Lunch was almost over when I got back.

And Allison was gone.

My heart skipped a beat as a frown carefully made its way on my face. My eyes searched her group of friends and her boyfriend, but I found that they were all talking to each other normally without her.

Where did she go, I thought to myself, picking up my pace.

The bell rang and made me jump a little as the students noisily got up and went for the exit. I rushed out of the cafeteria and stayed near a wall until everyone left. A bit of time passed before the cafeteria was emptied and I pushed off the wall, charging for the exit as well.

The hallways were emptying fast once I got around the corner. There was barely any students present. I walked with a pace to my next class, hoping Allison would be there, until something from the corner of my eyes stopped me.

Near the girl's bathroom, around the wall and corner, Allison stood there with her back faced to me.

She was talking to someone. Or... was someone talking to her?

I peered over with my good eyesight and saw a dark hooded figure standing in front of her. My heart hammered in my chest as my mind analyzed the situation.

Why was she talking to whoever was standing there? Why wasn't she with her group of friends? Who was the dark, hooded figure?

Or... did my wish come true?

I kept my eyes on the two as they seemed to be exchanging something. Allison's back shifted to the left and completely blocked off any view I had of the scene.

I mentally groaned and stepped a few feet to my left. I stopped hard when my eyes met with that of the hooded figure's.

Cold, icy blue eyes caught my silvery, purple contacts and sent shivers down my spine.

I suddenly had the impression it was glaring at me. Maybe it was a little surprised.

Because as soon as the eye contact was cut off, Allison began moving. She turned around and her long golden locks whipped around with her.

When she walked out of the corner and down the opposite hallway, I realized the hooded figure was gone.

Cursing under my breath, I waited for Allison to disappear around a different corner before I ran to the place where there had just been someone else standing there.

There were no signs of any intruder, but next to the wall, a tiny black ribbon had fallen to the ground.

Frowning, I bent down and picked the soft fabric up.

"What is this doing here," I mumbled quietly so that only I could hear.

As much as I didn't want to sacrifice one of my five senses, I placed the ribbon up next to my nose and gave it a sniff.

Metal.

It smelled like metal.

If this came from Allison's hair accessories, it would've smelled like shampoo. But it didn't, so this was a new evidence I was given.

Closing my hand around the ribbon before opening it again and looking at it, I quickly placed it securely in my hoodie's pocket and rushed back to math class.

_

I couldn't say anything to the girl while we were in class. There were too many people around her.

Gritting my teeth together, I tried to focus back on my science project. I was in class anyway.

I'd have to wait after class when we have sports. I have to pull her aside.

_

My moment came soon as science class flew by quickly. The work was easy enough today, maybe because I actually have a reason to finish it up quickly.

The bell I had been waiting for finally rang and I heard the usual shuffling around. Students grabbed their backpacks and wanted to head out to the one fun class of the day - P.E.

At least there you didn't have to push your brain, but instead your body. And I don't mean to brag, but I'm pretty well fit due to my training back at the corporation.

Okay, I bragged. I'm sorry. But I've had nothing to brag about these past two years and I'm itching to get some compliments, even if it means I have to resort to self-praise.

I saw Allison walking out and I rushed over to her in the hallway, grabbing her arm.

She turned around and when she saw my face, her own face scrunched up in confusion.

"Um, hello?" she snapped at me, who instantly let go of her sleeve and cleverly coward back.

"S-sorry, Allison," I said, averting my eyes down and back, "Did you happen to receive something earlier f-from someone?"

Her eyes frowned immediately as she eyed me with a taunting look, "What the hell are you talking about, nerd?"

"Actually, it was me who asked the janitor to dress up like that and give it to y-you," I lied.

I don't even have the slightest idea what 'it' was, but I'm going to pretend I do.

"Huh?" she exclaimed, a deep frown etched on her face as her hands positioned themselves on either side of her hip.

"Whatever he gave you," I continued, "I wouldn't want you to o-open it. It's kind of a prank that's going around with me and my friends...um, he must've mistaken you."

"Since when did you have friends," she spat back in my face. I flinched for dramatic effect.

"T-there's dog poo and a rotten apple in there that has this juice in it. Once someone opens it, I made it so that it would explode in their face. The smell's supposed to last a good three days before the scent d-dies down a little. It was part of an experiment I did myself."

That did the trick. Allison grimaced at the thought of the image I conjured up in her mind and she reached into her backpack and threw a small box at my face.

"You bitch, leave me alone! God you're annoyingly as hell!"

I felt blood trickle down the side of my cheek a few moments later as there was a cut halfway from my right eyes and my nose due to the box's sharp corner that slashed cleanly through my skin.

Allison's heels clicked loudly down the hallway and I forced myself to turn my attention to her and make sure she was headed to her next class.

Picking up the box, I saw it was black and wondered if the black ribbon had been what tied it together.

Allison must've not cared about a tiny piece of fabric and threw it to the ground next to the wall.

It was not the time to examine its contents and I shoved the thing into my backpack before heading to P.E., where it was basically a free class because the exercises they do there were lame.

Because they were, I did everything in my willpower to suck at P.E., like the weak character I put up in front of everyone.

I wiped the blood off my face with the sleeve of my gray hoodie and walked down the hall.

_

I was back in my dorm room later that night, and although there was a curfew to be in bed at the moment, I finished my text to Axel.

Name: Liam Carter

Gender: Male

Age: 18

Attends: I.O. Academy

Info: new transfer student today

Classes together: social studies

Description: blue eyes, black hair, well-built, nice face

Extended Description: bubbly personality that annoys the freak out of me and keeps trying to talk to me throughout the whole day

New Info on a Separate Matter: Hey, do you know anything about a red ring? Find that out for me? I'll attach a pic.

I placed my phone to the side as the text was finally sent to him.

Looking up at the mirror, I stared at my now long, slightly wavy brunette hair that was all let down. My fake glasses were set to the side of the sink as I gently pushed my bangs and strands of hair neatly behind my left ear.

The disguise was off when I was alone. I left the bathroom and went towards my work desk. Put to the side of my homework was the small, black box that Allison had thrown at my face earlier that day.

The cut had stopped bleeding already and I unknowingly lifted my hand and traced over the area gently.

Inside the black box was a red ring. I was surprised when I saw such a thing inside there. It was totally different from my description earlier to Allison.

It was heavy and surprisingly dark and fat.

The ring also smelled like metal. I had set it to the side and decided to let Axel do the work for me.

I picked up the black ribbon that went with the box and tied my hair up with it before diving back into my homework.

Tomorrow, I would go look for answers.

_