Will was alone in the training room. He wasn't in the Institute for a long time, so it didn't really felt like home. He thought, that after some time and maybe could. He thought about home very often. And about the death of his sister. It was his fault. It was all his fault. He never should have opened the Pyxis.

He threw a knife.

His parents, knocking on the door of the Institute.

He threw a second knife.

Screaming his name. And Will, hiding in his room.

He threw the last knife.

This had been just a week ago. The wound in his soul was as fresh as on that day.

"Idiot!" he murmured. "How could you have been such an idiot?" Opening that silly box and everything would be alright. He could be with his parents now and with his sisters, Ella could be alive. It was all his fault. And the demon's. Just a twelve years old boy, curious opening a thing of his father. How could he have known what was inside?

Will picked up his knives. He wasn't a very good shot, but his goal was to be one by the end of the month. He threw them. Again and again until Charlotte entered the room.

Charlotte was alright. He liked her, but he couldn't show her. It was impossible. She should not love him, not even like him. But she was always nice, always kind and showed him something like sisterly love. It was hard to be so cruel to her and it hurt him.

"Will?" she asked.

He didn't reply. 'Don't show any feelings, silly boy', he told himself.

"Will?" Charlotte repeated. "May I have your attention for a few minutes?"

Will turned to her.

She sighed. "I have good news for you. In one or two weeks a boy will arrive here. His name is James Carstairs and he comes here from Shanghai. He's your age."

Will mumbled: "What does that mean?"

Charlotte didn't answer instantly. Then she said in a low voice: "I… I hoped you could befriend him. You know, he will be alone, knowing no one here. Like you when you came here. Please, Will."

Will was shocked. A boy around his age. Yes, of course he wanted that James Carstairs as a friend. But how? The other boy shouldn't be liking him.

"Will? Please."

Will almost forgot about Charlotte. "I don't want friends", he said, then turned away, not caring about Charlotte anymore. He knew, how Charlotte felt. He knew, it was not okay what he was doing to her. It must hurt a lot, but it hurt him, too. Will heard Charlotte walking away. When he couldn't hear her steps anymore he broke down on the floor. He wanted to scream and cry, but he didn't. Not anymore. Not anymore.

"William Herondale will not cry" he said to himself loudly. "William Herondale is strong. He doesn't need friends."

But in a corner of his heart he felt the joy, he was looking forward to this boy. He didn#t allow it to himself, but he couldn't deny it. He looked forward to meeting James Carstairs.