"Hiding for a week is tough with Derik following like a hawk," Kevin said, breaking the quiet that had settled over the room.
He leaned back slightly, careful not to spill anything, his voice low but edged with exhaustion already. The idea of constantly watching corners, avoiding familiar paths, and second-guessing every footstep made his shoulders tense without him realizing it.
Marcus nodded, chewing slowly before answering. "Which means we might—or will—lose sleep tomorrow," he said evenly. "So we should sleep early tonight. And for as long as possible."
He took another bite of his pizza slice, unfazed, as if sleeplessness was something he had already accounted for and accepted.
Kevin watched him for a second, then nodded in understanding. He took a bite of the roasted salmon, the flavor grounding him slightly. "So… how are we going tomorrow?"
Caroline answered by laying out her idea calmly, explaining step by step what needed to be done and why. She didn't rush it, nor did she dramatize it. The three of them listened carefully, interrupting occasionally to add small adjustments, clarifications, or suggestions. The discussion stayed focused, practical. By the time they were done, the plan felt solid—not perfect, but workable.
Caroline nodded once, satisfied.
Daisy, who had been listening quietly while eating her pizza, spoke up. "That's for night," she said. "What about the morning?"
She took another bite, glancing between them.
"Let's check the schedule," Caroline suggested. She wiped her hands with a tissue, then reached for her phone.
"For Computer Science and Mechanical, there are no classes in the early morning," she said after a moment, scrolling. "So we can move out late. How many of you want to sit in Compute Science and Mechanical?"
Marcus finished his pizza and reached for the tacos. "What classes do we have in both majors tomorrow?" he asked, already opening the box.
Caroline read from her phone so everyone could hear. "For CS, there are four classes total—two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Maths, Computer, English, and Physics. For Mechanical, there are five—two in the morning and three in the afternoon. Engineering of Materials, English, Physics, CAD, and Maths."
Daisy thought for a moment. "Isn't it better to have more classes?" she asked. "We haven't even gone to our classes yet."
"I feel Mechanical is better," Marcus said, yawning openly now. "But I also want to sleep more."
Kevin considered it briefly. "Mechanical," he said finally. "I want to attend CAD."
Caroline listened, then nodded. "Alright. Mechanical it is." She glanced at Daisy to make sure she was okay with it. "You both should go back to your dorm in the morning, right when the warden makes rounds, and sleep there for a bit. Then we'll have breakfast together."
Marcus and Kevin nodded in agreement.
"Okay," Caroline said, pushing herself up. "Now that tomorrow is settled, it's time to open the sleeping bags. You guys eat slowly. I'll take them out."
She walked toward her bed and pulled open the drawer beneath it. From inside, she took out two zipped sleeping bags, each with a small pillow rolled neatly inside. She carried them over and placed them opposite where Marcus and Kevin were sitting on the carpet.
"I'm keeping these here," she said. "You can use these, or I can give you blankets and you can sleep on the carpet. It's up to you."
Kevin hadn't asked, but he had been wondering how they were going to manage the sleeping arrangements. Seeing the sleeping bags laid out neatly eased something in him. Better than the floor, he thought.
Daisy had been thinking the same thing as Kevin. For a moment, she had worried that Caroline might suggest the two of them share one bed while Marcus and Kevin squeezed into the other. Seeing the sleeping bags laid out instead eased her immediately, leaving her feeling both relieved and quietly thankful. She felt a brief pang of sympathy—for a moment, she had worried about the boys having to choose between sleeping bags and the floor. At the same time, she was quietly thankful that she could sleep in her own bed.
Then something else clicked in Daisy's mind.
"Hey, Cheez," she said suddenly. "I heard you and Marcus are part of Linus. I searched online—you're both in the news. Can you tell us how you joined?"
Caroline blinked, momentarily surprised. Being called Cheez by someone other than Marcus felt strange—but not unpleasant. She glanced at Marcus with a small smile, then walked over and sat between him and Daisy.
Kevin shifted his position slightly, sitting cross-legged at an angle so he could see both Caroline and Marcus clearly. Daisy adjusted too, mirroring him.
"We both studied at the School of Ether," Caroline began, her voice slowing as she searched her memory.
Marcus stared into the distance, a cola glass resting loosely in his hand.
"Ether?" Daisy asked, eyes widening. "The famous school for rich kids and prodigies?"
Caroline smiled awkwardly, scratching her jaw. "That one."
"And famous for discrimination," Marcus added flatly, still not looking at anyone.
Kevin paused mid-sip, listening intently.
"The education and opportunities at Ether are excellent," Caroline continued. "But so is the competition. Most students come from affluent families, though some are on scholarships. When people from very different backgrounds want the same thing, power decides who wins. At Ether, talent is power—but not everyone accepts that."
She took a breath. "Marko and I kept winning competitions—music, academics, everything. Some people thought it was unfair. They said the school was biased. At first, it was just gossip. Then jealousy set in. And frustration."
She looked down briefly before continuing. "They started taking it out on those who couldn't fight back."
Marcus shifted slightly.
"One day," Caroline said, "Marko noticed a scholarship student from our class being bullied. They made him do homework, run errands—things like that. Marko watched quietly for a few days. But when the boy fell sick and they still ordered him around, Marko stepped in."
Marcus exhaled through his nose.
"They argued," Caroline said. "It turned into a fight. Marko befriended the boy so he wouldn't be an easy target. But it didn't stop them."
"They formed a gang," Marcus added. "Inside and outside campus."
"Marko looks calm now," Caroline said, glancing at him, "but back then he had a bad temper. He never tolerated bullying. We were in different classrooms, and I'd have to bring teachers or make excuses to keep him from getting punished."
She smiled faintly. "We got so many warnings that our parents got worried. They suggested Linus. A member had already noticed us during one incident, and when we later applied to volunteer, they agreed to let us join."
"And after that," she finished, "we dealt with bullies—not just in our school, but others too. Eventually, we became part of the squad."
"Can we use their help here?" Kevin asked.
Caroline patted Marcus's shoulder. "You take this."
She stood to clear the finished dishes. Daisy moved to help, but Caroline waved her back gently.
"We can, but ragging at college is different from schools. We can scare school students easily, but college students are harder to deal with. For now, we can use Linus to learn about their backgrounds and ask for help in a physical fight if we're outside the campus. But inside, not knowing who we're dealing with will only get us into more trouble. That's why we're carrying the tools—to collect evidence first," Marcus clarified calmly, his tone even.
Kevin and Daisy sat quietly, absorbing everything.