Principal Martiz's office was what you would expect from a Principal's office. Neat and tidy with filing cabinets and books on all the shelfs. There were plaques on the beige wall with diplomas showing Principal Martiz's credentials next to a school wide photos as well as ones with just the staff from all her years as principal. Few personal things could be found with a family photo on her desk being the one exception.

Emmilia floated around the office as Andy took his seat in the chair next to the one Sophia was already in. Emmilia moved, looking as if she were picking things up to examine them. Andy knew better than to think Emmilia really was holding the books or objects she was looking over. As the Doctors always reminded, it was all in his head.

"Please tell me your meds are working." Sophia whispered to Andy, snapping him out of his thoughts suddenly.

"What?"

"Your med, Andy, are they working?"

A difficult question that wasn't really difficult when you thought about it. Andy had been taking the meds. Sophia had seen him take them this morning with a bowl of marshmallow cereal for breakfast. Wasn't the best combo but it was either that or dry toast with butter. Andy had taken his meds that morning but that wasn't the question being asked. He was being asked if they were working. If they had been working he wouldn't have heard the squealing flowers on Mrs. Patty's desk.

Sure it sounded unnecessary to take the meds if they weren't working, but it had become a habit. Every morning and night he'd take them, except for that one time in middle school but that was a different story for a different time. It also had nothing to do with Sophia's question now.

"Yes?" Andy sunk into his chair not being the slightest bit convincing.

Sophia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Never mind. As far as I know, they're working and we're leaving it at that." Probably the safest option. Deniability was a wonderful thing when it worked in one's favor.

Andy didn't need to vocally agree for Sophia to know he was game for the plan. His silence was more than enough to do that.

Both facing Principal Martiz they watched as she took her seat behind the desk. It wasn't like with Ms. Patty where it felt as if the desk were a bearer of protection between them, it felt more like a throne. Principal Martiz was the ruler and the school was her little kingdom. Andy liked to think of Principal Matiz as a fair ruler unlike the McDonale family who were tyrants.

"This is a difficult situation." Principal Mariz began. "For one this isn't Andy's first physical altercation. As well many witnesses, including staff, have stated Andy was the one to start the fight. There is also the matter that a few have stepped up stating that they believe they witnessed Andy using Magic well doing so. I understand the complications you have Andy but even so the use of Magic is still outlawed even if you possess it not by choice. The law is the law.

"That being said, I understand if it was by accident." And by the look on Principal Martiz face she was trying to be understanding, but she also looked tired. So he bit his tongue when it came to defending himself from the Magic accusations. One look at his file would have said it was impossible. "That does not mean though you will not be punished accordingly."

Punished accordingly? She was going to punish him for something he didn't do? Or more partly didn't do?

"But I didn't use Magic." Andy instead unable to hold his tongue any longer. His chest grew heavy. Salt was in the air. "The Doctors said I can't."

Sophia took his hand, giving it a squeeze. He looked over at her but Sophia's dark eyes were on Principal Martiz. "Like Andy said, we don't even know if he has Magic, and every Doctor we've been to says he doesn’t. Only half those who are diagnosed with the Sleeping Sickness have been proven to be able to possess Magic. Andy has proven not to be one of those." There was Sophia with the facts, but the panic was still there in Andy's chest.

Principal Martiz nodded. "We are aware of this, but there is also a reason why Andy is the only student in my school with the Sleeping Sickness. The world does not want to take chances if they don't have to on the unpredictable." She told them. "Andy may or may not have Magic, but we do know he has Madness."

"Madness that for as long as we have known was there he's been taking medication for." Sophia defended.

It was half true. Andy had been on the medication for those with Sleeping Sickness but that didn't always mean they worked, there was also the fact he didn't always mention when they had stopped working. Like how he hadn't mentioned that the ones he was on now had stopped working.

Principal Mariz nodded in understanding tiredly. "Yes Mrs. Madden we are aware of the medication your son is on does, numb, the effects of Madness. That does not mean it doesn't show itself from time to time however. It has also been the leading cause to many of the fights Andy has ended up in well attending this school."

Right, the Madness was the reason Shane McDonale and his goons had been bullying Andy since middle school. Him avoiding speaking back to the flowers or ignoring Emmilia's existent or when he ignored the rising water levels only he could see that threaten to drown him when panic and sadness took over. Taking the medication all this time in hope it would, in Principle Martiz's own words, numb the effects Madness had on him was a wonderful reason for other students to taunt him mercilessly. Helped that they could get away with is given how the world saw those with the Sleeping Sickness.

Andy wondered if his sarcastic thoughts reached Principal Martiz. He knew she couldn't feel the ice cold water rising to his ankles. Refusing to look down at the water covered ground, his eyes stayed on Principal Martiz.

"A pattern is showing itself Mrs. Madden." Principal Martiz said with a sigh. "Just as with any other student I can not ignore these patterns that are showing themselves, and have been for years now, but I no longer can."

Sophia hadn't responded at first. The gears under the blond flawless curls ticking away. "And what exactly do you believe is the right action to take with these patterns?"

Andy’s heart was pounding, forcing blood to rush to his ears.

