Reina woke up. She briefly wondered why she felt like poop before the events of the previous night came rushing back. Rubbing her eyes, Reina scratched away the tear-stains. Guess she had been crying.

Groggily, Reina sat up and stretched, cracking her back. She’d been sleeping away the night in such a horrible position, it was no wonder she was sprained. A glint of sunlight shone through the window and landed on her neck. Reina reluctantly glanced down and discovered the necklace.

For a moment, she thought she would break down and cry. She might welcome it as well, resolving to spend the rest of the day in her bed, crying and eating from a tub of ice cream. In the end, her own inability to remain sitting was what forced her to get up, not any other particular reason.

Hobbling to her bathroom, Reina got ready for the day. She was fine with leaving as she was, but didn’t want any attention on her.

After placing her headphones amidst her ever-present scarf (she had a feeling she was going to use it a lot today) Reina scratched Leo and placed Rabbit on her head. She left the dorm, making sure to lock it.

The Tree was devoid of any staff members, leaving her alone. Reina wished for a second she was down in the student dorms where she would wake up to company; then she dismissed the idea. She had Leo and Rabbit. They were more than enough.

Going down the Tree, Reina stuffed her hands into her pocket and hurried over to the Academy. She wasn’t particularly worried about the killer but she didn’t want to be out in the open for longer than needed.

After entering the Academy, Reina found a group of students milling around. They were young enough to be first years so she followed them to the amphitheater where the rest of the first years were. Reina cocked a eyebrow. Was there some event happening today she wasn’t aware of?

Oh. She lived in the Tree. The teachers had probably only sent out the message to those who lived in the student dorms. Rolling her eyes at the incompetency of the teachers, Reina took a seat behind as many students as she could find.

The teachers weren’t here yet so all of her peers were chatting. There was a patch of people that weren’t talking though and drew Reina’s focus on them. She regretted it.

They were her old friends. Reina growled. They were looking so guilty and sad, as if that would make her forgive them. Well, never! She would never forgive them for as long as she lived!

Okay, maybe that was a bit over dramatic. She didn’t hate them, or at least she didn’t think she did. However, it was going to be forever before she cooled down enough to have a civil conversation with them.

Or one life-shattering event that would bond them all together but the chances of that happening were slim to none.

The clamnering suddenly died down as the teachers made their way up, smiling and waving their hands. Reina slunk down even more. What a bunch of fakers.

Joel, the social studies teacher, went to the front and grabbed the microphone. He tapped it a few times. “Testing, testing. Is this thing on? Alright then. I’m sure you’re wondering what you’re doing here. Well, you’ve all heard about the killer, haven’t you?”

All the students shuddered and Reina perked up a little. For the first time, they mentioned the killer. This meant they were confirming the rumor, not that Reina didn’t believe it. This was a bold move on their part and Reina could accept that, however grudgingly.

Her fellow classmates weren’t handling it so well. Reina snorted quietly as they exchanged looks and whispered in hushed tones. It was obvious they dreaded the killer.

“Now, now!” Joel raised his voices over the students’. “Many people would not want me to tell you this but I believe you have the right to know. The killer is real.”

There was an uproar as students leaped to their feet and began yelling, screaming, and crying. All throughout this chaos, Reina remained still, wondering what was for breakfast. She was feeling more sleepy than usual, maybe she should take a nap?

Her eyes drifted close but when she opened them who knew how much later, Joel was still going on about the killer. The students were quiet however, which is probably why it took so long.

“-they are a serious threat. I don’t want to lie to you and say they’re weak, because they are not. They killed one of our own, and that’s a offense we will never let go. If we work together and follow the procedures we mentioned, you should be safe. Don’t let the rumors make you scared; nobody is invincible and I promise we will capture this criminal!” Joel yelled.

If they were expecting a loud roar to that statement, they were sadly mistaken. All of the students were glancing at one another with worried eyes. Nobody had really believed the teachers.

“As a way to prove we are safe, the teachers have created a new activity for us. As you know, later in first year, we will summon animals. Many people prefer to ride animals, and so we have decided to give an early lesson with horses. Today, you will all learn horseback riding!”

