“We will not stop. We will not back down. We will not apologize for the actions we take in pursuit of our rights and our place in this world. We will do anything and everything you force us to do until you choose to access this simple truth: We Belong Here.”

-Bloody Johnny, 1989, Patriarch of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Brotherhood of Mutants

Alone In View

The phone rang. It was Monday morning and Jennifer Knight had punched in the number to her family’s home. The phone rang. It was something she did every Monday just before school. The phone rang. A few minutes to catch up with her mother and her younger siblings. The phone rang. Even her dad, who officially adopted her when he married her mom, would be nice after so long. The phone clicked.

“Knight residence.” Her dad’s voice came through, “Leave a message.”

The phone line clicked over to the answering machine.

“Hey, it’s Jenny.” Jennifer stood there as the line buzzed softly, “I mean Jennifer. It’s Jennifer.”

She stared at the phone trying to think of what to say. “I guess… you’re not home.”

She told herself. It was seven in the morning. They had likely gotten an early start. Just like last week.

“Okay, talk next week.” She whispered and set the phone down. She thought about trying again. Maybe she had just missed them and they were standing by waiting for her to call back.

“Jennifer, come on!” Jesse shouted, “We don’t want to be late for class.”

“Jesse, you’re the only one who cares about that.” Jessica sighed

“That just means it’s my responsibility to get us there on time,” Jesse said

Melissa followed them and with a rolling of her entire body she groaned, “No one cares. Besides, it’s only seven-thirty. We have time.”

Jennifer looked at the clock and saw it was indeed half past seven. Their homeroom was starting in half an hour.

“Hey,” Melissa had walked over to the row of phones on the wall, “You done talking to your folks?”

“What? Oh, yeah. They’re doing well.” Jennifer smiled to her friend and they joined the Jessicas.

Melissa tsked, “I don’t know why you have to talk to them every week.”

“They’re my family. I want to hear from them.”

“Sounds lame.”

Jennifer laughed, “Don’t you talk to your dad?”

“Ha! Odin? No way. That old bastard doesn’t have time and neither do I.”

“And what is filling your schedule so much?”

“Well half is being awesome, and the other half is keeping that jerk Jerry away from you.”

Jennifer blushed laughing, “I told you! It’s not like that.”

The duo joined the other two and they all started their way to school. Jennifer, Melissa, and Jessica Blanc all wore the school’s khaki skirt uniform. Jessica Black wore her standard black everything. They stood in line waiting for a busy street to give safe passage. Jennifer looked over her friends. She blinked and her vision shifted. The mundane hues of the world were covered by shades and tints of power.

Melissa was mostly the same with only the mild glow of life and a slight string of power tied to her. It led off into nothing and had faint symbols around it. A string of connection. They were often overshadowed by a person’s normal aura, but with Melissa being mundane and the string being so powerful its whisper was visible to those who could see it.

Jesse had an aura of energy around her. It shined in a bright white light like the sun, but didn’t blind or hurt Jennifer’s eyes to look at. Nor did the almost solid ring of light just above Jesse’s head. The only troubling part was the solid sheet of the light that wrapped over her eyes like a blindfold, though it didn’t affect her own sight.

The air around Jessica was warping around her as if trying to pull her away before crushing in. On her three points of space seemed to be rooted solid around her ring, bracelet, and necklace that she refused to talk about. They held small pockets of solid space around their emerald gems that seemed to cut through the chaos around them.

Jennifer turned her eyes to the city. Progress City. The city famous for having the highest rate of demihumans at just over fifteen percent. An amazing feat since less than one percent of all people were demihumans. Then again cities did attract them. The more people there were the more demihumans there would be. One percent of a few thousand was a lot of friends who understood. So demihumans would move into a city and find a community which increase the general percentage of demihumans which then attracted more because now one percent was a few percents which then became a notable fraction. For better and for worse.

Jennifer saw throughout the dozens of mundane commuters flowing through the worn city paths were pops of power. Bright glows that shined out and darken folds that hid among the casual glowing. All were from a demihuman of one kind or another. She couldn’t tell the exact details, but she could guess on the general demitype. She couldn’t see anything of note. No danger or threat around. So she closed her eyes and tried to push the patches of color away only to have them push back.

