Moonlight filters through the branches, casting delicate slivers of light that dance on the forest floor. A soft thud resounds as I leap away from Jordan's grasp, the serene beauty of the night enveloping us. "Come on, Kaindra, you can do better than that," Jordan teases, his voice light and playful as he spins the long wooden sword between his fingers.

"Do you want me to go all out?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

A cocky smile appears on his face, "Not like you can hurt me sweet cheeks."

Smirking, I drop into a lower stance "I am stronger and have abilities you don't, remember?"

He mimics my movements, settling into his preferred stance, the moon casting a silvery glow over us "Oh I remember, but you are faster, not stronger, plus I was the one to teach you how to fight, remember?"

Chuckling, we slowly begin to circle "Maybe but your old bones might not be able to keep up."

He scowls. "Did you just call me old? Do I look old to you sweet cheeks?" He drawls, motioning to himself.

Rolling my eyes, I sigh "Jord you are almost 150, I think that counts as old."

He slaps his chest feigning pain "Oh that hurts."

Sighing once again I squeeze the handle of my short wooden sword. "If you say so, be prepared to have an extra-large meal tonight." With that, I launch myself at him.

He dodges my first swing for his neck, leaning out of the way. He returns my attack in kind swiping low for my belly. We dance around each other between the trees our movements are graceful and fluid. A dance of shadows and light under the moon's gentle embrace, each playful jab and parry slowly building in intensity as we jump and dodging the swings of one another. I get a few good hits on him, slicing open his right leg and arm. He manages to scratch my cheek and get me with small wounds here and there. We go on like that for half an hour cutting and dodging each other late into the night.

Getting tired of our little game I decide to speed things up a bit. Grabbing onto the trunk of a tree I swing myself around kicking my legs out into his chest. He stumbles back making sure not to trip over loose twigs or roots. Before he has a chance to recover, I sweep my legs out, knocking him to the ground. Without giving him a moment to escape, I aim elemental needles at his head.

His gaze shifts among the various elements lying on the wood before him. He swallows, tapping the ground twice. I relax, stepping back into a neutral stance as the needles fade. Gradually, a grin unfolds on my face. Jordan scowls at my cheerful expression but takes the hand I offer him.

"That was uncalled for," he grumbles dusting off his pants.

I chuckle clapping his shoulder "Aww don't be a big baby gramps that's what happens in a fight, you never know what your opponent might do." My words don't stop his grumbling.

He grabs my head pushing me away from him playfully "Come on short stuff don't you have school tomorrow."

"Short stuff? I'm 5'7 you giant, and yes I do have school tomorrow but it's only..." Flicking my wrist I angle my hand to catch the moonlight so I can see my watch. "...1:20 AM I have plenty of time till school starts."

"I take that as a compliment being only 6'3 short stuff. But you.." He points sharply in my face stopping our walk back to his house. "..have school tomorrow meaning you need to get some rest."

Grumbling I shake off any remaining dirt from my clothes, flicking some grass and twigs from my hair. "Fine but you better have my next batch of blood ready when I come to pick it up tomorrow," I say tapping his shoulder.

He brushes my finger off, patting my head "I will, I will. Don't worry. Now beat it, I don't want your parents driving over because I kept you up too late." He says gently pushing me away. Turning around, I check to make sure I have everything before stirring the shadows. "Hey, Kain" His voice stops me.

I glance back at him "What?"

"Keep your head up. Lillian said the air's smelled funny for a few days now. So just..." He pauses, scratching his head "Be careful. Okay."

I nod, waving "I'll be careful, Jord, don't worry. It's not blood she's been smelling, or we would have notice. It's probably just her mind playing tricks on her since summer is starting or Rowan did something stupid again." 

He sighs "Probably, but still. Be careful." 

I nod waving a quick goodbye as my body vanishes into the shadows becoming one with them as I go home. Stepping out of the shadows I strip off my dirty training clothes dropping them into a laundry basket in the corner. Pulling the dirt from my skin I throw it out the window making myself clean again. Tugging an XXL black shirt over my head I flop onto my bed, the time now 1:30 AM as I go to sleep.

~

The alarm clock blares. Pressing the off button, I rise five hours later, feeling refreshed. I dress in my usual black tights, black T-shirt, and hoodie, then pull my hair into a high ponytail before leaving my room. In the kitchen, I fill a bowl with fruity cereal. After eating, I load my dishes into the dishwasher and prepare my lunch, adding a cooled thermos filled with blood. I dash upstairs to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and complete my morning routine by 7 AM.

