I stood outside of my Hass class, keeping my promise, and letting Ciara ramble on about the bubonic plague and how far medicine had come. Fun fact: when I was young, I had wanted to be a doctor. I hadn't really known the difference between a doctor and a nurse for a while, but as soon as I found out I wanted to be one. It was unfortunate, but I had given up on the dream long ago.

After I started getting into fights and wagging to avoid teachers I hated, my parents had started complaining about how I was wasting my life. But you already know that story. The story you don't really know is about my teachers. Some of them had simply creeped me out, but a few of them seemed to hate me with a burning passion.

Mr Revenson for example. Yes, again, some very strong paedo vibes most likely due to my new discovery. But he hated me like I had somehow insulted his whole family. Every time I had a question he would ignore me, literally answered everyone else's questions, and then move on. It was lucky that I was never the only one with that question, otherwise I would have failed his class just because he never tried to teach me. And after that, I began to hate Science. I know, it seems weird to think that I once despised the class, but I did.

Ms Standan had always been there though. Rather than going to Revenson with a question when I wasn't in class, I would usually go to Standan. She seemed to have a glint in her eyes, of knowing. She knew that I wasn't a bad kid, and that I was simply trying to defend myself. That wasn't something I could say about any of my teachers. Even at Nangidon.

Gladiare and Boroong were great, Farsnic was a psychopath, and all of the others didn't seem to regard me with any emotions. I had tried to stay out of fights, or at least keep my quarrels on the down low. I didn't want to have the same sort of reputation and experience there. It was supposed to be a clean slate.

I had tried to contain my anger, like with Connor where I popped one finger out of place and just threatened him. It may not have sounded like much, but for me, that was a drastic improvement.

I was pulled from my thoughts, and the conversation with Ciara, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Gabe, wearing his usual sheepish smile.

"Hey Flora," he started. "You weren't here for a couple of days, and I just wanted to check you were okay."

I smiled lightly, trying to hide the nervousness of what had happened while I was gone. I mean, I had killed myself, came back to life, and then massacred a bunch of Clark Corporation employee's. It wasn't exactly a story I wanted to share, and so I'd have to come up with a convincing lie. I had remembered that Zak said Ciara asked about how we were doing when sick. So, with that bit of information I tried to come up with semblance of a believable story.

"Yeah, nah yeah," I nodded, "just um ... felt off. I wasn't well. Like, cough cough, sneeze sneeze, kind of unwell."

I shifted my weight from foot to foot, hoping it wasn't obvious that I was lying. It was a strange sensation to not know how. I had been doing well at lying to my family about the dreams, and literally everyone about that. Why was this suddenly different? I hadn't gotten clammy and coy when talking about it with Samara.

"Right," Gabe nodded, an unreadable expression on his face.

I jumped back and nearly hit the wall at a loud crashing sound. Glass breaking. Were they there? Were they going to shoot me in front of my whole Hass class? Was I going to have to reveal to everyone that I was some immortal creature with weird dreams about an invisible force trying to murder me? Was this where everything went wrong?

No. No it was not. As it turned out, E had just dropped her glass water bottle and it smashed into tiny pieces on the ground. A few students had made a circle around it, and one of the teachers from the office came out to help with the situation.

"I didn't realise you got scared?" Ciara grinned mischievously. "So, I take it you don't like scary movies then?"

I rolled my eyes and tried to pretend my heart wasn't beating out of my chest. "Scary movies are predictable. I was just startled."

Ciara shrugged, and I swear I heard Gabe whisper something under his breath. Internet? Arresting? Appealing? Whatever it was, I didn't hear it well enough.

"What was that?" I asked.

Gabe shrugged. "I didn't say anything."

I narrowed my eyes slightly, because I swear, I heard him say something. But I shrugged it off and waited for Boroong. She always came a few minutes late, but no one ever asked why. I always figured she was preoccupied and tried to get here as quickly as possible. There had been plenty of teachers like that at Sacredooka.

The door swung open and Boroong came out, wearing her usual bright smile and the optional teachers uniform. She stepped aside and held the door open.

"Okay rug rats," she greeted, "come on in. We're starting revision for our test next Wednesday."

Some of the class members groaned. Okay, most of the class groaned.

"Miss, do you think we could just not?" A girl whom I learnt used the name Brazza asked.

"I would cancel it, but then I'd get in trouble," Boroong joked. "Sorry Brazza."

The class moved inside, and Ciara and I took our seats in the third row. The class was surprisingly small, but I'd learnt that Nangidon used a different organisational system to Sacredooka. And when I thought about it, it made more sense. Students were grouped into classes based on skill level rather than ranking. So, instead of the top thirty students going into the top class, it was the students with the best overall scores, ranging from eighty to one hundred percent test average, which got put in the top class.

