Author note: I am only typing this because I love you guys!

After a long morning of just sitting and doing nothing at Joy's Diner we got up and left. Cadince seemed to be shaky, but she hid it well – from Stephen and Erica that is.

She sent me a sideways glance and quickly whispered, "Don't let them find out."

I furrowed my eyebrows confusedly. Who were "them"? I knew it wasn't Stephen and Erica, and what were these people not supposed to find out?

Cadince gulped and took in a sharp breath as we walked back into the school silent as a mouse. If I tried hard enough I could probably hear the rapid beat of Cadince's heart. She has never acted this way. She'd never show her nervousness, it just wasn't her place.

I brushed my hair behind my ears as the four of us strolled through the halls. Looking around I noticed that many people stayed in the building today, other than leaving, and this made Cadince even more jumpy.

"Wonder why everyone stayed," Stephen said boredly.

Erica shrugged numbly, "It's probably too hot for them," she said.

"Or maybe they'll blow up once their skin is publicized to the daylight," I laughed.

Stephen rolled his eyes. "Seriously Anomie, what goes on in that wondrous head of yours?" he asked.

"Oh, this and that," I answered mysteriously. Erica giggled and stopped in her tracks, causing Stephen to run into her small form.

"What is it?" I asked, looking up. Smack dab in the middle of the hall was the man in whom I've grown to hate so deeply and severely, standing like a statue.

Ned never walked through the halls when we were crowded around, and barely anybody in this damned school actually met him face-to-face. They'd heard of him from the other students, and everything they said about him made him sound worse than he already is.

He was strictly known for his intelligence and insolence. Everyone knew that he came up with the tests, and knew that with the snap of a finger he could kill you in an instant. Some people even talked about how he must have sold his soul to the devil and became an evil demon controlling the school and killing children for his own amusement.

But I knew Ned – probably better than anyone in this world. I knew his flaws and weaknesses, and I knew most of his unforgiving secrets. He may have had a bad name around here, but really he was weak. He was a fake. And I knew this.

I stared blankly at him briefly and then glanced around at the astonished faces.

"It's him," someone whispered.

"He looks like a demon," another person dared to say.

"I can't believe he's actually in the halls!" somebody hissed.

Ned wore a dark suit with a bright red tie, and stood up as straight as a pole. He wore a blank and mysterious look that said "I'm a jackass" written all over him.

Two men stood behind him, staring straight ahead like they were hypnotized.

I decided to speak up. "Finally decide to come out of hiding, did you Ned?" I asked with a small smirk playing at my lips.

Ned's sharp eyes connected with mine, and I felt my insides boil dangerously.

"Anomie!" Erica hissed.

I ignored her completely and firmly crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes. "What do you want?" I asked.

Ned stood there for a few seconds, letting the petrified kids take in his fearless form, and then opened his mouth. "I am not here to argue with you, Miss Parker," he said in his most dangerous tone. "I would like to speak with one of your girls."

I already knew - by the gleam in his eye - who he was here to get. I tilted my head upward and stared at him through squinted eyes.

"And what is your purpose for borrowing her?" I asked as a leader would. I was a bit shocked to see that Ned was sort of asking permission to speak with one of my people. But I stood up like a good leader would, ready to defend her.

"We have some issues to resolve, Miss Parker, and then you can have her back," Ned answered me.

"What are your issues with Cadince?" I asked, testing him.

Some of the others gasped, amazed at how I knew who he came for, and others merely nodded, wanting to know the answer as well.

"I believe that business only needs to be shared between Miss Idi and me," the demon said slowly.

"What makes you think I won't find out?"

"Oh, you'll find out," Ned answered evilly. "You'll all find out."

And, forcefully, one of his men jerked Cadince by her arm, and I instantly shoved him away.

"You take her gently or you don't take her at all!" I exclaimed.

Ned nodded, and the man stepped aside as Cadince brushed by him and followed him down the narrow hallway.

Ned sent the other's a look in which made their skin crawl, but it merely made my veins run cold. He then left like he never showed up, and I watched his retreating figure.

I turned around swiftly and ever so calmly I walked down the hallway. I brusquely soared into mine and Erica's room – my two friends behind me – and plopped down on my bed.

"I don't like where this is going," I said suddenly. "I don't like it at all."

Erica sat down beside me and sighed. "You're bold, Nomie, really bold," she told me.

