School of Trouble

5. Why won't she tell me?

Orion's POV
If the entire world was a web made of strings. When you pull on the right strings, you will be able to control someone, Make them follow you. But for every person this string is different. For some people it's fear. If they fear you, they'll follow you. For others, the string is different. It can be fear, hatred, manipulation or...

Secrets.

Secrets are everywhere, everyone has a secret. If you don't, you're either perfect or the devil. And you shouldn't trust either of those. Secrets can be big or small. Big secrets are harder to discover, small secrets are easier to find out.

Do you know that rule, that you always used to joke about with your siblings? Never get into a fight with someone who has ugly pictures of you. Replace 'has ugly pictures' with 'knows secrets'. And there you go, a way to control someone. No one in their right mind would fight with someone who knows your darkest secrets, your worst desires. If you know someone's secret, you have a way to make them bow down to you.

This was Orion's job. It was also the reason both him and his younger brother Ace were sent to this school. Ace trusted Orion completely. To the point where Ace would tell Orion the secrets that his friends told him, and Orion would use these secrets for blackmail. At some point, Ace started helping Orion out. Giving him secrets, gathering information. They both carefully built up this web around their school, where nobody was safe from them.

Until a stupid bitch ruined it. She started rebelling against them, saying that they shouldn't manipulate the kids in the school like that. Stupid bitch. However, she got them kicked out of the school. Orion was so mad, he made a public account on every social media. Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and even TikTok. He posted every secret of. Every. Fucker. In. That. School.

Two years later, he stopped manipulating people. But he was still busy with everyone's secrets, not to use them against them. But for revenge if they did something to him or Ace. As far as Ace knew, he had already stopped. Ace was a good kid, and if something happened to him. Orion would do anything to make that person's life a living hell...

Aaliyah's POV
There was always something to think about. Whether it was the homework, about her family, or even her classmate Luna. Aaliyah always had her head filled with thoughts, most of them were completely random. Some people thought she was just dumb, that she thought about only stupid things. Others thought her random thoughts were good conversation starters.

Aaliyah didn't mean to have these random ideas pop into her head the entire day, they just... happened. They were just always there. Sometimes they came when she was trying to sleep, and other times when she was mindlessly staring into nothing. All in all, they were just always there.

One week had already passed. And it was monday again, great. Homeroom.
"Alright class, settle down." Mr. Dabbi said. "The next week will be completely different from the rest. The school has decided that for a good bonding experience, you will have to camp in the woods for three days."

The entire class groaned. Absolutely no one was looking forward to a week in the woods. Only some of the predators were excited to go.

"Now, I know you all don't want to do this. But you will have to, this counts for a grade." Mr. Dabbi spoke firmly. "We all know the difference between predators and prey. But we have very rarely seen a case where a predator and plant eater became friends. This is why we decided to have this bonding trip! You will work in teams of two and there needs to be one predator and one prey animal."

Everyone in the class turned to their nearest classmate for a team. Aaliyah turned to Luna.

"Hey, you still haven't told me what you are. So-"

"Predator." Luna answered with a hint of coldness. Aaliyah eyebrows shot into the air.

"Wait, you're a predator?" Luna turned her head towards Aaliyah's face.

"Why do you act so surprised?" She hissed. "Do I look like prey to you?"

Aaliyah was taken aback by the coldness in her voice. Maybe this is the reason she didn't tell me. Because I would react like this. "No, you don't look like prey. I just didn't expect it, I guess." Luna turned away. Aaliyah felt embarassed, she shouldn't have reacted like that. Though Luna wasn't making the situation much better either.

"Sooo?" Aaliyah began, trying to have the conversation started up again. "What kind of creature are you?"

"It doesn't really matter." Aaliyah was kind of offended.

"Of course it does! You already know I'm a raven. I need to know your strong and weak sides to work together with you!"

"I said." Luna hissed between her teeth. "It doesn't matter!"

The bell rang. Luna quickly got up and left the classroom, leaving a baffled Aaliyah behind.

T.B.C.
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850 words
The chapters are getting longer...