I wasn't surprised by anyone in the class really. Yes, I did somehow manage to be placed in the top Hass class, and Science class, and second highest English class, for math I was in the worst class. That's beside the point. Ciara didn't surprise me whatsoever with her knowledge on history, geography, and politics. People like Brazza – who was an eshay and hung out with Fundo and Will behind the Art demountables – and Connor – who was indeed a footyfuck – would have surprised me if it weren't for the fact that they were some of the more active learners in this class.

HS3 looked like it could've been a demountable if it weren't for the fact that it was an actual room attached to the Hass Building. It was smaller than some of the other classrooms in the school, and had more windows than the others, but that was because it was a corner classroom. The classroom always smelt like rain, despite it being the beginning of autumn with no rain in sight. After a while I got used to it and guessed that it was some type of air freshener. Although, whenever I looked at the teachers desk, I could never find it.

Boroong started to hand out the revision booklets, and I saw some students passing something small around. I couldn't tell who started the chain, but the object just kept getting passed around the room, with people only glancing at it. I was surprised when Brazza stuck her hand behind her back to pass it to me. I took the note and looked at the name to see who it was for but turns out it was for me.

I tucked my hands under the desk and opened the paper, as to not get in trouble. In slightly messy scrawl, I saw the message, and my blood went cold. They're watching you.

It was loud and clear. I looked up and glanced to the corner of the room, where the cameras were. They had them in every classroom, obviously for if anyone stole anything, but if Farsnic worked for the Clark Corporation as a spy, was it possible other teachers and staff members did as well? And was it possible that they had access to the cameras, and could see my every move?

I scanned the room, looking for who might've written the warning. But there was a slight problem, it had gone everywhere in the room before reaching me. It was a classic tactic to pass it around randomly until it reached the correct recipient. It made sure the teacher couldn't catch out the person who actually wrote the note.

Boroong gave Ciara and I our work, but I couldn't concentrate on pollution. First and only time I will ever say that. Someone in this classroom knew. And when I scanned the room, I had a pretty good guess of who. Lorenzo Gilroy.

I bit my tongue as soon as I saw him. He looked like he was in rough shape. But what could you expect? He just lost his Mother to a supposed chemical leak that cursed throats to explode once inhaled. Unless he knew exactly what had gone down in the city. The dozen dead bodies, the dozen families that would be heart broken, the layers of blood on my hands...

A truly wicked thought came to mind. If Enzo knew, Terrance knew. Terrance had dated my sister. He had used her feelings for him to investigate our family! And Enzo had gotten plenty of information through flirting relentlessly! None of it was real! Those dickheads were faking everything just to spy on us and report back to their bitch of a Mother! Seriously!? What the Hell was wrong with that family!?

Class ended and I angrily stuffed all of my things into my bag.

"Woah," Ciara started, "you're gonna snap a book in half if you do it like that."

"Yeah, well, I'm pissed off," I said through gritted teeth, glaring daggers at Enzo.

"Uh... Why?" Ciara asked.

My glare got more intense, as I my anger grew. Enzo stumbled and started coughing slightly, ending up sounding like he was choking on air for a few seconds. Perhaps some saliva had gone down the wrong throat, God knows that's happened to everyone.

"Flora!" Ciara snapped her fingers in front of my face, and I turned to her. "Jesus, you were scaring me. I thought you were trying to pull a Darth Vader for a second."

I clenched my fist. "That would be a mercy," I grumbled under my breath.

"Look, I don't know what he did," Ciara shrugged, "but glaring him to death won't solve anything."

"You're right," I nodded.

"I'm always right," she smiled.

"I'm gonna go have a chat," I got up and stalked out of the classroom with my bag slung over my shoulder.

"Wait, what!?" Ciara ran out to follow me. "Flora! Angry you is dangerous you! Especially since you look ready to murder!"

I ignored her, eventually just tuning out her screaming and tapped Enzo on the shoulder. He turned around, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Finally succumbing to my charm?" He asked.

"You're a dick!" I said, punctuating the last word with a punch to the schnoz. It wasn't hard enough to break it, but Enzo's eyes watered from the impact and my fist hurt dully.

The students around us backed up and I could see Brazza even snuck her phone out of her pocket to film. Ciara squeezed through the crowd to get to the front, standing very small in front of everyone, and tried to get my attention. But I was in fighting mode. This fucker was using flirtatious remarks as an excuse to get information for the fucking Clark Corporation! I was more than pissed off, more than angry, I was downright outraged.

