The next day at school, Estelle didn't bring up the fact that her brother had spent the previous evening at my place, so I assumed that she either didn't know, didn't care or was waiting to hold that against me at some point later in time.

Or maybe it was because she was very distracted. In fact, majority of the student body seemed on edge. Cara screamed when I tapped her on the shoulder outside her locker, right after she'd not heard me calling her name five times. Everyone looked like they were constantly checking over their shoulder, and I couldn't figure out why.

In class Estelle messed up all her half of the equations, which is something that never happens.

"Okay, seriously what's up?" I took the pen out of her hand, trying to get her to look at me.

She blinked and smiled. It was too watery though. "Nothing! I'm just tired."

I was about to push the subject, when the school-wide intercom buzzed. "All students and staff to report to the gymnasium immediately. No exceptions." The unmistakeable authoritative voice of Mr Daniels rang out throughout the class, casting a nervous silence on everyone. Even I was starting to get worried now, and I had no idea what everyone seemed so nervous about.

Estelle, looking alarmed, grabbed my wrist. "Come on," and jumped up, joining the sudden clamour of students grabbing their things and rushing out the door.

"What's happening? Can I get my bag?" Estelle was pulling me with a surprisingly large force. She didn't answer, just hurrying out the door with me in tow.

Almost as soon as we'd left the classroom, I slammed into Thomas. He steadied me, and exchanged a long glance with Estelle, silently communicating. I groaned in frustration. Why did I feel so out of the loop?!

"Is anyone going to tell me what's happening?" I demanded, glaring at the two. They looked at each other again.

"Uh, we're not sure. C'mon," Thomas, looking serious for once, put his hand on my shoulder and pulled my forward. Estelle fell into stride with him, and I followed like a lost puppy.

We followed the sea of students, who ranged from looking panicked to bored, into the gym. Estelle and Thomas practically sandwiched me between them, looking as alert as bodyguards protecting their celebrity from crazy paparazzi.

Honestly, what was their problem?! Did we have some kind of shooter on the loose? Was the school under attack? I seriously doubted it, in such a small, seemingly happy town.

Inside the gym was chaotic, people everywhere talking loudly. Thomas pushed his way through to the very back corner, where a group of serious looking guys were standing in silence. I vaguely recognised some of them from the bonfire, and even one or two from the room full of people doing that fire strategy thing.

They nodded at Estelle, stepping aside. Estelle, still dragging me, walked right up to the wall, and the guys closed in around us like some kind of human shield, except still casual enough to not look entirely creepy.

I stared at Estelle, exasperated. "Who are these people and why are we hiding behind them?"

She chuckled nervously. "We're not hiding behind them. They're friends, we're just avoiding the chaos of the rest of the gym."

Nope, wasn't buying that.

She'd pulled out her phone and was furiously texting, biting her lip in concentration.

Huffing out an annoyed breath, I leaned against the wall and watched as much as I could see, which wasn't much considering the wall of boys around us was over 6" tall.

Suddenly, there was a huge slam and the gym went silent. Mr Daniels walked towards the podium, from the large concrete door he'd practically dead bolted shut.

"Take a seat everyone." The school obliged, sitting where they were standing. I was kind of glad we were against a wall now, instead of being packed in like sardines sitting in the middle of the floor.

"We are in a precautionary, indefinite shutdown. Until we are sure the threat is eliminated, you are required to stay in this room." The volume rose as loud whispers echoed through the room. He wasn't finished. "If you need the bathroom, do not go alone, and only use changing room 3. You are safe in here - all doors are bolted shut, windows are unbreakable and authorities are controlling the external situation. Parents have been contacted." He stepped away, and went to talk to the teachers.

My heart rate picked up as the prospect of being locked in this gym with hundreds of students set in. I was having a hard time breathing actually, feeling suddenly claustrophobic.

"Danni? You okay?" Estelle touched my arm, concerned. I nodded, then shook my head.