Kaylee joins me in the kitchen and pours herself a cup of black coffee. "Are exams starting soon?" she inquires, taking a banana from the island for her breakfast.

"Next week. Grade 12's begin their provincials though," I reply.

She nods. "In a few years, that'll be you, just finishing your second year of high school."

I chuckle and nod. "Yep, I'll be catching up to you soon."

"Unlikely. I'm planning to move to Calgary for my master's degree next year, so I won't have to see your face on campus," she says with a smirk.

I chuckle at her grabbing the strap of my bag while I hop off the barstool. "See ya," I say with a salute, and she returns the gesture before heading downstairs to prepare for her classes, our parents still asleep. I take my time jogging to school, shrouding myself in shadows to avoid the gaze of those on their way to work or school. Stopping behind the school, out of sight, I dispel the shadows and head to the front entrance ten minutes before class starts.

East Cross High School, also known as the East Cross Coyotes or simply East High, is a typical public school that serves everyone in the area. As I walk through the commons, bustling with students chatting at tables or grabbing breakfast from the East Café, I spot my two friends seated at the edge of the stage against the back wall. "Kaindra, how have you been?" Jen asks with a bounce as I take a seat beside them.

"Good, how about you?" I ask she gives me a big smile.

"Great now that we're all here, ready for exams next week?" She asks her pale skin glowing under the artificial light.

"As ready as I can be" I respond waving at Kaitlyn.

"I don't feel ready exams are a pain in the butt" she grumbles pushing her dirty blond hair out of her eyes. "But we both know Kaitlyn here is as ready as a worker bee," she grins pinching said person's cheek her skin looking paler against Kaitlyn's dark skin.

Kaitlyn pushes her hand away rubbing her cheek "I still don't get that expression of yours, Jen. You might be more prepared for exams if you studied more as you should."

Jen waves her hand leaning back to lie down. "Yeah yeah, Kaitlyn you say the same thing every year since grade eight. It's not like Kain is any better at studying than me."

"Hey," I exclaim completely ignored by the two.

Jen shoots up grabbing her phone excitedly "Hey did you guys hear about what happened in Fargo?" We shake our heads "Apparently people are acting up and attacking people like rabid animals, whoever they see and can get their hands on. It's all over the news look."

She scrolls through her phone before holding it in front for all of us to see. People are running all over the place wildly trying to get away from others with bloodshot eyes. Police are shooting at the ones with red eyes but it seems to not affect them. It almost looks like zombies.

"Is this a joke? Please tell me someone just hacked into the news stations?" I ask looking at both Kaitlyn and Jen.

Kaitlyn shakes her head "Not possible I saw this on the news this morning and checked all the news stations I could, I don't see how it could be a fake on that large of a scale," Kaitlyn grabs Jen's phone showing me other news stations with similar videos. I open my mouth ready to agree with her to some degree when the bell rings signaling five minutes before class.

We all say our goodbyes, going our separate ways, them to math and me to science. Sitting distracted, I wait for class to start at 8:30 AM. Even after the morning announcements and the start of class, I can't shake the video from my mind. They resembled zombies and acted as such, but I can't fathom how that could be. I've never heard of any spells a witch could cast to create zombies; Bella would have mentioned it. Werewolves lack magical abilities, and demons and angels cannot create undead without a witch's aid. Moreover, even if they could, angels don't interact with the dead, save for souls, and the last collaboration between demons and witches resulted in vampires, and we lack magic.

Could the cause be a leaked virus? That appears to be the most plausible explanation, yet certainty eludes me without checking for any magical traces on the body to determine if it was created supernaturally. If it is a virus, could vampire blood serve as a cure?

My contemplation is abruptly interrupted as the PA system springs to life. "All students and staff, remain in your classrooms until further notice, multiple dangerous assailants have entered the building. Remain in your classrooms-" The PA cuts off.

The classroom falls silent. Crunching and squelching sounds invade my ears as I'm jolted back to reality by a scream that pierces the air, loud enough for those around me to hear. The heart rates of the students and teachers spike, resonating in a loud symphony. I spring from my seat, brushing past the teacher as she attempts to lock the door, disregarding her calls for me to stop and return. The scent of blood, an overwhelming amount of blood, fills the hallways with a dark miasma that only I can detect. My vampire instincts urge me to seek out the source, but I resist and press on.