This was a common issue. Her mutant power didn’t turn on and off like a switch like so many others of her kind. That is, like so many others who share her demitype. She was a mutated human. She had always been a mutant even if she had only awakened a year ago. It was the same day she had her first period. A terrible day. Her mother was only prepared for one of the two events. Since then she managed the results of both of them as well as any mutant now woman could. Still, issues came up. Like how her eyes didn’t seem to want to receive normal light but instead to experience the full spectrum of everything. To tell her brain about all the amazing colors that were around them. Hidden by the overly simple rules of the universe. The fact her brain couldn’t handle all that amazing beauty and would be fried by it didn’t seem to concern them.

Again, Jennifer pushed the colors away. Gently this time. Like a tame animal into a cage. It retreated back into the somewhere it laid when not in use and she opened her eyes. Normal. She looked to see her friends were all staring at her. “What?”

“You’ve been in la la land for the last while.” Jessica explained, “The lights have cycled through twice already.”

“Yeah,” Melissa huffed, “We were about to call for a medic. You alright?”

“Yes. Just…,” Jennifer thought for a moment of what to say, “A headache.”

“That’s a lie, but whatever.” Jessica rolled her eyes and stepped off the sidewalk, “Come on. Light’s green.”

The girls followed and crossed the major street. On the other side, Jessica and Jesse started to walk ahead creating a space between them and Jennifer. Melissa had stayed by her and used the opportunity.

“Hey.” Melissa said in a firm voice like she was giving commands, “You don’t have to lie about your powers and stuff. Okay?”

“I do have a headache.” Which she did. They always happened when her powers pushed back.

“Yeah, because you lost control of your eyes.”

“I didn’t lose control.” Jennifer scowled, “I just needed to take a little time to switch back.”

“So you admit you used them and then couldn’t stop using them.” Melissa said crossing her arms, “What does Semy call that?”

“Shut up,” Jennifer whispered the words. She turned her gaze to the concrete in front of them. Melissa looked at her and then came to a complete stop. She stomped a foot and straightened her back.

“What was that!” Melissa yelled at the top of her lungs. “I couldn’t hear you! Were you saying something about your mutant power!”

“Melissa. Stop. I’m sorry.” Jennifer tried to placate the small emboldened girl. “Please, just-”

“What! I can’t hear you! Speak up!” Melissa yelled again. A few people were looking. “What about your mutation!”

“Melissa. Please.” Jennifer begged. Her eyes were starting to water.

“I told you! I can’t hear you! Whispering about losing control and stuff!”

“Shut up!” Jennifer screamed, “I said shut up! I don’t want to fucking talk about it! Okay!”

Melissa shrugged and in her normal voice said, “Okay. If you don’t want to talk about it, then fine. We won’t talk about it, but don’t act like it’s something to be ashamed of.”

“Melissa.” Jennifer’s voice was shaking. “You don’t-”

“Shut the hell up!” Melissa cut her off, “There’s nothing shameful about you. Not one damn thing. Got it? Don’t you even dare to even think that you should be ashamed of anything about yourself. Or else.”

This took Jennifer aback for a moment causing her to foolishly ask, “Or else what?”

“Or else I knock some sense into you! Like this!” Melissa whipped her arm into a punch straight into Jennifer’s hip. The pain flared through her and she cried out in pain. Reflexively she swung her own arm, and while she wasn’t a brawler like some of the other students she still had basic training. She caught Melissa right on the cheek with her full strength and Melissa took the hit. She didn’t move from the hit and stared at Jennifer, “Ready?”

“I’m sorry.” Jennifer said as the pain subsided, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Yeah, you better.” Melissa turned and continued walking, “You ever hit me with a punch that weak again I’ll knock your lights out.”

Jennifer sighed and joined her friends grateful to have them.

