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I fought against the rising unease, blaming it on the people around me who were also restless, but deep down I knew that this emotional shit originated within me. An annoying outgrowth of my past.

She approached the stage. Her red hair, a tight bun. Her gaze fixed on Alarik, as if he were behind it, and somehow one corner of my mouth managed to turn upward.

She rushed past Alarik and onto the stage, where she snatched one of the microphones from Shani and turned to face the audience.

Don't worry, Rebecca. You have nothing to fear this time. I'll spare you for the rest of the week. Undeserved.

The source of my hatred tapped on the microphone, making me doubt that she was really Rebecca. She seemed confused, agitated. Just the way I wanted her to be.

When she began to speak, there was silence. And I felt like a wolf in sheep's clothing, surrounded by a herd of unsuspecting sheep.

Secret (Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists Theme)

Denmark + Winter

“Students, lecturers, and professors of Vanderwood University.”

Her voice pierced me to the marrow, clutching at the most sensitive parts of my bones.

“Today, our well-protected security wall was breached.”

I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing, but snorted quietly, which earned me sideways glances from the girls next to me, who then grinned as well.

Well-protected my ass.

“Someone among us has taken it upon themselves to threaten this institution’s administration. And that...” She paused and scanned the crowd, fortunately missing me, because I wasn't prepared to make eye contact with this woman. “I will not tolerate under any circumstances.”

She glared at Nash and the other Senseque, lingering briefly on them, and I thanked myself for standing far away from them.

“What looks like a ridiculous threat to the director concerns all of you,” she continued, her voice growing higher and higher, more and more outraged. “Someone wants to destroy our beautiful order. And every decent-minded person surely realizes what consequences that could have.”

I watched as Alarik closed his eyes, laughing silently, one arm across his chest, the elbow of the other resting on it so he could hold his hand to his forehead.

The crowd noticed this too, and a barely noticeable mix of smirks and quiet laughter rippled through the masses.

Harlow looked annoyed as she scanned the auditorium, then at Alarik behind her, who was once again playing the serious university director, and as soon as Rebecca turned back to us, he smirked gleefully at the crowd.

“Whoever is behind this... That person will be tracked down by our security team and brought to justice.”

I laughed to myself.

Not if that person is part of the security team.

Shani, Jordan, and Luca were good. But I was better.

The upper double doors in front of the old marble double staircase which formed the massive main entrance to the hall swung open and everyone looked around.

Harriet Bexley and a bunch of reporters who would risk their lives for headlines – armed with cameras, microphones, and tablets – paused for a moment and scanned the hall like predators on the hunt. Except these people were hunting for the town's next scandal.

Should I feel honored that I had attracted the attention of the press?

Rebecca glared at the reporter brigade, clearly unimpressed, but didn't let it throw her off her game.

The students turned back to her and let the reporters make their way down the staircase filled with people and eventually through the hall.

“Furthermore, I guarantee that there will be no more hacker attacks.”

Jenny immediately began taking notes, while Harriet instructed the other reporters to surround the stage.