One foot above another, I told myself. As I went higher, footholds became smaller, making it harder for me to ascend. But I was determined to make it to the top. I won't fall. Not again.

"You have a visitor," my climbing instructor's voice sounded though the comms device in my ear. "Let go."

"Tell them to wait, whoever it is," I spoke back. "I'm gonna make it this time."

"You can come back later," he said. "You're late for school."

"I'm almost there."

"You can't do it. The route you've followed ends there and-" I removed the comms and flung it over my shoulder.

"That was rude!" he yelled up from the ground.

"Would you shut up?" I shouted back. I turned my attention back to the mountain.

My arms were exhausted and my hands were sweating. My fingers found a handhold and I tried to pull myself up. The rock crumbled. And I fell.

The harness around my waist slowly lowered me onto the ground. "Told you," my instructor smirked as he unhooked the harness from my belt.

"You know, most people prefer to sleep in on their birthday," a voice said from behind me. "That's what I would do."

I turned to find myself face to face with my closest friend, Beca. Her golden hair were held back by a hairband. She had a cupcake in one hand. "Here's your birthday gift, freshly stolen from the cookhouse."

Rebecca LeBeau was perhaps one of the only ones who hadn't labelled me as a troublemaker the moment she met me. One of the only ones who wasn't friends with me just because they took me for one of the kids who think they are above the rules, but because they knew who I am.

And who was I? A troublemaker.

"Thanks, you cheapskate," I joked.

We walked back to the school. "Wait for me in the Hut, I'm gonna go take a quick shower," I said before dashing towards our dorm.

***

I walked down to the big dining room of the school. We kids called it 'The Food Hut'. We all respected the place. After all, it survived The Great Food Fight, a year back. I was in detention for two weeks after that. In my defence, it wasn't completely my fault.

Atleast fifty kids were in there joking around, some boys trying to blow bubbles in their milkshakes with their noses.

"Hey Max!" Anthony McAdams called out.

"Mornin', Mack."

"Merry Christmas."

"Excuse me?" I glared at him.

His eyes widened as he realised what he had done. "I'm so sorry!" he said. He covered his head with his hands.
"Please don't kill me," he added jokingly.

"I won't if you amend your mistake."

"I'm sorry, missy. Happy birthday."

Being born on a holiday is terrible. Every year, I get only one gift from each person. "This is for Christmas and your birthday!" they say, all cheerfully, like it's the best thing to happen to me.

I have this rule. If any of my friends wish me Merry Christmas before they wish me for my birthday, I break their nose (Or make them my slave for a few weeks. That works too).

"Thank you. You have been forgiven," I said. "By the way, have you seen Beca?"

"Yup, she was sitting with us for some time before Principal Lee took her to his office. Said he wanted to speak to her."

"That's weird. We haven't messed up for about a month now," I said, munching on a sandwich.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Except in art class," I added. "Anyway, she didn't pull some prank without me, did she?"

"I have no idea."

"You, are completely, utterly useless, you know that Mack?"

"Thank you for your criticism," he said sarcastically.

Idiot.

I grabbed a strawberry and walked towards the principal's office. I saw Bobby Rogers getting a lecture in science lab. "You need to exercise restraint, Bobby. I have the feeling that you can do much better than mixing highly reactive elements together on purpose, just to disrupt the class," I heard the teacher say.

I smirked and walked on. Bobby had asked me for advice on pulling a prank and I had specifically told him to make it seem like it was an accident. That's what happens when you don't listen to me.

I reached the end of the corridor and saw Beca with Lee in the office. I decided to wait outside.

I didn't mean to, but I could overhear their conversation.

"It's up to you now Miss LeBeau. Break the news slowly to her and it'll be fine," I heard a deep voice say. That's Lee.

"But sir, I can't do that to her. I don't want to be the rain on her parade. She's already nicknamed me Bad-News Beca. I'm not good at this, sir. Why can't you or anyone else do it? Why me?" I heard Beca say.

