THE OTHERS

Chapter 3: Office

I waved Amber a quick goodbye and pulled Sam by the hand, realising we would be back to class very late and rushing through the doorway of the Master's office. He looked at us disapprovingly through his glasses, in a way he never had before.

"Be seated, Hale. Banks," he nodded in our direction. "Have you two been rude to Ms. Baker? Please, don't annoy her any more. She's been having -er- problems of her own."
"We are sorry, Sir. It won't happen again, Sir," we both said at the same time, our words exactly matching.
The Master chuckled, slowly turning back to his jolly, smiling self. "Yes. Girls, I've called you here to discuss-"
"But Sir, we were sent here for disturbing the class, we weren't called." interrupted Sam.
"Yes, I know," he smiled, showing his pearly teeth, but looking as if he were in immense pain, "but it sounds more professional, don't you think?"
"Sorry, Sir."
"Yes. Anyway, I assume you've met Amber, the new girl?"
"Yes, Sir," I answered, then thought a little, "Sir? She said she wasn't new, she's always been here."
"Ah yes. Delightful girl, very cheeky! Banks, be more careful in class. Next time I won't be so gentle. You may leave."
I stood up to follow after Sam, saluting the Master and turning around.
"I didn't dismiss you, Hale," he said, the graveness of his voice back to the way it was when we came in.

I stood in the doorway, slowly retracing my steps back to the cushioned seat I was sitting in earlier.
"Um, excuse me, Sir. I'm sorry."
"It's alright," he tried to be comforting but it wasn't working , as if he needed comforting himself. "I'm very sorry about your sister's death. I have called Miss Reid to help you get used to the loss."
I was speechless, "Thank- Thank you. What about Julian?"
"Ah yes. Not to worry, I've got Mister Glenn Blackwell helping him. They're both thirteen, exactly your age."
"Sorry for not understanding properly, but how are they going to 'help' and how come they're both here at the same time? Is it a secret agency for teenage workers who you can hire? Is it a factory that produces human-robots? And how-" I trailed off, embarrassed by how I couldn't contain my curiosity infront of the Master.
"Ahem- they are going to just ease you into a world without someone loved. And no, they aren't from a secret- agency, did you say?- they are children of well-known friends of mine. Not from the same parents, they aren't related."
"I'm sorry, Sir," I managed to say, still beetroot-red.
"Off you go then, Hale!" the Master motioned with his hand towards the door, "hold on, you are a proper lady after all!"

The Master rushed to open the door for me, wincing in pain. Just as I was about to ask if he was alright, I saw it.
I saw a deep, bloody, open wound on his back. Blood dripped everywhere, and he fainted. The Master of Blue River school fainted on the cold, hard floor.