'...and the schools principal, Mr. Fletcher, insisted he would personally see to it that the pranksters be identified and given proper punishment without delay. Parents have already issued formal complaints regarding their childrens injuries, which range from mere bruises to deep cuts...'

So this is how it all ended. The school was just covering up for the previous days incident, portraying it as a pack gone wrong, and the news bulletin was buying it. Or maybe there were Infested among the journalists. And even among officials.

They had made us gather in the courtyard after the incident in the underground area. Most students and teachers had proceeded calmly with the evacuation. So those who were freaking out, crying or thrashing about or speaking about aliens, had been easy to spot and had been immediately sent to the hospital – or at least that was what we were told. By the time the alarm had died, virtually every escapee had been taken into custody and supposedly infested again. They might even have captured other students while they were at it, for all we knew. Fortunately, Sophie and I had kept quiet and managed to blend into the crowd.

'At this rate, you two are going to transfer,' Mom mumbled while watching the news with a disapproving look.

'No way!' Ellen objected, 'I'm not changing schools just because of a couple of stupid freaks!'

Ellen had been home very late. There had been a call from the principals office, saying she had volunteered, along with other members of the Sharing, to help clean up the mess the incident had left at the school. 'Sounds a lot like my Ellen,' Mom had replied. And she was right – except when my sister had come back for dinner, I could tell from her detached look and her faint smirk that Thulite Three-Four-Seven was in control once again. It made me all the more sick that Id seen her put up a fierce fight for her freedom just a few hours earlier. It had all been for nothing.

'Really sucks it had to happen on your first day there, too,' Ellen said to me.

'Yeah.'

'Hope you don't take it for a sign!'

I locked eyes with her. The Shadow was testing me again through small talk. So I decided to play along.

'Nah, don't worry. It's bad luck to be superstitious.'

'Yeah, it is, she chuckled. So are you gonna come again?'

I shrugged.

'I dunno. Seeing as you've given up the swimming team for that Sharing stuff, I guess I was a bit – err – disappointed.'

'Well, it's just a club, what did you expect?'

'I don't know. I guess something more special. You used to be special to the team – now it seems like you're just trying to be popular.'

Ellen's smile vanished. She stared at me for a second, and I knew I'd hit a spot. Then she laughed.

'Well, people change, don't they?'

'Yeah… they sure do.'

'So – I guess it's no use offering you to tag along this afternoon?'

'I'll pass, I've got some plans actually.'

'You do?'

'Yep. That girl from my class, Sophie Bloom… She was at the meeting too, yesterday, and she invited me to her place. She said there would be other girls, too.'

'Wow. You've become awfully easy-going all of a sudden, haven't you?'

'That's right. And it's all thanks to you.'

I beamed at her, enjoying my sweet revenge. I had to watch my contacts with the girls, but on the other hand she's provided me with the perfect excuse to spend time with them. Thulite Three-Four-Seven forced Ellen's best smile on her face to keep pretending she was happy for me. It was all a game, but at least I had the small satisfaction of winning this round.

'Hey sis, you know you can count on me, don't you?' Ellen casually asked.

'I know. And you can count on me, too.'

I quickly ate up my cereal and stood up, getting ready to leave.

'Oh, by the way, Ellen,' Mom suddenly said, 'this came by mail this morning. It's for you.'

My sister frowned and opened the envelope. As she read the note that was inside, her face was suddenly distorted with horror, with a hint of fear within. I turned away and smiled as I remembered what I had written on it.

You're not alone anymore.

– Sailor Mercury