Fallen (editing)

Chapter 10

Djinn, I was wrong.
Once I had told Pops about going to school, he took me and Dimitrio to Walmart to buy supplies.
He bought us new clothes, a bag, paper, pencils, pens, folders, binders, textbooks, etc.
We were going to school in a week, after Pops had registered us.
For all the paperwork, Dimitrio and I stayed up all night fixing up a birth certificate and a bunch of other Djinn I had no idea what to do with. It was exhausting.
At the end of the week, Pops went to to the school to register me in.
Dimitrio would hide in my bag during school.
Pops woke me up early.
I groan. "Do I have to?"
He clucked his tongue and Dimitrio shook his head. "Of course you do. We have to get home! And I want a new body. I think this one has fleas."
I laugh. "Yeah? And what about humans?"
I glance at Pops. "No offense."
He shrugs. "None taken."
I eat a quick breakfast and Pops shows me where the school building is.
I walk there, taking care to avoid any other humans.
Dimitrio circles above my head and dives into my school bag as I enter the building.
Inside is crowded.
Thousands, it seems, of teenaged humans bustle around, the lingering smell of sweat, cologne, and perfume overhead.
And all the energy!
I can't believe it. When I walked in, it was like a tidal wave of negative power. I could tell Dimitrio felt it too.
I smile and go into the office to pick up the other things I need.
"Hi! How may I help you?"
I look at the apple-cheeked woman on the other side of the counter.
"Uh....... I'm new here and-"
"Oh, not to worry! What's your name?"
"Uh....... Sylt......."
Think, think!
"Lucif! Sylt Lucif."
"Well, here's your class schedule and your syllabus."
She hands me a clump of papers and ushers me out the door with her hand.
Dim pokes his head out of my bag.
"Where to?"
"Math."
He laughs. "Wow, lucky you."
"Oh, shut up."
I find the class room fairly easily, mostly by following the trail of dread that hangs in the air.
I stop outside the classroom door and breathe.
The students' thoughts fill my head, giving me energy.
Inside the classroom, the students' eyes go dim and they cower in their seats.
This is working!
I walk inside and take a seat next to a blonde boy.
"You new here?"
I turn to look at him.
"I haven't see you before. Are you new?"
I nod slowly.
The boy sticks out his hand.
"Sam I am, your guide to all things high school."
I look at his hand. Dim pokes me in the back.
I shake his hand.
The second our hands touch, a wave of power rushes through me.
Sam's thoughts flood my brain.
Oh god, Mom's still not home. Dad is...... And Rick. What about Rick? And where's the teacher? And what if this kid is a serial killer or something. Sam, don't be ridiculous. But what about Mom? Mom?
Sam's hand goes limp and he pulls away. He breathes strangely.
He looks around, dazed.
"Wha-" He shakes his head and focuses back on the front of the room.
Dim pokes his head out, hiding himself under the hood of my jacket. "What did you do?"
"I don't know."
"Whatever you did, keep doing it! I could feel the sting of power. At this rate, we could be back home in a few weeks!"
I nodded, my knee bouncing up and down.
The teacher came into the room, settling down at the desk. He stares at us, smiling brightly.
"Hello students!"
"Hello, Mr. Johnson."
The students sound dead and emotionless.
"I see we have a new face! What's your name?"
He nods at me. I clear my throat and shake the hair out my eyes.
"Sylt Lucif."
"Well, Sylt Lucif, welcome to my math class!"
I nod and look down at my desk top.
"Well, let's get started!"