Caleb and Joshua walked into Uphills High School just before the morning assembly was about to start. Caleb left Joshua to join the other prefects, while Joshua made his way to his class.

The morning assembly took place in the large hall that stood in the center of the school. Students lined up according to their classes, and the school band played softly in the background. A few teachers stood outside the hall, waiting to punish latecomers.

At eight o'clock, John Mike, the head boy, stood up on the stage. He was a bit chubbier than before, and his smooth cheeks looked like they had been well-fed during the holidays. With his hand on his chest, he smiled with a hint of smugness. He loved being the head boy.

"Attention, everybody!" he called out. "The national anthem."

The school band struck up the tune, and the students joined in, their voices ragged and uncoordinated. The juniors were eager and enthusiastic, while the seniors seemed uninterested.

As the assembly came to a close, Principal Pius gave a brief talk welcoming everyone back to Uphills High School. He was a small, wiry man with an odd accent, and the students loved imitating him.

After the assembly, Caleb and Joshua walked to their classrooms. The corridors were crowded with students chatting and laughing. Caleb was mobbed by his classmates, who were eager to catch up with him.

Meanwhile, Joshua stood aside, watching as Caleb effortlessly charmed his way through the crowd. He felt a pang of envy, but he was also happy to see his friend so popular.

As they walked to their classrooms, they ran into Mary, a plump girl with short plaits framing her round, gentle face. She lived on the same street as Caleb and Joshua, and she was one of their oldest friends.

"Hi, guys!" she exclaimed, her voice light and pretty. "Glad to see you. When did you get back, Caleb?"

Caleb grinned. "Yesterday. I was just about to call you when Joshua here dragged me off to assembly."

Mary laughed. "I'm glad you're back. By the way, do you remember anyone called Deborah? She's a relative of Mrs. Beatrice, who lives on our street."

Joshua wrinkled his forehead. "No, I don't."

Caleb shook his head. "Me neither. But I'm sure we'll meet her soon enough."

As they continued to chat, Caleb's mind began to wander. His brother, Lucas, had returned home unexpectedly, and Caleb was still trying to process his emotions. He had always been close to Lucas, but his brother's behavior had become increasingly erratic over the years.

Caleb's thoughts were interrupted by John Mike, who came over to tell him that they had a prefect meeting with Principal Pius.

As they walked to the principal's office, they ran into two people who were leaving. One of them was a middle-aged woman dressed in an expensive outfit, complete with a huge gele and dark sunglasses. The other was a girl who was not wearing a school uniform. She looked pale and nervous, and Caleb couldn't help but wonder who she was.

"Who are they?" Joshua asked Caleb.

Caleb shrugged. "No idea."

As they entered the principal's office, Caleb's mind was still on the mysterious girl. Who was she, and what was she doing at Uphills High School?