The halls at school seem darker today. And by that, I mean happier and bubblier than usual. Brightly colored posters plaster the brick walls, exuding the fake happiness forced upon us. The place is flowing with joy for everyone except me. It feels eerie and corrupt. Felix walks beside me on our way out of the doors, happy as ever. I roll my eyes and wonder why I’m so different. It would be so much easier if I were like the rest of them.

“Promise me you’ll leave the Kendyl situation alone. She already apologized and sat in the office all afternoon yesterday. If we bring too much attention to the situation we could all end with ropes around our necks. Minors or not. Promise, Orion.”

I don’t look at my brother. He knows his begging won’t help any. I warned him: if she did it again, I was saying something.

Kendyl is a lot like me. She isn’t a conformist, and she plays by her own rules. What sets us apart, though, is her ability to fake apologies and make others believe she truly meant no harm. I couldn’t fake an apology if I tried.

The Constables have had their eyes on her and me. Since we’re minors, we get more chances. But if we don’t have our shit together by the time we’re eighteen, it’s off with our heads. Literally. I turn eighteen in seven days. Dwellers have been taking bets on how long I’ll stay alive.

I see Kendyl walking towards her group of friends and veer off in her direction. Felix groans as he follows me. “I swear Orion, you’re a damn lunatic.”

I hand him my backpack and pick up my pace. “Kendyl!” I shout.

She turns to face me as an audience forms around us. “You better be careful. They’re watching,” she says, twirling her finger around in the air.

“And they have been for a while now. So what?”

“I already apologized and did my time in the office yesterday.”

“Nice, but now you’re dealing with me. You need to leave my brother alone. Spreading rumors about him just because you’re pissed he wouldn’t date you is bullshit. Those rumors caused a lot of shit at home and trust issues with him and our parents.”

“I was angry with him and acted in ways I shouldn’t have. I met with a therapist, and I’m working through my inner turmoil. Maybe you should do the same, Orion.”

And there she goes feeding me and the crowd of classmates with her plethora of lies. I stop listening because the sound of her voice feels like needles jabbing into my eyes. I don’t buy into it. She’d do it again and repeat the same sob story. The Dwellers are also taking bets on how long she’ll last once she turns eighteen. I’ll most likely be hanged right next to her.

I roll up my right sleeve, flexing my hand before making it into a tight fist. I hear Felix’s sharp intake of breath as he realizes what I’m about to do. He may have even just said my name in warning, but I’m not sure. All I concentrate on is connecting my fist with her mouth. Someone has to make her shut up.

My fingers wrap tightly in her hair, pulling her to a halt as she tries to bolt. I use my right foot to kick the back of her legs and tighten my fingers in her hair as I go to the ground with her. I straddle her lap, keeping my right hand in her hair and use my left to punch her repeatedly. My knuckles are sticky and warm from her blood. I’m about to go for her nose when forceful hands pull me off of her and drag me into the school.

“MS. DRAPER, WHY do you find it so hard to control your negative emotions? All we are asking is that you do your best to remain positive. We understand that it is difficult, but this is something you should have control of by now. You were taught this in grade school, and you’re almost eighteen. What is it that makes you so angry? It seems that your fellow classmates are in harmony with one another. Then there is you,” he replied. My principal didn’t like me very much.

“What makes me angry is this, Sir. Hiding our emotions. If someone pisses me off, I’m not going to act as if everything is okay. I’m going to do something about it.”

“But, that is how we live in peace with one another. Showing negative emotions creates a dangerous storm between Dwellers. We strive for peace and harmony. It’s better to let things go. Live in peace. Do you not want that, Ms. Draper?”

I look out the window instead of answering him.

He rustles through some papers on his desk and releases a deep, heavy sigh that seems to linger for several unnecessary seconds. “This will be the third time this year we have to expel you.”

I huff. “Kendyl has to be stopped.”

“She apologized, Orion. You refuse to do the same. Even worse, you inflicted physical pain upon her. That is unacceptable.”

I shrug.

“You’re not supposed to feel angry. That is what has me concerned. We operate in peace. The Constable is now involved because of your actions spiraling out of control.”

The last words he says to me trickle off his tongue in a warning tone. “Orion, I hope one day soon the demons of anger latched onto your soul will leave you, and if you don’t find some way to rid yourself of them, God help your soul.”