Misty shared a long glance with Cordelia from across the dining hall. She had woken up early that morning in order to get her things from her room before Madison woke, and had attended class as usual, keeping her head down and trying desperately to avoid Madison's eye. It had been alright so far, but she knew that at some point, she would have to sleep in her own bed. She hadn't had the chance to talk to Cordelia since that morning, when they'd woken in each other's arms.

"Move it along, Miss Day," Ms Venable snapped, swiping the back of Misty's legs with her cane. Misty scowled, her calves stinging, and kept walking forward, accepting the bowl of grey sludge the dinner ladies had the audacity to call 'stew'.

She sighed, and sat at a table far away from Cordelia. They had been taking turns sitting with the group – they couldn't risk being seen together, not now, when they were so close to leaving. To escaping.

Dinner passed very slowly, and Misty was almost unbearably excited to get to the abandoned classroom to see Cordelia. They hadn't had the chance to talk all day, and it felt like an eternity. The 'stew', surprisingly, wasn't the worst meal Misty had had at the school – it tasted like nothing, which was an improvement from tasting like shit.

Misty stared into her bowl, her mind far away. She saw Madison approaching her, and focused her eyes somewhere else, just waiting for the taunts that were bond to come. But she didn't say anything. Madison strolled past Misty's table, her head held high, and Misty watched as she pretended to trip and proceeded to tip the entire contents of her bowl into her lap. Cold stew seeped into the fabric of her skirt.

There were gasps and giggles from around the room, and Misty jumped to her feet, attempting the wipe off the sludgy stew. "Whoops!" Madison said with a giggle, feigning innocence. "I slipped."

Misty saw red. She couldn't take it anymore. Especially not after what had happened last night. She was sick of Madison's stupid, smirkinf face. Without thinking of the consequences, Misty drew her hand back, and with as much force she could muster, slapped Madison hard across the face. Madison shrieked, and the whole room went silent. "Whoops," Misty said sarcastically. "I slipped." She shook out her hand and enjoyed the brief moment of peace – the utter quiet in the dining hall, the shock and pain written on Madison's face.

"WHAT IN GOD'S NAME?" Miss Robichaux was quick, and in a moment had already arrived on the scene, like a dog having just heard food put in its bowl. "I want both of you in my office."

Misty didn't move, and neither did Madison. They shared a terrified look, their mutual hatred forgotten in the moment as they wondered what the stern headmistress was going to do to them. "NOW!" Miss Robichaux roared. She grabbed Misty by the elbow, her talon-like nails digging into the flesh of her arm. Madison was even unluckier – Miss Robichaux had grabbed her by the neck.

The last thing Misty saw, as she was dragged from the dining hall, was Cordelia's horrified face. Then the doors slammed closed.

0o0o

"What were you thinking?" Miss Robichaux screamed, looking positively unhinged.

Madison was quick to protest. "Miss, it was Misty's fault, she-"

The headmistress' usually pale face flushed an even deeper red. "DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL, MISS MONTGOMERY?" It was unnerving seeing their headmistress so unhinged – she was usually so cool, so put together – she had never reacted this extremely to misbehaviour, and Misty wondered, not for the first time, what the hell was going on.

"N-no, Miss Robichaux," Madison stammered. If Misty wasn't so terrified of how Miss Robichaux was behaving, she would have laughed at Madison's obvious fear – but that would be hypocritical, because she was just as scared as Madison.

"Good. Because I'm not," Miss Robichaux said, regarding Madison like she had just smeared shit into the carpet. "Your little act doesn't fool me one bit – I know you pretend to be a perfect little porcelain doll, but I know for a fact you're a monster."

For once Misty agreed with something the headmistress said. Before she could stop herself, a giggle slipped out. She clamped her hands over her mouth, but it was too late. Shit, shit, shit! Miss Robichaux turned her head so fast her neck clicked. "Don't. You. Dare laugh at me, Misty Day!"

Misty shook her head desperately, feeling her face heat up. "I wasn't laughin' at you, Headmistress, I was laughin' at Madison."

Miss Robichaux grabbed Misty's ear and twisted it so hard, for a moment she was sure it would come off. "I hate Madison Montgomery just as much as you do, Miss Day. But you –" Miss Robichaux's face contorted into a terrible smile. "Oh, you have no idea just how much I hate you. Filthy little devil spawn, walking around like you own this school, not a care in the world. I hate your kind the most."

