Author note: Hey everyone thanks for the reviews. Keep 'em coming!

I couldn't find my breath the next morning when I walked into Ned's office once more. The evil scoundrel sent for me after announcements – in which Stephen had a test this afternoon.

Ned sat comfortably behind his big important desk, giving me this testy smile in which I would love to punch off at this very moment. Without saying a word he motioned for me to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk, and reluctantly I obeyed.

"Anomie," he said, my name echoing off the walls. "Anomie," he said again, as if the name were too fake to understand.

"Ned," I mocked him.

"So good of you to visit, Anomie," the demon sang.

"Now why would I visit you? Only against my will I'd say," I told him coldly.

"I'll pretend you didn't say that," Ned said calmly. "I have sent for you for a reason, Miss Parker-"

"Then why don't we get on with this? I have things to do," I interrupted him.

"Very well," Ned said. "It has come to my attention that your troublemaking has gotten out of hand, Anomie. Do you not think that I know about you sneaking out that morning?"

So he did know. Clever man; very clever. "I was sure that you knew, yes," I said, not even trying to lie to save my ass. What's the use?

"And you do know that I am aware of the fact about your little break in at Mr. Carpenter's?"

I stared at him blankly. "No, I did not," I told him truthfully.

"Ah, Miss Parker, you forget that you are watched," Ned told me. "And when you do something bad, it is reported to me."

"I could only imagine," I said gradually.

"And each time that you have spied on me, you were with someone," Ned said coldly.

I sat up straight in the chair and lifted my head. "Where are you going with this?" I asked.

"Oh, nowhere," he said. "I just want to clear some things up."

"Then stop stalling and clear them up," I said.

"Why are you around this boy so much, Miss Parker?"

I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair lazily. "He's a newsboy; I have no relation with him."

"Oh I know," Ned said. "I have to make sure of some things."

"He's Stephen's friend, okay?" I said. "Him and I don't get along, and if it were up to me he'd be dead by now."

Ned lifted his head slightly, an evil glint in his eye. "So I've heard," he said.

"Why are we talking about Spot?" I asked aggravated.

"You mean Adam," Ned said. "Adam Conlon. I did some research."

"Good for you," I said dully.

"I find his name very interesting. Adam and Eve," he said with a laugh. "Cute."

Did he just say cute? "His name is Spot," I said crossly.

"No, Anomie, Spot is only his nickname," Ned corrected me. "His name is Adam."

"And I care, why?"

"I don't think you do," Ned laughed. "But anyways, I just wanted to speak with you about him. But anyways, we can get off that subject, and get to the reason why you are here."

"To do your bidding, right?" I asked angrily.

"Of course," he said. "You remember our little deal, I presume-"

"Yeah, what is it I have to do?" I interrupted him.

A small, amused smile played at Ned's lips as he sat calmly, staring at me. "I can't tell you yet," he said.

"Then why in the hell am I here?" I snapped.

"I just need your word, Anomie. Are you still willing to do this? I mean, if you say no right now, and save yourself then your friend is going back to the dungeons. But if you say yes, then you are completely devoted to this, and can't take it back. So what is it?"

"I already told you, jackass, yes," I hissed.

"Is there a promise in there?" Ned asked.

"Yeah, whatever, I promise, now what is it?"

"Not just yet," he said. "I don't want this done yet. It may be awhile, so you may return back to your life, for now."

I stared at him confusedly. "Why can't I do it now and get it over with?"

"Because, Anomie, this is going to be one test that you won't like, and I have to let you get more…how can I say this, attached," Ned told me.

"Attached to what?" I asked.

"To life," he said in a deadly voice.

I sighed in frustration and rose from the chair, turning to leave. Once I got to the door, Ned spoke, "Oh and Eve…remind your little friend that we are watching her as well. She's getting too attached to that boy."

I stared at him with fiery eyes, but turned and walked through the door.

"Dumbass," I said under my breath.

I walked down flights of stairs until I came upon the front door of the school. Stephen and Cadince were waiting for me there.

"Where's Erica?" I asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"She's not feeling up to, uh, going out today," Cadince told me. "She said she was still in pain."

I pressed my lips into a thin line and nodded. "It's probably best if she doesn't go out anyways," I said, walking with my friends out into Brooklyn. "People might wonder about the bandages on her hands."