The girls managed to get into class with time to spare. Jessica and Jesse took their seats and Jennifer sat in hers, but Melissa had taken Jerry’s seat in front of her. He hadn’t made it in yet and so Melissa took the opportunity to spend a few more minutes with her friends. They talked about classes and teachers and even about boys though that was encoded in the double speak and riddles that all girls shared that boys couldn’t understand. A polar opposite to the double speak and riddles that all boys shared that girls equally couldn’t understand.

Jennifer scanned the room. There were only a few stragglers who needed to enter. Adrian and Kevin were missing and Jennifer quietly hoped that they wouldn’t show. Sara Valentine wasn’t in yet, but Jennifer didn’t think about that that much. The only two left by her count were Jerry and her team leader Carl Star. The two were apparently confidants, and so Jennifer wasn’t surprised when, with a minute to spare, the two of them came in together. Jerry’s face was calm and cool with a hint of smugness which was likely caused by the belief it was earned. She didn’t know. Carl was simply upset.

“I’m telling you, man.” Carl sighed, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

Jerry responded with something in French, which was only a second language for Jennifer, and thus didn’t understand.

“Sure. Whatever that means.” Carl shrugged and went to his desk.

Jerry sighed and headed to his own where Melissa was still sitting. He cleared his throat, “Um… Ms Odinson.”

Melissa snapped her gaze to him as if she was trying to kill with pure will alone. “Yeah. Jar, viz. What do you want?

“Just that,” Jerry’s smugness was gone and was replaced with a fruitless caution. Melissa Odinson was going to be a pain no matter what the boy did or said, “Well… That’s my seat.”

“Yeah. And?” Melissa somehow made a face that was an even meaner face at him.

Jerry sighed, “I would like to sit there.”

“I bet you would.” Melissa would have likely developed some new technique to be even meaner if not for the entering of the class’s teacher. The great hero himself, Mr Galacto.

“Alright class. Settle down. Ms Odinson, please sit in your assigned seat.” He sat at the desk without looking up. Opening a drawer he took out files and started to sort through them. The issue was resolved.

Melissa tsked and stood up, “Fine. This seating arrangement sucks though. Surrounded by the five most boring people in the world.”

As Melissa marched Semy the large boy laughed, “Don’t take it personally Jerry. She’s like that with everyone.”

“Shut up!” Melissa shouted before sinking a jab into his side.

Semy just laughed it off, “See what I mean? And I’m her teammate.”

“No fighting in class.” Mr Galacto mono toned and the class settled. Adrian and Kevin arrived before role call to most of the class’s dashed hopes and Sara arrived soon after. Everyone was here and the day started.

First on Monday was history with Mr Galacto himself. They went over the textbooks and discussed the subject openly. Usually Jennifer was one of the more active participants, but with Galacto it was difficult. Jennifer had grown up reading and watching about the world’s greatest hero. They all had. It was the greatest star shock anyone could experience. If an actual Greek God had walked in and told them all a book page to open to it would have been less rattling. Though for Jennifer it would have been less painful to her eyes. Even in the flat neutral state that detected only a small slice of electromagnetic radiation, they would burn if she looked directly at the man. Like looking at the sun, but a sun that only she could see.

So instead she looked directly in front of her. At Jeremiah “Jerry” Jarvis. He wasn’t an amazing guy. There are definitely other guys that she found to be more attractive. He was also a right jerk. Always having a snooty comeback to any comment and an air of smugness that enraged anyone it was aimed at. Melissa went completely volcanic at his act. Which is what it was. An act. Jennifer had seen through it a few times in the weeks focusing on not burning her eyes out and a few more times just admiring him. He was cute, but it wasn’t like that.

After History was Math with Mr Hall. He dressed like the CEO of an international company and held himself like an Olympian. As in the sporting events. Although he was also an Olympian in the other way too. His deep onyx skin contrasted against his brilliant blue eyes and flawless smile. Even so, with all his charm and brilliance he still taught math like a math teacher. Many heads were aching by the end of class. Not Jennifer’s though. She liked math. Which was why she was in his “Philosophical Mathematics” class.

“Ms Knight. A moment?” Mr Hall said just after the lunch bell rang, “Just wanted to check if you were able to complete the assignment. It’s due tomorrow.”

