The alarm clock cries. 7 AM. My normal routine would be to take a shower, make breakfast for myself and Uncle Ethan and prepare lunch for today. Today however is anything but a normal day.

I enter the bathroom and walk over to the bathtub. At the sight of his body I flinch a bit but I overall I remain unfazed.

Most of his skin has peeled off, the fat still remains though. At closer inspection, Uncle Ethan’s body has a jelly-like consistency. The water in the bath is already turning into a Rothish solution and gives off a faint ammonia smell. Such a ghastly sight. In any case, there’s still a few hours before the body gets mostly dissolved.

“Young Master, I can’t keep the water hot for much longer.” Benjamin appears translucent in front of me. Usually the ghosts I see are indistinguishable from ordinary people who are. But ghosts that are weak begin to look transparent.

I allow Benjamin to enter my body so that he can absorb my life force. I have yet to investigate what this mysterious life force is precisely. For now, I’m forced to go by the woo-woo definition that a life force is the energy that is present in all living creature.

7:30 AM. I’ve prepared everything for today. I got my lunch, my books and a dead body in a tub. Normal teenage stuff. Before Ieaving, I check myself in the mirror. The last thing I need right now is looking dodgy at school.

My hazel eyes are clear. My tan skin looks fresh and healthy. Damn I’m good-looking. A definite solid 9. And no, I’m not being arrogant in saying that. This handsome innocent face (as the old lady next door likes to remark) doesn’t give any signs of the secrets I’m keeping.

I got my jeans and a plain t-shirt on with a hoodie on top. Look normal, Lucius.

I arrive at school in the nick of time. Today’s first period class is history. Surprisingly, Alice is not here. She’s never absent for school. The teacher is also late, class should have started five minutes ago.

Something is not right.

My classmates is seem oblivious to this. They’re all chatting away.

The intercom comes on suddenly and I hear my name being called. “Lucius Roth, please make your way to the principal’s office. Immediately.”

I stand up and feel the many eyes in the classroom stare at me. Don’t they have anything better to do?

The history teacher arrives as I walk out.

The school halls are quiet during teaching periods. If only they stayed that way between classes.

I took the shortest to the principal’s office. I knock on his door.

“Come in,” I hear his voice from inside.

I twist the door knob and enter. Mr Rodriguez is also here, standing next to the principal. He’s holding two papers in his hands.

“Mr Roth.” The principal smiles. His moustaches twitches a bit as he gestures for me to take a seat. “You must be wondering why you’re here.”

“Yes, sir” I say politely.

If one had to compare Mr Smith and Mr Rodriguez, you would not be blamed for thinking that Mr Rodriguez was the principal of Stonefield High School. Mr Rodriguez is a man who has muscles of a weightlifter while Mr Smith’s overweight body makes him look like dull cow.

To give credit where it’s due, Mr Smith is a pillar of the community. He’s a nice guy, so I guess that’s why he is liked by many.

“Of course. Mr Rodriguez here has informed me of some disturbing news.” Mr Smith leans forward on the desk, his bald spot on his head shimmers a bit. “I’m pretty sure we both know what you did yesterday, Mr Roth.”

My throat tightens and I let out a small cough. There’s no way they could know about Uncle Ethan. I must be paranoid. It must be something else.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, sir,” I say to him.

Mr Smith and Mr Rodriguez look at each other. Then Mr Rodriguez hands over the two papers to the principal.

“Look at these papers from the math’s test yesterday. They‘re identical. This is Alice’s paper and this is yours. They’re the same. The few mistakes she made, you also make. Mr Roth, you copied from her.”

Oh okay, it’s not about my uncle. I let out a sigh of relief. I can handle this.

“Mr Smith,” I lean back on the chair, “what you’re accusing me is quite serious. I’m sure you must have evidence that shows that I was cheating. For all you know, Alice could have copied from me.”

They both scoff at my comment.

“A student like Alice who gets straight A’s will never copy from a student who gets average marks like you.” They shake their heads in disbelief.

It’s all about the marks as though the true mark of intelligence is what one gets in their test paper. Such one dimensional thinking irks me deeply. I have nothing to prove to these small town dwellers anyway, I prefer to be underestimated by people. At least that way, they lower their guard around me.

“There are cameras in the classroom that will show my innocence. I sit at the back of the class while Alice sits in the front. Mr Rodriguez was around to make sure no cheating took place. There’s no way I could have cheated. Unless you think I can do magic,” I say raising my voice.

In any case, this conforms to me that ghosts are actually real and Benjamin is not simply a product of my imagination.