"What did he want?" Cadince asked, sending me a glance.

"Just to talk about absolutely nothing," I muttered.

"Did he say what the favor was?" Stephen asked.

"Nope; said he wanted to wait, and that I wouldn't like it."

"Well then apparently it's something bad," Cadince groaned. "I hate him."

"Well you should," I said. "He killed your aunt."

"Don't remind me," Cadince said sadly.

"Hey look, there's Spot," Stephen announced, pointing at Brooklyn's leader and his whore.

"Oh yay, Spot, can't wait to talk to him," I said sarcastically.

Stephen rolled his eyes and jogged up to Spot.

"Heya Cromwell," Spot greeted, shaking Stephen's hand.

"Hey Spot," Stephen said.

I then noticed someone else accompanying Spot. A certain Manhattan newsie leaned against the wall of a building, a cowboy hat firmly on his head, his arms crossed over his chest, and a serious look clouding his facial features.

"Hey Cowboy," Stephen said to Jack. "You remember Anomie, and this is Cadince."

Cadince grinned and shook Jack's hand. I glanced over at her, and had to do a double take to see the dreamy look she gave Jack. I quickly elbowed her side, which caused her to send me a glare. I shrugged at her, and then turned my attention on Spot.

"Conlon," I said coolly.

"Anorm," Spot said.

He tightened his hold on Stacey, who seemed to really like that. She grinned up at him, and softly kissed his cheek. I pretended to gag, which caused Cadince and Jack to burst out laughing.

"You two really should think about doing that in private," I told Spot. "It's nothing the public eye wants to see."

Spot lifted his head in amusement and smirked. "Whatever I do with my goil, Anorm, is none of yer business."

"Well then let's keep it that way," I said numbly.

Stephen sighed and patted my shoulder. "Why don't you go…visit your dad or something," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I said so," Stephen said.

"Tomorrows Friday, I can see him then," I fought back.

"Okay, apparently you can't sense dat yer friend wants you gone," Spot said darkly.

"Oh I know he wants me gone," I shrugged, "but I'm not leaving."

"Nobody wants you here!" Stacey snapped.

I narrowed my eyes, and smiled dangerously. "Stacey, I don't believe you've met Spot's wife yet," I said.

"What?" Stacey asked confusedly.

"Oh, so Spot didn't tell you about Madeline?" I asked.

"Shut up Anorm! Quit lyin," Spot told me.

"Whoa, Spot, when did you get married?" Jack asked with a laugh.

"Shut up, Jack," Spot told his friend.

I smiled slightly, but something then caught my eye. I looked to my left and saw a man dressed in all black, watching me like his life depended on it. One of Ned's spies, I thought.

Stephen looked that way too, and I saw anger wash over his face. He clutched his fists, but turned back to Spot.

"Sorry, Spot, but I need to speak with Anomie real quick," he said.

He quickly dragged me away from the group, and gently clutched my shoulders.

"What is it?" I asked confusedly.

"Listen, I know what my test is this afternoon," he told me slowly.

"Okay, what is it?" I asked.

"Remember that test that you did with the room and all the bodies?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"That one," he said. "I have to do that one."

I stared at him, wide-eyed. "Why would Ned put you through that test? He's only put me and Cadince through it," I said.

Stephen sighed and licked at his lips. "I overheard some of his men talking about it. I can't do it, Nomes, I just can't."

This test was probably the worst one of all. You were locked in a room with five dead bodies, with only one lantern. In one of the bodies there was a key to the door. But you only had a certain amount of time to search for the key, and if you didn't find it before time is up, then you'd be killed. You see, there was only one body that wasn't dead, and you'd never know which one was really alive. And if you don't find the key in time, then he'd kill you.

"Maybe I can talk Ned out of it," I told him. "Maybe I can get him to switch me and you."

Stephen shook his head. "I can't let you do that test again; you barely made it the last time you did it."

"So? I know what to now! Just let me talk to him," I said.

Sometimes I believed that I was putting myself through this was because I wanted to die. I wanted to die in one of these test, but I never did. But other times I believed that I was doing it for my friends. This time, I didn't know what it was for…

Next Chapter: Anomie talks Ned into letting her take Stephen's place for the test. She barely made it last time; will she make it this time?

Author note: So, I hope you liked this chapter. There wasn't much in it, but I needed to put this here. Anyways, later!