THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING – 8:00 AM
Aaron stood in the hallway, his back against the wall, his hands in his pockets.
Charlie was beside him. Wesley was beside Charlie. Oliver was on the other side, his face pale, his eyes hollow.
"I can't believe this is happening," Charlie said.
"It's happening," Aaron said.
"Rose did this."
"We don't know that."
"Yes, we do."
The door opened. A secretary stepped out. "Aaron Obi?"
Aaron walked in.
---
THE HEARING ROOM – 8:15 AM
The room was small. A table. Three chairs. A window that faced the parking lot.
Dean Okonkwo sat at the head of the table. Two other administrators sat beside him.
"Mr. Obi," the dean said. "You've been accused of drug possession and distribution. What do you have to say?"
Aaron sat down. His heart was pounding. His hands were steady.
"I'm innocent," he said.
"The evidence suggests otherwise."
"What evidence?"
The dean slid a folder across the table. Aaron opened it.
Photos. Texts. A statement from an anonymous source.
His stomach dropped.
"This is fabricated," he said.
"The evidence is compelling."
"It's fabricated."
The dean leaned forward. "Mr. Obi, we have witnesses. We have documentation. We have everything we need to expel you."
Aaron stared at him. "Who is the witness?"
"I can't disclose that."
"Then how am I supposed to defend myself?"
The dean sat back. "You're not."
---
THE HALLWAY – 9:00 AM
Aaron walked out.
Charlie was waiting. "What happened?"
"They're going to expel me."
"What?"
"They have evidence. Fabricated evidence. From an anonymous source."
Oliver stood up. "Rose."
"Rose."
Wesley shook his head. "She's destroying everyone."
Aaron looked at them.
"Not everyone. Just us."
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 9:30 AM
Vicky was on her bed, staring at the wall.
Zizi was reading. Ese was in the corner, her book open.
"I have a hearing tomorrow," Vicky said.
"I know," Zizi said.
"They're going to expel me."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do."
Zizi put down her book. "Then fight back."
"How?"
"Tell them the truth."
"The truth about what?"
"About Rose. About the garden. About everything."
Vicky looked at her. "I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because if I do, she'll destroy me."
"She's already destroying you."
Vicky lay back on her bed.
The ceiling was white. Empty. Silent.
---
THE ABANDONED STUDIO – 11:00 AM
Rose stood alone in the dark.
Kelly walked in. "It's done."
"All of them?"
"Aaron. Vicky. Oliver. Charlie. Wesley."
Rose nodded. "Good."
"What about the others?"
"What about them?"
"Are we going to go after them too?"
Rose turned to face her. "No. We're going to let them watch. That's worse."
Kelly nodded.
Rose walked to the wall. The list. The names. The crosses.
"The garden is safe," she said.
"For now."
Rose smiled. "For now is enough."
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 12:00 PM
Mandy walked in.
Vicky was on her bed. Zizi was reading. Ese was in the corner.
"I heard about the hearing," Mandy said.
"Everyone heard."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know."
"You should fight back."
"Against Rose?"
"Against the system."
Vicky sat up. "How?"
"Tell them the truth. All of it. About the garden. About the Watchmen. About everything."
Vicky was quiet for a long time.
"Rose is protecting people," she said.
"She's destroying people."
"She's protecting herself."
"That's the same thing."
Vicky looked at her. "Why do you care?"
"Because I hate her more than I hate you."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
---
THE PARKING LOT – 1:00 PM
Aaron sat on the hood of his car.
Oliver was beside him. Wesley was leaning against the trunk. Charlie was pacing.
"We're going to be expelled," Charlie said.
"Probably," Aaron said.
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't know."
Oliver looked at him. "You always know."
"Not this time."
Wesley stopped leaning. "Then we fight."
"How?"
"We tell the truth. All of it. About Rose. About the garden. About everything."
Aaron looked at him. "And if they don't believe us?"
"Then we lose. At least we tried."
---
THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING – 6:00 PM
Aaron walked into the dean's office.
Dean Okonkwo looked up. "Mr. Obi."
"I have information about the Watchmen."
The dean leaned back. "I'm listening."
Aaron told him everything. The garden. Rose. The list. The fabricated evidence. The anonymous witnesses.
The dean listened.
When Aaron finished, he said, "You have no proof."
"I have myself."
"That's not enough."
"It's all I have."
The dean nodded. "I'll consider it."
---
THE PARKING LOT – 8:00 PM
Aaron walked out.
Charlie was waiting. "What happened?"
"He said he'd consider it."
"That's not enough."
"It's all I have."
Aaron got in his in car.