The Breaking

Chapter 9: Snitch

They walked out of the band room, tucking away their weapons. Their song was stuck in each of their heads, Caroline was even humming it. Then, the loudspeaker crackled on.

"Team Invictus, please go to the main office. We have a rather...special gift for you. We've been waiting to give it to you. Please come down at once."

"Should we?" Alessi asked, facing the group.

"They'll probably kill us if we don't. Come on, let's go," Alena suggested.

They hurried down the stairs, headed to the main office.

They reached the ground floor when Kalera halted to a stop. She was looking at a bulletin board.

"Guys." She tugged Alessi's sleeve.

It was titled, "Our Star Students!" ID cards of all of the students were hung up. Every single student. There was a giant section for those who died, and a tiny one for those who were still alive. The ones who died had their faces crossed out, with words telling why they were dead. There was an entire section for those who died before The Breaking even started, and they all had the word "WEAKLING" written on their ID cards in neat script.

Alessi gasped and threw her hands over her mouth. She fought back her tears as she stared at her brother's ID card with the word "WEAKLING" scribbled on his picture.

"Alessi, are-"

"I didn't even say goodbye!" Alessi whisper-screamed to herself, wishing her brother was right next to her.

"Alessi, it'll be okay," Caroline comforted, putting an arm over Alessi's shoulder, "Come over here."

They dragged Alessi to another side of the bulletin board. They glanced at the popular girls and saw that each of their pictures have the word "KARMA" drawn over them. Alena snickered. "Oompa loompas."

They all froze. They saw Juliane's ID. Juliane's bright smile on her ID picture was covered in red paint, with the word "SNITCH" written over it.

"Pew pew," whispered Alena, who soon started to cry. They found The Destroyers and next to their IDs, words were painted, "What a shame. They were so fun to watch."

Later, they found a list all the way to the right of the board labeled, "Tick Tock, Tick Tock." Under that list, there was a list of people who were still alive. Only 16 people. There were five nerds, three jocks, four kids voted "Class Clown," and Team Invictus.

"Guys, we're almost there," Kalera urged, exhaling. "We got this."

"We should probably head to the main office now, before they kill us." Caroline suggested. Everyone agreed, but Alessi stayed quiet, going back to her brother's ID. Caroline pulled Alessi along.

They continued walking toward the main office, while Alessi remained silent the entire time.

"Alessi," Alena started, "Are you okay?" Alessi turned around to look at Alena.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Alessi replied quietly, pulling her leather jacket closer to her shoulders.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm okay."

"Well, you're looking a bit-"

"I'M FINE!" Alessi hissed at Alena. She was halfway into slapping Alena. Alena flinched and Alessi stopped herself. She sighed, remembering the promise she had made to Alena. "Sorry." Alessi pushed ahead of them, and Alena remained silent as she watched Alessi wipe a tear off her cheek when she thought no one was looking. She held out a hand to comfort her, but thought better of it and pulled it back.