Sitting in class, listening to a teacher drag on and on about some random topic isn't my thing. I am only decent in two classes, history and PE. All my other classes give me headaches, and I don't understand it, no matter how hard I try. It hurts my head too much. I am better off just dropping out and working at Jerold's for the rest of my life. It would definitely be easier than trying to understand the symbolism of Romeo and Juliet. It also didn't help that I could barely understand the words on the page in front of me. I can scarcely read normal English, let alone Shakespearean.

"Is there a problem, Nikita Avery?" My teacher, Mrs. Dodds, asks me. I hate her with a passion. She is the only teacher that calls me by my full name. Something about her tells me to run every time I see her, but obviously, I can't because I am stuck in school. "You haven't been listening to a single word I said."

I shrug, "I just have a headache, and your voice sounds like you have a stick up your butt. So that isn't really helping." The class looked at me in shock. I mean, come on, I can't be the only one that thinks it. Plus, she is the most hated teacher in this school.

"Get out of my class," She says, pointing to the door.

"Gladly," I reply as I grab my stuff. Evadne looks at me from across the room and shakes her head in disappointment. It feels like her bright green eyes were staring into my soul. Evadne is always the better behaved out of the two of us and seems to get me out of trouble when she can. Something about her and her little blonde head of hers.

I walk through the empty halls to the sounds of teachers' voices as they teach their class. The principal's office is on the opposite side of the school, so I have quite a hike. I'm surprised that I haven't run into any other students. Usually, a few are "using the bathroom" or flat out skipping whatever class they are in. Either way, they aren't my problem.

I casually walk into the principal's office without knocking. I'm sure that he is expecting me or isn't surprised when I just casually walk in. I am here almost every day, but I haven't done anything to get suspended, let alone expelled. All I get is scolding and a detention. Even then, I think Principal C just pities me. I have no dad in the picture, and my mom barely talks to me because of her job. Plus, this is the only school that hasn't kicked me out yet, which is somewhat surprising. My second year here, and I haven't gotten myself expelled.

"What's up Principal C," I say as I sit down in my usual chair. The force causes my chair to start spinning. Instead of stopping it, I keep spinning out of boredom even though I just got here.

"Why are you here, Niki? Which class did you get kicked out of?" Principal C asks. To everyone else in this school, he is Mr. Brunner, but he allows me to call him Principal C. It was the only hint he gave to me when I asked about his first name. He told me I had to figure the rest out on my own. "I was about to call you down here, anyway."

I shrug, "The usual. Mrs. Dodds and her boring English class. Why were you going to call me down? Did I do something wrong?"

"You kneed Johnny in the groin and then proceeded to punch him in the eye."

"Oh yeah," I say with a smile on my face. However, Principal C does not have the same reaction. "He grabbed me without my permission. I deserve the right to defend myself."

"Of course you do, but what you did was a little extreme. With how many detentions and suspensions you have had in the past, this could lead to expulsion."

"Come on, Principal C. It is the end of the year, and you know I would never do something like this without reason. Please, don't expel me. This school is the only school that hasn't completely given up on me. Please, I'll do anything. I'll do summer school. I can't get expelled," I beg. I can't get expelled. If I get expelled from here, my mother says she will send me to military school. I can't go to military school. I can barely survive regular school.

Principal C sighs, "I know you try hard in your classes and that you have trouble fitting in here. I'll talk to your mother and see if we can come up with an arrangement for you."

"Thank you, Principal C," I say with the biggest smile. If I weren't in the principal's office, I would be jumping for joy. "I won't let you down with whatever you decide."

The bell rings, signaling that class is over and I can leave the office. My next class was history, and I can at least pay attention to that. We are always learning about wars, and it fascinates me. History class is the only class worth taking at this disaster.

"Niki, due to your incident this morning, I have to ask you to leave for the rest of the day," Principal C says, ruining my mood. The one class I like, and he tells me that I can't go. Rude.

I sigh as I make my way to my locker. As I walk, I feel multiple pairs of eyes staring me down. When I look around, I don't see anyone it could be, but I can't shake off the feeling. It is driving me insane. It also put me on guard.

"What happened?" Evadne asks when I get to my locker.

"I'm getting sent home for the day," I say as I open my locker. I shove my books into my locker and grab my bag and skateboard. "If I wasn't able to convince Principal C to give me another option, I could have been expelled."

Evadne smiles at me, "I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow." She takes off running to her class before I can say anything else to her. I sigh and make my way out of school. I want to get out of here before anyone else sees me making the walk of shame.

"Are you sure you will be alright, Kiddo?" Jerold asks as he gets ready to leave.

"I've been working here for a year, and I haven't managed to blow up the store yet. Plus, it is only a couple of hours," I say, rolling my eyes at the old man. He does this every time he leaves me in charge of closing. "Go home to your wife. I'm sure she is missing you."

"Call me if you need anything at all."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. We go through this every single time. You worry too much."

"I'm serious, Niki. If anything happens, call me."

I point to the door and say, "Go. I'll be fine." Jerold sighs as he finally leaves me alone in the store. I finally have alone time after all that has happened today. Once I left school, I came straight here to Jerold's. I figured it was the safest place, or else Robert would tattle on me to my mother. I am not ready to deal with her yet.

When closing time finally came, I finished counting the money and put it in the safe. I make my way to the front door, turn off the lights, and step outside to lock the door. I don't want anyone breaking into Jerold's. He would murder me.

I take off down the alleyway on my skateboard when I am tackled out of nowhere. I look to see glowing eyes staring straight at me. A hand has me at my throat with claws digging into my skin. With little light there is, I think I can see outlines for wings. What is the actual f happening here?

"I finally have you all by yourself, Nikita Avery. I have been waiting for this moment for a while," A familiar, yet more sinister voice says. This voice can only belong to one person.

"It is always lovely to see you, Mrs. Dodds," I choke out. I have no idea how I got myself into this situation or why she is trying to kill me. I mean yeah, I am a terrible student to her, but I don't think I need to get killed over it. "Why are you trying to kill me?"

"You aren't supposed to exist. You weren't supposed to live this long, and now I am sending you to the Underworld where you should be."

Yeah, that doesn't really clear anything up for me. I am getting murdered by my English teacher because I'm not supposed to be existing. How is that my fault? I didn't ask to be born. Anyways, I don't even have a way to defend her.

Use the necklace.

Great. First, I am getting murdered by my English teacher for no reason. Now, I hear voices in my head. I'm officially going crazy, and no one is here to stop me. How is a necklace my deadbeat dad sent me three years ago going to be any help in this situation? Am I supposed to poke Mrs. Dodds with it until she lets go? That is such a solid plan.

Without giving it a second thought, I grab the dagger charm of my necklace. The charm turns into an actual bronze dagger and stabs Mrs. Dodds in the arm. She screeches in pain and lets me go. I use the opportunity to slam her against the building behind her. I hold my dagger at her throat and use all of my body weight to keep her pinned against the wall.

"Why are you trying to kill me? I didn't do anything wrong," I say.

She smirks and says, "That is where you are wrong." She transforms into the form of Mrs. Dodds I know from school. She is back to being the creepy old lady in an ugly dress and hat that I dread seeing every day at school. This confuses me until I hear the police sirens and cars blocking both sides of the alleyway.

Well sh…