"Because, I have noticed that without you around to hold her back, she is prone to losing her temper quickly. And if I do it, I'm afraid she might throw something at me," He paused for a moment. "So, it has to be you, LeBeau."

I had a gut feeling that they were talking about me but I forced it down. It could be anyone, right? It could be Kim or Maggie or Maddie or anyone else.

But I'm riiight! Gut said.

Shut up, Gut.

"Fine," Beca said after a long pause.
"But I can't guarantee that I'll be able to do it."

"Try," Lee replied.

I heard the shuffling sound of chairs so I went and sat on the waiting chair furthest from the door, pretending to be engrossed in the school newspaper.

Beca exited the office. She had a worried expression on her face. She didn't even notice me sitting there.

I folded the newspaper and placed it on the table. I walked up to her and spoke into her ear. "Knock-knock. Hello, miss? I'm gonna have to ask you to exit the dreamland."

Her worried expression was immediately replaced by her usual dazzling smile. "Hey Bebe! Didn't see you there. Have you packed yet?"

"Huh? For what?"

"We go home today." She paused. "Sorry, you go home today. Remember?" She corrected herself.

Beca was an orphan. Her parents died in a car crash when she was nine. She stayed at school during holidays.

Shoot, I thought. I forgot to pack.

"I forgot," I replied. "Shouldn't they remind us?"

"They did."

"When?"

"When we were decorating. It was announced on the loudspeaker. You were busy putting wet paper on Bobby's seat."

"Oh." I didn't remember any announcement, but I surely remembered Bobby jumping up from his seat, the back of his pants wet and me, Maggie, Maddie, Kim and Mack's gang laughing till our sides hurt.

"Hello? Earth to Bebe," I heard Beca's voice say, which made me snap back to present.

We reached the Hut and joined the others at our table. Kim had joined the group.

"How was the lecture?" I asked Bobby. He acknowledged me with a scowl.

"Hello people!" I heard a voice say. I turned around. RJ. Of course.

Robert Jones Junior. Captain of the soccer team. Head Boy. Idiot. Always has to be the center of attention. Idiot. Obedient kid, only in front of teachers. Did I mention that he's an idiot?

"A+ for the Captain!" he announced as he slammed a test paper down on the table. He high fived the boys and sat down.

"Speak louder, RJ. The fifth floor didn't quite hear you," I said sarcastically.

"Aw, lookie here! Miss Max is jealous."

"Shut up, RJ," Kim ordered. For some reason, he did.

Kim gasped. "Did someone record this? RJ actually listened to someone! History has been made!" She paused and continued in a reporter-like voice. "So Mr.Jones, you just created history. What are your feelings right now? Do you have any message for our viewers?"

RJ played along and stood up on his chair. "I never thought I would achieve this even in my wildest dreams. I would like to thank my family, my friends for supporting me and for being there for me when I needed them."

He pretended to tear up a little. "I would like to tell the viewers that if you can do anything if you work hard. In my case, I finally achieved shutting up and listening to someone. Thank you and good night y'all!"

Why am I friends with these idiots?

Over the laughing and cheering, I heard the loudspeaker crackle. I told them to pipe it down and heard Lee's voice. "All students are required to be present at the school assembly hall immediately."

We groaned and started walking towards the hall. Usually, assemblies are called when Lee wants to give long, boring speeches about some stuff we don't even care to listen to.

We reached there first and took our usual seats in the fifth row. Lee climbed up the stairs to the stage.

"Settle down, children." He said. We did.

He was wearing his usual weird shirt with flowers on it. Always with the flowered shirts.

"I would like to start by congratulating our football team for maintaining the winning streak of our school, Blue Ridge, against our sister schools. A round of applause for them."

A hearty applause followed. We all hated the other Ridges; Yellow, Green and Red. We form the Ridge Schools. Those schools are filled with snobs. Next year we can go to The Ridge Academy, where all the Ridges will go together. No one looks forward to it.

