- Mr. Wheatstone, black eyes appear at the moment of the attack. The

victim might already be dead by the time you notice,” the teacher replied

sarcastically. “You must identify the ghoul before anyone gets hurt.

"Hooked back," I put in.

After the attack on the omnibus, I had to learn more about these

creatures.

- That is right, Miss Tali.

There was a disapproving snort from behind.

“Finally, at least someone took Peter away,” Joan remarked happily.

"He is like that because you refused to go out with him three times," I

remarked.

- No need! Three times I refused to go, because he is such a jerk, and not

vice versa.

- Miss Ackles! said the professor again.

- Excuse me, honestly, for the last time.

We fell silent and tried to get into the lecture. Professor Wood mournfully

talked about the ghouls, as if they were a common fly that should not be

feared.

- If a person decides to accept the Darkness, then he will certainly undergo

a transformation. Not finding an outlet in the form of Ether, it changes not only

habits, thoughts, lifestyle, but also the body. Let's talk about the most

common and dangerous form - ghouls. You already know that the less he

looks like a person, the stronger he became physically.

Thomas's hand went up.

- And why does the Darkness change so much?

- Mr. Marsh, Im very curious, how well did you pass your final exam in

metaphysics? - again with a sarcastic tone remarked the professor, and

Thomas did not answer anything. “Usually ghouls live in doorways, where no

one will stop them from enjoying the murdered victim. They cannot be

eradicated, because the old ones will be replaced by new ones.

The tedious voice of the teacher killed any desire to listen to him. A

minute seemed like an hour, and an hour seemed like an eternity. Eyelids

closed by themselves. Joan occasionally poked me in the side to keep me

awake.

- Above the collarbone, they have the thinnest skin, where you can hit with

a piercing-cutting object.

I couldnt hold back my yawns anymore. Even the prospect of becoming a

keeper no longer inspired me to exploits. Only a loud call brought me to my

senses.

- Chapter six of your textbook. Prepare the main theses for the next

lesson, ”Professor Wood said loudly.

“Poke a knife in the collarbone, we understand,” shouted Thomas, who,

due to his short stature, looked like fourteen years old.

I chuckled. Looks like I am not the only one who picked out this phrase.

- Well? Are you coming to the cafe with us? Joan asked, and I shook my

head. – And what will you do?

“Maybe I’ll repeat the story,” I breathed.

- Seriously? How can? Joan rolled her eyes. - You've been cramming the

whole moon. Wouldnt you like to stay at my place for the night? Mine drove

off to Sheut, to relatives.

I hesitated a little, remembering if there were any unfinished homework.

- Come on, agree!

- We have training and political science tomorrow, I think?

- Oh no, youre on your own again, - moaned a friend. - Nothing will happen,

lets sit down, watch a movie disc, eat ice cream, gossip and go to bed.

“Well, I don’t know, I’ll think about it,” for some reason her persistence

provoked me.

All last year I was actively preparing for exams and there was no time for

entertainment at all. Bree, a school friend, almost stopped talking to me. And

only occasionally sent messages: “Hi! How are you?". Joan was somewhat

like her. Thats probably why Im the only one of the girls who liked her.

- I promise you will choose a movie. And ice cream!

“But I have nothing to sleep in,” I jokingly broke down, although I already

agreed in my heart.

"I will give you some of my clothes," she snapped.

Patience and Joan are incompatible things.

- It is kind of awkward.

- Well, sleep naked, - she said it a little louder than usual.

The two guys we met at the exit of the auditorium turned around.

- I only eat pancakes with strawberry jam for breakfast.

Joan stopped and looked at me.

- You said you don't like strawberries!

“Okay, okay, you got me,” I laughed. - Don't set me on fire!

- Oh, I'd love to, but you won't catch fire. So what?

- I'll stay with you and without ice cream, pancakes, jam and other

nonsense, - I smiled.

Joan jumped up and down happily.

- Maybe you will agree to a cafe? She continued advancing.

- Well, no, but I really will postpone the story. Nauseous already. I'd rather

practice at the stadium. Looks like Peter and Thomas went there.

- With bores? Its not getting any easier, Joan breathed.

Having agreed to meet already on history, I went to the locker room.

