Three people sit in front of Seren. Their faces display little emotion and she thinks it might just be a good sign. Surely if they were to expel her they would look more serious. Surely. She recognizes the dean of the College of Business. The second man works with the office for Student Life. Both men, both wearing suit and an expression of polite curiosity. The woman sitting in the middle invites her to take a seat before speaking. She wears an expensive looking ensemble under dyed blonde hairs and is tastefully made up. Seren thinks she is above fifty and her eyes are dark and sharp.

“Good afternoon Mrs Nechayeva, my name is Ruth Morrison. I am the vice-Provost for public affairs.”

Seren is stunned. Public Affairs?!

“After careful deliberation we have decided on an… apt punishment for you. As you know our University admits students from a great variety of backgrounds because of our belief that the dissemination of knowldege furthers our pursuit of the greater good. We firmly believe that our students will drive positive change both in the State and in the World in general.”

Seren nods. To be honest, the reason she joined is that Cornell had been the best university, and the only Ivy League one, to accept her application. To be completely honest, she would have studied Oceanography to get away from her father’s grasp and she couldn’t stand boats. Cornell’s School of Applied Economics’ acceptance had been more than a pleasant surprise. It had been a windfall.

“We ask that pupils display their commitments to the greater good even on campus, and that includes respect for the rules and for their fellow students.”

Seren lowers her eyes, trying to look suitably contrite. It’s just a shame that those rules did not apply to Liam.

“You resorted to violence against another student. We cannot understate how serious an offense this is. You have shown disregard for our most fundamental value: to make the world a better place. As a result people suffered, the police was involved and your actions have impacted not only yourself and Mr Austin but our very reputation and, by extension, the entirety of the student body.”

Shit really. They were going to expel her after all. Shiiiiiii-

“With that said we are not insensitive to the …. Circumstances leading to this regrettable incident.”

Thank fucking god.

“We appreciate that you were physically hurt and…In mourning”

Seren does not like where this is going. How do they know about Milo? She only told Yuki. Is this public information?

The man from the student office speaks. His voice is calm and measured

“Next time you find yourself facing a difficult situation you should use the resources provided by us. With so many students on campus we have tragedies every year so we have well trained people dedicated to helping those in need. I mean, it’s easy to feel a sense of anonymity with so many people around but you are not alone. Please come see us. We are here to assist.”

Seren nods again. This guy at least is trying to help, although she can’t think of anything that would have helped her attend the training and not react to Liam’s aggression. Industrial strength LSD maybe?

Ruth resumes her speech as if her colleague did not exist.

“We think it would be fitting if you showed your dedication to Cornell’s values by applying yourself to them in a concrete manner.”

Here it comes.

“We have been recently contacted by a branch of the government that requested…”

And that’s it. That’s fucking it. That’s why those guys looked curious. That’s why this Ruth woman showed up. Public affairs? That’s like external affairs but with public entities. They would only keep her if she worked with Chauham.

“Your continued enrollment depends on your commitment to…”

Seren only half listens. The good lawyer had it right. Chauham was going to get what he wanted. She had escaped him at the police station, she had refused to answer his calls, so he was going after what she had favored the most: her freedom. She had seen a glimmer of hope after the call with her dad. Who knows, perhaps he could have been convinced to fund her studies? Now it wouldn’t matter. No amount of money would convince Cornell to keep her if she refused their punishment. She had to bend and give up her freedom to choose, or leave Cornell and give up her freedom to live the life she wanted.

“Are you listening Mrs Nechayeva?"

“Yes.”

“Do you have any question?”

“Do you know what this task force you mentioned do?”

“No, however agent Chauham assured me that you two had spoken.”

The vice-Provost’s eyes turn sharper. She is not fooled.

“ Mrs Nechayeva I need a firm answer."

“I need to think about it.”

“Do I need to remind you that your stay here depends on your willingness to comply with our decision?”

“As you said yourself, you do not know what this task force does, so you have no idea what you are asking me to do. I need some time to think about it.”

Seren’s rebuke catches the woman off guard and the dean looks vaguely amused. He is the one who speaks next.