“Oh, yes sir.” Jennifer nodded, “I’m almost done with it. I definitely should be able to finish it tonight. If Melissa doesn’t drag us out tonight.”

Mr Hall laughed at that, “Well if you want I could probably give her a detention. I bet it won’t be too hard with that girl. She has a foul mouth and even fouler temper.”

Jennifer laughed, “Sorry, that would be counterproductive. If I’m not around to reel her in she’ll just cause more trouble.”

Mr Hall thought about that. “You think so.”

“No sir. I know it.” Jennifer said, “I would bet my last shot on it.”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

Mr Hall smiled at that. “Well alright then. Go on to lunch. Make sure your charge isn’t setting the school on fire.”

Jennifer nodded and left finding Melissa just outside the lunchroom.

“What did Two Plus Two Equal Snore want?” Melissa asked. “Were you talking about me?”

“Yes. He said you have a foul mouth and a fouler temper.” Jennifer answered.

“Humph okay, keep your secrets. Watch me not care.” And with that the two got lunch.

Melissa wasn’t enrolled in any extra classes and Jennifer’s only extra class was Philosophical Mathematics with Mr Hall on Tuesday and Thursday. Which left the rest of the day open to them. Progress City was filled with places to go and things to do. The Arcade was a favorite for many, as were the many shops that specialized in specific interests. Music, books, art, and even stationery shops were known around town. The Progress City Library was a beacon for those of academic pursuits. For those who didn’t want to be around the crowds and business of the urban life the surrounding areas of the city were filled with bars and cafes that were commonly shared secrets. However, it was Monday.

The city was simply going through the motions of urban life. Saving its energy for the weekends and greater celebrations further down the calendar. So it was the two girls headed to their room at Elizabeth’s Home for Demi Children and found it empty.

“Where do you think the Jessicas are?” Melissa asked as she plopped down on her bed.

“Well Jesse has International Reading, and I think she roped Jessica into that too,” Jennifer answered setting up for the evening.

“Lame. How are all three of you so boring?” Melissa groaned, “You all just read and study all the time.”

“You read too. You have more books than the rest of us combined.” Jennifer said pointing to the very shelf that held her collection.

“Yeah, but those are cool books. They’re about cool people doing cool stuff. Not math and whatever that tome of Jessica’s is about.” Melissa waved her off.

“Well I think math is cool. So I’ll be reading about that, thank you very much.” Jennifer smirked and opened her own text tome.

“Boring, let’s go do something.” Melissa hopped off the bed.

“No. I need to finish this project.” Jennifer said without looking up.

“Come on. We can go to wherever you want. How about a bookstore?” Melissa offered.

“Melissa, I said no. We can go somewhere after I’m done.”

“If there’s an after why not make it a before? You can do it when we get back.”

“Why not wait and then Jesse and Jessica can join us?”

“Don’t want us to always hang out together, Jenny. Not that they’re not cool, but four’s a crowd.”

“Well, we can still go after.” Jennifer redoubled her efforts into the book.

“Okay fine, how about we just go, browse, get something new, and then come back?” Melissa tried again.

“Melissa, if you want to go buy something you can do that by yourself.”

“But that’s lame. Shopping by yourself is boring. Come on Jenny! You’re being so boring.” Melissa said stepping over to the desk and leaned over blocking the book.

Jennifer sighed to herself. Melissa was both an unstoppable force and unmovable object. Stubborn didn’t describe Melissa simply because it didn’t have enough meaning to it. This was something that Jennifer had learned quickly and adapted to well. While the short girl was quick to anger and quicker to violence outburst she wasn’t stupid. She could be reasoned with fairly easily if you knew how. Still, there were times she wouldn’t budge. Where nothing would redirect her course. This was something Jennifer had learned to recognize, and this was one of those times. The thing to do was to give in and demand a time limit, an hour or so, to get back and let her continue. Melissa would scoff and agree with an insult. They would go, have some fun, and get something to appease her for the night. It was the best course of action Jennifer could think of, but then something came to her mind. A dull pain rose in her hip and in an instant Jennifer made a different decision.

“I said no!” She shouted at full volume, “I don’t care what you think! I don’t care if you think I’m boring! I am finishing this because I want to!”

