PROLOGUE
I loosened the tie from around my neck, the smooth silk feeling suddenly like a tight noose. I also unfastened the first couple buttons for good measure. Looking around at the solemn faces in the room, I took a deep breath trying to gather my thoughts. My Aunt sat next to me, twining her fingers nervously over and over. The headmaster sat behind his impressive desk, his head resting on his fisted hands. His eyes were closed and he was taking slow, calming breaths. Three of my professors were positioned around the small room. Each had a stern look on their face. Two of my classmates sat off to the side. One had a smug grin on his face while he eyed the headmaster patiently. I couldn't bring myself to look at the other, couldn't stand to see the accusation or judgment on his face.
How on earth was I going to explain my actions over the last nine months?
Only one person could potentially save me, and I had no idea how to reach him right now. Not only was this a problem, but I doubted he'd be inclined to help me out of this situation. He had a lot riding on this project, and he couldn't risk it all falling apart.
Frankly, I'd be lucky if I wasn't arrested or committed by the end of this meeting. All the hopes that I'd had going into this whole ordeal were, in one fell-swoop, eradicated.
The room was silent except for the ticking of the large clock located on the mantel above the fireplace. The slow, steady rhythm of the clock marked the difference in the speed of my racing heart.
After several minutes had ticked by, the headmaster sighed, raising his head and looked at me. I swallowed thickly as I met his dark eyes.
"I'm not sure what to do in this situation. To my knowledge, it has never come up before. Anywhere." He took a deep breath, breaking his gaze with me and opening the folder sitting in front of him on the desk.
I looked down at my knees, futilely playing with the crease in my khaki's. "I'm sorry, sir," I mumbled, my voice no louder than a whisper. A loud snort came from my smug classmate, and I glared at him quickly before casting my eyes back to my fascinating slacks.
"Unfortunately, 'sorry' isn't going to get us very far. We can't undo the past nine months." The headmaster started rubbing his forehead as though smoothing away a headache.
"I know, sir." I really didn't know what else to say. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I never expected to be caught. But then, so many things had happened over the last nine months that had been unexpected.
"I guess I don't really understand what happened. Why did you do this? How did you do this? What was to be gained by your actions?"
I glanced quickly around the room; all eyes were on me, waiting expectantly.
This was the moment where I would lose everything. I'd signed a mountain of non-disclosure statements and contracts to keep my silence. But I wasn't sure what else to do.
The last person I looked at was my Aunt, she reached over and grasped my hand, giving me a small smile of encouragement.
I looked back at the headmaster, his dark eyes boring into me. I steeled myself, preparing for the exhausting tale to come.
"It all began 10 months ago…"
AN: I've never done this before. Frankly, I'm interested in seeing how this all goes...