Alivia POV

Anger bubbled inside of me, making my vision go red.

Red, like blood.

Blood that would flow from that girl's head if she didn't put the gun down.

I didn't hear him come up behind me but Trace grabbed my arm gently. I didn't turn but I knew what he was trying to say.

Go.

"I'm sorry Headmistress…I have to do this."

"Bailey, you don't have to do what they say."

Bailey shook with nervousness I knew that that could cause even more damage. A shaky hand makes a bullet go anywhere. My mom never once looked in my direction which defiantly kept the situation a little less deadly.

"They will kill me if I fail," Bailey screeched, shaking not from just nervousness but sobs.

"She will kill me Mrs. Goode."

"Who will kill you?"

I yanked my arm away from Trace's tightening grip and growled "I will!"

It happened all in slow mention. My mom and Trace screamed "NO!"

Bailey turned the gun at me.

I spin kicked the gun out of her hand, planted my foot, and kicked her in the chest. I heard a pop and knew her ribs were broken. Bailey punched at me, connecting with my jaw. I stumbled back into Trace. I ran and dove at her. Our bodies collided and she went flying into the wall. Pushing off the wall she kicked me in the nose, breaking it. Blood flowed from my nose but I was too enraged to care. I punched her in her broken ribs and she doubled over and I brought my knee up into her forehead.

She fell crying and I punched her square in the nose.

With every word I punched the girl anywhere…everywhere.

"YOU TRAITOR! YOU DISGRACE! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO KILL ME MOTHER! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO KILL ME! GO TO H-," Trace yanked me back and slapped a hand over my mouth.

Bailey lay curled in a ball on the ground, screaming.

I kicked my feet in the air as he lifted me up and pulled me away from the girl. I was beyond mad and I wanted to hit her again and again and again.

Reb came in, grabbed the gun, and then stared at Bailey on the ground.

"What happened," she demanded.

"Bailey tried to kill Cammie…before she killed Alivia," Trace said. I shook in his arms but I was no longer fighting.

I was seething.

I leaned my head back against Trace's chest and breathed deeply.

Mr. Smith and Grandpa Solomon ran into the room. "What's going on here," Grandpa Joe yelled and spotted Bailey on the ground."What happened?"

"Bailey tried to kill Cammie," Trace said.

"Why?"

"The Circle has infiltrated Gallagher."

[{An Hour Later}]

Aunt Abby was at Gallagher in an hour and two minutes.

She burst through the doors with five guards surrounding Edward grabbed her waist and kissed her hard. They hadn't seen each other since summer.

"Where is she," Abby demanded as soon as she broke for air.

I was standing Reb on the other side of the foyer across from Trace, his arms tight around Bailey, holding her in a grip she would never get through.

Not that she could.

I had beaten the mess out of her.

Her face was bruised and bloody and her body was coiled in against Trace's. Tears mixed with the blood and ran down her face.

I felt no guilt.

She deserved what she got.

She fought well…beyond someone of her grade…but nothing fuels a person more than rage. Especially a person who has almost been killed by the people you work for.

Reb kept a tight grip on my hand and whenever I was start to breath heavier she would squeeze and bring me back to earth.

Abby ran over to me (surprisingly well for a woman in three inch heels) and squeezed me tightly. She didn't mind the blood that was dried rubbing off on her black suit.

"Who did this?"

I jerked my head in Bailey's direction, making me wince.

"Why?"

"She's recruited by the Circle," Reb said dryly."What made you attack her," Abby asked me, an eyebrow rose."She works with the Circle…and she tried to kill mom."

A fire lit up in Abby's eyes but she blinked and it was gone.

"We need to get you out of here soon."

She walked over to Bailey quickly and looking deadly.

"How long have you been updating the Circle about Alivia's whereabouts and activities?" "Since she got back," I heard Bailey say quietly.

I jerked my arm but Reb held strong. I wanted to hit her again. I wanted to scream and kick and punch and hit something!

"Liv calm down," she said in a low threatening voice.

I took a deep breath and wiped my nose.

I looked over at Trace and he mouthed "Calm down."

My nose throbbed painfully and I winced every time I breathed. But I had been through greater pain before. "Has anyone else been contacting the Circle inside of Gallagher," Abby demanded.

"No."

"Are your friends involved in this in anyway?"

"No," Bailey said quietly, "it's just me."

"Are you sure? We have plenty of ways of getting them to confess. If you do happen to work for the Circle…these ways will not be friendly," Abby glared.

"No…please. They had nothing to do with this. I told them nothing I swear. Please leave them out of this," Bailey begged.

"Have you or have you not contacted the Circle regarding having them come inside of Gallagher?"

Bailey dropped her head, her weight falling forward.

"Yes."

Trace let go of her instantly and she fell to the ground. Aunt Abby moved to face my mom, face grim. "Cameron we need to move Alivia now." My mom ran her fingers through her hair and said "Abby their going to find her."

"No they won't not where we're taking her."

"You were already planning on taking her," my mom and Trace asked, voices raised.

"We were going to take all of you. Trace: the Circle wants you more than ever. The rest of you: you have fought Circle members and they were not eliminated. They have memorized your faces," Abby said, turning to my friends.

"What about us," Jake asked, holding Amelia's hand. Amelia had a look on her face that showed she was scared…and that her naïve ways had once again proved her wrong.

It doesn't matter how young you have to be to lose your innocence to her anymore.

"You two were not seen…but they know of you."

"So we're in danger also," Amelia asked, shaking slightly.

I pulled away from Reb but I wasn't heading to Bailey.

I placed a hand on Amelia's shoulder and said "You have to be brave."

"I can't," she shook.

"Yes you can," both Jake and I said.

"Amelia, you are one of the bravest people I know," I said smiling. "How? I'm not strong enough to knock out a grown man. I'm not hot enough to honey pot anyone. All I have are smarts!"

"That can save your life! If something were to happen, you would know how to get out of it!"

She smiled sadly.

"It doesn't matter how strong you are or how pretty you are Ames. Smarts beat strength any day."

I dropped my hand and she smiled at me, more confidently.

"But we're still in danger."

"Welcome to my everyday," I said under my breath.

Alex, Kodi, and Dondre walked out of my mom's office with dark looks on their faces.

"When do we leave," Kodi asked, gripping Alex's hand.

"Tomorrow."