The students of the Academy with a noise fell out into the corridor. I

looked around and hoped not to meet Klaus, because few people knew that

we knew each other, and that it was he who dragged me to the Academy. This

could play a cruel joke with me and put me in a not the best light.

As soon as I reached the women's locker room, I breathed a sigh of

relief. I definitely wont see him here. Although... knowing Klaus, I wouldn't be

surprised. Crowds of students of all courses curled around him. Therefore, he

allowed himself a little more than the rest of the guys. And save me Death, if

at least one of his admirers sees us together!

In the next row, the older students were vigorously discussing everything

after class.

- Dad came today only in the morning, he says something terrible

happened at night. The man stabbed himself to death, cut him up completely,

he didn’t even leave his toes!

- Fu, Alice, what an abomination!

- But the Guardian says that this is not like an ordinary suicide, a person

could not torture himself like that! Blood all over the apartment.

- Horror! Stop it! her friends said in unison.

- And no traces of strangers! In general, they searched all night and found

nothing. He told me to come home right after class.

- Oh, well, some psychopath killed himself, and now what? Lock everyone

up? Some nonsense.

- I dont know, but everything looks very strange!

- Yes, well, you caught up with horror. There was nothing like this

anywhere in the news, we would have been warned.

The girls left the locker room, and I froze near the locker with my name on

it. For the third time in a day I hear that something is wrong in the city. Looks

like the guard's warning isn't just empty words, and perhaps Joan and I

shouldn't linger tonight.

A cold wind was blowing in the stadium. At the other end of the field, I saw

three fellow students who also whiled away the time in training. Great, I'll

warm up and run to them, well work out together. A good discharge after the

weekend for cramming.

- Lady, have you decided to dilute our male company?

Thomas stood next to the overweight Peter, and it made him look even

smaller.

- Do you mind?

“I just don’t have an opponent,” said curly-haired Billy Banks, another

fellow student on the bench. Just wait a bit, I'll come to my senses. Tom

slapped me with his zipper right in the chest.

You didnt try at all! I haven't hit Pete yet.

With the complexion of our smart guy, it was hard to miss. And Thomas

clearly shouldnt shout about it like that.

I sat down next to Banks and heard loud laughter behind me.

Dean, is this true? Klaus isn't lying?

I rolled my eyes and exhaled. Did my classmates find another place to

practice? Or did they come here on purpose?

- Clean water.

- You do not believe me? - the voice of the future Councilor was heard,

who, obviously, was telling another incredible story.

"Klaus, how can you not be trusted?" a female voice replied.

I turned around. Well, of course, Klaus Burch, as always, in the

spotlight. But even worse to meet his arrogant friend Dean, son of Anthony

Reed. He is the only one who knew about his future from childhood, because

the board passed to him by inheritance. Klaus introduced us, but

communication somehow did not work out right away. It was as if Reid

disliked me. Or maybe I take on a lot, and this is just plain pride.

Neither Klaus nor, especially, Dean seemed to see me as a girl. At times it

really bothered me. On the other hand, these two had plenty of

passions. Rumors about their romance spread faster than I got to the

Academy. They ended as abruptly as they began. I didn't want to be one of

them. And yet, I did not know a single person who would not dream of

becoming friends with them.

Their entire company was sitting several rows higher. I turned away. You

never know what Klaus can blurt out? Extra attention, especially from the

senior course, I do not need.

Focusing on the fight between Peter and Thomas, Billy and I barely

spoke. And there was something to see. Small and nimble Tom deftly dodged

powerful enemy attacks. Peter, like Joan, controlled the fire. Tongues of flame

swept past a short fellow student who did not even have time to respond with

his lightning. However, he did not succeed in hurting Thomas.

But the arrogant-Peter was mistaken and his flame came out quite

weak. The opponent immediately threw lightning at him. One, two, three. And

now their roles have changed. The guys played out in earnest and almost did

not notice anyone around. Another discharge flashed near Peter, who abruptly

dodged. The attack flew into the company of senior students behind us.

- Are you okay? Thomas shouted, - Im sorry, I miscalculated.

All students were silent.

- Are you an idiot? shouted one of Klaus; friends, grimacing in pain.