William went back to his class to spend the few hours remaining till school was over waiting for Miss Bethany to return from the headmaster's office.
He was suspended but that would only start taking effect after today's school ends.
As William walked back to his class, the other students avoided him like a plague and some boys outright bumped into his shoulders, hoping for William to retaliate so they could have a solid reasoning to give him a huge beating. But unfortunately for them, in the eyes of someone that has truly experienced death over two times, he had attained a certain unexplainable calmness in non-life threatening situations.
A common emotional response to near-death experiences is a feeling that surviving was a mistake, thinking 'I shouldn't be here' or having feelings of guilt or unworthiness. And a counterbalancing reaction is having ideas of self-punishment, self-harm, or taking risks one wouldn't normally take.
This was the case for William. He had always felt he let everyone down that's why they eventually leave. And the wrong things he did to them when they were around always seemed to come back and haunt him. However, the near-death experiences only taught William how to put his life on the line, so the feeling of guilt and unworthiness might disappear and to prove to himself that he was actually trying.
He got back to his class and avoided eye contact with his classmates as he went back to his seat.
…I'll find somewhere to hide after the closing bells ring, then I'll tail Miss Bethany… William thought to himself as he laid his head on the desk to rest.
"Umm, excuse me?"
William heard a female voice and thought he was being called but threw that thought away and continued resting his head. There was no way anyone would want to associate with the cursed boy now when the city was on high alert.
"...Excuse me?"
William relented and raised his head to see the voice that called out beside him.
It was a girl. William was surprised to see this and forced a smile before answering, "Yes?"
"...My name is Dorothy Higgins." The brown-haired, bespectacled girl, looking rather timid, introduced herself with her right hand extended while looking away. She wore her hair loose with a center-parting.
The whole class was still rowdy with Miss Bethany not being present so the events at the back often drowned out in the class of over 100 students.
William was a bit shocked but still extended his hand and shook hers as he said, "William Maxton."
"Have a seat." William offered and she sat down courtly like a lady would and thanked him.
William remembered she is the class prefect and is also the person Miss Bethany mentioned, so he spoke before she did, saying, "Thank you for telling Miss Bethany the truth. Honestly, you saved me a lot of trouble."
Dorothy's cheeks flushed, she put her hair behind her ear, and smiled shyly, "N-No, you shouldn't be thanking me. I came to apologize to you."
"Huh? Why?"
"I-I saw when John attacked you but did nothing to stop the fight."
"Oh, is that so? There's no problem then. The issue has already been settled because of your help."
"I've… I've been seeing and hearing what people have been saying about you. It's awful…"
…Is she going to sympathize? Does that mean she doesn't think I'm cursed because of my hair? Finally, another normal per–
"...But is it true you poisoned Viscount Maxton?"
"…"
"..."
Dorothy wondered if she had asked something wrong because of William's silent and dumbfounded face.
William let out a long sigh …She's a kid after all I guess. But still, asking me that way does she think if I'm the actual perpetrator I'll be honest? Didn't Miss Bethany say she was the smartest student? She looks about 10 years old. She's probably too curious. How can I even poison such a monster like my father?
The more he thought about it, instead of getting pissed, he let out a hearty laugh. and said, "No, I did not. Why would I poison my own father?"
"P-People said it's because he forced you to come to a public school."
"Heh, do you want the honest truth?"
Dorothy fervently nodded her head.
"I have no problem being here…" William looked around suspiciously and drew closer to Dorothy then whispered as he covered the side of his mouth, "I'm even on a top-secret mission!"
Dorothy nudged her glasses and allowed William to continue, "A top secret mission from my father before he fell sick, but… I'm getting suspended."
"Is…Is there any way I can help?" Dorothy whispered back and tried to be reserved but she was eager to know.
William comically drew closer and whispered, "Have you noticed anything suspicious in the past few weeks?"
Dorothy nodded and looked to the side shyly because of how close William was to her face and said, "I don't know if I should say…"
William reassured her, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you said anything to me. Everything in this mission is top secret, even your identity."
Dorothy nodded and said, "There are two of our classmates, Silas and Bastian, who normally escort Miss Bethany home. I found out they live in the same area, but for the past two weeks, they haven't attended school."
…Miss Bethany again. She looks relatively normal. I definitely have to keep tabs on this woman… William was lost in thought.
Dorothy hesitated a little before she summoned the courage to ask, "Is the top secret mission the reason you were following Miss Bethany?"
William was snapped out of his thoughts and instinctively denied, "Wh-Who said I was following her? Wait, were you following me?"
Dorothy shook her head and pleaded, "I-I didn't mean to, I was just… umm…"
…Heh, how cute… He scoffed, "Heh, my goodness. Anyway, there's no reason to hide it from you. Yes, it does have something to do with it. And because of it, I'm going to look into this matter of your missing friends."
Dorothy nodded but kept her head down.
William noticed her reaction and asked, "Umm, did I say something wrong?"
Dorothy timidly waved her hands, "It's just… I-I don't have friends. During class, Silas and Bastian always kicked my seat and called me Mrs. Four-Eyes. But, I'm worried something bad has happened to them"
"Heh, that was just their way of getting your attention. Don't worry, I will look into this matter. In return, can you keep an eye out for suspicious activities while I'm suspended?"
"Yes, of course!" Dorothy replied gingerly.
William was happy with this development and thanked, "Ok, then I shall thank you in advance–"
"Stop!" Dorothy appeared to be flustered and extended her hand to William's hair.
"What?"
Dorothy stood up sharply "M-Miss Bethany will be back soon. I should put the class in order. L-Later, William."
As she walked away she whispered to herself in a hushed tone, "...don't try such a thing again… you have to be careful… d-don't say that about him…"
"What's up with her?" William wondered but quickly put it at the back of his mind and was about to rest his head when he glanced at Dorothy from the corner of his eyes, he saw a reddish-orange-colored salamander on her shoulder.
He raised his head back up sharply but there was nothing there. He chuckled, "I've been so tired lately…"
He laid his head back down.