"I believe the best course of action would be for Andy to no longer continue as a student here." Principal Martiz began.

"You do know you are the only high-school in this county?" Sophia asked. "Where are we meant to sent him?"

Dread filled Andy, twisting his stomach. He sunk further into the chair as his own brain found the only answer there was for those like him. There was only one other place they could send him, that would accept him as a student. For years he had been begging Dad and Sophia not to. Wendy had even made a PowerPoint explaining all the reasons why it was in Andy's best interests to stay at home over going there.

The water began to fill the room faster, crawling up his knees to get to his torso at the thought. He did his best not to acknowledge or shiver at the cold.

Emmilia had noticed. She was the only one who had. Floating over and placing delicate fingers on his shoulder to give a firm squeeze. It was meant to bring him back to reality the only way she knew how. It had not worked.

"For Andy's particular situation I would suggest what many of the experts have for the minors with the Sleeping Sickness." Dark apologetic eyes looked to Andy and then Sophia. "I would highly recommend sending him to the Academy."

The water rushed to his neck pouring in from its unknown source. Emmilia's dress and ends of her dark hair were soaked. She didn't seem to care or notice as she moved to face him, squeezing both shoulders tight. "Breath Andy. You aren't drowning, not yet."

Technically he wasn't even going to drown, at least not from the water threatening to do so now. It wasn't real no matter how much it felt as if it were. Andy was hypothetically drawing because those words were enough to make him feel as if he were. That didn't change how real it all felt.

In all honesty it was possible that the Academy really was the best place for Andy. It was where most of the youth with the Sleeping Sickness went to get their education. Unfortunately that also meant after their time in the Academy they were more likely to go to one of the research facilities or nuthouses that focused on the Sleeping Sickness if they weren’t able to fit with society's standards.

They were looking for a cure. That was good since they knew so little of how it worked, but Andy didn't want to play the role of guinea pig if he could help it. So far they had made attendance at the Academy a choice, he hoped it would never become mandatory and added to the list of laws.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Sophia and Principal Martiz had been speaking but Andy didn't hear them. Their voices background noise to the growing panicked thoughts.

They couldn't make him go. They couldn't force him into the Academy. Right? Other schools could decide not to accept him. Even public schools were allowed to if they didn't think they were able to handle a student with the Sleeping Sickness. No school could take him, leaving him with no other choice. It wasn't like he'd be able to do home school since both adults in the house were full time workers, he also highly doubt they'd trust him to teach himself properly or at all.

"I'm not going there!" Andy declared jumping to his feet the moment the water passed his nose. The freezing liquid splashed around him reacting to the movement and Emmilia stepped back removing her hands. It may be fake but his brain knew the tricks to make him believe it was real and life threatening. "I'm not going to the Academy! You can't make me!"

"Andy." Sophia's voice was soft and under the clear water he could see her hand holding the pamphlet. The same pamphlet the Doctors and shrinks had given them. The one's with smiling children and promises of a semi-normal life. The same pamphlet in the cluster draw in the kitchen that had gone untouched since they were given it when Andy was ten. It was going to stay there never touched for another seven years if Andy had a say.

He had a say, didn't he?

"It is up to you and your family to have this talk." Principal Martiz interrupted. "But starting today Andy will no longer be welcomed here as a student. Mathew is more than welcomed to stay as a student-"

"Because there's nothing wrong with him." Andy snapped.

"Andrew." Sophia snapped back. It was rare to hear anyone call him by his proper name these days. He knew he was in trouble already but he didn't really care. All he could think was that they were going to be sending him to the Academy, the one place he didn't want to go. The place Mom didn’t want him to go.

Water filled the office quickly, things were floating around. Things the others would see in their proper places. "It's the truth." He told her trying to fight the instinct to become small. His shoulders slumping in on themselves hadn't helped with that.

"Andy." Sophia said too softly.

He couldn't take it anymore. He rushed to the door, opening it only to let the water spill out from the office to cover the floor of Mrs. Pattys domain. He felt soaked but knew he was dry. Gasping he filled his lungs with real air. Air that not even his brain could take away from him.

"He looks upset."

"Do you think something bad happened?"

"I hope it did after what he did to Mr. Gorgeous."

Andy's eyes snapped to the squeaky voiced flowers. He had no idea what kind they were. What he did know was that he was done with them. Done with hearing as they praised Shane and put him down.

Shane wasn't any better than him. He was a bully. A bully that got away with it because Daddy could pay all his problems away. If it weren't for the McDonale name others would have told what really happened. Others would have spoken up about how Shane treated them. Instead they cowered and acted as if it were fine.

Well it wasn't!

None of it was fine. Shane should have to pay as much as Andy was. Andy was being kicked out of school and what did Shane get? A slap on the wrist? A warning to not get into fights? A medal for defending himself against the crazy kid?

"Come on. Tell us what happened?" One of the flowers asked as he hovered over the pot.

"You look angry. Was it a tough break?"

"I bet he got in a lot of trouble."

“Don't listen to them Andy." Emmilia called from behind. "Come on, Sophia is calling for us."

Us? Sophia wasn't calling for both of them, she was just calling for him because the only one she saw was him.

