Layna was unusually well-behaved today.


    She sat quietly through ss, and when the bell rang, she just rested her head on her desk, silent and still.


    She didn''t get involved in the other kids'' mischievous ns-like dropping boogers into the teacher''s mug, squirting glue on the chair, or rigging a bucket of water above the door. To Layna, those tricks were child''s y.


    At eight years old, Layna was far more calcting, and far colder, than anyone realized.


    Some kids, people say, are just born with a streak of darkness. Maybe that was Layna.


    The next day arrived in a blink.


    That night, the temperature dropped, and as evening settled in, rain came pouring down in sheets.


    In the dorm, Layna suddenly sat up in bed.


    The girl in the bunk beside hers was startled awake by the thunder. Seeing Layna getting up, she asked, "Layna, where are you going? It''s pouring outside."


    There were four girls in the room; Layna was the youngest, and the oldest was twelve.


    Layna gave a sly little grin. "Mr. Simmons wants to see me."


    The girl-Carli-sat up, frowning. "Thiste? Why would Mr. Simmons want to see you? He''s scary. Aren''t you afraid?"


    "I don''t know. Go back to sleep, Carli. I''ll be back soon," Layna replied, her face all innocent and harmless.


    Carli came from a wealthy family too, sent here for being too rebellious. She was ten, and before Layna arrived, she''d been the youngest-and the one everyone picked on. Layna once stood up for her, and ever since, Carli was glued to her side, following her lead despite being older.


    "I''ll go with you," Carli said, swinging her legs down.


    Layna whispered, "Okay."


    But Layna already had a n—one that might finally get her out of here.


    They made their way to the school office, rain pounding against the windows. Mr. Simmons was on duty that night, unable to sleep, grading the kids'' homework under a weak deskmp.


    He looked tough, and he could be, but he wanted the best for these kids. Even though he knew most of them only copied their homework or scribbled something nonsense he still graded it carefully, always addingments in the margins.


    Layna told Carli to wait in the hallway, then she pushed open the office door and walked in.


    Mr. Simmons looked up, surprised, his face stern. "Layna, why aren''t you in bed? What are you doing here?"


    She stepped in, her expression as sweet as ever. "Mr. Simmons, I want to go home."


    "You''ve only been here a month. You''re not going anywhere until you turn things around. Your family left you here for a reason, and it''s my job to make sure you''re ready to go back. Honestly, he could never quite figure this girl out. She looked so innocent, but sometimes she gave him the creeps.


    Most kids acted out when they first got here-fighting, begging to go home, causing trouble just to get attention. But not Layna. She was so quiet and good, the staff even wondered if her parents had made a mistake sending her.


    This was the first time she''d ever asked to go home.


    She stared at him, unblinking, for so long it made his skin crawl. He finally snapped, "Go back to your dorm and get some sleep."


    Layna didn''t move. Instead, she stepped closer, locked eyes with him, and suddenly smiled—a strange, unsettling smile. “Mr. Simmons, I''m leaving tonight. No matter what."


    Before he could react, she pulled off her clothes and threw herself at him, screaming at the top of her lungs, “No, Mr. Simmons, don''t! Please don''t!"


    Mr. Simmons froze, then shoved her away, yelling, "Layna! What are you doing?"


    Tears sprang to Layna''s eyes as she grabbed her shirt to cover herself and ran out the door, screaming, "Help! Somebody help me!"


    Carli, waiting in the hall, saw Layna burst out half-dressed and stood there in shock. Not knowing what else to do, she joined in the shouting and ran after Layna.


    Mr. Simmons finally realized how bad this could look, and rushed out after them. "Layna,e back here !"


    Layna and Carli dashed into the pouring rain, their cries echoing through the dorm. Doors opened up and teachers hurried out, trying to figure out what was going on.


    Just then, Juliana arrived at the school with Scott. She caught sight of Layna, soaked to the skin andè barely dressed, running toward her. Startled, Juliana rushed over and pulled Layna into her arms. "Dayna! What happened? What''s going on?"


    Sobbing, Layna choked out, "Aunt Juliana, Mr. Simmons tried to take my clothes


    off!"