They remained two in the room. Nicky and Paulina.

“What’s so special about that girl that you force her into taking part in this mission?” Paulina asked drawing to an empty bed in the room.

“We’re out of men.”

“I can tell you that she’s dangerous.”

“There’s nothing that she can do. We have her in our hands.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you.”

Nicky remained silent probably digesting the new thought.

Paulina sat majestically on the bed. With one leg over the other. “Tell me about this girl, Natalie?”

Nicky shook her head making steps to the bed but, she did not sit. “I don’t know. She’s smart and stuff. Are you worried about the competitions?”

“I think that I can beat her.”

“Paulina… that’s not important now.”

Paulina rose. “Whatever. It’s your problem.” With that, she left as well.

Nicky walked to the end of the room. She switched off the lights and paced out silently. Just then, Natalie was coming from the end of the corridor with a glass of water. They halted few feet apart in the middle of the corridor.

“Hey ey… amh, whatever keeps you up this late?” Natalie asked grinning.

Nicky raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “I should be asking you the same question. The curfew for all students ends at 10pm exactly. So, what have you been doing outside at this hour?”

“I, I felt thirsty so, I went for a glass of water in the kitchen.”

“No. see me at Mr. Gram’s office tomorrow at nine.”

Natalie’s mouth dropped open. She did not believe that she was just oppressed.

Nicky walked past her.

“Hey… you have no right whatsoever to make me accountable for anything.”

Nicky, who was already five steps from her, turned around. “That makes two of your mistakes, Natalie Bradley. I am your superior and you just insulted me.”

 Natalie fumed with furry. She felt like strangling her but, Nicky left too quickly. When she got back to her room, Natalie could not even drink her water. She climbed to her bed but had no sleep. Her anger against Nicky surpassed her worry about Caitlin’s death. Nicky, Irene Stewart or whatever she called herself was a mean person. She was a senior and Natalie better understood why Class D hated the seniors.

Natalie squeezed her eyes forcing herself to rest. Instead, she ended up sobbing.

……………………………………………………………………………

Natalie mused over what she overheard the night before. Caitlin… they killed her. She was terrorized by every thought. How could they be so cruel? And Erin… she’s one of them. She must have had something to do with what happened to Caitlin.

She was in Mr. Francis’ class as she pondered this. Her mind was totally absent from what the teacher was teaching. She did not even realize that she was crying and could not respond when her name was called.

Someone tap her desk and she snapped back to reality, wiping her tears quickly.

“Miss Natalie are you fine?” Mr. Francis asked standing in front of the class.

Natalie glanced at him and a secretary that she used to see at the discipline’s office. She nodded. “Yes sir.”

“Mrs. Perks here needs to see you.”

Natalie nodded and rose. She escorted the short lady secretary to her boss Mr. Gram’s office.

Mr. Gram was a tall built man and easily described as a giant. He was an African American recruited from one top school in USA. He was a physics expert, the senior’s class master and he oversaw discipline of all students and their leaders. If anyone was called to his office, he or she was done for.

Natalie walked in to his office, leaving the secretary outside. As she expected, she met Nicky with him.

“Miss Bradley. Your minister has brought complains about you sneaking out of the dormitories at night and, when she questioned you, you insulted her.” The man spoke quickly.

Natalie’s eyes were already red with crying. Now they filled with fury. “I didn’t do anything.” She replied indignantly.

“Sir. She is lying. She’s a liar. She soothed her way to get to the Parliament and now… she wants to insult it by her bad attitude. Sir, Natalie is not fit to represent our school in the debate competitions.” Nicky claimed.

Natalie broke into a cry. She had never been mistreated before. Moreover, it looked like her only opportunity to continue with school was slipping away. “Sir, I beg of you… I didn’t sneak out. I only went to the kitchen for a glass of water.”

“She is lying. She was even half nude.” Nicky added mercilessly.

Natalie covered her mouth with shock.

Mr. Gram’s face folded with anger. He could not tolerate indiscipline in the government or students. But, at the same time Natalie’s tears seemed sincere. “All of you. Quiet!” he bawled. He turned to Nicky. “Can you prove that you saw her last night?”

“Yes sir.” Nicky replied quickly. “I was with Paulina, the French student of St. Ann Marie. We both saw Natalie sir, sneaking out last night.”

“Call her.” The teacher commanded.

Natalie dashed to the teacher’s desk as Nicky hurried out. “Sir, they are lying. I could never do anything like that. I was thirsty, I went down to the kitchen for a glass of water.”

“How can you prove that?” Mr. Gram asked hesitating from pronouncing an unfair judgment to her.

Natalie went mute. She did not know if anyone really saw her with the glass of water from the kitchen. But, that did not mean that she really did not go down only for a drink the other night.

“Go to the Cafeteria in Block 5. I’ll give a call to dismiss all the stuff so that you can clean that place. Be done by recess and come see me.”

“But, sir. I did not do anything.”

“To Block 5 miss Bradley. Do not make me lose my temper on you.”

Natalie sighed and ran out. It was the worst day of her life.

what happened next? stay tuned...