Melissa stepped back as Jennifer began to close her books and pack them. Melissa watched in shock asking, “Where are you going?”

“Somewhere I don’t have to deal with you!” Jennifer barked and left. Her voice apparently was audible through the walls because multiple doors were opened with heads peeking out, but Jennifer didn’t give them any mind as she marched out the front door and into the city.

She thought for a moment about where to go. She knew about a few cafes that would be nice, but she didn’t want to spend the money. The school was open until eight which included the library. That would have been a great place for studying, but then another place came to mind. Jennifer had never been to the city’s public library, and so she decided to change just that.

The Progress City Library was a beacon for those of academic pursuits. It stood near the center of the city. Its front face was like a temple, but that soon gave way to a tall skyscraper that was its bulk. The PCL was more than just a place to read and borrow books. It was one of the greatest collections of writing in the world with only ancient cities being able to compete with it. Of course, one couldn’t expect less in a city hosting so much greatness.

Jennifer stepped into the front and immediately regretted it. Not because it was full of noise and people moving around, but because it very much wasn’t. Total silence within the main lobby. There were archways leading into different parts and in the center was the library circulation desk, and behind it was, Jennifer assumed, a librarian. She was an older lady with tanned skin and course hair tied in a bun. She tapped away at a computer when Jennifer entered and looked over, making eye contact, across the sixty-foot space between.

“Good morning?” The librarian called with a wave, “Do you need help?”

Jennifer nodded, “Yes, I was-”

“Would you mind coming up to the desk?” The librarian waved again but in summon motion.

“Oh, yes.” Jennifer blushed and started walking the mile-long journey to cross the sixty-foot lobby and stood in front of the desk.

The librarian looked at her, “What can I help you with? Do you need directions? Something with your record perhaps?”

“Umm…” Was all Jennifer could muster up.

“No English then?” The Librarian asked and then started speaking in some other language Jennifer couldn’t recognize. After that, she spoke again but seemingly in another tongue, and again Jennifer just stood there. The librarian tried again with a tone of finality in a language that Jennifer did know.”

“Oh! I don’t speak French very well.” Jennifer explained.

“So what can you speak?”

“Mostly English. My family comes from African slaves, and my mother wasn’t big into reconnection.”

“Okay then, what can I help you with?” The librarian asked with professional patience.

“Well, this is actually my first time here. So I don’t really know.”

“Well, I can tell you you don’t need a library card. Your school ID can act as that. The demihumans schools have a system set up for that.”

“How do you know what school I go to?”

“Your uniform.” The librarian pointed to the khaki skirt she wore, “They all have the same design, just in different colors. Now, is there anything else? Looking for a certain book?”

“No, I just need a place the work.”

“I see, well there’s plenty of workspaces. The ground floors are for more mundane subjects. Fiction and basic non-fiction. There are more specific halls for more advanced stuff. There are maps everywhere. There are also plenty of places to check out books. Anything else?”

“No. Thank you.” Jennifer managed a small bow and walked over to a map of the library. It was a nine by nine foot blueprint of the whole building with dozens of labels and sub-labels. One caught her eye. The Hall of Math on the second floor. That’s where she decided to go.

When she arrived she combed over the shelves. There were at least four copies of every book and more books than she could imagine. The titles ranged from simple to involving concepts she never heard of. Jennifer though she knew a little bit about math, but now she knew she didn’t know anything about anything. If there was so much about just the system used to count, how much was there about the stuff it was used to measure and study?

Awestruck. That was the word made for moments like this, and after Jennifer shook off enough of it she found a spot to set up. A table in a series of tables in the middle of the hall. A few other people were reading or studying, but there was more than enough space and Jennifer sat down at the empty table and started to pull out her books. She looked over a giant clock that loomed over the entrance. She had taken so much time getting to the library, talking to the librarian, and setting up again. If she had just appeased Melissa then she would have been back and studying by about this time. Jennifer sighed thinking she made a mistake, but the dull pain in her hip told us she hadn’t. She decided to agree with it and started working.

