"Baade." Veronica unexpectedly called for me. I was about to leave the classroom by then, following my usual group but I was behind so the only one who heard her voice is me. I didn't even notice her standing there until she called for me.

I turned my heel to her, waiting for what she's supposed to say. "You are needed in the Forbidden Room." She says blankly. It's like she's being controlled like a robot. She shows no emotions whatsoever and her only purpose is to send that message to me.

I nodded, still staying quiet. I still hate this bitch. She then signals me to follow her. I guess she knows that I don't know where the Forbidden Room is. Am I that readable?

"Uhh... I know where it is." I lied to save myself from embarrassment.

"No, you don't. Even if you do, that door is tightly locked." Veronica kept on talking like an emotionless robot.

"Is this one of your plans again?" I raised brow as my suspicions did.

"What if it is?" She looked at me with a wide smirk. I glared at her in response. "Haha, I'm kidding. It's not. But his plan works for me too so why not, right?" She smiled like it's a real joke.

I merely sighed. I'm not even disappointed. Her seriousness is too much to handle.

"Anyway, we stop here." Veronica abruptly stopped. She faced a wall. A wall?

She then started ripping the wallpaper, revealing a door full of locks and chains. She unlocked all the locks, making the chains loose. It made passing by easy.

"Once you open this door, I will have to lock and hide it again. There's another exit. Just ask the person who you're going to confront." Veronica thoroughly explained.

I nodded silently, turning the knob, passing through the chains easily. As soon as I entered the room, I heard her quickly covering the door up.

There is a lone man sitting in a rolling chair, facing away from his desk but actually facing the electric fan right in front of his face.

"Kanae Baade, the only heir to the famous Spices Company, named 'Baad Spices'. Plus, around 5 more famous companies that are not as much as famous as the Auden companies. Isn't that frustrating?" He started. I expect nothing less from a suspicious man in a suspicious room suspiciously not facing my way. As soon as I think about that, he spins his rolling chair towards me. His glasses shone in reflection of the bright light illuminating the suspicious room. "Do you want to get rid of Celeste Auden?" This man...is not someone I know.

"Never in a million years." I quickly replied, glaring at him as I did.

He bursted into a fake maniacal laughter as he countered, "but you attempted to kill her in the middle of the school, in front of everyone's eyes! And you said 'never in a million years'?! Cut me some slack, Baade!" He slammed his heavy hands on his desk to emphasise his point.

I glared for a millisecond before also slamming my heavy hands on his wooden desk. "Is slamming hands on a desk supposed to be intimidating? 'Cause I can do that too." I leaned closer to his face. I like to see his face full of terror and intimidation. But that's not why I did it.

"You're interesting in a way, Baade. I thought you're a resigned delinquent." Instead of a face full of terror, he flashed a smiling face instead. It was a bright one, a mask I presume.

"Cut to the chase and tell me what you want to tell me." I backed down a bit because instead of him getting uncomfortable with me, I am uncomfortable with him.

"Hmm. No further questions? I like people like you, always wanting to get straight to the point." He paused for a while, sitting back down on his rolling chair. "I want you to look for Celeste Auden's fear and/or weakness." He did get straight to the point, ignoring every other details he has to say.

I scratched the back of my head lazily. "Missy made another enemy?" I asked quite carefree.

"She's the type of person that makes a lot of enemies?" He looked surprised. What's this? I was given the first impression that he knows everything. This caught my attention.

He cleared his throat to distract me out of it. He's talking to a resigned delinquent here! "Hmm..." I teasingly hummed. He jolted. "I thought you know everything~~?"

"Anyway," he cleared his throat again to divert my attention away from our conversation. "You have to tell me her fears and weaknesses are or else..." I waited patiently for the continuation. He swiftly took out a photograph of Kunai. "...your dear childhood friend will pay..."

I again waited for the continuation. I know he has something more to say.

"Kunai Marco, the beloved little sister of Eskar Marco, a childhood friend of Kanae Baade. She gives you birthday gifts too, how sweet. The latest thing she gifted you is a movie... A new movie directed by tour favourite director, Sam 'Sammy'--"

"Don't." I stopped him. "Don't continue another syllable. I get it. I have to know Celeste's weakness or Kunai is in trouble. It's simple, that much I can understand."

