Michael arranged his locker, lost in thought, until someone bumped into him, causing him to hit his head. He turned, ready to confront the person, but his expression softened when he saw Sydney standing before him, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"Sydney, are you okay?" Michael asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. She didn't respond. He walked around to face her, noticing the dark circles under her eyes and her pale complexion. "Sydney?" he repeated, his voice laced with concern.

She slowly raised her head, her eyes welling up with tears. Michael stroked her soft hair, trying to comfort her. "It's alright, Sydney. I'm here for you, no matter what." He paused, a hint of a smile on his face. "Even if I found out you were cheating, I'd still be here for you." Sydney looked up at him, a questioning expression on her face.

Michael's smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Oh, nothing. I was just joking." He patted her head, trying to reassure her. "Let's go get something to eat."

As they walked, Sydney mentioned Connor Colham's death. Michael's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing. "What about him? Did something...happen to him?" He feigned concern, but his tone was laced with insincerity.

Sydney looked at him nervously. "He's dead." Michael's expression changed, a hint of a smirk on his face before he masked it with a sad expression. "Oh, that's awful. Oh well, life continues." He smiled, trying to appear nonchalant.

Sydney looked taken aback by his response. "How can you say that? He was a good friend of mine." Michael hugged her tightly, trying to silence her. "I love you, Sydney. I'm sorry about your friend, but don't worry, I'm here." He whispered reassuringly, but his eyes seemed to hold a darker intent.

Meanwhile, Detective Inspectors Miller and Morgan were investigating Connor's murder. They spoke with Mr. Colham, who was visibly shaken. "Make sure you find the bastard who did this," he demanded, his voice laced with anger and grief.

As the detectives continued their investigation, they discovered that a witness had seen someone standing over Connor's body. However, the witness couldn't provide a description of the person's face.

The scene shifted to Michael's school, where a new counselor, Dr. Nancy, was introduced. She was a blonde-haired woman with emerald eyes and a warm smile. Michael was immediately wary of her, his eyes narrowing as he listened to her introduction.

When Dr. Nancy asked Michael if he had anything he wanted to talk about, he responded coldly, his thoughts consumed by dark fantasies. However, he masked his true feelings, responding with a simple "no, ma'am."

As the class continued, Michael found himself growing increasingly agitated. He was relieved when the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. However, his relief was short-lived, as Dr. Nancy approached him in the hallway.

"Michael, can I have a word with you?" she asked, her smile warm and inviting. Michael reluctantly followed her to her office, where she revealed that she had sensed his dark thoughts during their earlier encounter.

Michael's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. "What are you talking about?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Dr. Nancy smiled knowingly. "I've been doing this for a long time, Michael. I can read people. And I think you're struggling with some dark impulses." She pulled out a book from her drawer, its title sending a shiver down Michael's spine: "Fractured Sanity."

Michael's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. He tried to brush off Dr. Nancy's concerns, but she persisted, her words echoing in his mind long after he left her office. "If you ever need to talk, I'm here, Michael. You don't have to keep your problems to yourself."