The morning had been going well. Rosa had woken up without suffering any nightly horrors, she’d enjoyed a nice cup of tea and breakfast. However like life gained pleasure from kicking her to the curb, Louie had hit her with those words.

“What do you mean get changed for school?” Rosa complained from the kitchen door.

“I don’t think I could be clearer” Louie said calmly before sipping his tea at the kitchen table across from Emma.

“I’m meant to go to school so soon? After everything that has happened?”.

“You are. Oh and take the dagger I gave you. You know just in case” Louie said.

“Ok. Are you sure you don’t want to give me a gun while you’re at it?” Rosa scoffed.

Emma stared daggers into Louie. “No” he said, “not until you know how to use one”. Rosa squinted at him in disbelief.

“Fine” she grumbled, “How am I getting there? Do you know what bus to take?”.

“I’ll drop you off. At least until we can get your situation sorted and organise a transfer” Louie explained.

“Wait”, she paused, “a transfer? … You want me to leave my school?” Rosa questioned.

“I do. I’ve got a better place in mind”.

“What about my friends?”.

“You can make new friends” Louie stated nonchalant.

Rosa glowered at him speechless and Emma chose that this was her time to join the discussion.

“You’ll have to excuse Louie. I’m sure that his social skills have just became rusty, during his years of travel” Emma stated. Louie muttered something under his breath before his face vanished behind his mug. “What he means to say, is that if were right about this thing being after you then your very presence could put your friends in danger” her sister explained.

“I get that” Rosa admitted, “but what’s stopping this thing from attacking me during the school day?”.

“I’m hoping brain cells” Louie said.

“You’re betting my life on hope?” Rosa questioned.

Louie nodded and then without a word wandered across the kitchen to wash up his mug.

“Pendejo” Rosa muttered before making her way upstairs to get changed.

Rosa was dropped off down the street from her school. She watched as Emma and Louie drove off in his car. They’d told her they had business in Aldock, but she couldn’t figure out what that could be. She pondered over the possibilities as she made her way down the street towards her school gates. They’d dropped her off early, in fact, it was around the time she arrived when she helped out Sam in the morning.

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Like always, the school grounds were quiet and empty. Not knowing what else to do with herself, Rosa made her way to the library. As she wandered through the school’s corridors she found herself glancing around the halls and classrooms, almost like she was savouring the sights. If these were going to be her last days as a student here, she wanted to make them count. The thought of leaving her friends came bouncing around her head. It was true Rosa had only known them for a few years but they were the only real friends she’d ever had, Rosa’s social skills had never really kicked in during primary school. As her thoughts grew deeper and threatened to take control, she reminded herself of her sisters words during the car ride here. Even if she did leave school, it didn’t mean the end of her friendships. They all had phones, meaning they could always text and call each other as well as meet up in the city.

‘Yeah, this will be fine’ Rosa thought happily. Even if she moved school everything would be alright. They’d just need to adapt.

Rosa made her way into the library, taking in its old and gothic architecture. She strolled towards her isolated and empty table. However, as she wandered around a bookcase she discovered her table wasn’t quite as empty as expected. Sitting in the same seat she always did, Sam was working in a schoolbook. Rosa froze, this was the last thing she wanted to deal with. Slowly she tried to turn and leave, but the rustle of her bag and coat were painfully loud.

“Rosa!” Sam called out, “Don’t go, please … Let’s just talk”.

Instantly there was a series of shushes across the room and Sam’s face flushed. Stifling a smile, Rosa sighed and wandered over the table. Both Emma and Louie had told her if she wanted answers, she needed to obtain them from Sam herself.

Rosa claimed the seat as far from Sam as possible. “Ok, let’s talk” Rosa said, “We’ll start with the fact that you’re part of a secret organisation that kills monsters”.

“Ahh” Sam mumbled, “thought you might’ve been curious about that”.

“Just a bit. Who actually are you Sam?” Rosa questioned, more aggressively than she intended.

“My actual name is Sam Lelan” Sam stated.

‘Lelan?’. Suddenly Rosa remembered what Louie said yesterday, she’d been so hectic she’d completely skipped over it.

“You’re Audrey’s little sister” Rosa stated. She’d definitely noticed that there was a strong resemblance between the two of them, especially their hair.

“You’ve met my sister?”.

“Briefly the other night” Rosa said, “what else don’t I know”.

“Erm well I’m actually seventeen not thirteen” Sam informed.

“That … actually explains a lot” Rosa admitted. Despite her youthful looks, Sam had always been a lot taller than all the girls in their year and when puberty began to hit them all, it was as if Sam was unaffected. “My only question is” Rosa said glancing down at the incorrect answers in Sam’s maths book, “how can a seventeen-year-old be so shit at year nine math”.

“Hey, its hard for some people” Sam complained, “Why are you so shit at English”.

Rosa couldn’t help but chuckle, “There are plenty people in year nine who are bad at English, they’re also all thirteen like me. Plus I’m Mexican”.

“Really, you’re playing the Mexican card”.

“I am”. They both released a small laugh like they always would.

“I’m sorry for not telling you Rosa, but I had to follow orders. Despite what you may think, our friendship was never fake. I hope you can forgive me” Sam said with pleading eyes.

“I can. Of course I can” Rosa said, “It’s just with everything that’s been happening, I became overwhelmed”.

“That’s completely understandable. You handled it a lot better than I did all those years ago. And unlike with me I can help you remedy your confusion. So what do you know?” Sam asked, “I’ll try my best to fill in the gaps”.