"Ellie," He starts.
"Before you yell at me, or kick me out of this stupid school. Hear me out," I argue back.
He holds up his hand, silencing me.
"What you did to Joseph was simply disgusting,"
"But I can explain." I wince.
"I'm sure you can Ellie, and I am just as sure that Joe deserved what he got. But you must understand Ellie, I can't keep making excuses for you, you're on your last strike here. If you're kicked out..."
"I won't ever be allowed back, I know. I'll end up dead, or worse." I grumble, shuffling my hands in my lap uncomfortably.
"You will return to your dorm, you will go without anything to eat tonight. Are we clear Ellie?" He asks, his eyebrow raised.
"Yes." I grunt bluntly.
"Yes what?"
I sigh. "Yes Sir,"
I get up to leave and just as my hand reaches the doorknob.
"And Ellie?"
I turn to face Sergeant Doyle and look at him, staring into his old time-worn grey eyes.
"You hurt Joseph pretty well, well done; you'd make a fine Solider."
I nod and leave, feeling pleased with myself. It makes a first, I've never been praised for beating someone up.
I walk through the long thin winding corridors that lead up to the dorms as I hear a group of children talking, I press my body tightly up against the wall; listening.
"You hear about what happened to Joseph Reed?" A voice whispers, a boys voice by the sound it.
"Who?"
"You know? The tall, fat one? The one who acts like he's a King." The voice answers.
"The one who took my dinner money last week?" A younger voice squeals.
"Yeah, him. Well he ain't worth shit." Someone grumbles.
"Got beat up by some girl," The voice pauses before adding. "Three years younger than him."
"Ellie, right? Riley's friend?"
"Yeah. I think so."
I walk past the group of about seven or eight children, huddled together in the corridor. They stare at me some with admiration, some with disgust. I push my dorm door open and enter. At least I'm making a name for myself, yeah Ellie, in all the wrong ways.
My bed is warm, as I'm cocooned in the thin blankets. I soon fall asleep, leaving the day behind me.
"Nggggggh," A voice growled.
Something pins me down and bites my neck, not hard almost playfully. Still I react, pushing the body off me, sending it flying across the room. I get up, grabbing the knife from underneath my pillow.
"You going to kill me?" A familiar voice whispers.
I switch on my dormitory light and I gasp.
"Riley? What? What the hell are you doing here?" I struggle to speak.
"Came to see you." Riley smiles.
"And you think you can just turn up here in the middle of the night?" I ask.
"I wouldn't be stood here if I couldn't." "Riley..."
"Wanna know what I've been doing?" Riley asks, rolling on her heels.
"Fine, what have you been doing in the months you've been gone?" I ask sarcastically.
She pulls out a silver dog tag from underneath her shirt, I recognise the symbol. The firefly sign.
"No fucking way."
"Yes way, I, Riley Abel became a firefly."
"You should go, if the Soldiers even find you here with me." I whisper.
"Chill out Ellie, there are no Soldiers on the perimeter or even patrolling the building." Riley smiles, like she's the smartest girl in existence.
"Why did you come here tonight? The last time I've seen was when you told me to fuck off." I ask gently.
"I wanted to show you something, I wanted to see you." Riley pulls me in closer, holding me close to her own body.
I push her away. "I'll get my coat, but if I get caught Riley."
"Oh please, when have we ever gotten caught?" She smiles shyly as she exits the room.