A flash of rage shot through Misty when she heard the words 'your kind' – she was obviously referring to gay people. Misty had had enough. How dare people tell her who she could and couldn't love? How dare they try to decide who she was. "You do, huh? Wow, I'm just so sad to hear that, Miss Robichaux, I don't think I'll ever recover from your disapproval."

The slap came hard and fast. Misty let out a yelp of pain before she could stifle it down, and clutched her cheek, her eyes watering. She knew she was playing a dangerous game, speaking back to the headmistress like that, but she just couldn't stand it anymore. "Impertinent child."

She stood up before she lost her nerve. She would certainly regret it later – but she and Cordelia would be leaving soon, and she knew she would regret not standing up for herself even more. She wished she had rebelled against her parents sooner, maybe protected her siblings from some of their abuse. But she hadn't. The least she could do now was speak back to Miss Robichaux, who was, right now, reminding Misty of her mother on one of her rampages. "What the hell is your problem?"

Miss Robichaux's eyes widened. "I beg your pardon?"

"What the hell is your problem?" Misty repeated louder, thankful her voice didn't shake. There was no turning back now, and if she was going to yell at Miss Robichaux, she may as well do it properly. However she did it, she knew the punishment would be severe – best to commit and go full out rather than half-ass it. "Why do you hate us all so much? I'm havin' trouble understandin' why you became a headmistress cause' you so clearly hate your job. You should just quit, miss, we'd all be thankful to see you go."

"Miss Day," Miss Robichaux said calmly, which was scarier to Misty than her yelling. "I advise you to sit down and shut up right now before you say something else you regret."

"I won't regret it." Madison widened her eyes and shook her head subtly, begging Misty not to continue. As much as they hated each other, they were, right now, allies – while they were with Miss Robichaux, they were at the bottom of the food chain, and their only chance of staying alive was staying together. Madison knew that too – as much of a bitch the other girl was, Misty couldn't deny her intelligence. "I know I won't. I don't know what happened in your life to make you so miserable, but wow, ma'am, what the hell is your problem?"

Miss Robichaux raised a hand and slapped her so hard across the face that the corners of Misty's vision darkened. Stars swam in front of her eyes, and she dimly realised that she had fallen to the ground. Miss Robichaux stood over her, looking down the way a lioness must look at the antelope she had just maimed. Madison had gotten to her feet and was slowly inching towards the door – Misty realised that they weren't allies after all – although she would have done the same if their roles were reversed.

A floorboard creaked just as Miss Robichaux was raising an arm to hit Misty again. The headmistress whirled around, and Madison stood there, a frightened expression on her face. "Shoulda ran when you got the chance, Maddie," Misty said.

Miss Robichaux grabbed Madison by the arm and threw her back into her seat. "You will sit there, Miss Montgomery, until I say you can leave."

"And when will that be?" Madison asked, her voice shaky . Misty looked at her in surprise – it was the first thing she had said since they had been brought here.

Miss Robichaux crossed the room and leaned down, putting her face very close to Madison's. "When I goddamn say it is."

A thought crossed Misty's mind and she let out a daring laugh. "I know what it is!" Miss Robichaux turned around to face her again. "The violence turns you on, don't it, Miss Robichaux? You just love to be in control, huh?" Misty had no idea what had just prompted her to say that. She wasn't sure why she wanted to make Miss Robichaux angry – the consequences would certainly hurt. But there was something satisfying in watching the headmistress get redder and redder… watch as her cool exterior slipped and gave way to the harpy hiding within.

Miss Robichaux's complexion went even darker. "What did you just say to me?"

Shut up, shut up, shut UP, Misty! Said a small voice in her head – she couldn't decide if it sounded more like Lizzy or Cordelia. "It's the truth, ain't it? The only explanation. You're just a big ol' queer."

Miss Robichaux was shaking with rage. She picked up the key that would unlock the cabinet in which she kept her various torture devices. "Miss Day, you have said a lot of things you will regret but I beg you to shut your mouth before you say something you'll regret even more."

But Misty continued. She didn't care. She was so goddamn angry – she just wanted to get out. Out of the school, out of the country, out of the planet humankind had poisoned with its hatred. She wanted OUT and she wanted to piss off as many homophobes as she could on her way. "All this talk… homosexuals will burn in hell forever, it's unnatural, it's a sin against mankind… all this time you've been one of us, haven't you? Well, I'm glad you're finally recognisin' your true self-"

This time, Miss Robichaux used a belt.

I woke up to a fucking earthquake this morning idk what the hell that was about but go off I guess gaia

Chapter title from 'The Chain' by Macwood Fleet