The two look at each other uncomfortably. “True, the cameras show that you didn’t cheat. I was just making sure.” Mr Smith concedes.

“Wait a minute, sir,” Mr Rodriguez interjects, “I can smell a cheater from a mile away. This kid cheated. I don’t know how but he did. I want to see his guardian tomorrow right here or else Lucius must get suspended.”

“I guess you’re right, Mr Rodriguez.” Mr Smith nods slowly.

“Suspended?” I blurt out in surprise.

Mr Smith rubs his eyes in frustration. “A suspension is too much. I see your point too, Lucius.”

Just take a position and stick with it Mr Smith. Stop being doormat.

“Don’t get bullied by this cheating brat!” Mr Rodriguez shouts.

“You haven’t even established my guilt in the first place!” I reply to him, my voice being more animated than usual.

“What are the chances that two maths papers will be identical to one another? Pretty unlikely to me, you cheater,” Mr Rodriguez slams his large muscular arm on the wooden desk.

“Unlikely, yes. Impossible, no. I’d expect a maths teacher to at least understand the basics of probability!” I almost regret the words that come out of my mouth. Key word, almost. For the look on Mr Rodriguez’s face is priceless right now.

His face reddens with rage. “You little shit!” He pounces at me like a tiger and just before he gets his hands around my neck, Mr Smith finally makes his presence felt.

“Gentlemen, there’s no need for us to raise our voice. Let’s make a compromise.” Mr Smith says. “Look Lucius, while we cannot prove that you cheated, we cannot simply chalk it up as coincident. Since it’s your first time, I’ll give you a warning. But your uncle has to come over at least by the end of this week.”

“But sir! You just admitted that you have no evidence to prove that I cheated in the test.”

Mr Smith’s turns more pained. “I’m sorry, Lucius. It’s the best I can do.”

Mr Rodriguez sneers at me with an air of hubris. I grind my teeth in turn. There’s no point fighting them directly. I’ll have to find another way.

But do rest assured Mr Rodriguez, revenge is a dish best served cold.

“Mr Rodriguez,” Mr Smith looks at him, “I wish to have a word in private with Mr Roth.”

Mr Rodriguez nods and leaves the office, not before giving me a stare down as he closes the door.

“This might look quite unfair from your point of view, Lucius,” Mr Smith stands and walks over to a cupboard at the corner of the room, “but trust me, I’m doing this for your own good. I was a kid just like you not so long ago. So I know about these things. Besides, it’s been awhile since I’ve seen Ethan. I have to make sure that his actually taking good care of you.”

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He chuckles to himself, as though reminiscing about the times of his youth. I’m not sure if this is meant to make me feel better but it doesn’t. I never asked him to do me a favour, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.

He opens the cupboard door to reveal a safe inside. Interesting. But I don’t get a chance to see the pin of the safe. Mr Smith then opens the safe door and places a few folders inside the safe.

I glimpse a large stack of money inside that safe

“So Lucius, don’t think I’m doing this because I have something against you. I hope you understand.” He returns to his seat after closing the safe and cupboard.

I nod at him and smile. I just figured out where I’m going to get money for rent. “I understand completely, sir. We’re so lucky here in Stonefield to have an educator, such as yourself, who cares deeply for his students. I hope I don’t disappoint you ever again” I sweetly smile and stand up to leave.

“Thank you very much for your kind words, Lucius.” He blushes slightly and fiddles with his wedding ring. I never understood why simple words of compliment make people embarrassed.

The problem now is figuring out how I’m going to break in his office. There are camera outside the office door. The last thing I need is getting my face caught on a CCTV camera. And even if I somehow managed to get in his office, I don’t know the pin of his safe.

I walk outside Mr Smith’s office and close the door behind me.

My vision begins to blur. I lean against the wall to stop myself from collapsing.

“Benjamin, you can stop now.” I say.

“Yes, young master.” Benjamin exits my body. I hold my stomach with both hands as a sensation of nausea takes over my body. This absorbing of my life force is more draining then I expected.

Benjamin is lucky that he’s dead right now or else.

“Benjamin! Were you trying to kill me?” An even stronger wave of nausea washes all over me, leaving me dazed. Thank goodness there’s no one in the hall right now to see me in this embarrassing state.

“I’m sorry, young master.” Benjamin lowers his head.

“Forget it, it’s not like your apology is going to do anything.” I move away from the wall, making sure to keep my balance. “Benjamin, stay in Mr Smith’s office until you get the pin to his safe.”

