The Officer looks at Dad, "Mr Russel, this is the book Jess Taylor had on her when she went missing, right?"

Dad answers, "Right. She finished reading it here while visiting Kirk, she left it behind."

The Officer looks at Mom, "So why did Casey just call you Mrs Russel, and draw your attention to this book?" Mom's answer is assertive, "She's reading it, just wanted to check she'd left it here and not left it some place else."

The Officer ignores Mom's answer and looks at me, "What do you have to say about this Kirk?" I remain silent. "Give it Kirk, tell me what you know of this book," says the Officer. I have only one answer, "It's Jess's favourite book," I say.

The Officer locks eyes with Dad, "Mr Russel, I'm going to be brutally blunt with you – did you have anything to do with Jess Taylor's abduction?"

Dad lowers his head to the floor. "Answer my question Mr Russel," asserts the Officer.

When Dad raises his head, I note his eyes are wet with something like sorrow. When he speaks, his words sound brittle and broken...

..."I did...

...not abduct Jess."

The Officer shakes his head, "Of course you didn't. I've so little to go on at the moment, I’m clutching at straws," he says, hitting Dad's shoulder with an apologetic hand.

When the Officer leaves, Dad lowers his head again, “That was no lie; I didn’t abduct Jess, I saved her.” He looks at me, “To save you Kirk.”

.

.....

I take extra care over my appearance this morning. Mom tries to intervene, but Dad tells her to leave me to it, "He needs to manage his own appearance whenever possible," he says, while guiding Mom away from me.

When I'm done Mom smiles, "You look great Kirk. I'm proud of you." I get a tiny hint of happy at the sight of her smile. When the doorbell rings, I get a tiny flutter in the depths of my stomach – I know it's Casey; she's right on time. Today is back to school day.

As we walk to school, sentences pour from Casey: angry, frustrated, worried words of what we may have to face when we return. I listen, but don't fully understand; instead I stop and take her hand in mine – we continue the remainder of our journey in silence. 

......

I see the crowds growing on the school grounds. Casey hesitates, "Kirk, it's best we don't hold hands from here on. It'll only give em ammunition to attack us."

I stop and stare at Casey. My soul return torments me with half remembered feelings. I recall the 'Hurt Girl' I left behind when I died – I don't want Casey to hurt, I disengage my hand from hers. But I do something before we continue: I take Casey in my arms and embrace her – for a small moment, I feel almost human. 

......

The gathering crowd stares. Casey says, "We're news Kirk, gossip. They're saying some really bad things about me on-line, real cruel stuff, like... "

...Casey's phone interrupts her; she slams it at her ear, "Hello." Pause.

"Hi Jess.” Pause.

I'm with kirk right now, he’s good.” Pause.

“Jess, The Principles called an Assembly, I don’t have a whole bunch a talking time right now." Pause. 

I can hear a faint thread of Jess's voice, but not enough to hear her communication.

"Sure, I feel a little anxious too; but I guess that comes from going back to school; and my folks are still not cool with me being caught up in all this stuff." Pause.

"I hear you Jess. I'll be extra vigilant, promise. Gotta go now, I'll call you later."

Casey snaps her phone off. I read burden in her face. She looks at the crowding students, "Jess has a strong sense of foreboding; that something real bad is gonna happen today. She looks at me, "Maybe she's just over anxious about not being able to return to school yet.  Probably feels a little left out.” I don't have the emotional depth to offer her reassurance, instead I say, "Let's go Casey." We walk towards the growing throng of students.

I can feel a small amount of the buzz that filters through the school corridors as students make their way toward the Assembly Hall. 

"Kirk, Casey, wait for me," hollers Toby as we join the throng. "I can't believe I slept late! This of all days is one I wanted to be fully prepared for," he says. I read a positive look on his face, "We can relax a little guys. Dale's sick, he won't be in school today. We’ll ease back into it without having to deal with any Daleation." This news cheers Casey, "You know, that makes so much sense; I've heard no bitchy comments about Kirk and I from Dale's fan group; even Jenna didn’t comment when we passed. They lose all balls when their leader ain't around." she says. Toby smiles, “Course they do, cowards, all of em.”