Now there was the response the teachers were looking for. The students were whispering to one another but their voices were animated and excited. Reina had to admit the thought of horseback riding was very intriguing, although Dimple would never allow her to choose a different horse over him.

A shaky hand lifted into the air. “Are we doing this outdoors?” All of the talk vanished as the sentence registered with everybody and they came to the same conclusion even while Joel best subtly nodded.

Cue massive panic. Reina wasn’t impressed at all. If they were so worried about the killer, then stay behind and do whatever they do during their free time. Though, she was willing to bet nothing they wouldn’t do that. They would be too scared of being alone.

Reina wanted to scream, “Why would the killer go after you?” It might be mean but there was a point to it. Reina suspected the killer only went after Nicholas because he needed to send a message and heavens forbid if it’s by mail like a normal person. Other than that, he probably had a specific target he was after.

Then again, the killer was most likely mentally deranged and would kill anybody he came across, so maybe that was reason for a little worry.

Eventually, everybody quieted down and they were off to the stables. Reina stuck by herself, an oddity from everybody else who was clumped together in groups. She ignored the weird looks she was getting. She didn’t particularly care if she died or not.

They walked across the grassy fields before reaching a structure Reina knew well: the stables, a wooden building the size of a mansion. Reina had more than once questioned why horses would need such big houses but brushed it off to them deserving it.

The moment the house came into view, everybody made a mad dash for it. Reina scoffed. Were they that scared? Did they not think of the fact the killer could be hiding there at this very moment?

Reina trailed in after them and had a look around. The inside was as big as it looked from the outside and was multilayered. Each floor had 7 stables on either side, complete with top quality hay, water, lamps, and some personalized items. One of her classmates-Matthew?-whistled and muttered, “Even I don’t have this big of a house.”

“Gather around, students!” Joel clapped his hands from his position lying across a stable door. “We’ve got some important rules to follow!”

“Are you the only teacher whose going to be here?” a girl asked. Joel smiled warmly.

“Yes, Emily, I am. Don’t fret, I’m more than enough to keep you safe.” Reina watched as the Emily girl sighed with relief and wondered how long that would last if it was discovered he didn’t possess circuits. Probably turn her back and disrespect him.

Reina never understood the reliance and attitude about circuits. They weren’t all that powerful, mostly parlor tricks. It took years to master it to an extent where they could even think to challenge a Arias. To be frank, the best reason to have circuits were so you could use the special tonics that interacted with them.

Shaking herself out of her thoughts, Reina focused on Joel. “The horses we have here are a very proud breed. You need to treat them with the utmost dignity and respect.” There was a clamoring of laughter and Reina groaned. Did they think he was joking? “I’m telling the truth, guys. Trust me, an angry horse is not somebody you want to make angry.”

When the incessant giggling had died down, Joel continued. “How many of you here has learned how to ride a horse before?” Multiple hands popped up and Reina played with the notion of doing the same but in the end, decided against it. She didn’t want any attention, no matter how insignificant.

“Wonderful! Can I assume you all know how to ride one then?” Joel checked. When those who raised their hands nodded, Joel grinned. “Excellent, excellent! If you’d like, walk in front of the stables. If they react to you in a positive manner and nuzzle your hand, you can try to ride them. If they don’t, well, you should leave them alone. Unless you want a hoof print indent in your chest which, let me tell you, is not as cool as it sounds.”

From the sounds of things, some of her classmates were going to do just that. Reina was constantly baffled at the stop stupidity some people can demonstrate. Did they not believe him until they experienced it themselves?

Whatever. It’s not like she cared. Expertly slinking into the group of people who were now checking out the horses (she didn’t want to suffer through the horse riding lecture again), Reina remained undiscovered. She soon spotted some people she didn’t want to see.

How could she miss the fact Felicie and Dawn were here? Dawn was understandable, being rich had its perk. But Felicie? Reina supposed she liked horse backing riding too, and it kind of fit her energetic personality.

That’s not what matters though! She didn’t want to be anywhere near them and now she was barely a few feet away! Making her cloak extend to its full size, Reina wrapped it around her entire body to cover up her best onesie. She didn’t understand why she wore the thing but it’d become an habit.