Benjamin heads over to the principal’s office without much protest. I slowly walk back to class. Looking at the time now, there’s only five minutes left until it ends.

I find Alice crouching right in front of the class door, her head in her arms. How does she expect people to enter if she’s blocking the path?

“Excuse me.” I say to her.

She doesn’t move and shows no signs of having heard me.

“Could you just move to the side?” I ask more forcefully this time around.

It’s only now that she looks up at me with glassy eyes, “You can see me?”

“You’re right in front of the door, of course I can see you.”

She doesn’t move for a couple of seconds as she just stares at me. She then slowly stands and extends her hand towards me. It passes right through my torso.

“You have to help me! No one seems to be able to see me. I don’t remember how I got here,” she begs.

I’m not a charity worker.

“I’ve got enough problems as it is. I can’t help you. Alice.”

“Please, Dex- I mean Chris. Your name is Chris, right?” Alice looks at me quizzically.

“You’re unbelievable. My name is Lucius, not that you’ll remember it by tomorrow. Just leave me alone,.” I walk through her and just as I’m about to turn the door knob to enter class, I feel Alice enter my body forcefully instead of passing away from it.

“If you’re not going to help me willingly, then I guess I have to take matters into my own hands!”

Everything turns black.

When my vision returns, I’m surrounded by green fields that extend far beyond the horizon. This is my dream world. Darn it, Alice, she’s trying to take over my body.

I summon Alice in front of me by imagining her behind me. When I turn around, she’s there. It’s a neat little trick I learnt whilst learning how to lucid dream.

“Look you. I just need your body for just a day to figure out what happened to me,” she says as a large kitchen knife materialises in front of her.

She’s definitely not playing around.

“You’re dead. Get over it. Soul Banishment!” A shockwave bursts out from my hand and travels towards her. But when it hits her, she’s still left standing. She must be a stronger spirit then I first thought.

Alice doesn’t give me much time to think this over, she lunges at me at breakneck speed. The knife now firmly in her hand.

I summon a wall. It rises from the ground and blocks her from me.

This is my dream world. I shall not be defeated at my home turf.

“You’re not going to beat me that easily!” She jumps over the wall and comes after me.

I snap my fingers and chains burst from the ground to restrain her.

“Let go of me!” she shouts and the blue sunny sky above changes. Dark clouds begin to form above and a violent wind blows through us.

I smile, impressed. It’s unbelievable how much control she has over my own dreamscape. But she’s still an amateur, not that I fault her on that. She doesn’t have a chance against me in my own mind.

The chains should restrain her for now. I need to wake up to make sure I’m safe out there.

A syringe forms on my hand.

Alice’s eyes widen as she looks at it.

“What are you doing?” She tries to free herself from the chains.

It’s pointless trying to break free, I can control my dreams effortlessly due to the years I’ve spent practising lucid dreaming. If she really wanted to break free, she first has to realise that the chains that bind her don’t really exist and they’re just an illusion. That’s just basic Lucid Dreaming 101.

“This should keep you calm whilst I’m away”. I inject it in her arm and she slowly drifts off to sleep. Since Soul Banishment didn’t work, tranquilizing her is my next best solution.

Now time to get out of here. I close my eyes and feel myself wake up.

I find myself in a bed. The walls of this room have posters about STDs and common types of diseases. When my eyes land on the large condom box, I realise I’m in the nurse’s office.

“So you’re awake?” Ms Marinka asks with a thick Russian accent. She’s a frail looking old woman with bony arms and a crooked nose. If memory serves me right, she has past retirement age a long time ago but she still works here.

“What happened, Ms Marinka?” I ask her as I sit up.

“You were found unconscious on the floor, dear. We tried to call your uncle but it went straight to voice mail. Do you have anyone else who can pick you up?”

He’s dead, that’s why he isn’t answering his phone. I look at the time. It’s lunch time, I must have been unconscious for over three hours. That’s concerning, time spent in a dream is supposed to be equal to the time spent in real life. So why was there such a strong time dilation?

There’s no need for me to leave early. Especially since I haven’t figured out how I’m going to break in the principal’s office.

“I’ll be fine. There’s no need to call him. His very busy but thank you.” I say to the nurse and step out of the bed before she can say anything further. The cafeteria is noisy at this time of day and so I avoid it. There’s only one place I can eat lunch in peace.

At the edge of the school lies a large oak tree. There are no people around there, and so I can eat in peace.

Benjamin pops right in front of me.

“Young Master, I’ve got the pin you asked for.”

