1 Chapter One

"No!" I shout.

The man driving the car claiming to be my father raises his eyebrows as he continues to stare at me through the rear-view mirror. His expression fuels the fire within me, yet again.

The boy sitting next to me gently whispers, "Please, just do what he's asking. At least for me if not for Michael."

I hang my head, pleading, "I can't…"

Again, the man says, "Caleb, you're the only one who can convince her. And for heaven's sake, calm her down before I end up crashing."

When the hospital discharged me about a month ago, I didn't know anything. It was as if my mind was completely blank. Thinking back on the whole episode, it still makes me paranoid. The way I was tossing around anyone that got near me as if they were nothing more than rag dolls. It was as if this thing inside me was running on pure instinct alone. The thought of mangled bodies laying around me has me wishing that these two would just lock me up and throw away the key. If this power within me could do that kind of damage to fully grown men what could it do to a building full of children. Instead I'm forced into something that I know the consequences of my actions are far too dangerous.

When the car comes to a complete stop in the parking lot of the local high school, I jump out. Placing headphones in my ears, I then walk up front steps leading to a set of double doors with what I assume is the name of the school printed above in big, bulky letters spelling the words, Central Academy.

Minutes later, the two that brought me here lead the way as they step into a nicely decorated office and head straight towards the desk in the far corner of the room. The woman sitting behind it remains in her seat with her head held high, as if she's the queen and we are nothing more than pawns awaiting her judgement. Her light brown hair flowing over her straight pulled back shoulders. Sliding down the rigidity of her body to her clasped hands. I have a feeling that her reaction towards me will be the same as all the other adults I met so far.

Her expression suddenly changes when she spots me walking in. I may not know a lot of things still yet but I know from her now tight lips to her glare that she despises my presence. A look I know all too well. She continues to watch me with a cold gray stare as she begins to greet the two men, "Welcome," she says while gesturing towards the two plush chairs that are in front of her desk before returning her attention to my so-called father. "There's a few papers I need you to sign Mr. Morgan and I would like to go over the rules and regulations again to be sure you and ​both​ of your children," eyeing the boy and I briefly before returning to my father again, "understand that I run a tight ship around here."

Her desk contains two perfect stacks of textbooks ranging from mathematics to advanced literature. Along with a manila folder resting on a huge calendar that practically takes up the remainder of the flat surface. A container of writing utensils rests in the opposite corner where she proceeds to pull a pen out of before handing it to my father. I assume it's for him to sign his name to the few pages she was referring to.

I carry on slowly making my way around her office with the music continuing to blare through my headphones while searching for a warm spot to soak in away from her prying eyes. I have no interest in what anyone has to say to me except for that boy. He seems to be the only person I trust and I'm almost sure that's the reason my father continues to allow him to remain by my side.

I examine everything in the woman's office from the statues on her shelves to the way she has placed everything strategically while last night's argument between the two men replays in my mind. It wasn't the words they had exchanged that had me confused, it was who they were coming from that had me baffled. For a man that claims he's my father, he seems to know nothing about me.

A sense of serenity passes over me as if the boys' eyes are on me. No doubt he's watching every move I make. Studying me as if I'm some kind of specimen in a jar. It's strange how each pair of eyes can have a different effect on me. While my thoughts consume me once again, I trace the details of her figurines on the middle shelf. My fingertips glide over them while I do my best to follow my father's absurd rule's. For if I don't, I'm almost sure I wouldn't get far even if I tried to escape from this miserable place.

By the time I traced every item on her shelves at my eye level, I turned the music down. I caught the woman's words as they floated around the room. "Any violations of our invariable policies​ will result in a student's expulsion." she says, seemingly directed solely at me.

The timber of her voice sends fresh shivers throughout my body cascading the ones that started since we left the house. The cold invading me doesn't seem to bother the two guys as they sit in the plush, comfortable chairs, looking as warm as two cozy kittens near a fireplace. I groan, stretching the sweatshirt's sleeves over my frozen hands once more.

While maintaining a distance from everyone in the room, I stroll towards the window near a dingy brown filing cabinet. I glance at the woman's stern expression before gazing out the window into the distance. The rolling hills in the landscape keep my mind at bay for now.

When she comes to a close on the rules and regulations, she directs a question towards me, "Sara, did you hear me?" I shudder at the sound of her voice again but continue staring out of the window as if the woman hadn't spoken a word.

At that moment the boy answers, "Mrs. Williams, I assure you, she understands and knows what's expected of her."

"I see. Are you sure she's listening to me?" The concern rising in her voice forces me to glance at her as he replies, "Yes! Ma'am, it's the new environment, she's uncomfortable." before glancing at me and returning his sight to the woman and adding, "She just needs time to settle in."

