Monster Rundown Part One Chapters 1 and 2

Monster Rundown Part One Chapters 5 and 6

Chapter 5

Dean Daria Pierce grabbed Henry's shoulder as he walked out of the school and into the afternoon sun. "Henry Crane."

He adjusted his backpack to cover his surprise. "Dean Pierce." She had a bouncy, short haircut and colorful makeup, but her expression was not as cheery.

"What are you doing in my school?" she said, avoiding eye contact with him.

"I appreciate the value of a good education."

"That's exactly what Melbourne Stein said."

"Exactly?"

"Yeah."

"We hang out too much," Henry said.

"You didn't answer my question."

"I just want to get my license. Gotta start somewhere."

"Gonna send anyone else to the hospital?"

Henry shrugged. "Not on purpose."

She looked at him. "You wouldn't even be allowed in here if it weren't for the mayor."

"Sorry to disappoint." The principal continued to stare, so Henry said, "Look, my family is here to heal, and I need my license. Why would I want to jeopardize that?"

"I've looked into your family. You've been busy this year."

"Gotta make that money. Can I go?"

She motioned toward the bus. He could feel her stare as he tried to walk nonchalantly.

Beatrice and Mel were waiting in the same seats. "How was your first day?" Henry said.

Beatrice said, "Kind of a waste of time and too much sitting." Henry dropped into the seat next to her.

"It's boring," Mel said.

"Eight hours is a lot," Beatrice said. She pulled her dark hair over her shoulder. "Hunter training might make up for it. What did you think?"

"Hard to say. Wasn't any training today. They stock high quality weapons, though," Henry said. "You seemed comfortable with the rapier." Many of the students had held their weapons like it was their first time.

"Our parents hired guards, licensed coursers, that taught us a thing or two," she said. "Road can be pretty dangerous."

"Math sucks," Mel blurted.

Henry rolled his eyes. "I'm not looking forward to that conversation."

"What?" Beatrice said.

"It's our damn parent's fault. They can't be pissed," Mel said. Henry was shocked how Mel sometimes mentioned his parents so casually. He could barely think about the Steins without plunging into a deep depression.

"Our moms tried to get us to work on those books, remember?" Henry said.

Mel laughed. "We kept hiding coursing books inside the math book."

"Biting us in the ass now."

"Eh, it was worth it. Excited about English?" Mel said.

Henry was pulling Hamlet out of his bag. "I just want to get started."

"Stretch first."

Charlotte boarded the bus with Eli and Lucy and followed them to the back, waving at Henry as she passed. Henry would kill for a chance to go home without analyzing every little interaction with Charlotte. More distractions from sleep was the last thing he needed.