Chapter 2

The academy's entire atmosphere brewed with intimidation. From the woods that surrounded the perimeter to the gothic-styled fence adorned with electrical fences buzzing loudly.

No one gets in or out.

Rayne sat silently waiting for the detective to finish handing over information to the various security personnel who had demanded identification. She scanned the ivory building that she would be confining her for the next few years.

Absconditus Academy, a reform school cast away in the most isolated parts of the county, as an extra means of security and a method to discourage young offenders from leaving.

"Or rather to keep you bastards from killing anyone else."

She clenched her hand around her arm, her nails instantly sunk into her skin, causing a sting to shoot up her arm.

A sudden knock on her window made her jump and glare at the offender.

Detective Nkosi smiled down at her and motioned for her to get out of the car. Sighing heavily she readjusted her mask and got out to follow her into the walls of her new prison.

A man stood waiting at the entrance, watching them approach. He wore a jet-black Italian suit with a royal blue dress shirt that sat well on his lean build. His dark eyes scanned over the two women before stepping forward to meet them.

"Detective Nkosi, Miss Sinn. A pleasure to finally meet the two of you. Welcome to Absconditus Academy." he smiled gently "My name is Gregory Michael, the principal of our esteemed academy.

A sarcastic snort slipped from Rayne, her eyes unamused.

" Please, allow me to be your guide." he said keeping his smile, ignoring the girl.

Just beyond the door stood two armed guards watching the three enter the foyer. Without hesitation, the detective and Mr Michael stepped towards the female and male guards respectfully, placing their weapons in the plastic containers before getting searched.

"Well damn, they really are ready to take you crazy fuckers down."

"You walk around the premises with a weapon on you?" Rayne asked raising a scarred eyebrow.

Everyone in the room jumped slightly at the sudden sound of her voice. Mr Michael seemed to be the first to recover and smiled gently.

"A standard procedure we follow to ensure the safety of the teachers. All of them are nonlethal."

She simply nodded in response and walked up to the female guard and lifted her arms waiting to be searched. The blonde guard glared down at her, her ugly scowl warping her otherwise attractive face.

"Remove the mask and hoodie." She growled out.

Rayne tensed and reached up to her hood clutching the seams closer to her head to keep them close to her.

"No."

"I don't take orders from you princess," she sneered baring her stained teeth, "so either you take them off yourself, or I take it off for you."

A dangerous glint flashed through the woman's eyes as Rayne stepped back. The guard lunged towards the short girl, one arm extended outwards, aiming for her throat, the other held a stun gun. The unmistakable sound of the high voltage buzzing, hungry to immobilise its target.

An agonised scream rang through the empty foyer, the pained sound reverberating and reaching the few classrooms nearby and causing a stream of students to pile through to see what the commotion was.

Everyone stood frozen, eyes wide in horror at the scene that took less than a second to unfold.

Rayne stood glaring over the fallen body of the guard as her body spasmed from the extra voltage raging through it. Her right clenched the stun gun keeping her finger on the trigger waiting to use it on the next person to approach her. Her eyes snapped up to the male security guard who had begun screaming at her, his tazer raised and pointed towards her.

Rayne ignored the silent instruction the detective shot her way as she picked up her firearm from the plastic container, keeping her gaze on the remaining guard who stayed rooted in his position. His bravado melted away from the feral aura that rolled out of the girl in waves, a murderous look carved into her eyes.

"Daniel."

"Y-yes, sir?"

"Take Racheal to the break room, get the nurse to look over her, make sure she's alright. I'll assign someone else to stand guard till you return to duty." Mr Michael calmly instructed. "And to the rest of you who feel this is a reality show, I suggest you get back to learning or I will be the one to deal with you each of you."

A collective shudder ran through each student and teacher as they scattered back into their classrooms. Mr Michael stood for a second before glancing back at his new student. Her body began to quiver from the adrenaline rush before she dropped the tazer into the weapons container gazing into Mr Michael's eyes defiantly.

His stoic expression melted as she shut her eyes and rubbed her temple, silently hissing to herself.

"I do apologise for that Miss Sinn." he interrupted "Our guards don't usually make a habit of attacking students without real provocation."

She snapped her head up at the man's voice, remembering where she was again.

"Let's discuss this further in my office. I'm sure we can compromise your attire."

His voice remained steady, reflecting what she was hoping was tranquillity. She tilted her head to the left, studying him. While his face remained stoic, his brown eyes shined with sympathy. Relaxing she nodded and followed behind him.

Not noticing the pair of green eyes that had been watching her.