"Great. I'm glad you understand. I will give you 2 weeks for the deadline. This is an easy task for you, isn't it? Since you live together too."

I remained unfazed as he spews out useless information that I already know. I looked around the room to find the exit but unfortunately, I couldn't in such a narrow space.

"Where?" I merely asked.

The man faced away from me. I walked towards the direction to where he's facing and saw a door next to the fan.

I continued to walk towards until I'm on the edge. Like a goodbye, the man's last words are, "My name's Daniel." Before he pushed me to the door and quickly locked it. As soon as I exited, I was back to the corridors, directly across the Forbidden Room's entrance.

Even if I made a deal, my suspicions doesn't lower a bit! This place is suspicious. This school is suspicious too! Daniel, huh? And who the bloody hell is that?

------

January 7. Saturday.

I blinked my eyes open. I turned to the other side of the bed because I heard a suspicious rustling from the side. When I did, I encountered a guy with a devil mask.

"What are you trying to do?" I stared at him blankly.

"Waking you up?" He tilted his head. "I thought this will pump the blood in your veins." He straightforwardly explained, taking off the mask in disappointment.

"How many times will I tell you? I don't sleep." I heaved an exasperated sigh. "Anyway, what's for breakfast?" I changed the topic as I stand from the bed.

"Salad. Caesar salad." He plainly answered.

"Salad? Is there red meat there?" I turned my head to him.

"No, it's just fruit and green leaves mainly."

"Then I don't want to eat that. I'll go and hunt some real food!" I cracked my knuckles. The blood in my veins are surely pumping up now!

"Nope. We're saving money here." Kanae caught me by the collar and easily held me down.

"What? But you're rich!" I protested.

"Doesn't mean I won't save money. I don't want to waste all my riches just because a spoiled brat here wants red meat everyday!" He glared at me as he dragged me to the kitchen. Scary.

"Oh yeah Kanae," I started. "Why were you late yesterday?"

"Aren't I always late?"

"No. You were late going home. You are always eager to come home with me." I began to eye my suspicions on him.

"I almost forgot about my notebook so I went back and took it." He turned away. What a lame excuse.

"You sure took your sweet precious time getting that notebook. I wonder what for? Listing all my fears and weaknesses perhaps?" He jolted in surprise. He's sweating so profusely. He has no chance of escaping this now. "If it's you, it's surely an easy task. We live together, don't we?" I smiled innocently, like it doesn't matter to me.

"Don't tell me you spied on me." He gulped.

"Don't need to. You already said it for me." I smiled wider. He smacked his palm against his face, full of disappointment. "It doesn't bother me though. If you want, I can easily tell you."

"No, I already know. You told me countless of times now." He dismissed my offer. How rude.

"You know? I'm surprised that your memory isn't that rotted when it comes to my weakness." I genuinely looked surprised. It made him furious though.

"I was originally going to blackmail you with that information but someone wants to take my place for that." His eye twitches in anger. I know his fists desperately wants to hit something, and his brain sure is functioning very well by now! He's making a plan as we speak. "I won't let him get to you." He formed a fist with his only free hand, looking determined. "As a reward, please give me £100 per month, ok?" He turned to me and flashed me a big wide smile.

"Hell no!!" I immediately refused. "Even if I'm rich, it doesn't mean I need to waste money on a useless stupid guy who already has money!"

"Same goes for you, Big Mouth. Plus, you only use my money despite living together. You should also pay your monthly rent! I'm not your housekeeper!" He furiously scolded. Well, I'm sorry!

"Fine. Only if you don't let him get to me until the end." I made a useless deal. I can easily ward him off but...something about that guy is different.

Lucifer disguised as a human-- an information-giver that works in an independent room/office. He has his rolling chair, desk, and everything complete to seek information. The disguise's name is Delon, a name starting with the letter "D". I didn't pay much attention to it because it's a useless information for me at that time but when I infiltrated his office before it was locked down, I saw all the documents regarding each and every student that acted as an information-giver. Their names all start with "D" and "Delon" is another fake name that Lucifer made up to try and successfully infiltrate the school's information system while also chatting with Deane to give information about me.

I'm guessing "Daniel" here is an old student that Kanae doesn't recognise. He changed his name to protect his own identity. Every student that acted as an information-giver did. And for some reason, they all start with "D". Some guy even had fun naming himself "Detention."