Casey’s face turns to a look I can’t read, “Tobes, did Jess call you this morning?”

“Yeah, I know, she’s worried about today. That’s just Jess, she’s a worried friend who can’t be with us today.”

“She’s a grade One Responsive Tobes, we can’t dismiss her feelings. I’m grade six, and feel something strong as well.”

Toby’s face takes on a look I read as concern. He pulls me close, “Stick with us today Kirk, stick close. Understand?”  I nod my yes.

......

The Principle is joined on stage by the entire teaching staff. The wave of noise created by crowds of conversation begins to calm. When quiet arrives, The Principle begins to speak:

There is no greater calling than to teach young people. Your teachers and myself have a responsibility to all of you people.

We not only have to educate you, we have to guide you. It's our job to instill a good sense of moral into all of you. Make you intelligent, good and decent citizens that will leave Arlington High as great assets to your country.

Our school has had a tough time of late. We have had the spotlight of media attention focused on us, for all the wrong reasons...  

Oh no – I've got good reason to get out. I feel a delayed post feed seepage rising upwards, towards my facial orifices. 

… Now school is back, I want to inform you all, that myself or my staff will not tolerate any further behavior that divides or excludes any individual based on difference; be that: impaired ability, looks, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any aspect that singles them out. In short, we will not tolerate any form of bullying!

The purpose of education is to think beyond yourself and your group. We need to embrace difference...

My difference must not SPLAT on the Assembly hall floor.

... and accept your peers as they are... 

 Trust me, my SLUDGE will not be accepted.

...we all need to wake up and smell the coffee...

Just one small SPLAT of my SLUDGE will STINK the whole school out. I shuffle backwards, toward the exit.

"Kirk, get back here," hisses Casey, trying not to draw attention to my shuffling departure.

...QUIET! At the back, I am speaking...

I pick-up speed as the seepage nears my ear openings, ducking and diving past people, trying not to hit anyone in my haste to get to a bathroom. 

The Principle notices my movement.

...Kirk, get back in here...

I have to ignore him; the seepage reaches my ear-holes. I block its exit with my hands, and dash for a bathroom.

...Kirk Russel, how dare you have the audacity to cover your ears when I am addressing you and your peers…

The Principles angry voice fades as I speed down the corridor.

I make it to the bathroom; rush a cubicle, throw my head into the toilet bowl and let the sick sludge spout from my every head hole. Gross.

Afterwards, I do my best to clean up and amend my face with the small make-up kit I keep with me.

......

I slope back into Assembly. 

Casey and Tobes throw me looks I read as angry frustration. Toby shoots an angry whisper, “I told you to stick with us Kirk!”

The Principle notes my return, "Kirk, come directly to my office after this Assembly. You and I have to talk, one to one."

Now, back to work folks. Today is a new beginning at Arlington High, a new…

The Principle’s words are stopped by a sound that slices through the hall, cutting him off sharp.

A human scream soars through the crowd, causing students and staff to scramble and search for its source.

All heads turn to the Assembly Hall doors, which fly open with a horrified hit.

It’s the school secretary. Her noise stops when she sees the crowd of students staring at her.

I read a look of terror on her face.

The sea of students’ part, allowing her to walk forward toward the stage. On her face, I read a look of struggle and forced composure.

Casey and Toby look at me. Casey whispers, ‘Kirk, have you done something?” she asks. “Yes, purged, I had delayed seepage.” She looks at Toby, nods her head, “This is nothing to do with Kirk,” she says.

The school secretary scampers up the side steps that lead to the stage. She whispers one word into his ear.

I have little emotional response, but my soul return allows me the acute ability to read faces, expressions and mouthed  words.

I know what the secretary said to the principle; she said it with a look on her face I read as fear – Murder.