Page 99 of Knox Academy Omnibus
I add the final touches to Sawyer’s office, in bold red paint:An eye for an eye.
I text Baxter and make sure the plane is on standby. I plan to watch as all this unfolds and then be on my merry way. No regrets.
He texts back that he will be waiting for me by the steps at 8:46am.
I head back to my room to write a letter to Elsie. She has been a good friend. Regret pangs at my heart but I shut it out. I have friends back home: my brother and Smalls. I can do this.
I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I’m up and dressed well before I need to leave. I pack a small bag. All it contains are a few basic items I plan to take with me. I grab my passport from its hiding place under the corner of my carpet. I have to pull the bed out to get to it, but it doesn’t matter.
I wear my uniform so I blend in with everyone else, though I do grab my favourite black hoodie to take on the plane with me. I walk through the doors and the whispers have already started. I smile, keep my head down, and take my place. A nice tight corner to hide in.
Kalen strides through first, oblivious to what has happened. People whisper as he walks by them. Slate and Onyx come running towards him.
“She really fucked with us!” Slate yells, though Kalen still looks confused. “We need to find Sawyer.”
Oops, no need, here he comes now. Also seemingly unaware.
The first bell sounds, and beeping fills the hallway. I watch as the brothers - and the rest of the school - pull out their tablets. My face will be the first thing they see. Fury lines their faces as the slideshow begins to automatically play. They wanted to play with fire? Well, I learned early in life that any form of fire, burns. I have the scars to prove it.
“We need to find Dad. Now.” Sawyer demands and they storm off towards Monty's office.
That’s my cue to leave. I pull myself from my hiding spot. Their being predictable worked in my favour. Walking from the building, a huge relief washes over me.
Payback feels good. Anyone who ever made out like it didn’t, wasn’t doing it right.
I didn’t forget about Laura though. I left her some very nice images to wake up to. Turns out, Monty isn’t any better than his sons when it comes to a woman’s heart.
“Ready to leave?” Baxter asks. I nod. I take the helmet he holds out for me, turning back one last time to look at the place where I almost thought I might belong.
Four angry faces greet me.
“We need to leave now,” I yell and Baxter takes off.
Breaking the number one rule of Knox Academy surely wouldn’t have them coming to drag me back here. I’m not a big criminal.
We don’t ride for too long but we also don’t go to the main airport. Baxter pulls up at a small private airstrip. The plane isn’t big enough to get me to Australia and when I tap Baxter on theshoulder to question it, he quickly explains that he’s got me a private flight to a bigger airport across the country, which will fly me home on a chartered flight. Okay, that doesn’t sound so bad.
He gets off the bike and goes to talk to someone. Less than five minutes later he returns, looking pissed.
He tells me that we have two hours to kill until my flight leaves. There were some issues with the damn plane that they’re trying to figure out, so Baxter takes me to a small cafe just off the highway.
Baxter lets me call Smalls. He has agreed to pick me up when I land in Australia. I made him promise not to tell Aadi or Dad. Told him it was an early Christmas surprise. He was excited to hear from me; I have been ignoring him. Even though it’s stupid. He has a right to move on; after all, at the time I was also moving on. Except, all I managed to do was end up hating myself more than I did when I arrived.
“Are you sure you want to leave? It’s kind of nice having a sidekick.”
“All I’ve wanted since I came here was to go home. But being your sidekick was fun whilst it lasted.”
“It’s hard work being an evil genius all alone.” He laughs at himself. I haven’t seen Baxter this carefree in a while.
“I bet. Are you going to tell me why you wanted everyone’s files?” He shrugs.
“Just good to know what your enemies are capable of. Besides, they’re the kind of people I might one day need to call upon. It’s good to know their skills set.”
“Can you do me one last favour?”
“You know favours are not free around here. Maybe you’ll fuck me after all?” he asks hopefully.
“Nice try. Maybe I can owe you one?”
