Chapter 8

Every student that made a violent scene at the school party was sent to detention. Krista had explained that detention at Masons High was basically a form of banishment. Their parents would lose status in the cult and their chances for advancement would diminish. Even their movements at school would be restricted and monitored.

It was great news for their group and they celebrated their victory in the music room. It had grown on them and they had started to gather there without the need for a meeting.

Now, Dan was alone with Krista and thought it time to bring up uncomfortable questions. “Krista, what did your parents do that was so bad? Why were you so desperate for this job?”

She poked at a half-eaten sandwich before answering. “There is a ritual that takes place for sorority members. I don’t know the details, but it freaked them out. They ran.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad. I know it’s a cult, but it’s better not to have people who don’t want to be part of it.”

“It’s not just that. They started spreading rumors about the ritual, saying crazy stuff. It got them shunned.”

“It blew back on you.” She nodded. “So, completing this job was your way back in the cult’s good graces.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I was jealous.” At his raised brow Krista continued. “I took one look at you and knew you were cult material. You would be offered a better position than me. My only use was standing naked for a test.”

Dan had never thought of the test that way, but he should have. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine. It all worked out in the end.”

She jinxed it. Greg ran into the room. “The bullies are back out!”

Dan had a hand on Krista’s; and that he removed as he stood. “How come?”

“Ms. Kingsly is the only one who could get them out of detention,” Krista said.

“But she was the one who let us form the club and plan the party at school.” Then he sighed. How foolish of him.

“What is it?”

“The club was supposed to fail. Think about it, a bunch of bullied teens beat out jocks in a sex contest. No way did she think that would work.”

“And the party was supposed to fail too, if Nora had her way. This school is broken at the core. The teachers were against us from the start. No wonder no progress was made for so long. What can we do now?”

“Don’t worry. I know just who to ask for help.”

“Come in, Dan,” said Ms. Kingsly.

Dan opened the door and took a seat without waiting for her to invite him. “I’ve come to talk.”

“I can see that. No need to frown. I will give you answers freely.”

“That’s confident of you.”

She shrugged. “In the end, you are just a teenager. First, I will tell you why I did this. It’s simple really. I want this school. I want it to be mine and mine alone.”

“Your personal playground.”

“I wouldn’t use those words, but yes.”

“You used me. Used me to get rid of oversight. Jason and Red failed and now they are out of the way. Even though you are the one that should be removed.”

“Why? It’s you who they sent that caused all the problems. Things were bad before, but they are worse now. It is you who antagonized the students to violence. And it is you who facilitated sex on school property.” Dan’s eyes widened. “Oh, you forgot about that rule didn’t you. The students can talk about sex but they have to wait until the sorority and college to practice it like you did.”

Ms. Kingsly leaned back in her seat, grinning like a satisfied cat. “If you cross me, then you are gone. As things stand now, you could still collect some payment for your work here. Be thankful for that kindness.”

Dan’s eyes drilled into his lap. She had really got him. But like Nora, he came with a plan.

On his lap, he had papers. He placed them on Ms. Kingsly’s table.

“What’s this?” asked the principal.

“Proof. Proof that you leaked student’s personal information, like mine. Also, proof of you sharing test answers for favored students and giving the data collected from school to outside parties. Then there is that matter of encouraging school violence that you accused me of. The school has cameras. Cameras that had all their recordings erased whenever a bully was recorded.”

He pushed one of the papers toward her. A letter of resignation.

Dan left the room, leaving the door open.

“How did you do it?” Krista asked Dan.

“I think I can answer that,” said Nora as she entered the room.

“What is she doing here?”

“I’ve come to explain. I just said it.”

“Short story is, Nora was being used by Ms. Kingsly,” Dan responded.

“That’s right. I’m the good girl.”

“Like hell you are,” Krista said. She began to confront Nora but tripped over a loose instrument. Dan caught her before she fell.

Nora snickered. “Smooth. Look, the data I gathered was sent to some third party. That means others are sharing my power. I don’t like that. Dan brought it to my attention, so I decided to help him.”

“Dan ... How would you know that?” Krista said, regaining her balance.

“My first meeting with Ms. Kingsly, she tried to get me to question the trustworthiness of the cult.”

“Is that why you asked about my family?”

He nodded, shamefaced. “Sorry. As for Nora, her parents work as fixers for the sorority. They helped her get dirt on Ms. Kingsly. Also, I said I would tell her parents that she was a bully if she didn’t help me.”

“An unneeded threat when I’d already agreed to help,” Nora said.

“Should have thought of that before showing up at my house,” he shot back.

“And I found out about this only now because you didn’t trust me,” Krista said.

“Again, sorry,” Dan said.