Two hallways over, I halt in front of Kaitlyn and Jen's classroom, finding the door already locked. Hastily, I condense the moisture in the air into a small orb and insert it into the lock, freezing it into a makeshift key. The lock clicks as it turns. I burst into the room, scanning for the figures huddled against the back wall. "Kaitlyn, Jen," I whisper, uncertain of the intruder's hearing capabilities.

Their heads pop up, eyes wide with terror. "Kaindra, what are you doing? You should be hiding in your classroom," Jen cries out, rushing to me and wrapping her arms around my neck, standing on her toes. I pat her head and glance over my shoulder, peering out the small window to scan the hall.

Kaitlyn approaches, pulling us into a group hug, her body trembling. I embrace them firmly, stroking their backs as I focus my hearing on the commons. The sounds of crunching and slobbering reach my ears; no more voices can be heard. As I pull away, my skin tingles... If I were capable of sweating, I would be in a cold sweat, a dreadful thought crossing my mind. "You two stay here, don't make a sound, and use the tables and chairs to create a barricade in front of yourselves. Don't approach the door or open it, ever. If you hear footsteps, cover your mouths to muffle your breathing, okay?"

As I move to leave the room, Jen grabs my arm, stopping me. "Kaindra, where are you going? You can't go out there; stay here with us and wait it out."

"Don't be foolish, Kain; this is no time for recklessness," Kaitlyn adds, her gaze darting to the door, her heartbeat quickening.

Gently pulling my arm away from Jen I smile "I'll be okay you guys I'm just going to check the other classrooms to make sure they are okay too, okay." They nod, too frightened to argue. I gently usher them towards the other students, who are paralyzed with fear, including the teacher, who is too terrified to prevent me from leaving. Quietly closing the door, I relock it and make my way down the hallway towards the stairs leading to the commons, the scent of blood intensifying with each step I take.

Looking over the banister I freeze. Four people kneel on the ground rapidly tearing at the flesh of the students and staff that once occupied the common area. Blood is splattered all over the windows to the office and doors the sounds of people screaming and running outside a background echo. The stench of blood is fresh and overpowering.

I descended the stairs slowly, masking my scent with a veil of wind, uncertain if the human odour clinging to my skin from being around them would provoke the zombies into attacking me.Stealthily moving behind the four individuals, I make my way to the exit doors. Standing before them, I let out a sharp whistle to grab their attention. Four pairs of bloodshot eyes snap towards me, snarling. I push the first set of doors open with a gust of wind, stepping backwards into the intermediary section leading to the second set of doors that open to the outside. The four advance towards me with a brisk pace, crossing the threshold of the doors. I close the doors behind them and repeat the process with the next set, stepping outside.

Other zombies roam the streets, pursuing people. I remain unnoticed by them as they are focused on their prey and its scent. The four of them exit the school and follow me into the parking lot, slamming the doors shut once they are all outside.

The video of the police shooting at the other zombies in Fargo pops into my mind, the zombies didn't go down even when hit in the head. How else can you kill something? Take out their heart? No, I don't see how that would work. What about cutting off their head? May as well try.

Condensing the humid spring air into the form of a short, double-edged sword, I freeze it, the cold handle prickling my skin. Clutching the hilt of the ice sword, I surge forward with inhuman speed, indifferent to human onlookers. My only goal is to eliminate these threats so Jen and Kaitlyn can be safe. Slicing through the four necks their heads hit the ground. The sword dissolves in my grasp, the water evaporating into the air. The four bodies drop to the ground blood pooling around my feet. I remain still for a few minutes, observing the four corpses intently, but there is no movement, not even the slightest twitch.

Sighing I ignore the other zombies coming my way as I hurriedly go inside. Smashing the handicap buttons on both doors, I observe the zombies with expressionless faces as they collide with the glass, unable to open the pull doors. Returning to the commons I take the now dead student and staff bodies one by one outside holding up an air barrier as I do so, so the zombies can't smell the people inside nor enter the building. Just in case I cut off each of the people's heads once outside.

Pinching my nose my hand shoots out a blade of water "Shut up,"I observe the water as it flows through each of the zombies at the front doors necks their heads and bodies falling to the ground their growls now silent. Once back inside, I vamp through the school, ensuring that every exterior door is securely locked and barricaded with at least one table. Stopping back in the commons I eye the blood scattered around. If I leave it here people are bound to freak out that's guaranteed but when we leave they'll see the bodies outside, not just the ones I did but others. Leaving the blood will be a baby step to getting used to it.

Siphoning the blood from my clothes I flick it into one of the blood splatters on the ground. My clothes are now clean.

