CRAZE

9

Victor

I looked up from a file as a soft knock sounded at my office door. "Yes?"

Zoey poked her head in and smiled sheepishly. "Am I bothering you, Uncle Vic?" she asked. "Not at all, how was your day at school?"

"It was normal," my niece said, stepping all the way through the door and shrugging. "But there's a lot of talk about a new student coming to the Academy in a month or so." She sat down in one of two chairs in front of my desk. I raised my eyebrows at the news. "Is there?" My mind wandered back to the phone call I had earlier with Batshit's butler. There wasn't a doubt that he needed that information because he's involved with her somehow. I only gave it to him because I'm always one step ahead. And there hasn't been "a lot of talk" at Dread's Academy since Adrian left. A fair majority of the female students were extremely disappointed. Especially since he didn't let more than one half of a quarter talk to him. I could never seem to program 'talking to people gets you intel' into his intelligence hard drive.

Also, seen as how most talk revolves around our and the Dread family, it's only possible for the chatter to be about...her...because the Dread kids are all already in or done school.

"Well, I'd better let you get back to work," Zoey said, getting up. "Shall I tell Marjorie to start dinner?"

"Yes, but before you go," I said, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "When the new student you mentioned arrives, I'd like you and your bother to befriend them." She nodded, but had a confused look on her face that looked a little bit too much like her mother's—a woman who repeatedly disgraced the proud Bloodworth name.

"Do you mean...Braydon and I as the hostile Operatives and they as the vulnerable Subject?" she asked. "No. I want you both to acquaint with them. No vexing on this one," I explained. "Do you think you can do that?"

She nodded, then said, "What about Braydon? He might have a problem with this arrangement, you know how he can get, Uncle Vic."

I smiled knowingly. "If he has a problem, send him to me."

"Okay. Is that all?"

I nodded and she left.

~~~C~~~

The sound of a phone ringing startled me, making me jump, but Craze looked almost as if he was expecting it. I didn't know where the ringing was coming from, but it sounded close. I glanced around the room until Craze pulled something out of his jeans pocket. A cellphone—my cellphone. My eyebrows rose. The iPhone SE seemed completely intact; a bright yellow case with a clipart picture of a Minion from Despicable Me on it.

My eyes widened even more when I saw who was calling. Maybe there was hope to get out of here.

"I'll leave you to talk," Craze said, handing the phone to me. As soon as he was gone and the door was completely closed, I pressed the green talk button. "Kaleika?"

"Serena! Is that really you?" I asked, almost in tears. "Yes! Oh my god! Mom, Dad! She's there!" Serena yelled. Then my mother's voice came through the speaker. "Kaleika, are you there, are you okay?" Mom's sobbing voice asked. I had started to cry too. "Of course she's not okay, Julia," Dad said, just loud enough for me to hear. "Mommy, I'm scared. I don't know where I am. He's...he's...Please help me!" I pleaded, sinking to the floor on my knees. "I know, I know, baby. Jason, call the police," she said to my dad. "Can you look out a window?"