Natalie lay on her bed that night thinking about the competitions. She tried to formulate various tactics that she could use to beat her opponent, but, whenever she did, Ingrid’s words came to her. ‘Don’t you feel anything for him? You’re single, he’s…’ single. Natalie thought.

She turned on the bed. Trevor was a nice guy. She felt something for him. She liked him, his physique, his personality and what all other girls of Hamerton who surrounded him might have been after.

But, Natalie thought, even if I do like him…I can’t be the first one to make the move. What if he doesn’t like me back? She sighed and turned over on her bed again to realize that she was thirsty.

She got her feet on the ladder of her bank bed and climbed down to the floor. She walked across her room and into a corridor. She paused close to the entrance of one room when she heard voices.

“We agreed on 21^st March.” One girl was saying.

“Of?” there was a reply with a vivid French ascent. Natalie recognized the voice but, she was not sure to whom it belonged yet.

“Two zero one five.” The first voice replied. “It should be the last term of office of the coming Parliament. We have our people ready. It should be the biggest thing ever.”

“Why are we doing this anyway?” Erin’s voice sounded.

“Shut up! You know why.” The first voice rasped at her.

Natalie gulped. Erin? What are they planning to do? 

“Thousands of students will die… parents, they will be bereaved.”

“Don’t come against us Erin. Remember what happened to Caitlin.”

Caitlin? Natalie thought almost bursting into the room and ask them what they did to her friend. Likely, she was murdered and this evil crew killed her.

“I’ll rather die first than witness the death of all those people.” Erin cried.

“You will not live, I assure you. It’s a suicide bombing and, we’re doing that-”

“For what?” Erin interrupted.

“Revenge.”

“Wait.” Paulina said. “I think that someone’s behind the entrance.”

Natalie now could confirm Paulina Lois’ voice. But, she had no more time to grasp extra details. She tiptoed quickly to another room adjacent to it and leaned on the wall panting.

Paulina walked to the doorway and peeped out. No one was in sight.

She returned back inside to greet Nicky’s frowning face and Erin’s tears.

“I am sure that someone was behind that wall.” She said.

“We’ll find out.” Nicky assured

Erin wiped her face. “I want to go to bed now.” She said and stomped out.

stay tuned