"Ugh!" He grunted out in pain. "What the fuck Flower!?"

"My name, isn't Flower!" I elbowed him in the face, knocking him down to the ground.

He groaned out as he landed on his ass, and students gasped all around us. Some cheered me on, some told Enzo to get off his lazy ass, some were in shock, others just didn't want to get involved in case I went for them, and Ciara tried to tell me to stop. But I was in no way done with this sorry motherfucker!

I kicked him in the face, forcing him to lay horizontally on the ground. Some people oohed, seeing the bright red and purple bruises already forming, and the blood that spurted from his nose and lip. He tried to get up, but before he could I knelt down and used my left hand to hold him to the ground. I then proceeded to repeatedly punch him in his sorry face!

"YOU!" Punch. "ARE!" Punch. "A!" Punch. "FUCK–!" Punch. "–ING!" Punch. "SON!" Punch. "OF!" Punch. "A!" Punch. "BITCH!"

"MS FICKLE!" I heard a booming voice behind me, and I was yanked off of Enzo. "CALM YOURSELF!"

I struggled, until the pure adrenaline I had been running on drained form my body. I sagged slightly, panting. Some of Enzo's mates helped him off of the ground and carried him away. Most likely to the Student Services Building.

Whoever was holding me up, forced me to stand properly, and I turned around to see Mr Gladiare, pure anger in his eyes. So much for the new reputation.

"Ms Fickle, would you mind explaining yourself!?" He exclaimed.

I stayed silent, looking away and refusing to meet his gaze. I glanced around to see the crowd had not diminished, and Brazza was still filming everything that happened. I took it Gladiare was too preoccupied to notice she had her phone out. Illegally I might add.

"I'm waiting," he crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently.

Oh yeah um, Enzo's Mum kidnapped and tried to do experiments on me, and he might have just threatened me! I thought but didn't dare say out loud. Instead, I hung my head and fiddled with my suddenly very interesting fingers. I couldn't explain the truth without giving myself away, and so I just sort of stood there like an idiot. And I did feel really stupid. I just ruined my chance at a new, fight free, life.

"What is going on out here?" Boroong came out. "Brazza, give me that phone!"

She swiped the phone from Brazza, turning it off and putting it in her pocket.

"Ms Fickle was beating up Mr Gilroy," Gladiare explained. "She won't explain why."

"Flora!" Boroong reprimanded. "That's not nice!"

"Not, nice!" Gladiare spat. "His face was all bloody and bruised!"

Boroong shook her head. "Go on everyone! Shoo!" She waved her arms to get everyone to leave. "Flora, come back inside my classroom please."

I slowly went inside, my feet scuffing against the concrete ground before they met the carpet. The same smell of rain as always hit me like a brick. I sat down at my, desk and I could see Gladiare and Boroong arguing outside.

Curiosity go the better of me, and against better judgement, I moved closer to the open window to listen in.

"Dione," Gladiare said dangerously low, "I had the situation handled."

"Well as her home room teacher I would have to be told eventually." Boroong said.

Dione? That didn't sound even remotely Noongar like I had expected given her surname. It sounded more Greek if I was honest.

"She's out of control," Gladiare said. "I've never seen anything like it before!"

"Really?" Boroong deadpanned. "Not even Demi? She was just as angry Ron. All of them are."

"Not like this," Gladiare replied. "And would you stop calling me Ron! It's so mundane! And I am not–"

Boroong groaned. "You're such a bore. Couldn't I have been forced to endure one of your brothers? They're at least funny."

"Ha-ha," Gladiare mocked. "They're also complete messes. But I suppose your last husband—"

"You would dare bring that up!?" Boroong exclaimed. "After everything that's happened these last sixteen years!? Really Ron?"

"I already told you," Gladiare hissed. "Stop calling me Ron!"

I didn't have to look to know Boroong had rolled her eyes.

"Whatever let's just give her a bag and tell her to go pick up some rubbish," Boroong sighed.

"That's hardly a punishment," Gladiare scowled. "They always care about nature."

"Yes well," Boroong started, "as her home room teacher, I will appoint the punishment."

"And as her Protector—"

"You can stop her from going amissei imperiallis," Boroong said. "Now, I will go back into the classroom, and give her the bag."

I quickly dashed back to my seat and watched as the door opened to reveal Boroong and Gladiare. Protector? I thought. Because he'd been doing such a good job of protecting me. Not like another teacher at this school had assisted in kidnapping me or anything. And what was that even supposed to mean? Were the two of them like me? Were they assigned by the Clark Corporation in case I died? Again.

This was a question for someone who knew. Not Jade, but Mors.