Resolved, I head to the office. As I press the button to activate the PA system, my voice resonates throughout the school. "All students and staff, the school is clear of any hostiles; it is safe to come out," I announce, opting for simplicity as they will learn the full extent soon enough. Those in classrooms with windows might have already heard the screams and glimpsed the zombies. "All students and staff, please make your way to the gym," I add, as an afterthought.

Luckily the gym doors leading outside lock automatically when closed and the gym classes were cancelled due to the provincial exams taking place in the gym today. Hiding in the bathroom I flinch as scream after scream sounds from the commons. Exiting the bathroom, I blend into the crowd of ashen-faced individuals heading into the gym; some appear green, while others are being carried on the backs of their peers, having passed out.

Jen and Kaitlyn enter the gym their eyes wide and searching the faces of the people around them. I jump up waving my arms to get their attention. Our eyes lock their pale faces brighten gaining some of the colour that was lost. Jen starts crying as she pushes her way through the crowd to reach me on the bleachers and the two seats saved beside me. Kaitlyn follows not much further behind her, her eyes also glimmering with tears.

"We thought something terrible happened to you when you didn't come back." Jen wails her arms tightening around my neck as I hold up her smaller frame.

Rubbing her back as she cries into my shoulder I hold out my other hand for Kaitlyn. She grabs it squeezing my fingers tightly. "I'm okay, not a scratch on me Jen, don't worry."

She nods standing on her own two feet as we separate, she dabs at her eyes her make-up smudged from crying multiple times today. "Everyone please take a seat and quiet down," a teacher calls. The principals were in the office at the time of the zombies entering the building so they were one of the first people attacked. Jen and Kaitlyn take their seats beside me both gripping my hands tightly. The gym is full of students and staff some sitting on the bleachers or the floor others standing. Bloody shoe prints line the gym floor a shocking reminder that it's no longer school time but survival.

Faster than at any point during the assembly, the gymnasium fell silent, with some holding their breath in anticipation of the teacher's announcement. "Like you, we are also in the dark about what is happening. No calls have been made or received by anyone. The best we can do is remain calm and wait it ou-" The teacher halts mid-sentence as thuds against the gym doors, paired with growls, cause everyone to flinch. Tears start to fall, and the faces around the room turn a few shades paler. "W-we are al-all sc...scared and trapped here together...if w-we stay ca-cal-calm someone will come and get us." Every teacher's gaze becomes fixed on the doors as the banging intensifies, each thud causing them to flinch and lean away from the door.

Someone stands up with their phone in hand eyes wide and hands shaking "Zombies...it's zombies everyone we need to get out of here quickly." As their voice gradually increases in volume, it prompts others to take out their phones. The tense and silent haze that had enveloped the gym dissipates as people start to shout and make their way toward the gym doors.

Forcing the doors closed with a wind current the people hit and pull at the doors with no luck falling to their knees. The loud wails and screams gradually become overwhelming as I attempt to monitor the zombies outside and the people inside. Releasing my hands from Jen and Kaitlyn's grip, I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache starting to form.

"EVERYONE SHUT IT," I scream. Everyone stops turning towards me. Slowly I stand dropping my hand to my side and looking everyone in the eyes my face pinched. "Running outside towards the zombies won't solve anything, are you trying to die?" Faces around me turn pale, eyes cast downward. With a sigh, I steady my nerves; these people are merely frightened. Understandably so—I would be too. I've already faced death once. Like those outside, I am a walking corpse created by magic, only I'm not feral.

"Shouldn't we be checking the food sources we have and making a plan of escape? Freaking out doesn't seem like the best thing to be doing right now right? Let's all just calm down and make a plan." I speak in a calm and clear manner, articulating each word so that everyone can hear. Gradually, the heart rates start to settle; not completely, but the panic subsides.

The teachers pause for a moment before facing us again. "Thank you," says the teacher who had been addressing us, nodding in my direction. I return the nod and sit back down. "We will divide into teams, with each team being accompanied by at least two teachers. Team one will inspect the food from the café, as well as any food students brought or stored in their lockers. Team two will take inventory of our medical supplies. Team three will secure the doors and ensure that all windows are sealed and blinds are drawn on the first floor."

"What about weapons? In every movie we always need weapons?" a person shouts.