Lee raised one hand and we calmed down.

"I know all of you are excited to go home to your families, but it is my duty to remind you not to get into any trouble over our two week holiday. I do not want any more meetings with the authorities," he said with a pointed look at Mack.

I guess he continued to speak about some other stuff, but I couldn't stop my mind from wandering. I couldn't wait to see Dad. I couldn't wait to see my birthday cake with a million candles on it. I couldn't wait to open my gifts under the tree and hunt for my birthday gift. Each year, Dad hid my present somewhere in the house and left me clues all over the place. This started when I was about five, when I told him I wanted to become a detective. He used to do this for me and my sister.

Sister.

The word caught me off guard - again.
It's been years since she died, yet the pain is still fresh. It comes and hits me out of nowhere, sometimes making me almost cry.

The memory was still fresh in my mind. How can I forget?

"Boo!" yelled RJ, which made my mind snap to the present.

"What happened? What did he say?" I asked Maddie.

"We have to make a presentation on The Great Wars while we're away."

"What? Boo!" But secretly I was happy. The hours spent secretly reading would finally pay off.

"Alright children, I think that's it. The buses are waiting outside. Grab your bags from your rooms and get outta here. Give your teachers some peace," said Lee.

"No, Principal Lee! We're gonna stay here and annoy you for life!" someone from the back shouted. I turned. Kurt. Easy for him to say. He's failed thrice.

We exited the auditorium. I ran for my dorm. I had to pack all my stuff.
Luckily, I hadn't unpcked completely when I reached here two days ago. It's a school tradition, sending the children home for Thanksgiving and making us come back two days before Christmas and sending us back again. But no classes. We just have to help out in the school-- put up decorations and stuff to prepare for Christmas. They say it is to 'channel our energies into something positive and productive'. Which basically means that they just want to keep us from pulling some wacky stunts and getting ourselves arrested.

I looked at my bed and assessed my options. I could leave some stuff. But that would mean an invitation to the kleptomaniacs in the school. No time to fold clothes neatly. So I did what I always do. I collected my possessions in a big heap and tossed them in the suitcase.

As I was wrestling my bag shut, Kim entered. "Hey."

"Hey. Can you give me a hand here please?"

After I'd successfully locked my bag, Kim turned to me and gave me a hug.
I tried not to flinch. I kind of have a phobia of any sort of physical contact with anyone.

"I'll miss you," she whispered.

I looked up to see her wiping tears from her eyes.

"What happened, Kim?"

"Nothing."

I rolled my eyes. "Seriously?"

"It's just that... My dad remarried and now my stepmom has convinced him to send me into some snobby prep school. The kind where children of rich leaders and government Officials go."

"Oh." I couldn't think of any other response. "I'll miss you too."

She wiped her tears again and gave me a smile. "You'll come visit me, right?"

"Yeah. For sure."

The door opened and the twins walked in giggling. I grabbed my bag and my backpack and walked out. I did not want to listen to them fawning over some boy.

I reached the entrance and looked back. Everyone was saying their bye-byes and see-you-laters. I waved to the others.

I climbed into the bus with them. As it reached the main gate, I looked back at the big sign saying 'The Ridge Schools for Juvenile Delinquents' along with the school logo. I really liked that place. I can almost forget the stuff happening in the world outside.

The buses dropped off some kids at the train station. I waved bye to my friends.

Now that I was finally alone, my thoughts wandered. I realised Beca didn't come to see me before I go. I thought about the morning, when I overheard her conversation with Lee.
I wondered what was that 'bad news' and why was it so important and why Lee couldn't tell me himself. I certainly do not throw stuff. Mostly.

They're expelling you, my brain told me.

He might be right, Gut agreed.

Shut up, you both, I thought. I didn't screw up for weeks.

The bus screeched to a halt. I looked outside. Had we reached already?

I looked out the window. Broken, crumbling buildings, scars of war on the earth, but the bus station was nowhere in sight.

