My first coherent thought in what was apparently......ten minutes.   "How?"  It felt like so much longer.  I couldn't make a sound, I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything.  When I could finally bring myself to  get off my desk, I looked right at Kevin.

"What. The hell. Are you doing?"  My breaths were deep and ragged now.  I couldn't feel the burning anymore, but  I remembered it.

"Allow me to explain."  He was amused.   He had just put me in excruciating pain, and he was amused.  I was terrified.

"Please do!"  Trent was pissed.  He wasn't even curious anymore, at least that's not what it sounded like.

"When you signed for the high grades, you effectively sold me your souls."  He chuckled a little.  "And before you ask if that makes me the devil...." That chuckle again, god it was sick how much fun he was having.  "I am not, although I have been called such before."

"You've done this before?!"  Jessica was freaking out now, I would have thought it was strange as I had never seen her lose her cool. But I was a little preoccupied.

"Six times to be exact, and my crews keep getting smaller."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Crew?"  I haven't heard that term in a while. 

"Yes, you are now my crew, and your assignments will be less school related than you may think."  As Kevin explained I was getting more and more nervous.  "As you may know, teaching careers pay dick all.  You're going to help me change that."

"How?" Nate was finally speaking up, I appreciated how naïve he was.

"We're going to steal him the money."  I hated saying it.  Memories I wanted to stay buried came flooding back, but now my suspicions had been confirmed.

"What are you talking about?"  Nate had spun on his heels now and was aiming at me now.

"Yes Mitch, what are you talking about?"  Curiosity in Kevin's voice....I didn't like it.

I sighed hard.  "Kevin want's money.  If we steal it for him...it can't be traced back."  I hated what I was saying.  No, I  hated who was saying it.  "I've seen it before......I've done it before."  Eyes went wide across the room and I realized how deep a hole I was in.

"What the actual fuck Mitch?"