The doubts of her actions died and faded away into the place where details were forgotten as Jennifer stretched her workplace across the table. The desk in her room was barely wide enough to hold an opened book, and now she was having to use the full length of her arms. She was able to have not one, not two, but three textbooks opened to different subjects and could fan her notes out making easy review of them. She went from regretting her outburst to Melissa to regretting not dragging the imp with her. Could have jabbed a kid’s book in face and worked in the company of her friend. Would have been a win-win, but this was fine. She had everything she needed and more.

“That’s for Arthur Hall’s class, right?” A voice chimed in. Jennifer looked to see a man dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a band logo. He had shaggy hair and wore tennis shoes that were worn to tatters. He looked like a college kid. “Philosophical Mathematics at the west high school. Right?”

“Yeah, how did you know?” Jennifer asked confused.

“I know all the teachers from all the demihuman schools. I started making it a point to do so after my first decade here.” He said as he strolled over to a shelf and pulled a book, “Here, use this, he’ll be really impressed if you do.”

He offered the book and Jennifer took it. Looking over it she saw it was a mathematics by an Arthur Hall. Jennifer eyes widen, “Is this?”

“Nope.” The man said, “That’s written by Arthur Hall Senior. Your teacher is Arthur Hall Junior. A little non-secret about him. His dad was a mathematician and that caught the eyes of a few power people. Soon after he was born. So he’ll like it if you can work that in.”

“Oh, okay, thank you.” Jennifer nodded and the man walked off pushing a cart of books with him. She read the book’s title. “A Lot About Nothing And A Little About Pi” by Arthur Hall. She opened the front cover. On the inside sleeve was a picture of a man who looked a lot like her math teacher except his eyes weren’t bright and piercing. Skimming through she found some points that Mr Hall had hinted to before. It would take more time, but she could work some of them in.

So she did. Reading and reviewing and rewriting Jennifer worked through the evening. She didn’t check the time until the first yawn came and found that it was nearly ten at night.

“Oh! Damn it!” Jennifer looked over her work. Nearly completed as it was she would still be leaving near midnight. She looked around and saw that no one was concerned. The man she saw earlier was pushing a cart with even more books than before. He must have worked here and from his workload, Jennifer guessed that the library must run into the late hours. So she kept working and like she guessed she had managed to exit the library just at the stroke of midnight.

Jennifer stepped down the street level and surveyed the area. The heart of Progress City didn’t have street lamps dotting its roads. Instead, the buildings all had a strange stone for the first ten or so feet of their foundation that somehow produced light. It was soft and uniformed and illuminated the entire street. Even the alleyways were easy to see in, and so Jennifer didn’t worry as she started making her way back to Elizabeth House. At least not until she got out of the heart of Progress City.

The city had three layers to it. The core, where most of everything was. Past that was the inner ring, where most of everything happened. There were still skyscrapers and some had the glowing stones around them, but others were surrounded by street lamps that shined down cones of lights encircled by darkness. Jennifer took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She shifted them into a form she found useful and opened to a sight that was dull and a bit fuzzy, but revealing everything. Night vision.

Now able to see everything in the dark Jennifer continued into the inner layer. It wouldn’t take long to cross the area into the outer layer, where most of everyone lived. Where the skyscrapers gave away to apartment buildings and grocery stores. She only needed to make it to that point because it was on the border between the inner and outer layers where Elizabeth House was. So Jennifer continued her march hoping no one, or thing, would find her.

Her hope seemed to hold until the halfway point. Jennifer saw a figure two blocks away. At first, Jennifer tried to not think about it. There was nothing wrong with being out so late. She was also out at this hour, so she had no room to judge.

Then the figure pulled an obvious knife out and Jennifer turned the corner jogging down another road. She was keeping calm. Progress City was one of the safest cities in the world on top of being the cleanest and most affordable. There was next to nothing to worry about.

Another figure was standing at the very corner Jennifer was jogging to. There was nothing that seemed dangerous about the figure and she had no reason to be suspicious of the figure who waved at her with a malicious grin before she could actually finish the thought.