"Look at me," Estelle knelt in front of me, determination in her eyes. "Breathe, you can do it. Keep it together."

I took a shaky breath in, following her counts, until I calmed down. I groaned, dropping my head into my hands.

"I swear ever since I moved here I've gotten so weak," I whispered. Estelle looked at me with sympathy in her eyes.

"It's not your fault, you'll see," she said cryptically.

"Do you know what's going on out there?" I imagined a crazed man running through the school, or some kind of army invading our town like in Tomorrow When the War Began.

"No, no idea," she looked away. "They're not telling anyone."

So we sat there, mellowing in uneventfulness, for the next few hours. 3pm came and went, and by 5pm I figured I should probably contact Alex. The general panic in the room had disappeared into boredom. I'd been expecting to hear gunshots or screaming outside, but literally nothing happened.

Talk about the most boring lockdown.

I pulled out my phone and called Alex, but he didn't answer, which was weird. Usually he'd always answer me first ring, especially if I was stuck in a school lockdown. I sighed and resumed my nothingness.

An hour later, I was restless and needed to move. "I have to pee," I announced. A few of the guys barricading us turned their heads and looked concerned.

"I'll come with," Estelle announced, hauling herself up and helping me up with her. We picked our way through the mass of bodies, trying not to stand on any limbs. Being at the back of the gym, we had quite a long way to walk, and we were getting a lot of dirty looks. I ignored them, and carried on in my efforts to not injure anyone.

About halfway across the room and many exclaims of abuse later, I started getting dizzy. I stopped, rubbing my eyes with my palms and blinking hard. Something didn't feel right.

Then it hit me.

Searing pain lashed across my lower back, and again seconds later across my abdomen. It was like something was tearing my skin apart. Blinded by pain, I screamed and fell to the ground, landing on multiple people but unable to control myself.

The pain grew, consuming me. It hit me again and again, then a new wave appeared in my arm, as if someone had clamped my forearm between razor sharp teeth.

Writhing and screaming, I couldn't see or hear anything or anyone - there was only the pain. Then there was nothing.

I came to minutes later, being carried by two teachers, Thomas and another guy I didn't recognise.

I moaned, the pain raw and fierce. My mind was fighting passing out, but lost the battle.

Awake again, I was now lying on the bathroom floor. Estelle was hovering over me, yelling something I couldn't make out. All I could hear was my own blood rushing through my ears. Her face was replaced with Mr Daniels, who picked up my arm and placed something cold on the scar on my wrist.

Like emerging from drowning in water, I surfaced from the pain, gasping. My senses slowly returned to me, and the pain eased up slightly.

"Danielle, can you hear me?" Daniels didn't let go of my wrist, the soothing cold on it was the only thing keeping me present.

"Yes," I moaned, breathing shallow. "What... how?"

He didn't answer. "Estelle, hold this on her wrist. Danielle, I need to examine you. I'm going to have to lift off your shirt, okay?"

I nodded, gasping as he pulled up my shirt. I expected to see skin ripped apart, blood and muscle exposed. That was what it felt like. Instead, there was only a slightly red area tracing the path of the pain.

What the hell!?

Daniels nodded. "Where else?"

"Arm...back..." I panted.

He inspected both areas, rolling me over slightly to see my back. Nothing was there either.

It was as if the pain was mine, but the injuries weren't.

"What's wrong with her?" Estelle exclaimed, looking confused.

Daniels reached down to take my pulse. "It's an alpha phenomenon."

Estelle shot him a look that I almost missed. I was about to question it, when the pain hit hard again, my spine arching off the cold floor and my eyes rolling back in my head.

This time, instead of passing out cold, images played behind my eyes. Shadows moving fast, they took form, not human but not animal either. Indiscernible. They looked like they were fighting. Five shadows against one shadow.

Then, by some way that I have no way of comprehending, a knowledge so sure that I knew it was true better than my own name, filled me.

I opened my eyes, gasping. "Levi."