"You know, I hear he actually has an allergy to pollen." Andy said, ignoring his voice of reason. Ignoring Emmilia. "Which means he'd never be able to reciprocate even if I were to deliver your messages."

"Lies." One shrieked.

Andy shook his head. "You know, I bet if he had it his way you'd be thrown in the trash. He probably hates the very sight of you."

"How dear you."

"Lies. All lies."

"La, la, la. Not listening."

"Now I have an idea. Why don't we get rid of the problem?" Andy suggested. It was the only problem he could get rid of.

"What? No! Please don't hurt us!"

"Andy!" Emmilia cried but he didn't listen.

With one swipe of his hand he knocked the flower pot off of the ledge. Hitting the ground the pot smashed into pieces. It wasn't enough. He could still hear their squeaky voices. Raising his foot he began to stop down on him. Jumping up and down as pieces of clay and petals covered the ground.

He didn't care anymore. All he wanted was for their voices to stop. Tears brimmed the edges of his eyes as he listened to their screams and pleads. They were just flowers. Squeaky voice flowers that couldn't actually feel.

So why was guilt crawling up his throat?

"Andy!"

It wasn't the sound of Emmilia's voice that snapped him out, but Sophia's. Looking up from the ruins he saw both the horrified look of Principal Martiz and Mrs. Patty, saw Mr. McDonal holding Shane behind himself as a protective barrier. He knew the look all too well. One of disgust and horror. They didn't have to hide it anymore since he was no longer a student. Didn't make it hurt any less.

Sophia quickly went to Andy. "Let's go." She said with an arm over his shoulder.

"I didn't mean to."

"I know." She said quickly, stopping him from saying more. "Let's get to the car and we can talk there."

"What about Mathew?" Andy asked.

"He'll be taking the bus home." Sophia assured him.

**************

Sophia took a moment before getting into the driver's side. Andy had watched from the passengers seat as she paced before getting in.

Gripping her hands tight on the steering wheel she pressed her forehead against it. Her way of taking a moment to breathe and think. Whenever she did so Andy knew to give her that moment to process exactly what it was she was going to say. To calm herself before the possible outcome.

Taking a deep breath Sophia straightened herself. "I'm going to ask one more time, are the meds working? And this time I want an honest answer."

"You should tell her. You know she'll help if you do." He hated how Emmilia was a voice of reason. He also didn't understand why she was in the back seat fussing over putting on a buckle that couldn't protect her since she wasn't real.

Pulling at the sleeves of his sweater Andy looked down. "No."

"How long?" Sophia asked next. "Because I know you took one this morning and every morning and night before today."

"A couple of days." He answered hesitantly but honest.

“For fuck sake." Sophia said, hitting the steering wheel. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"

Andy shrugged, his eyes staying down.

"You know we can't help if you don't say anything. We've been over this. You can talk to us." Sophia told him, trying to keep her voice calm. The annoyance was still there mixing with her exhaustion. "Why didn't you say anything?"

There were many reasons Andy could have given. That he didn't want to be on another batch of pills that might or might not work. That he was fine without them, though earlier events would prove otherwise. That he was tired of seeing Dr. Hamish. Dr. Hamish didn't really want to help. She just wanted to get him in and out as quickly as possible. She was looking for a paycheck, not a permanent solution, just like all the ones he’d seen before. Was there even a solution to this?

Andy chose silence over explaining any of it.

Another deep breath Sophia started the car. "For now we won't tell your dad. Wendy's on her way home and we should have one nice family dinner before figuring all of this out."

One nice family dinner. Were those even possible?

There was always something that would happen at the dinner table. Some kinda news that got multiple reactions. It was a Madden tradition.

"Don't you think he'll question my face before then?" Andy asked, glancing only slightly towards Sophia.

She glared back at him for that. For such a pretty face she sure could be scary. "If we're lucky he'll think it's from the last one. You are also staying in your room till it's time to eat. Consider it part of your punishment till we talk to your dad about something more permanent."

That was fair. They had to punish him in some kind of way. Confinement to the room wasn't really a punishment but it would give them time.

"I don't want to go to the Academy." Andy finally said as they began to back out of the parking lot to the road. He could hear the pleading in his own voice.

Sophia sighed. "I know, but our options are getting limited."

Limited options. That had always been a problem when it came to the Sleeping Sickness. Limited options, limited resources. There were only a few organizations made to figure out the Sleeping Sickness, and even fewer putting money towards it. It was the same story everywhere you went. No one wanted to touch the Sleeping Sickness with a ten foot pole because everyone feared Magic and what it could do. It always came back to Magic.

Some believed the only way to stop the Sleeping Sickness was to use Magic because it had been made by using Magic back when the extermination was taking place. Author Opaline had really done a number and now innocent people like Andy had to suffer because of his actions in the past.

Watching the school he had been going to the past three years disappear behind them had a sadness to it Andy hadn’t quite been expecting. A sadness knowing he'd never be able to be a student there, but there was also a relief. A relief he'd never admit to but he was glad he wouldn't have to deal with Shane and his goons anymore, but it also meant he was possibly going to the last place he wanted to be.