"I'm telling you Oz I saw him" I stated firmly dead leaves crunching under my heels as we walked the old trail.

"Whether or not you saw him isn't what I'm questioning Sadie. It's the fact he went completely m.i.a for four years and you want to wander into the woods before school to find him" Oz stated his boots trudging through the mud.

"Don't you wanna know why he left? Where he went? You're all into mysteries, Ozzie. This should be right up your wheelhouse" I informed steeping onto the old wooden bridge.

"I like to investigate. Not walk straight up to the very possible next Ted Bundy and be like "dude where you been?" That's how you become his next victim" Oz warned

"Ozzie if he wanted to kill us. He'd of done it years ago." I shrugged patting his shoulder.

"He spent our entire freshman putting disturbing notes in your locker! Do I need to remind you of the what we presumed to be blood-soaked letter that said "you'd look nice in a grave" do I?!" he stated doing his best to add drama to his voice.

I stopped at the end of the old wooden bridge, pivoting on the balls of my feet I spun to face Oz my vibrant copper locks twisting behind my shoulder as I did. Propping myself up against the railing my manicured nails clicked against the softwood.

My eyes scanned over my oldest friend. Oliver James Zaborowski. His tattered black jeans draping over his boots. His signature red flannel tied lazily around his waist. Matched with one of his numerous faded graphics tees and his dads old worn and tattered jacket I had patched too many times to count.

I knew the look that twinkled in his olive green eyes all too well. The one he matched with the slightest tilt of his head. Causing the strands of his raven locks that peaked out from under his beanie to brush against his forehead. It was one I had seen many times over the years. The look that said one thing "yeah, I went there".

Of course, I remembered that note, how couldn't I?. The fear, mixed with curious exhilaration. It wasn't like anything I had felt. It made a chill run down my spine, and at the same time, I wasn't afraid of him. Even if the others deemed a threat. It hadn't been the first note he had left me. It was, however, the last.

"There is still zero proof those letters were even from him" I reminded.

Deep down I knew that they were, even if I attempted to deny it. I was sure Oz knew it too, but then again. Innocent until proven guilty. Right?.

"Sadie, Oz?" A familiar confused voice called behind me.

The look on Oz's face matched the confusion of the voice. Looking over my shoulder I was taken back, turning I faced my other half, my twin sister Emerson.  Her slender hand clutched in her longtime boyfriend Milo's. You could feel the instant tension that grew between Oz and his half brother. The two were more alike then they realized but at the same time couldn't stand each other and if Oz didn't like him. Neither did I.

"Emmy, Milo." I half greeted looking Milo with a cold glance.

"What are you doing out here?" Emmy questioned tilting her head enough that her pale copper curls dipped.

"Looking for the ghost of a potential psychopath, because your sister had a death wish. You?" Oz casually admired beside me.

I could see the look of concern that twisted on Emerson's delicate features. She knew what he was talking about.  She'd been with me when I had seen him, but she hadn't. Emerson not seeing him, made me want to prove it even more that Decimus was back.

"The trail is a shortcut to school from Milo's parents place" Emerson informed softly "why don't we all walk together" she suggested with a soft smile.

I knew the smile, it wasn't a genuine happy smile. It was one of worry and concern. It was the only reason she had made the suggestion. Like most people, back when Decimus attended Ira James secondary school Emerson was terrified of him. The fact that he had seemed to make me his target only seemed to exaggerate her fear. That and the fact it didn't put the fear in me as it did her.

"Cmon we can quiz each other on the science test today in history" Emerson announce her voice more demanding than before.

She didn't give me a chance to reply. With a few quick strides of her long legs, she was at my side. Her slender arm wrapping around mine as she pulled me with her. Instinctively I reached out taking Oz's hand pulling him with us. If I had to deal with them, so did he.

The hallways buzzed with our fellow students the mixture of voices blending into a loud hum. It wasn't until we had gotten to the school and away from our siblings that he finally spoke. Only to complain about having to be near Milo for that long.

"I'll see you at lunch?" I questioned as we walked down the hall preparing to part ways

"Same place same time" he half chuckled as I stop at my next classes door.

"And Saids?" He questioned his voice softer than normal catching my attention as I looked back at.

"Try not to think about him too much. He gets in your head and I don't like what it does" Oz admitted forcing a half smile on his lips.

"You got it Ozzie" I winked playfully before using the door frame to dramatically twist away.

It wasn't a complete lie, but he was right. Decimus had a way of getting in my head and once he was in it was almost impossible to get him out. It was like watching a car crash, I knew it would end badly but I couldn't pull away.

Walking into biology class, I was last to arrive, like usual. Scanning the class, only two seats were available. One next to Milo, who made it rather clear he had saved it for me. The other beside Auryn Xanthos, the golden boy. He excelled at everything athletic, and most things academic and made it looks easy. He was the type of person you loved to hate and hated to love.

As Milo waved me over I knew if I didn't sit with him I'd get the guilt stare. Walking down the aisle of desks I took the empty chair next to him. He gave a small smile, happy about my decision. It didn't take a genius for me to know he did it because of Emerson.

"Alright class today we will be doing a dissection" Mr. Wiley announced

"Auryn, since Mr. I mean Miss. Calloway is most likely skipping under the bleachers destroying what few brain cells the girl has left. Why don't you partner with Mercedes and Milo." He added, his dislike for Joey made prominent.

Auryn took no time to pull his stool up to our desk wedging me between him and Milo. My eyes darted to between both boys before landing back on Mr. Wiley as he wheeled a cart of stacked trays. Row by row he placed the trays on the table.

All three of us shared a look, reaching my hand up a carefully lifted the thin paper like cloth. The sent of formaldehyde heavily emitted from under the material. My attention was pulled as Mr.Wiley returned to the front of the class.

"Alright class, remove your coverings. Today will be dissecting feral pigs. Please make the first incision from just above the sternum to just above the umbilical cord" Mr.Wiley announced.

As he spoke Milo pulled the covering off instantly cringing and gagging at the sight and smell of the unborn pig. By the sounds of dry heaving and gasps that filled the room, he wasn't the only one affected. My eyes pulled from Milo to look at Auryn. Even his calm, collected and confident exterior seemed taken back at the sight.

Scanning the room, not a single student had picked up the scalpel. Most were to busy dry heaving or gawking. Finally m,y eyes found their way to the front of the room. A devious and proud smirk was firmly planted on Mr.Wileys face. It was no secret he loved to torture students in every legal way he could.

There has always been something about the look on his face when he succeeded. As if he were a good or a game master and we were his pawns. That simply set something deep inside me off, it was like a trigger. The smug look of self-indulgent power.

As Mr.Wileys eyes met mine. I could feel my left eye start to twitch as he looked me up and down as if to challenge me. I didn't even think about it my long finger quickly snatching the scalpel from the metal trays.

I flicked the plastic protection cap off the blade tip before plundering into the lower part of the fetal pigs neck. My eyes not leaving Mr.Wileys for a second as I stared him down.

I could see him flinch slightly at the sudden, somewhat violent movement and he wasn't the only one. My unannounced movement caught both Auryn and Milo off guard. It took mere seconds for Milos gagging to intensify as he stumbled out of his stool scurrying for the door.

I could feel the thick skin tugging as I dragged the blade through it. My eyes never left Mr.Wileys and for the first time in four years, he faltered. Pulling his gaze from mine he cleared his throat stumbling to organize his papers. A small triumphant smirk formed on my lips. I had one this battle, but the war was far from over.