I heard voices. I looked behind and saw people in black uniforms and helmets checking the buses behind us. The Kreaners. I felt my body stiffen and the muscles tense. I tried to relax.

You've done nothing wrong now. They won't do anything to you, I told myself.

One was talking to the bus driver.

"It's closed, okay?" said the Kreaner.

"But sir, we're already halfway there. Please. Let us pass," the driver pleaded.

"Look, lady, I already told you once," the Kreaner said through gritted teeth, "The road ahead is closed, you hear me? Closed. Now turn your damn buses and use the other route."

"But it's another hour's journey. Please-" She noticed his expression. "Yes sir, I understand."

"We have to do a security check, first."

"Yes, sir."

He and two other Kreaners entered the bus. They checked the kids, their bags, purses, everything. The worst thing was that they had no respect for privacy. They turned the bags inside out, exposing all of their contents. Undergarments, diaries, everything.
A girl from Red - Lacey, I think - blinked away tears when they reached her bag.

My muscles tensed again as they moved towards the back of the bus. My hand moved towards my shoe, where I always kept a knife concealed under the sole, just in case.

They reached me. I kept my gaze down, at my hands folded on my lap, like we were supposed to.

"Bag," a Kreaner ordered.

I kept my head down and cringed. I recognised that voice. It was the Kreaner who had arrested me. Twice.

"Bag," he repeated impatiently.

It took me a second to realise that he was talking to me.

"I'm sorry." I handed him my suitcase and my backpack.

"Open it," he ordered. I obeyed.

"Let's see what we have here, shall we? You aren't carrying anything illegal, are you?" he said.

I bit my tongue to keep from swearing. "No sir."

He turned my backpack upside-down. My school books and some other things fell down on the seat.

He rummaged through my belongings and found nothing.

"Well, I guess that's it," he said. "Did I miss something?"

"I don't think so, sir," I replied, keeping my head down.

"Your jacket."

"I- I'm sorry?" I was glad he couldn't see my face. He would see the strain of being polite.

"Your jacket, girl. Who knows what you're carrying in there?"

I stood up and took off my hood. My hair came undone and fell over my shoulder. I removed the jacket and handed it to him. Unfortunately, removing the jacket exposed my face.

"Girl, look at me," he ordered. I did. "Have I seen you before somewhere?"

I stayed quiet.

"Aren't you that girl from the firecracker incident? Betty, isn't it?"

"Beatrix."

He checked the pockets of my jacket and pulled out a square piece of paper. It was a photo of my sister, Zinnia.

"Who's this?", he sneered. "Your..." He made air quotes with his fingers. "'Special friend?'"

I clenched my fists. I was ready to punch him.

"Hey Carter, we're done here," a Kreaner called out to him from the front.

The Kreaner - Carter - met my eyes. I smirked. He scowled and exited the bus.

I breathed a sigh of relief and packed up my belongings. I felt the buses turn.

***

It was a long journey, but we we made it in time for my bus to Fayetown. As I sat down on my seat, I thought about how much I hated the Kreaners. They were responsible for maintaining law and order in the country. Bunch of idiots who liked to boss people around. I'd punch one if I could get away with it.

I cast that thought aside and looked out the window. We were passing through one of the rare stretches of green land. I sighed and closed my eyes. It was a long road. I was getting sleepy. I fell asleep to the gentle rocking of the bus.

***

Hey guys! Hope you liked it so far!

A word about me first: I'm a wannabe writer with big dreams. Until now, the only things I've written are mostly fanfic (Not on Wattpad). This is my first original work so I'm super excited about this! I hope you guys like it and support me.

If you have any suggestions for the story please feel free to DM me. I would absolutely love to hear your views.

And watch out for my next chapter next month.

PS. The cover is temporary. I will update it as soon as it is ready.

***

Cover update: Oh. My. God. It is wonderful!
It was done by the awesome MsftSavages. Thank you sooooo much!