“Good.” I say to him as I sit down and take out my tuna sandwich.

“Thank you, young master. But there was something interesting I found while peeking inside the safe.”

“Oh.” I look at him curiously. “You mean other than the stash of money he keeps in there?”

“Yes, young master. Pictures to be exact. I found pictures of him and that girl with a star shaped birthmark on her forehead in a very compromising position.”

Interesting, he must be talking about Jessica. She’s the school’s cheerleader captain. Benjamin goes on to explain in vivid description the pictures he saw in the safe.

I take a bite of my sandwich as I digest this information Benjamin is telling me.

Crap! I spit the sandwich immediately after tasting it. Then the image of Alice flashes in front of me.

Having her inside me is effecting my body. Her overwhelming hate for the tuna sandwich is causing my body to react to her preference. Great, even more reason to get rid of her the moment I get the chance.

I try chugging down the orange juice instead, but to no avail. I end up vomiting it also. She must be a picky eater.

Anyway, I better focus on my plan of getting Mr Smith’s money.

I should use the information Benjamin gave me to my benefit. The problem is the execution. It’s not like I have the physical copies of the photos with me to blackmail him with.

I do have the pin to his safe but breaking in without getting caught is nearly be impossible. Cameras surround the place and it’s quite likely he locks the office when he leaves.

“What’s the plan on breaking in the office?” Benjamin asks me while staring intently at the sandwich I’m holding.

“I don’t think I need to break in his office anymore. By the way, how much cash was in the safe?”

“About $75,000.”

That’s just too much money for a principal to have lying around. I think it’s time to have a little chat with Mr Smith.

I wait until lunch period is over before going to his office.

“Oh, Mr Roth. What’s the matter?” Mr Smith says surprised when I enter his office. His moustache still twitching a bit when his lips move.

“Donald, it’s about the matter we discussed earlier in the morning,” I deliberately say his first name instead of calling him Mr Smith. “I want you to apologise for accusing me of cheating. Then I want the marks I got for the maths test to be marked as valid and retract that order of having my uncle come over to meet you.”

Mr Smith laughs confused. “What makes you think I would do that?”

I smile wryly at him and place my phone on his desk. “I have copies of the pictures you took Jessica. You can check if you want, I especially have that picture of Jessica and you on a romantic getaway, she seemed to really enjoy that green martini. I wonder how her parents will feel after they find out.”

Mr Smith’s smile washes away and is replaced by a menacing look. “Are you blackmailing me, young man? Need I remind you that Jessica and I are both adults? And that blackmail is illegal in this country.”

“That’s irrelevant. You’re the principal and she’s a pupil. No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t look good. In any case, think about your wife and children. They’ll be hurt by this. You’ll probably lose them too. Think about your reputation Mr Smith. Everyone looks up to you. They’ll quickly turn against you when they find out you’re dating a teenager.”

Mr Smith scratches his neck and looks away at me. He stares at my phone. “I need to check the phone.”

Not good.

“The pin number to your safe is 23-45-89.” Mr Smith’s hand stops midway to the phone and he stares at me. I continue, “You’re just wasting my time checking the phone. I also know that you have a lot of cash in that safe. So be my guest, check the phone. You know full well what you’ll find.”

An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air as the two of us just stare at each other. Mr Smith looks straight at me, not even blinking. Searching for something in my face on whether I’m bluffing. My face remains relaxed, we both have something to lose here. If I don’t get what I want here, I’m probably going to jail.

It’s Mr Smith who breaks eye contact first. “Fine, I’ll give you what you want. I apologise for saying you cheating on the test. I fucking hope you’re happy now. Is that all you want to get your silence?”

I hand him a paper, it’s the three month rent I need to pay today. With an extra sum to cover grocery and stuff.

Mr Smith grits his teeth as he reads the paper. “That’s a lot of money you’re asking me.” He gets up though and goes to the safe to retrieve the money. He hands me the envelope of money. “You’re playing a dangerous game, just know that this is the first and only time you’ll blackmail me. Delete those pictures”

“Not happening.” I take the money. “I’ll keep the copies of the pictures with me, as insurance. I don’t want you to get any ideas. And should anything happen to me, those pictures will go online, automatically”

I walk out of his office grinning. When I close the door behind me, my legs lose strength. I just stand there for couple of minutes just thinking of what just happened. So many things could have gone wrong there. But I took the risk and it paid off.

I notice that Benjamin is not around me. He must have gone back to the apartment to look after the body.

The bell rings. I should be in class already. I hate being a student.