"Plenty of things can be perceived as a curse. But a foul mouth? Alexi, I think there are a few things that are more worthy of being called a curse." his lips pressed into a firm line.

"Yes, I know," I glanced around the room. Kids were staring now, puzzled at what was being said.

"So, is the introduction over with?"

He shook his head. "Ah, yes. It is."

Thank God.

Mr. Ashby continued on lecturing the students, and I took this opportunity to sit and think.

I honestly cannot even say why I moved down here. It is unnecessary. I was given a simple task, but why I had to stay? It is something I can't even begin to comprehend. I don't know why they would want to prolong my stay here in Miami, but the longer I do stay, there is more of a chance of being caught.

Maybe there is more to this, than just a simple elimination of an unwanted being?

Who knows.

Only time will tell.

The sharp crackling of the loudspeaker made a few students, including myself, jump at the sudden breaking of the silence. The principal, I assumed it was, cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Faculty and students, could I please have your undivided attention for just a moment? Now then, the school is being placed on lockdown. No one, not even security, is being permitted to walk through the halls unless escorted by police. The officers should be arriving shortly, but until then, no one moves. Doors must be locked, and lights turned off. Note that this not a drill, but in fact a true lockdown," he said, rushing the words out. He paused a moment to catch his breath, and continued on speaking. He sounded scared.

"Once everything has calmed down, we will move the students into the auditorium. What has gone on in front of our very own eyes, without raising any such alarm, disturbs me…to no end. Please, I beg you all for your cooperation in this matter. Thank you."

The hissing of the speakers came to an end. The words of the principal remained hanging in the air like a dark cloud about to unleash a nasty, raging storm upon us all. The other students in the classroom began discussing what he had said, trying to comprehend the significance of it all, in a dull murmur. I, unlike the rest of the class, sat there expressionless. Focused more on the tonality of the man's voice.

Mr. Ashby sat down at an unoccupied desk before me, and stared at me for a moment.

"Yes?" I said. "What is it?"

He smirked. "That's no way to address your teacher, Alexi. But," he added, his smile growing, "I must say, you look positively unaffected by the news our dear principal has just given us."

"I imagine there must have been a death, but who?" I questioned, fearing the answer. "And how? A heart attack? Or…murder."

He smiled again, but this time it was strained. There was no amusement in his eyes. "Your lovely guidance counselor, along with two other unknowns. Possibly secretaries." He shifted in his seat. "And from the sound of it, it might have been a murder."

My face paled, and I stared at him incredulously, refusing to believe what he had just said. I looked around the room to see if any other students were listening, but saw that they were all immersed in their own quiet conversations. A few of them had their curious eyes trained on us. I glared at them, which caused them to avert their eyes away from Nikolai and I . My voice dropped down to a whisper, and I hesitated asking him a question. "Who #$&ing did it?"

He shook his head. "That's just it. I have no idea. I can't think of anybody who could bypass our school's security like that, and just slaughter three people. And have the audacity to just walk out of the building-or better yet, to continue on walking among us. Though, I can't really say much, can I? Aha. Whoever did it though, is one sneaky son-of-a-##$#^."

I laughed quietly to myself. "Yeah…no kidding." I sighed. "I wonder how they could have done this without being caught. Must be skilled."

"Might be one of us." He leaned toward me, his eyes narrowing. "It better not have been you, though. Otherwise you'd have severely screwed us all."

I shook my head feverishly. "It wasn't. I'm smarter than that. I take great pride in completing my tasks with nothing less than perfection. I wouldn't have finished it so quickly... I wanted her to trust me first. I wanted to get onto her good side, become a friend of some sort, before I made my move."

"I see… Well, I suppose we'll just have to wait to find out what exactly is going on, hmm? We're just about as blind as these other fools," he pointed his thumb backward at the cluster of students.

They had no idea what was going on.

Unaware, and uninvolved…

Oh, if only I could be one of them right now.

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