"Well," Hazmat exhaled a stream of cigarette smoke, shrugging, "Whatever you say, love."

Austin dragged his eyes from Ebony to scowl at him. "How do you know who we are?"

The man tossed his cigarette on the ground, grinding it out with the heel of his boot. "That's the least of your worries, mate."

Finnegan rose quickly, ignoring the protest from his legs, and let his fingers drift to his split lip. 17 hospital admissions; it felt like more. Hazmat cocked his head, studying the boys bruises.

"You're a fine sight," he commented, glancing at his mobile again.

Mr Irving sighed as his vision finally cleared, coloured spots retreating back into his imagination. He caught Ms Smith's worried expression, and shook his head slightly.

"I'm fine, Ella."

"Ella..." Hazmat murmured, "Pretty name." The phone buzzed, and his head snapped down to scan the message. "We have to go. Now!"

"Why?" Austin asked, "Who are these people? What do they want from us?" As he spoke, he lunged forward, fisting his hands in the collar of Hazmat's jacket. "Who are you?"

Mr Irving raised a hand to stop the boy, but he needn't have worried. Haz raised his eyes to Austin's, smiling, and then he moved. his arms came up on the inside of the teenager's, knocking them aside, as he swept a leg behind him. With a yelp, Austin tumbled to the ground, landing on his rear. fixing his jacket, Hazmat frowned down at him.

"Don' touch the jacket," he said.

Ebony chuckled, folding her arms across her chest, and Austin glowered up at her. "Shut up."

Ms Smith fixed her hands on her hips. "Was that really necessary?" she demanded.

Ignoring her, Hazmat started down the hall, drumming his fingers across his thigh. "You have two choices: come with me, or stay here." he shook his head, turning back to grin. "i'm sorry, that's a lie: come with me, or die."

Phitz stiffened. "did he say 'die'?"

Glancing down the hallway, Mr Irving frowned, gritting his teeth as his eyes flickered to Hazmat's shrinking form.

"Your call, guys," he proclaimed. "I have no idea what's happening right now."

Phitz licked his lips. "That's always what you want to hear from a teacher."

Austin raked his hair back from his eyes. Clambering to his feet, he sighed. "Well, never say die."

Shaking her head, Ebony pulled away from the wall, fixing her eyes down the hall so she couldn't flinch from Carissa. "What a stupid thing to say."

"What?" he asked with a snort, "You're going to stay here and die?" He looked around at the group, offering his queery to them all.

No one answered him, and as Hazmat turned at the end of the hall, everyone hurried after him, leaving Austin standing alone. He folded his arms across his chest.

"That's what i thought."