Close to the Covert Rains **Book One**

Chapter 14 (Friday)

Ana sighed at the small television in the dormitory's likewise small common room. She was fortunate to have gotten a seat, but it wasn't because she'd gotten here early. Onscreen, Principal Trakt stood at a podium reading from little notecards. It had been over a week since the obstacle course disaster, and the school hadn't even mentioned it since, except to say they'd arrested the "one" responsible. She rolled her eyes at the thought. They'd arrested him because Ana and her friends had literally dragged him to the administration building after the medics wouldn't heal them.

"Oh, the students injured in the obstacle course need it more," Dryda had recounted when Ana could hear again, "you'll have to wait, since you weren't injured from a school event."

So they'd brought proof. Ana had nearly cackled at the speechless shock on the secretary's face when they dragged in rain-bubble-guy, trailing streaks of mud on the spotless tile.

"...Monday activities will remain on hold for the foreseeable future," Principal Trakt said. Ana slumped back in her rain-blue chair. Still nothing about the Monday activity that'd canceled the last one? And apparently the next one, too? "Instead," Principal Trakt stared into the camera, "the University Administration has planned district-wide dances for all grades."

Ana's jaw fell open. A dance? She groaned.

Unfortunately, the rest of sixth grade burst into excited chatters.

"A school dance?" Tamy exclaimed, still with a heavy bandage on her arm. "Really? I've always wondered what one of those was like!"

"Who are you going to ask?"

Ana shuddered; she didn't know who'd spoken, but if anyone asked her...well, there wasn't any rule that said she had to go with them.

Ana glanced at Dryda, kneeling in the lightning-bolt patterned armchair in the corner. Dryda fiddled with her hands, eyebrows furrowed.

"Dr--" Ana began.

Principal Trakt started talking, cutting off what Ana'd been about to ask. "In addition, staff members will be assigned to each dormitory. A curfew will be enforced, with students reporting to their dorm before eight o'clock each night. Students, please remember that these regulations are only temporary and that your teachers and I are only concerned for your safety. Good night, and may you find strength in your endeavors," the TV winked out, nearly cutting off her final words.

The students around Ana remained still. "What?" whispered Chamrik. "A curfew? At eight o'clock?"

"Yeah," Kwayo raised his fist, standing up, "we were the ones who caught the bad guy. If anyone deserves a curfew, it should be the adults! They didn't do anything!"

A few students half-heartedly cheered, but the rest just grumbled. "What would be the point of that?" Tara muttered. "A curfew just for the adults?"

Kwayo lowered his hand. "Okay, maybe that's a bad idea. But it was still us who caught him. Not them. It's like they're punishing us for doing something good!" he threw his hands in the air and stalked off down the hall.

Ana's classmates gradually trickled away, all excitement about the dance lost. In the silence, only she, Dryda and Verspri remained. "So...now what?" Verspri asked, sliding out of the stormcloud-gray armchair.

Dryda stared at the floor. Ana slowly rose from her rain-blue chair--earned because she'd help catch said bad guy--and approached the door. "Come on," she motioned, "there's no curfew yet, right?"

The two of them slowly grinned, following her into the late evening chill. "Where are we going?" Verspri asked. She veered them to the teleporter shed.

"We're going to find rain-bubble guy. And question him."