A recognizable habit. At least not many people would notice it was her from her cloak, which she usually kept shortened. Hide Rabbit with the hood and presto! Nobody would know it was her.

Reina scanned the stables for a particular specimen. There had been this one horse, the most chocolatey brown with peach simplest she had adored. Reina always rode on her no matter what but that had been two years ago. How long was a horse’s lifespan again? Reina swore to God, if she discovered her horse had died, her bad mood would become outright disastrous for anybody in the near vicinity.

Reina left her group and climbed up the stairs. If Dimple (she had been 9 when she named her, don’t judge!) wasn’t on the first floor, maybe she was on the second? Reina cursed these innovations. There hadn’t been multi-floors when she’d been here! Then again, there hadn’t been much horses either. . .

If only Reina could figure out how everything was organized, it would be much easier. Was the higher levels the older horses? The more experienced? The better ones? What? What? What?!

Reina took a deep breath to steady herself. She was only starting to become angry because of yesterd-no, don’t think about it. Reina sighed as she felt herself calm down. As long as some idiot didn’t come along and pick a fight with her for no concrete reason at all, Reina could get through today. Then she would lock herself in her dorm and binge watch some shows. Who needs friends when you have TV friends?

Shoot, she thought about them again. Reina rubbed her forehead. She was really starting to lose it. She should hurry up and find Dimples. She knew how to calm her down.

Reina checked and didn’t find any sign of her beloved horse. Acknowledging defeat once again, Reina was about to check the third floor when-

“There’s a suspicious figure over there!” Dawn yelled.

Instinctively, Reina got into battle position and clasped her hand around the hilt of her weapon. If she needed to fight, so be it! Though Reina was confused when her defensive move made the screaming below her grow louder. . .

Reina sweat dropped as it hit her. No way. No freaking way did Dawn just accuse her of being the killer. She did not look suspicious at all!

Oh wait. . .her cloak was covering everything up, including her face, and as far as Dawn knew, there wasn’t anybody in the first year who dressed like that.

Reina groaned. Guess she would have to shed her disguise and reveal herself. She really hadn’t wanted to do this until much later but it was better than being stabbed through the heart or whatever was going to happen.

Reina turned around, lifted her hood, and did jazz hands. “Ta da! It’s me!” she said, voice dripping with heavy sarcasm.

Everybody loosened up and Joel lowered his throwing stars. Felicie pushed her way to the front and stared at Reina curiously.

“Why are you wearing such suspicious clothes, Reina?” Felicie asked innocently.

“I fail to see how that’s any of your business.” Reina snapped and Felicie recoiled, letting out a whimper like a wounded dog. Before she had time to feel guilt, however, her attention was on the whispers and looks of apprehension on people's faces.

What was with them? She always acted like this. Awesome, mean to people who deserved it, nice to people who deserved it, realistic. It wasn’t anything new.

It struck her like a bolt of lighting and Reina’s mouth dropped a little in understanding. So that was why-oh, so that would definitely explain the looks.

To them, pure-hearted and naive Reina had just been mean to one of her best friends, something they’d never thought possible. Well, they would figure it out, the hard way or the easy way. Making sure to show everybody her massive eye roll, Reina set to work on her goal again.

Where could Dimple possibly be? It wasn’t like she was hiding or anything, right? Dimple had a good nose and excellent memory. She should be able to smell Reina’s scent and remember it from the memories of Reina treating her. The only explanation Reina could give to the fact that Dimple, who’d always been hyperactive, wasn’t banging against the door and making a lot of noise was A. She was dead. B. She hated Reina. C. She was too old or got injured and couldn’t move. D. She had amnesia or her strong nose weakened.

Reina hated all four of those options with a fiery passion. Screw this! Reina would find Dimple and she’d be perfectly fine and they would have fun and frolic like old times!

While Reina was heading up to the fourth floor, a loud snort alerted her. Curious, Reina backpedaled a few to find a stall that seemed empty. Weird. Why would they use an empty stall? Reina got closer and leaned in. What she discovered made her want to bash her head against the door.

Her beloved Dimple was laying on her sides, sound asleep. Reina shook her head in mild amusement and annoyance. Apparently, there was another option. E. Dimple fell asleep.