I looked at her out of the corner of my eye and then looked over at Stephen. "Whatever happens tonight," I said in almost a slurred whisper, "we will not betray Cadince."

Erica raised her eyebrows confusedly and tilted her head. "What're you talking about?" she asked.

"Why would we betray our friend?" Stephen asked.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. "Just do as I say," I said coolly. "Alright?"

The two nodded slowly with no questions or arguments as we impatiently waited. I paced back and forth nonstop until finally the door creaked open.

"Everyone is needed in the main hall," a deep, gruffly voice boomed.

I walked out into the hall and my two companions followed. As we made it to the main hall I heard whispers echoing off the walls. They were all about me and my bravery. Some pointed and nodded at me proudly, and others clapped, like they were proud I was their leader.

We seated at our normal table and waited for what seemed like forever. And finally, after everything went dead silent, the door to the main hall creaked open, and a terrified looking Cadince stumbled in.

I closed my eyes briefly and then watched her walk to the front of the room. A man appeared at her side, an annoying grin on his face.

"Number 102 will be doing her test early tonight," he announced. He then moved and all eyes were on Cadince.

She bit her lip frantically and gulped. She opened her mouth and muffled words escaped incoherently.

"What?" someone said.

"What did she say?" another asked.

Cadince looked up angrily and gritted her teeth. "I am Ned Neeley's niece!" she yelled.

Everything went dead silent, and I could, once again, hear the pounding of Cadince's heart. The world stopped, and then everything went chaotic.

"She's related to him!" A girl shrieked, jumping out of her chair and pointing a bony finger at Cadince.

Everybody then lost their minds and jumped out of their chairs and ran at Cadince, and she was swallowed in a crowd of animal-like zombies.

In one swift moment I jumped to my feet, my chair falling over behind me, and climbed up onto the table. The boys and girls of the insane school were beating Cadince senseless, like if they killed her then they'd go free.

I jumped from the table and ran for the front of the main hall. Stephen and Erica followed behind, but I was stopped by one of the men.

"This is part of the test!" he growled. "Let them destroy her!"

Smoke blew out from my ears and I punched the man so hard that my knuckles ached terribly. I simply ran over him and pushed through the crowd, hitting a few in the process.

I lost Stephen and Erica, but that didn't matter to me now. Everybody was screaming and punching, and I was pretty sure I was lost, until I almost fell over Cadince's body.

She was fighting back, but her against this many people – she'd never win. I growled in anger and pulled the people off of her, and once everybody saw me in the middle of the crowd, they stopped fighting.

I pulled Cadince to her feet and then turned my fiery eyes to the students.

"Anybody else touches her and I'll skin you alive with my bare hands!" I yelled so loud that it boomed off the walls.

I saw fear rise into everyone's faces as they stared at me. "I advise the lot of you who dared to hurt my friend tokeep their distance from me, because all of you aren't getting away with this easily! Don't blame Cadince for who she is, blame her goddamned uncle! Anybody who sends her a warning glance won't live to see the next day!"

And with that said I forcefully shoved people out of the way and watched as Stephen and Erica ran up to Cadince and helped her walk. I then stopped, and turned to a boy.

"Make sure everyone is in their rooms before nine," I instructed one of my friends – Justin. He nodded, and nobody even dared to groan in protest.

Stephen, Erica and I helped Cadince to her room, and once we got her in I asked my other two friends to leave. They obeyed my wishes, not wanting to anger me anymore, and left silently.

I helped Cadince clean up the sticky blood glued to her body.

"They'll do worse," he said hoarsely, "if they found out."

"About what?" I asked as if I didn't know.

"Anomie, you're dead," Cadince said, gripping my wrist. "You've been dead for six years."

I jerked my arm away and shook my head. "No," I told her. "Eve Carter is dead, not Anomie Parker."

"He wants to expose you," Cadince whispered.

I sent her a surprised look and blinked.

Eve Carter was supposedly dead, and her brother killed as well. She was arrested for murdering one of the most powerful men in the world, and executed six years ago. After escaping prison, along with her brother, they changed their names, as did their father who wanted money, and moved to New York for a "better" life.

The world was against Eve, and many knew that she wasn't even dead, but was a deadly person. Eve Carter was the most deadly person in the world, the worst part about it is that I, Anomie Parker, am Eve Carter.

Next Chapter: Anomie has to worry about Ned exposing her, and has to worry even more about what in the hell Spot Conlon is doing.

Author note: I don't think this made much sense, but I tried.