that'd save throats from being cut open if I summoned my protector from the shadows of the building. Or wherever he was hiding when not in sight.

     "That's such a pretty title."

A quick hiss snapped, way fast before the Alex vampire grasped my left arm like a piece of meat she was about to devour.
    Will quickly interjected, pushing her away, from me. Not the other way round... Why?

"Come on! We're in front of over fifty people here!"

     "People mean nothing to her Will!" Alex darted pointing a finger at me. "Nor do you either. So stop defending that-"
  "Any problem?" Asked the incoming teacher.

Alex surfaced a fake grin.
   "No. We were just telling them how we'll beat them."
The old male seemed uninterested. He just handed Will a timer, a little piece of paper and a pen. "I need the results at the end of the class."

    Eyes were shot at us as we stood under the rope at the corner. Nobody liked corners in this school, thankfully. Not even in sitting classes, or labs.

  The other three students amongst our group had no idea what was going on.
         Standing behind Alex, I saw the visible cross tattoo on her right shoulder. It wasn't just a tattoo, it appeared like somebody had burned, or scratched the thing on her skin from its rough look... That was, the, holy Mark.
It was in the books.

"Your team first," Will said to her.
    She glared at the only male in theirs. "You! Climb!"
  "Aye! Aye! Capta-"
One inhumane growl from Alex had him zipping up and jumping at the rope.
   
     He groaned struggling up the knots like a bag of stained too heavy to roll. Couldn't blame him, not with his male laziness.
    By the time he climbed back, it must have been three hours, or just three minutes.
Will recorded the timing, and glanced over at our third member.

      She was a light brunette with nothing much to her.
With her sport shoes, she started ascending. Quarter-way, the girl groaned falling butt-first on the hard floor.

   "Are there any second chances?" Asked getting up on her own.

    "Not if you can freeze time first. Next!" Will boomed over at Alex's team.
   "How about they get the first shot," Alex stated. It's only fair if your group does this time."

All that while, her evil face was turned to me.
       I stepped closer to the thing wobbling from the ceiling. Slid out of my shoes, and started the journey... As I was climbing down, a hand grabbed my right ankle then pulled down.

  I squeaked slipping.

Expecting to smash the floor like a glass, somebody caught me.
      Then i saw Alex in the next empty rope. She had pulled me, wanted this hurt me... I felt double angry, triple furious.

  "You, okay?"
Came a voice that sounded concerned. Not in the least.

   Without a word, I wriggled to the floor, and Alex made a jump. She landed like a cat on one knee and hand on the ground.
     Some heads tilted, murmurs erupted, and dazzled stares were fixed on her.

"You're lucky." Alex stated turning. I grabbed her wrist and thrust her body to the wall.
      Nobody had expected that.
They thought I was the same weak poor girl they teased.
  I had news for them, I might not have become an undead, but taken a drop of the Crying Gem.
It made me strong enough to fight these Natalines.

    Alex jumped on her feet like a spring, rubbed the corner of her mouth to get rid of the tiny red spot.
           "You did not just do tha-"
Her frame jerked at me a speed that appeared like blurs.
  But before she hit me, Will got pushed me out of  the way and was knocked almost to the door.

Now that was too much.

    The teacher quickly charged at our corner, the other students having retreated to watch the movie... "What on earth is happening here?"
     Nobody even blinked at him.
I could only look at Will collecting himself. He had been stupid to get in the way. Stupid to think he can protect me, or whatever he was doing.

       All of a sudden, a feminine scream echoed through the hallways and inside the gym.

  Fear crept on Alex's pale face like a mask. She was the first to run, a humanly speed. Will shot after her.
And when the older male told us to stat calm and not move, I just disobeyed and ran out too.

      The fearless students were running towards the boys changing room. So I followed.

   The crowd inside  hadn't gotten big, making it easy for me to cut through to the front.
I almost threw up at the sight.
   Under the showers, laid a lifeless body in a pool of blood. Next to the body which I noted was Will's closest friend was a...heart.
      Never before had I seen a human heart. A real human heart with blood and- I threw up at the wall close to mine.

Will seemed to be handling his vomit well, but not the other students that were rushing out, or puking in there like me.

      He was on his knees, placing the dead boy's head on his lap.

"You can't be dead, no. Wake up Andy!" Will bellowed hugging him, staining himself with the blood.

       How could he wake up?

I never did biology, but was sure nobody could live without a heart, not even an undead.
   
     "Everybody, out!"
The principal's order beamed inside as his large body pushed through.
When he was the scene, he covered his mouth. But did a pathetic job from the yellow vomit gushing through his fingers.

      Will sprang up. Turned around restlessly with eyes flying all over the room.

"Come out you bastard. Come out and face me Harry! You're such a coward to be hiding."

      Alex quickly gripped his arm, along one other male student that wasn't being affected by the whole thing.

   Harry had done that?
The same Harry- no! I corrected myself. The old Harry had died. Whoever was in that body, must be the devil himself in gray.

      As much as I hated everyone into that room, school, town, it'd never get to this scene. Not the heart ripping death.
 
Oh yes, the devil was there. I could feel him. In the ceiling! Yes, he was there, smiling at the mayhem he had caused.

   'Your dear Will will be next.'
He said in my head. And I looked up. Could almost see his dark grin. Poisonous. Full of venom.

  I dashed out of the changing room, pressed a hand on my heart. What was I dealing with?
    But no, Grandpa hadn't shown this darkness. It was only Harry the rebel. Harry the side dog. Harry the- He was there. Smiling at me sheepishly at the far end of the shining hallway crowded with anxious students.

    "You're a demon you bastard!"
'Your demon. Yours Agatha. Yours.'
Just as I was about to lay an insult, a figure flashed at my side, at that moment, Harry vanished.

    Alex huffed beyond annoyed.
"Well done princess. You had to send your henchman to kill at such a public place."

      "If only it was you that he killed." Snapped before rushing down the hallway.

              Authors note....

Hello beautiful readers. For failing to update as promised, I'll upload another part tomorrow. Great, isn't? So far so good. Love you for following this amazing story.

   And sorry for the ruthless killing Harry is doing. He's just a power-craving psycho that wants to prove a point. You have the right to hate him or not... Don't ask my feelings towards him.... Hhhhhh.....

   Anyway, I hope you're enjoying your March like I am... Birthday is kicking in faster... I have a special surprise for you on that day. Who's excited?? 😘😘😘