"Team four will make weapons out of brooms and mops we have as well as knives from the home economics room. Team Five is responsible for ensuring transportation is available from the vehicles in the parking lot. You are not to leave the school; simply check who has brought a car today and how much gas they recall is in the tank. Team six will verify the need for any additional supplies, you have permission to break into other people's lockers." From there everyone gets split into groups, friends staying with friends, most staying in the gym out of fear so the groups are small no more than ten.

I'm impressed with the teacher; once he calmed down, he thought carefully about what we would need. He deserves a round of applause for his quick thinking. Jen and Kaitlyn cling to my side as we scout the school's lockers in the hallway we were assigned. Our group was the only one with more than ten members, so we split into smaller groups of three or four, each tasked with checking one hallway's lockers and classrooms for additional supplies that might be useful. We scavenged the janitor's closets for tools to break open the lockers.

Glancing around, I grab Jen and Kaitlyn's hands, pulling them behind me into one of the empty classrooms. After shutting the door, I turn towards them, panicking. Should I tell them what I am? If I don't and they discover it some other way, that could be bad. But if I do and they react poorly or tell someone else, I couldn't bear to compel them to forget. What should I do? Tell them, don't tell the, tell them, don't tell them... I pace in front of the door, my hands clenched so tightly that my nails dig into my skin.

"Kaindra, are you okay? Did something happen when you left our classroom?" Kaitlyn asks. Tell them, don't tell them, tell them, don't tell them. Why is this so hard? I shouldn't have brought them here. Pressing my hands against my head, I dishevel my ponytail. "Kaindra?" Kaitlyn extends her hand, ready to comfort my visibly distressed self.

Tell them, don't tell them—ahh fuck it, it's better now than never. "I'm dead," I say, halting my pacing with my back turned to them.

Behind me, the only discernible sound is the thudding of their hearts skipping a beat. "What did you say? You're dead? What does that mean?" Jen asks, stepping closer.

"It means exactly that, I'm dead, I died at the beginning of last summer, drunk driver."

"Then how are you standing here now? You don't look much different, just like you've grown a little, you know, matured. I don't see how you could be dead," Jen says lightly, attempting to gloss over my words as if I had never spoken them, trying to make sense of them.

"I died then came back to life as a walking corpse, a corpse that drinks blood to survive." Jen halts, her hand suspended above my shoulder. Without allowing them a moment to respond, I whirl around, my eyes ablaze with a blood-red glow, veins throbbing, as two razor-sharp fangs protrude from my lips. I flash a smile, fangs bared for all to see. Jen recoils, taking a step back, while Kaitlyn's gaze locks onto me; shock registers on their faces, yet neither fear nor disgust emerges. "A vampire found me before I died and tried to save me but it didn't work, instead I died and returned like this, a vampire...well half-vampire."

Jen's eyes widened at my last words, her mouth agape. For the first time since I spoke, Kaitlyn chimed in, "What do you mean by 'half'?"

Reverting to my usual appearance, the red fades from my pupils and my fangs recede as I scratch the back of my head. "Well when Jordan gave me his blood I should have healed without issues but my body fought the blood off till I died, only then was his blood able to merge with my body. But since I was already dead instead of healing my wounds it brought me back to life as a vampire. We learned a few weeks later when I nearly burnt down their house that I was not going to be a 'normal' vampire but a hybrid. We think I'm an ancient supernatural thought to be extinct but have no proof. Since almost all documents of them were destroyed or lost in time." I finish my explanation finally looking both of them in the eyes hands shaking.

"What was the species called?" Kaitlyn asks.

"Casters, elemental beings said to be more dangerous than that of witches as their powers come from the earth and air whereas witches draw power from the earth."

Kaitlyn nods her hand on her chin her thinking face on. Jen hops closer to me her face inches from mine "Can you show me your powers please, what can you do?"

Blinking, I nod slowly "...Sure," I say. Raising my hand, I summon the four elements, along with the two additional elements I possess. A small, pale blue flame hovers next to a water droplet, a stone, a patch of air made visible, a cluster of shadows, and an ice crystal.

Jen's eyes widen, sparkling in the light. "Wow, it's so pretty, Kain," she exclaims. Kaitlyn watches from behind, her eyes also gleaming. Suddenly, Jen throws herself at me for the third time today. "What a special friend Kaitlyn and I have," she mumbles before leaping away.

As I close my hand and let it fall to my side, I ask, "Aren't scared?"

Jen shakes her head so vigorously I fear she might get whiplash. Kaitlyn follows suit, shaking her head. "Why would we?" Jen says, "You're standing here in front of us, safe and sound, when just a year ago, you could have been dead. It's nothing short of a miracle" Jen declares, spreading her arms wide.

