After lunch ends, all of us head back to class. Each second in this places making me even more depressed. I look at everyone I pass in the hallway, wondering why they're so happy, wondering why they're not realizing that the stuff going on here is wrong. 

Everyone else goes to their class, but I'm left in the hallway wondering what class I have after lunch. It switches some days. I remember that it's ELA, which is also my homeroom with Mrs. Riker. As I'm walking towards the class, I see the twins walking in my direction. Both of them take me by the hand by surprise and when they do, my eyes open wide as much as they can. I begin to hear voices in my head.

"As you listen to my voice, you can start to focus your attention inside. As your attention focuses inward, so your unconscious mind begins to take you into a trance. As you breathe in and out, you will notice an ever deepening comfort starting to develop. You're safe here. You belong here."

"I'm safe here, I belong here," I repeat, totally unaware of what I'm saying. The words flow out of my mouth and I can't seem to stop them. The twins then let go of my hand.

"Have a great day," one of them says, smiling at me. They walk into another class, leaving me there feeling like a balloon full of air. It's until I hear Felix approaching me from behind.

"Hey," he says. "I'm in your class today and I don't know why."

I blink at him.

"Hey," he says again. "I have that stupid song stuck in my head. Gerard and Frank are assholes for this. I keep singing it in my head. They're gonna clean up your looks. With all the lies in the books. To make a citizen out of you."

As soon as he starts singing, my senses and everything around me return to normal. I'm not sure about what had happened and I do my best to remember. All I do remember is that I wasn't myself a few seconds ago. I feel...blank.

"Because the drugs never work. They're gonna give you a smirk -"

"Felix," I almost shout. "Now's not the time for singing."

He shrugs at me while making a face, then walks inside of the classroom. When I take my seat in class, I can't shake off this weird feeling. My insides are all tingly and I can't seem to focus on one thing. Everything around me feels like it's just...happening.

"Class," the teacher speaks. "Guess what!" The class pays attention to her now. "I got everyone those breaks I promised. We have a three-day break after today. You all will spend quality time with your family."

That was enough to break me out of my trance or whatever was happening to my mind. I didn't know if she was serious or not. Then I thought about something. Something that sent chills down my spine. They are our parents as far as I knew. We would be going home...with them. That's worse than being at school with them. I couldn't imagine sleeping in my own bed with them in another room.

I turn to Felix, about to say something when I see one of the twins crawling on the floor towards Felix. I choke on a scream as she grabs Felix's hand. His eyes grow wide and her mouth moves, but no words escape. It's a scary site. She let's go of Felix and he just sits there and stares at the teacher. The girl crawls away, out of the door unnoticed by anyone else. 

The bell rings, making me scream. Everyone gets out of their seat. "But, it's only been four minutes or so," I say to myself, but everyone heard.

The teacher smiles at me. "It's Friday. Everyone goes home early on Friday."

I shake my head. "I don't want to go home, can I just stay here?"

The smile on her face vanishes and the whole class looks at me, even Felix. He walks up to me and puts his hands on my desk. "No asking questions," he says. "Just do as they say." 

I watch him walk out the door with everyone else.

"Seems your friend is getting well acquainted with the rules, Cosima," Mrs. Riker says. "You will soon, don't worry," she says, waving to me.

I walk out of the room and into the hallway, looking for Felix. I catch him heading towards his locker and grab his shoulder from behind. "Felix, are you okay?" I say looking him over. "What did they do to you?"

He stares past me. "And the more you relax the easier it is to imagine yourself in a totally comfortable and contented place. I am in a comfortable place," he says in a low voice.

It was like he was in a trance. Suddenly, it hit me. He is in a trance. The twins. The twin's touch and their whispers. They had done it to me and now Felix. I was about to shake some sense into him, then I realize that I wouldn't have to. 

How the hell does that song go? I begin to snap my fingers. "They want to clean up some looks, with something and some books to make a citizen out of you," I sing. I don't know the lyrics, but I continue singing my version of the song until he finally looks at me.

"What the bloody hell are you doing," he says, giving me a confused look.

"Thank God," I sigh. "It worked."

"What?"

I explain to him what I saw and his face goes from confused to worried. He crosses his arms and pouts. "I'm officially creeped out, Cosima."

"Me too."

"So," he looks around. "When do we go home?"

As soon as he asks, the lights in the school go off making it dark and hard to see. I begin to hear the speakers coming from the ceiling.

"Enjoy your three-day break with your families," a woman announces. 

Suddenly, the lights turn back on and I'm no longer in the school. I look around. The TV, the chair, pictures of me and my mom hanging from the walls. I'm in my living room. I hear breathing behind me and when I turn around, I see two people sitting on the living room couch. They look like my parents, but I know that these imposters are not my parents at all...