Author note: Terribly sorry for the confusion in the last chapter!
The next morning I found myself creeping through the empty corridors, the sun not even awake yet. I hid in the shadows and listened to his footsteps echoing noisily down the hall.
I kept up with Ned's pace soundlessly, and kept my breathing low and steady. He escaped through the front door, and I followed suit.
"Mr. Diggins," Ned greeted a man standing beside a big black carriage. The man – Mr. Diggins – shook Ned's hand in admiration and said a quick hello.
The two men stepped into the carriage and slammed the door shut. I quickly attached myself to the back, well hidden, and kept a firm grip as the horse lazily strode towards town.
My hair hung loosely in my face as I glanced behind me with an unnoticeable glint in my eye.
I don't know how I knew Ned would be leaving at this hour, but I thanked God that I did. He was up to something, and I had to make sure it wasn't about exposing me – Eve Carter.
The carriage flew over bumps and small hills, causing me to nearly slip, but I tightened my grip. We traveled through the dead streets of Brooklyn, we being the only living things in sight. Streaks of light barely rose over the buildings, and I knew it was near sunup.
I took my attention off of clinging to the carriage, and once I did the carriage flew over another bump and I went rolling in the dirt. I raised my head and watched the carriage ride out of eyesight, and instantly jumped to my feet and ran after it.
I stopped running and groaned loudly once I realized I had lost the carriage, but I kept looking for it anyways. Leave it to my stupidity to lose the only carriage riding through Brooklyn.
I wiped off the dirt clinging to my clothes and grunted angrily.
"Stupid Ned!" I hissed. I continued walking, listening and looking for any sings of a horse, but I found nothing.
Suddenly, I twirled around cautiously and peered at my surroundings. I narrowed my eyes, but turned back around and kept on walking. I glanced around from time to time, but I felt an excitement rise in me once I spotted a familiar carriage.
I crept near it and kept low as I watched Ned and Mr. Diggins climb out, big, ugly grins on their faces.
I narrowed my eyes and turned around so suddenly Spot jumped back in surprise.
"What are you doing here?" I snapped.
Spot furrowed his eyebrows and grunted. "Shut up, Anorm," he whispered.
"Were you following me?" I asked angrily.
"No!" Spot exclaimed.
"Yes you were! Don't lie to me," I told him.
Spot shrugged, "Dis is my territory, and I can follow who I want."
I rolled my eyes and turned back around to find Ned looking this way. I immediately pushed Spot into a nearby alleyway, nearly knocking the both of us to the ground.
"What are you doing?" he hissed.
"Shut up, idiot!" I snapped. I peaked around the corner, relieved to see Ned looking the other way.
"What are you doin out here exactly?" Spot asked me.
"None of your business," I said sharply.
"Actually, it is my business," he said. "Dis is my-"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, territory, blah, blah, blah," I said quickly with a wave of my hand. "Now keep quiet."
Spot sent me a glare and also looked around the corner.
"Who's he?" he asked, referring to Ned.
"Just a person I know," I whispered.
"Oh yeah? So why ya hidin from 'im?"
"Don't you have newsboys to order around?" I asked aggregated.
"Too eoily," Spot shrugged.
"Whatever," I sighed.
Ned pulled a cigar out from his jacket pocket and gradually lit it, offering Mr. Diggins one. The two men sat about the stoop, smoking and chatting about absolutely nothing.
I then turned to Spot confusedly. "I know why I'm hiding, so why are you?" I asked.
Spot tilted his head, "Dunno," he said.
"Well then get lost!" I demanded.
"Hey, dis is my-"
"Yes, I know, your territory, who cares?"
Spot narrowed his eyes. "Why are you hidin anyways?" he asked.
"Go jump off the bridge!"
"Love to, but you gotta come too," Spot said with a chuckle.
I ignored his comment and turned back to the men.
"Ah, yes, she did pass," Ned said, something that sounded like disgust in his voice. "That wretched leader of theirs saved her."
Finally, something that had to do with the school.
"The illegal one I presume?" Mr. Diggins asked, huffing on his cigar.
"Indeed," Ned nodded. "She's a sneaky one that girl, and very smart."
"I could only imagine," Mr. Diggins said. "Her father is a mastermind as well."
"Mr. Carter? A mastermind? Oh please!" Ned laughed. "Her father wouldn't know left from right."
"I suppose you are right, but what is it about this girl that frightens you Mr. Neeley?" Mr. Diggins asked, a serious look upon his old face.
Ned sat there in silence for a moment and then glanced over at the other man. "What makes you think that I am afraid of this child?" he asked warningly.
Mr. Diggins gulped loudly and wiped away droplets of sweat dripping down his forehead. "I was just…saying," he said.
Ned laughed, which made a cold chill swim up and down my spine.
"What are they talkin 'bout?" Spot suddenly asked.
I groaned loudly and turned around. "If you don't shut up I'm going to sew your mouth shut! Keep quiet!" I hissed angrily.
"Hey, who are you to tell me, king of Brooklyn, to shut up?" Spot yelled.
I instantly clasped my hand over his large mouth, and cautiously peaked around the corner. Ned jumped from his sitting spot, looking around.
"Did you hear that?" he asked.
I didn't even want to hear what Mr. Diggins had to say. In one swift movement I pushed Spot behind a pile of crates and followed suit. I held my breath as I listened to the two men creep into the alley.
"There isn't anything down here, Ned," Mr. Diggins said. "Maybe you were just hearing things."
"No, I'm sure I heard something. I know it couldn't possibly be one of my students out of school when they're supposed to be getting ready for the morning announcements," Ned said, directing his words towards me. I should've known he knew I was here!
"Come, come Ned, we must talk," Mr. Diggins said, directing Ned out of the alleyway.
I sighed in relief and stood to my feet, Spot doing the same. "Is he your headmaster?" he asked.
"Ned is a sick, murdering – I mean, yeah, he's our headmaster," I said.
Spot looked at me confusedly, but asked no further questions. He merely shrugged and strode out of the alley.
"Where are you going?" I hissed.
"Hey, I ain't gotta hide from anybody, so I'm outta heah," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets.
I watched him leave, and then waited awhile before leaving myself. By the time I got back to school, the announcements were over, and I had no idea who had tests. Luckily I found Stephen and Erica in the halls.
"Where were you?" Erica asked.
"Out," I said. "Who's testing?"
"Erica," Stephen said. "Hers is going to be the last one."
"What? Why is he doing this to us?" I nearly screamed.
Somebody walking by and gave me an odd look. "What are you looking at? Keep walking, there isn't anything to see here!" I snapped. The person quickened their pace and nearly ran out of sight.
"Anomie, calm down," Erica whispered. "It's going to be alright. We'll find out before tonight, we always do."
And that was what worried me the most. Ned had something planned, and if I knew him then he wanted Erica to suffer. Whatever it was it would be painful. For some reason he wanted Erica dead…
Next Chapter: A deadly, painful test leaves two friends risking everything to save their other friend.
Author note: The next chapter is going to be a religious chapter – kind of.