I glance at the wall behind her, spotting a framed certificate confirming her name is indeed Williams, Martha Williams to be exact. I make a mental note of her first name and return my gaze out the window this time to the lonely orange tree in the yard. It stands tall and strong despite the harsh rain falling down. From its tapered green leaves to its loney pale-yellow blossom, it's a sore reminder of how I feel right about now. I try my best to drown out the pain as I increase the volume of the music still drumming on in my ears while the thoughts of civilized conduct flow through my mind like a babbling stream.

Soon the boy is ushering me towards the door while removing the headphone out of my ears. I turn the music off and put them away as I step towards the threshold of the room, "Oh! One more thing missy. Headphones aren't allowed in class," she adds in a stern voice.

Fear hits me like a tidal wave crashing on a shore of a deserted island. Piercing her words deeper and deeper into my soul with each passing breath. Until I can't hold it back any longer. The chains snap. Adrenaline flows through my veins. I turn around in such a flash that whips my hair across my face and flies back as I stomped in her direction, my heart quickening with each pounding step.

Everything from the statues on her shelves to the window frame rattles. The beast continues taking over, rising in strength the further I move away from the men. The woman's cold gray eyes grow large and she shivers as I growl, "What did you say?"

In a matter of seconds, the boy steps in my sight, banishing the sudden but evident surge of power within me. The beast recedes back into the depths of which it came leaving me with a chill so deep it froze me to the core. I lose myself in his golden pacifying stare as he continues to pull his fingers through my hair brushing it back behind me again and edging me back towards the door once more declaring, "Understood ma'am."

Between his soft, delicate touch and soothing pulse, the beast is chained once again. He then turns me around and whisks me into the main corridor while Mrs. Williams requests a few more minutes

of my father's time.

When my father rejoins us, his face is impassive, forcing me to wonder what the principle had said to him. Whatever it was it can't be good considering what had just happened beforehand but then again, he's nearly impossible to read. I think he hides his emotions because he's too embarrassed to let others see them. Perhaps, he's learned over the years that it's not wise to show others how you feel. Either way it would explain why he has this high level of control over his sentiments.

He steps towards the boy shoving the same books into his arms which were in two neat stacks on Mrs. Williams's desk minutes ago and addresses him, "Are you positive you can manage this?"

"Why do you still doubt me Mr. Morgan?" the boy questions.

"Well, that display shouldn't have happened in the first place. I thought you had a better handle on things than that?"

"Michael, you have to understand that some things are unpredictable. Besides you witnessed how quickly I was able to calm her."

My father shakes his head as if he's still not convinced. Maybe he is and he just doesn't want me to know anything more. It doesn't matter anyhow because I really don't care. The only thing that matters is that this boy stays true to me. He seems to be the key to keeping this power in control when I am unable to. It could be the fact that he hasn't lied to me or held anything back when we do talk to each other. Unlike the man that insists he's my father but yet won't come near me or even try to get to know me at all.

"The car will arrive at three. Don't be late!" He replies with anger rising in his voice.

Turning towards me, he raises his hand as if he's going to place it on my shoulder but hesitates. Instead he balls his hand, shaking it slightly as he brings it back down to his side and adds, "Sara—"

Anger courses through my body once more and I just stare at him. For some reason the name alone sets my insides on fire every time he says it. My father slumps and sighs just before walking out the double doors, abandoning the conversation all together. I feel awful about the situation but he should've chosen his time to converse with me more wisely. He knew I was still annoyed about the circumstances surrounding this whole idea from the minute he told me that he enrolled me in school. Of course, he's stressed that everything will work out for the best but how can I believe him when I can't even control my own actions at home.

The boy hands me book after book while saying, "He's only trying to protect you."

I hesitate as a few kids enter through the front doors my father had slipped through, but pass us by as if we're invisible. He maintains his composure handing me a few more books while looking over a piece of paper. Several more students enter and make their way down the different passages. Still unfazed by the appearance of the kids, he hands me another book and studies the paper one final time before handing it over.

Grabbing the paper, I retort, "You keep telling me that, but how do I know it's true?" I keep my voice low in case more kids emerge into the lobby. The last thing I want to do today is to explain my life to an outsider.

"Do you honestly think he would do all of this just for fun?"

I shrug. For all I know he probably enjoys twisting the truth at others expense.

He then adds, "Look at it this way, soon you will be free to live your life however you want, but until then—."

"Yea, I know, follow the rules!" I finish, rolling my eyes. "But what about my music?" I ask. We both knew that regardless of the volume as long as I streamed music into my ears, it distracted this beast inside me from lashing out at the simplest of things.

"Mrs. Williams stated that cell phones were allowed in between classes. I'm guessing the same goes for your headphones. Besides, I'll be at lunch with you and you can indulge all you want."

I nod, looking at the paper in my hand. As much as I don't want to admit it, he's right but it doesn't mean I have to enjoy being constricted.

As we part ways, I place the headphones back in my ears, turning on the music of the playlist and scanning the area and looking for what I assume are numbers that match the ones listed on the sheet.