It’s weird. I don’t think about it until this moment. But when it does register, when everything finally sinks in, the most obvious thought occurs to me.
The school is on fire…
Niveus Academy is burning.
44
CHIAMAKA
Thursday
We finally get outside and watch as Niveus goes up in flames.
There are sirens in the back, firefighters rushing inside the collapsing building. It sounds awful, but a part of me wants to laugh.
Even the most powerful can be brought down. And we’re all witnessing it.
We can all see thegreatNiveus Academy fall. At last.
“There are people in there… There’s no way they’ll make it out okay,” someone says tearfully nearby.
I wonder how the fire started… if it was an accident.Whostarted it?
I feel my chest tighten.
I wonder if any of the protesters got stuck.
I chew my bottom lip, freezing when a thought crosses my mind. Terrell standing there in the audience.
Was he real?
Did I imagine him?
I hope I did… God, I hope I did.
I look at Devon. He looks out of it—in this trance, staring up at our old school.
“Devon,” I say quietly but loud enough for him to hear.
“Yeah?” he replies monotonously.
“Where is Terrell?”
“What?” he asks, turning to face me now, looking sick.
“I saw him inside… I think… Did he come? Was he here?” I ask, hoping he says no.
But before he can reply, another explosion erupts, and a large chunk of the roof collapses.
45
DEVON
Thursday
My mind flashes back to Terrell telling me about his involvement in this.
Terrell’s here.
