I remembered that Joseph had said something about waking up early and taking a few laps around the field, which explained the screeching sounds. These people had the weirdest ways of waking people up.

Chloe and Lisa were still asleep while Trish was sitting on her bed, reading a book.

"We're supposed to be on the field now," Trish said with her eyes still on the book. The annoying sound came again. I sighed and rubbed my eyes.

I rushed to the bathroom, already feeling disgusted by my bad breath.

Voices came from the bedroom, alerting my senses. It could only mean one thing. Chloe and Lisa were awake.

"Alyssa we are going to be late!" Trish called out. She came into the bathroom and motioned me to go with her.

I poured some water on my face and looked into the mirror. "Just go without me."

"I know that you are the late council member's daughter and all, but I don't think they offer special treatment here."

I thought that my dad had been forgotten. The only reason I wasn't bothered about Simone knowing was because she had my personal data. I guess that people don't forget things so easily. "You know?"

"Of course I do!"

"Well, I don't expect special treatment. My dad died four months ago. The fact that I'll be given any special treatment is very unlikely," I stated.

"Let's go guys, if we stay any longer we'll be the only students in this building," Lisa shouted from our bedroom.

Suddenly, it dawned on me. If I stayed behind I could look around without being seen. Staring at the floor, I tried to find a reasonable reason for staying behind.

Think! I thought as I searched my mind for a good excuse.

My gaze lifted slowly and my eyes caught a hold of the red towel hung on the door. I grinned internally as an idea came to mind.

"I guess you'll have to go without me. I just found out that I'm on-"

With a hand placed on her waist, she raised her other hand, signalling me to stop. "I understand." A laugh escaped her lips. "So that's why you rushed into the bathroom like that. We'll just go then." She left, running out of the room along with Lisa and Chloe.

After hearing the door shut, I exhaled and smiled at my success and exited the bathroom. Just to be sure that they were gone, I decided to stay behind for a while.

I reached beneath my pillow for the map Simone had given me. I removed my pillow and grabbed the folded paper. I opened it and studied. I had made up my mind. The library was like the perfect place to get more information on the council and queen.

With the paper captured in my hand's tight grasp, I got up and left.

A few students were running about in pajamas and rooms were left open. I walked slowly, surveying everything. I moved towards the stairs, knowing that most of the students would use the elevator. I walked down to the ground floor and moved around the halls.

The building had become silent. The lights were turned off and everyone seemed to be gone. Just perfect.

I stopped when I heard a few voices. The voices led to a steel door. Temptation hit, and I felt the sudden urge to eavesdrop and feed my curiosity. I bit my lower lip, trying to convince myself to focus on the plan. But, curiosity had been my weakness and strength. The door was left slightly opened. God must truly be on my side today, I thought.

Carefully, I hid myself as I peeped through the door and listened in on the conversation. To my surprise, I saw my favourite roommate along with the Joseph man from yesterday. Chloe fidgeted a little as she conversed with this middle-aged man. Their voices were kept quite low and they maintained such a close proximity to each other, that it was quite hard to make out anything they said. Joseph remained calm throughout their little exchange of words, but Chloe acted quite weird. Her movements were similar to that of a chicken trying to pluck out it's own feathers. I had suspected that Chloe could actually be a descendant of a witch or just had serious neurological problems but this was apalling.

She reached out her hand as she stared at Joseph with great expectation. He chuckled in response, dipping his hand into his back pocket. He brought out a small, white bag and handed it to her. Before I could see or hear anything else a warm, firm hand pulled me.

"What are you doing here?!" Simone whisper- yelled. She pursed her lips and raised one of her eyebrows.

I eyed her suspiciously and attempted to pull my hand from her iron grip but it was of no use. I ended up stuck in a small closet with her.

Once her grip loosened I pulled my arm away from her. My nostrils flared with anger. She had no right to act the way she did with me. "What-"

"Shut up and listen to me."

"No! Sorry but I have a training exercise I need to get to," I retorted as I tried to make my way out of the small closet but Simone would have none of that. She held my shoulder in a vice grip and pulled me back.

What on Annexia was wrong with this woman?!

"What were you doing roaming around?" She yelled.

Folding my arms, I leaned on the wall staring at her defiantly. She wasn't going to get any information from me. Time seemed to sit still. My lips curled up into a smile when a sigh escaped her lips. I thought I had won but the words that left her mouth left my eyes glassy with unshed tears and my skin tingling.

"Hush little one, we have only begun, leave not your tasks undone, do all dad says and all pain will be gone. I know why you're here." Her eyes pierced into mine, searching for a reaction to her words, somehow hoping I knew the depth of her words and I did.

I knew that little rhyme. My dad would always recite it to me whenever I acted out of the "norm" or gotten punished. Memories flooded my mind and I couldn't stop the effect. Tears of pain ran down my cheeks and my heart throbbed against my ribcage. I remembered those days when I would get locked up for the smallest acts of indiscipline, each act of disobedience. But I was all-grown now. I had learned to deliver at all times with no mistakes.

Simone rubbed her hands in discomfort, her lips drawn in a frown. She eyed me with concern, with sympathy. I didn't want anyone's sympathy. I didn't want anyone feeling sorry for me. Furiously, I rubbed off the tears from my cheeks, straightened my stance and cleared my throat.

"So what's the plan?" My voice didn't quite come out as bold and strong as I intended instead I croacked and my speech came out strangled.

Her demeanor changed almost immediately. She cleared her throat. A mask of seriousness was worn on her face as she pushed a few buttons on her watch and a hologram of my mother appeared. She wore the same thing she had worn yesterday and was seated on the comfy couch in our living room.

"There has been a slight change in the plan. My daughter is on her way there and has an important role to play, as my spy. Simone, you will guide her through this and make sure we achieve our goal," she said sternly. After her short message, the holographic image of my mum dissipated. It all made sense now, of course she couldn't trust me with one little task.

"So you're supposed to watch over me or something?" I inquired as I fiddled with my bracelet.

"Yes and no. Don't do anything without asking me. What you did today was foolish. Thank God I'm here," she said releasing a puff of air.

All I could muster was a "sorry". I wasn't sure if I could tell her about what I saw earlier today just yet.

"We have a lot to discuss. We'll talk later."

I nodded in understanding. She looked at me one more time before leaving.

Great! My babysitter thinks of me as a pity project now.