The fear that washes over me is so horribly real that it feels fake. I'm the sign. I'm the one they've been waiting for. I'm the one who has to lead them back to Ether. And I'm the one who's set apart from others.

Jinx stares at me like he's never seen me before. "That's crazy, you're not, are you?"

"I think I am your sign," I say, ignoring him.

Candice gives a soft smile. "I can't wait to see what General Lyson thinks of this."

"Speaking of which, we'd better call him," says Head Pyra. She takes a telephone from her mahogony-wood desk and dials a number. "Hey, Lyson, that you?" Silence for a couple of seconds. "Listen, I think we've found our sign." Candice, Jinx and I flinch as a loud babbling from the phone bursts out like a bomb. "No, LISTEN! It's very very likely to be her," intercuts Head Pyra. "Get over here as soon as possible." Another short silence. "Oh sure, I'll tell him, don't you worry your little head about it."

"So?" asks Candice tentatively.

"He's coming. Oi, Gurdy!" she yells at as boy passing. "Go get Head Frost on my authority!"

"Sure thing!" he shouts back, and speeds off.

I realise that almost everyone I've met so far has shouted at least once. Candice, Jinx, Head Frost, Head Pyra, Gurdy. Then I feel that I'm out of place; for not shouting at all since my arrival. It doesn't seem right, really, because I'm a lost cause. Who doesn't like shouting.

Jinx cocks an eyebrow at me. "So, got any boyfriend back home?"

I feel the hot blood rush up to my cheeks.

"Jinx, don't ask her that!" scolds Candice.

"I ask that to every new one. I remember that you said, when I asked you, that he broke up with you since you were a lost cause."

Now it's Candice's turn to blush. "That was in the past!"

Jinx smirks. "I guess."

Head Pyra tuts, and I wonder why she didn't interfere before. "Get ready for Head—"

"PYRA!"

"—Frost," Head Pyra finishes calmly.

Head Frost comes marching up to us, face red with incessant shouting, taupe hair streaked with hair gel. "WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, DRAGGING ME OUT OF MY CLEANSING SESSION?"

"My apologies," Head Pyra says courteously. "I just wanted to tell you that we've found our sign."

"The sign." Head Frost's eyes grow wide at the sight of me. "The sign. . ."

I feel giddy. All this attention—not what I want. I just want to run away, hide from all these eyes. In my bed. Somewhere. Anywhere.

I'm actually considering making a break for it when Head Pyra says something. And judging by Jinx's and Candice's faces, it's a complete surprise to all of us.

"And now we have to kill her."