“Mrs Nechayeva. Seren. Please consider our request, we would really like you to stay with us. I have read your student file and talked to your professors and I personally believe that you have great potential. Your previous experience with commodity trading is astounding, especially at such a young age!”

Thanks dad.

“Consider your decision carefully, if only because working for prestigious agencies would look amazing on your resume.”

Seren would rather get experience in cleaning fish gut than to work for the likes of Chauham.

“If that is all?”

The Ithaca campus is a marvel, but right now it is also a bitter reminder of the decision she has to take. This isn’t fair. Of course, life isn’t fair. Seren already knew that. After Milo’s death though, she had hoped that the world would give her some respite before throwing another punch, but well, fuck it. It was not meant to be. With a start, Seren realizes that she is in her room and that someone’s cellphone is ringing.

It’s not her cell.

Actually it is. Her James Bond phone as Yuki calls it.

So that’s it today is disaster day. Funny.

“Yes?"

"Hey there it’s Nathan. I got a call and…"

“I’m in.”

“Same pattern as, wait what?”

“I said, I’m in.”

At another time Seren might have thought this through. Surely there is no need to risk one’s life fighting monsters, if there is, why not do it with Chauham’s support anyway? Seren is not thinking this through, she has succumbed to intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts are those that say, hey, why not jump off that bridge, slice this passenger’s throat, grab that person’s butt? It is the voice of insanity. Seren knows it, but she cannot help it.

Hey, why not face man eating monsters with no weapon and no preparation?

Because if she wins, she will feel in control, and she will have taken revenge on Milo’s murderers. If she loses?

Well, all her problems will be solved then.

“Are you ok Seren?”

That Turner man’s voice brings her back from her morbid thoughts. Genuine concern. How nice.

“I will be when this is over”

All of it.

“Huh right. Can you come over? Do you have a car?”

“No. Do you have weapon? A plan?”

“You realize what you are in for right? We are going to try to kill the Eaters. Of course I have a plan, but there’s going to be a fight.”

“I said, I’m in. I don’t have a car though.”

“That’s fine. I’ll send someone to get you. I’ll call you back with the details.”

Seren hangs up. There, it’s done. She will fight, face things that need to be killed. After being confronted to all those gray decisions it’s good to deal with something straightforward even if it is for the wrong reasons.

And then she realizes that decision is already made. She takes out her normal phone and reaches in her sadly empty wallet for that special business card.

Agent Chauham’s card is as slick and elegant as he is. He answers after two rings. Seren suspects even the time he takes answering is calculated.

“Chauham speaking, who is this?”

“Well played.”

“Ah, Ms. Nechayeva, so good to hear from you. Have you considered my offer?"

"You know I have considered it, I have received your “offer”." she retorts, " You are not leaving me much of a choice."

"I am sorry that you feel that way Seren, but you must understand the challenges that we face. You have seen what we have to deal with. We simply cannot pass up someone with your skills."

"So you wreck my life for the greater good?"

"Believe me I appreciate the situation I put you in but people are dying Seren, if I have to step on you to get your help I will. Not to mention that nothing will be ruined if you join us, quite the contrary. Now have you called just to complain?"

"No I called to tell you I won’t do it.”

"Chauham is silent."

“I understand your anger but you must think carefully."

"Your behavior reveals what kind of person you are. You think you are doing good things for your country? You don’t even value what this country stands for."

"Do not tell me what this country stands for! You think you know everything? Do you know how many good men we lost? I could achieve so much more if you were not so selfish!"

"I will tell you what this country stands for because you forgot. Freedom is one of those, and it was the first thing you took from me. Well, fuck you, I’m not joining."

"Be very careful now, I am willing to make concessions but it’s all off if you do not comply. I’m not just an agent. I represent two agencies of the US government."

"Gee, I feel important already. Bye Chauham.”

Seren throws her cellphone on the bed and resists the urge to crawl back to Chauham and tell him she reconsidered. She buries her head in her pillow and tries to find comfort in the belief that it is the right decision, that she could not live with her choice to compromise her freedom and her principles, but try as she might, certainty eludes her.