Jennifer turned sharply into the street and jaywalked across looking for another path. Going back was blocked by the knife welder and forward had the evil smile. Those were the only two sensible options, and with them cut off Jennifer chose a third option she would have never chosen on any day or night before now. She bolted down an alleyway between two buildings.

Even with her night vision giving perfect illumination, the crawls and corners seemed to hide a dozen threats. Jennifer could only ignore her fear as she tried to cross through only to be stopped by another figure. She could actually make out details about this one as it approached revealing a teenage girl with a wicked smile. The girl opened her mouth to speak.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry if this is your turf. I didn’t mean any disrespect. I didn’t know. I’m sorry. Please don’t hurt me.” Jennifer rattled out before the girl could say anything and just stared at her shaking.

The hooligan girl blinked before busting out in laughter, “I didn’t even say anything and you folded.”

She continued to laugh with her whole body. She was of average height and average build. Fair-skinned and blonde. She seemed familiar to Jennifer, but she couldn’t remember from where.

Eventually, the hooligan girl settled down wiping away a tear. “Oh no girlie, this ain’t about turf or anything. We’re just mugging you.”

“Yeah, just give us what you got and get.” another voice rumbled from behind Jennifer. Turning she saw three more girls striding up to them. A big one with a thick brow, a slimmer one with sharp razor teeth, and a smaller one with long fingers hunched over. It was the big one who had spoken. Lifting a knife she punctuated, “Or else.”

Jennifer stepped back putting her back to the wall and tried to explain, “I don’t have any money. I just have my schoolwork. I swear.”

“That’s fine,” The hooligan girl, who seemed the leader, cracked her knuckles, “We’ll take everything you got.”

Just as the group surrounded her a bang came from down the alley. Everyone snapped to look as two people walked out of a back door. One of them was a lady Jennifer didn’t recognize. The other Mr Hall. The two of them were laughing with arms around each other. Then Arthur Hall saw the gang and Jennifer in the alleyway.

“Ms Knight? What are you doing here? And at this hour?” Mr Hall asked with concern. Then he surveyed the scene again, “Oh, I see. Sorry babe, but duty comes first.”

Mr Hall dropped his arms from the lady and stepped toward the gang. The big one brandished her knife.

“Stay back. We ain’t scared of you.” She swung back and forth.

Mr Hall stopped and scanned the faces of each girl, “Now hold on, some of you look familiar. Didn’t I teach you girls?”

“Ha! Nope. We’re not in any of those reject classes you teach!” One of them barked.

“So you do go to West High. I figured.”

The blood drained from their faces from the realization that they were outed before they redoubled their anger. “Shut up! We’re not scared of someone who’s only strong enough to teach fresh meat rejects!”

“Oh really?” Mr Hall crossed his arms and lifted his chin, “Then how about we all just decide to walk away and be done here.”

“Fuck you! Get him!” And the gang of girls rushed Mr Hall in the most one sided unfair fights Jennifer ever saw. Arthur Hall should have tied his shoelaces together. Or at least promised to only use his arms. Or something.

The girls outnumbered and surrounded him and it meant nothing as the man quickly swept his arms and legs around knocking them back. He grabbed and tossed them into each other and also deflected their attacks into hitting each other. Not a one of them got a solid hit in, and before long the whole gang was knocked out.

Jennifer could only stare on at the sight. Mr Hall, with not a single drop of sweat or even a wrinkle in his suit, was surrounded by four very beaten hooligan girls. He stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders. “Right then. That’s taken care of.”

“Hey,” the lady called from down the alley. She had also been a witness to the pseudo brutality. “Does that mean we can continue our night?”

Mr Hall looked at Jennifer who was still in shock. He sighed and called back to her, “Sorry babe, but duty comes first.”

He walked over and kneeled in front of Jennifer snapping his fingers, “Hey, Ms Knight, are you okay?”

“What?” Jennifer snapped back to her senses and looked up, “Mr Hall, you… saved me.”

“Nothing to it kid,” He stood and offered his hand, “Come on, let’s get you home.”

She took his hand and they exited the alleyway going back to Elizabeth House.

“So what had you out so late?” Mr Hall said after a few blocks.

