30

He gestured to the simple chair in the center of the sparsely decorated room. “You may choose your punishment tonight. You put the safety of everyone in your class at risk by spilling the blood of Callie Donoghue. As challenging as she may be, you broke a cardinal rule. Blood is a trigger for many of us. And some are less controlled than others.”

“But I didn’t—” I broke off, frustration leaking through my voice. Then I sighed. “Never mind. It’s not like you’re going to believe me anyway. No one else ever does. What are my choices? Polish a crucifix? Write lines from the Bible? How does one repent for something they never did?”