I guess I'll make Kanae a distraction so I can investigate that suspicious room further...

•

January 8. Sunday. 4 pm.

I escaped from the house via the window from Kanae's room. That is the only escape route I can go to. Kanae is in the living room, watching the movie that Kunai gave him. I was planning something else.

It's 4 pm, a time where I can freely lurk around and not get scolded. I should remember: Daniel is not a demon. He is a human that can blackmail people. More frightening than Kanae. But is he as cautious as him?

I don't even know where to start since I can't identify him. "Daniel" is a fake name, his appearance doesn't match with any human I've seen but still blended in quite perfectly, and he got serious guts to try and manipulate Kanae by using Kunai as a hostage.

As I was walking around, looking around the whole place, I encountered some enemies again. I was kidnapped. Argh geez! How many times have this happened to me?!

Blah blah blah. I'm in a basement-like territory, my arms are tied up and suspicious men surround me. In the corner of my eye, I see someone who's younger than both Kanae and me. He wears glasses and is very suspicious-looking until the very end. A mushroom-like haircut, polo and shorts, it's like Palatino but a bit older.

"How old are you, Sonny?" I asked non-hesitantly. I even asked calmly even though it looks like I will be tortured soon.

"Does my age matter?" He smirked widely. What does he know? "I have no intention of sharing any information about myself. Instead, how about you tell me your weaknesses so I can spare your foster parents?"

I stared at him blankly, not giving any reaction. "Ok." I answered blankly as well.

"What, no reaction?" Daniel looks a bit disappointed since I didn't reach his expectation.

"My weakness is..." I left them all in suspension. Those tough guys are listening too. "...something I couldn't tell you. Bleh." I stuck my tongue out as to annoy them even further.

"If you don't take this seriously, I can kill Baade, you know!" He shouted as if he has the upper hand.

"You can't kill anyone at all, can you?" I noticed the pattern-- his pattern.

"You're all bark but no bite. You say you can kill them but the only thing you can do is just use other people as hostage." I bluntly told him.

"I can kill you!" He bravely talked back. "You are right in front of me, defenceless and weak, I can torture you as much as I want!" A man (one of his slaves perhaps?) gave him a katana (where did that even come from?!). Daniel then pointed it at me, the blade softly touching my neck. "I can kill you." Even at this moment, he still acts tough and arrogant.

"Don't touch me." I glared as I snapped the ropes that are holding me. My wrists are slightly bruised but I'm used to pain by now.

Daniel stared at me in disbelief. He glanced at my wrists then back at my face. "H-how did you..." He tried to hide the fact that he's scared of me but he's still arrogantly trying to act tough.

"Don't you DARE bother me again." I glared for the last time then started to make my way towards the exit.

One guy was stupid enough to try and block my way. I easily knocked him down by punching his weak stomach. He doubled over in pain. I continued to walk away without anyone else trying to interfere.

•

"So in the end, you still managed to hurt yourself. You really are hopeless, Missy." Kanae sighed as he tried to mend my wounds on my wrists.

"At least appreciate my confession and attempt to explain my situation properly." I still tried to act stubborn and independent even though I found myself in this kind of situation. "Plus, I can handle these minor bruises!"

"It will relieve you some way or another. You should try this more often." Kanae recommended as he pulled the last strap of bandage. I remember the last time I had bandages on my body, it was when my body is severely bleeding and my clothes were thrown away because the blood cannot even be washed off or as much be touched. And once again, it was the work of a human/s.

"Well at least I'm not lying in bed, weak and vulnerable." I sighed because that's the only reaction I could come up with.

"Oh, it's your favourite part, Missy." Kanae commented as he faced the TV. The credits of the movie started rolling. The two of us watched it together patiently as names started appearing.

"Alex Lumen"

My eyes widened. "You should really be careful around that Daniel guy." I warned him. I feel like I shouldn't tell him anything about Daniel so soon.

He looked at me calmly. He knows what I have in mind but he didn't say anything...

He merely gripped my hand tight. "Don't worry about me. You should also be careful."

"Yeah... He's not a normal human... He's difficult to deal with." I commented. His hands are warm and reassuring.

Even in the past, his name has never been called before. I'm thinking he's an illegitimate child, neglected by the whole family... There's only one thing I know....:

He is the younger brother of Alex Lumen.