“What? Oh,” Jennifer collected her thoughts, “I was coming back from the library. I had just finished my assignment for tomorrow, or rather today I guess.”

“Really? Well, the school is almost in the opposite direction.” Mr Hall pointed out, “So how did you end up out here?”

“I didn’t go to the school. I went to the city library.”

“Oh, now I get it. Then those punks saw you and figured they could have some fun with you.”

“Probably saw my clothes and marked me as someone tough,” Jennifer lifted the brim of her khaki skirt. The school uniform had been the only thing she had worn for the past month. With the half dozen sets the school provided her she never thought about how it was a sign of being a demihuman before tonight, “Luckily you showed up.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Mr Hall shrugged, “I doubt they would have hurt you too bad, but I’m still glad I was there too. If only to beat some respect into them.”

“Yeah, you completely wreaked them. I didn’t know you were so strong.”

“Oh yeah, I’m one hard cookie.” Mr Hall laughed, “I went into the army first day I could. Fought through the Horde Invasion, and then spent about thirty being a DDH agent. Save the world a few times and retired until they asked me to teach, but I’m still as tough as they come.”

“Wow. And they have teaching the freshmen class?”

“Of course,” They turned into Elizabeth House, and Mr Hall leaned toward Jennifer, “Here’s a little non secret, at all four of the demihuman high schools, the freshmen teachers are always the strongest. Because freshmen demihumans are the wildest and need the strongest touch.”

Just then a cop van rolled up. The gang of girls must have reported the fight because they were in the back as the passenger side window rolled down and the officer spoke, “These girls said you assaulted them.”

“Sure, it started as a fight though.” Mr Hall said.

“I see,” The officer lowered his shades and scanned Mr Hall. “You’re a teacher at one of those demi schools, right?”

“Arthur Hall, West High.” He extended a hand.

“Alright then, I’ll send all this to Thompson. You girls can get out here.”

“What?” The leader barked, “He attacks us and you just kick the can down the road!”

“What can I say? Demihumans keep things in house.”

“Furthermore,” Mr. Hall added, “that’s detention for all of you.”

“What?” The leader barked again.

“I was more than willing to sweep this under the rug, but since you went and made it official then punishment needs dishing out. Assaulting a teacher is a big deal. That’s a month’s detention. All of you.” Mr Hall said.

Defeated again the gang slunked out the van and walked away. Jennifer said her goodbyes before entering Elizabeth House.

When Jennifer entered her room she found all three of her friends still up.

“Sweet Mercy!” Jessica cried out, “Finally. Melissa has been whining nonstop!”

“Have not!” Melissa pouted.

“Yeah Jessica,” Jesse said, “She hasn’t said anything.”

“Exactly!” Jessica exclaimed, “She’s been just sitting there. Quietly whining. So annoying.”

“Shut up!” Melissa tossed a book only for it to bounce off the rail.

Jennifer picked it up and handed it back to Melissa who took it gracelessly. Jennifer apologized, “Sorry, about…. me… when I…”

“Forget it.” Melissa said, “There’s nothing to be sorry for. Though I wished you would have just decked me and been done with it.”

“What?” Jennifer asked confused.

“Your yelling about got everyone asking questions.” Melissa explained, “Had to tell a lot of people to mind themselves.”

“She was in a fight with about a dozen other kids when we showed up.” Jessica explained, “Had to jump in to keep them from killing her.”

“Bah! As if.” Melissa said, “I could taken them all, and with Jay, we would have beaten them all. But miss good star here had to go snitch on us.”

“I said I was sorry.” Jesse pleaded.

“Yeah! Back off her.” Jessica leaned over the rail, “I didn’t want to fight the whole damn house for your dumb ass.”

“Whatever. Did you finish your project thing, Jenny?” Melissa asked.

“I did.” Jennifer smiled setting her bag down.

“Glad to hear it.” Melissa said, “I’m assuming you didn’t run into any trouble.”

Jennifer stepped into the tiny bathroom to prepare for bed. She looked into the mirror and realized her eyes had shifted back into their normal vision. Yet her eyes didn’t have the dull ache of strain in them. They had shifted back on their own. “No. Not really.”