"And if you weren't here I feel like we would still be hiding in our classroom scared waiting to die," Kaitlyn adds.

I smile, clasping my hands over my mouth, eyes prickling, yet unable to cry, "Oh, you guys, what would I do without you?"

They laugh pulling me into a group hug "You would be a lost cause without us," they say.

"Haha, how true" I say relaxing into their warm embrace. 

We pull apart, the weight that once sat on my shoulders lifts. "Don't worry we won't tell anyone, we promise," Kaitlyn says resting her hand on my arm.

I pat her hand "I know."

Jen claps her hands, all smiles once again "Now this was nice but we were given a job so we should probably finish it I am hungry - it's almost lunchtime."

Chuckling, we start to leave the room the tension eased and the atmosphere once again light. "Where you ever going to tell us?" Kaitlyn asks, cutting through the calm like a knife. 

My hand pauses, hovering over the door handle. "I was," I reply, my voice steady but tight.

"Were you planning to tell us without us being in a life-or-death situation?" she continues.

Jen gulps taking a step back, her eyes darting between Kaitlyn and me, the air growing heavier around us. I nod, keeping my gaze on the door. "I was going to," I assure, my words hanging in the air.

I sense Kaitlyn tensing behind me, her hands likely shaking. "When?" she inquires.

"When the time was right," I respond.

She clicks her tongue in disapproval. "And when would that be?" she challenges.

My hand trembles. "When it felt right."

"Felt right?" she exclaims, Jen recoils, stepping back.

"Yes—"

"And when would that be? When we start growing old and you remain unchanged? When we're on our deathbeds? When, Kaindra? When would it be right?" Kaitlyn's voice quivers.

I clench my fist until my knuckles turn white. "I don't know, Kaitlyn."

"You don't know? You're saying you would have told us at the 'right' time, yet you never considered when that would be?" Kaitlyn's voice escalates.

"I had thought about it—"

"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US EARLIER?" I wince as her volume increases.

"Kait—" Jen moves closer.

"Not now, Jen," she presses.

"Kait, not so loud," Jen says.

I wave my hand. "It's okay, Jen, no one can hear us."

The room falls silent, the walls closing in as the silence stretches. The growls outside masking the sound of our breathing. "Were you ever going to tell us?" Kaitlyn whispers.

I flinch. "I was."

"Did you not trust us?" My head snaps in her direction as her voice begins to tremble, not from anger. Kaitlyn's eyes glisten as her body shakes. "Are we only trustworthy now?"

Rushing forward, I grasp her shoulders. "No, Kaitlyn, it's not that I don't trust you. I trust you all so much that I'm terrified of what might happen to you now that you know."

Kaitlyn trembles. "Were you ever going to tell us?" she whispers.

I freeze as she begins to sniffle. "I... I..." What can I say? "I'm sorry."

Kaitlyn sniffles again. "Why didn't you tell us you were in an accident?"

My gaze drops to the floor. "I don't know."

"You didn't have to tell us you became a vampire, just that there was an accident," Kaitlyn's voice shakes as she dries her tears. "All last summer, I was so worried when we couldn't reach you, and you missed the first few weeks of school. Then you returned, behaving as if nothing had happened, disappearing for weeks at a time without a word, only to reappear as if it were normal."

Jen starts to cry softly as Kaitlyn goes on, "We were so worried. You acted as if everything was fine. But now, you tell us that you were in an accident, you died, and you've been suffering. We felt helpless; we wanted to be there for you, but we couldn't because we didn't know."

I draw her close, enfolding her in my arms as her tears flow. "I'm sorry, Kaitlyn, Jen, I should have told you earlier. And I regret not telling you about the accident."

Jen steps forward, extending her arms to encircle both Kaitlyn and me once again. "Just don't do it again Kain. If you're in pain please, tell us, or at least let us comfort you even if you don't tell us. We are here for you if you need us," Jen says, rubbing Kaitlyn's head.

"Thank you, and I promise I will. Promise you'll do the same," I say.

Jen nods. "Of course."

Kaitlyn swats at Jen's hand, wiping her red eyes. "Stop, Jen, I'm not a baby."

Jen continues to pat her head. "I know, but you do love head pats."

Kaitlyn keeps swatting at her hand as Jen attempts to pat her head again. Chuckling, my eyes crinkle as I watch them. With eyes dried and secrets shared, we resume checking lockers and classrooms in our assigned hall, gradually filling our bags with supplies.

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