[28] Uncovered

She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to do this...

Despite repeating it to herself, Bianca didn't see an escape from this. Maximilian had presented her with two options in order to reunite evidence against the evil witch: the first one was recording Alexander and Ida from outside Home Economics' classroom, and the other one was directly accompanying them to eat (so she would be physically closer) and record their conversation.

Both ideas sucked, but she inclined more for the former one. At least then she would have enough time to run away in case something went wrong. She had recorded them with her camera from a relatively safe distance, but the only problem was that Ida didn't do anything directly threatening towards Alexander: his clear fear made him 'behave', so the witch didn't have any reason to harm him.

Unless there was an obvious threat, this evidence was useless.

"You'll have to eat with them and provoke her" Maximilian told Bianca later on.

Wasn't it easier to just let Alexander put up with that until summer school ended? There wasn't much time of it left anyway, but something in Bianca told her all this effort wasn't just so Maximilian saved his helpless brother; maybe he hated the idea of Ida getting away with it, and wanted to punish her.

Provoking the witch, and recording her at it was clearly suicidal. But refusing Maximilian's order also was, so she was dead anyways: the real question was... who of the two would give her a less painful death? The answer was clear so she went to provoke the evil witch, obviously.

From now on she'll avoid taking summer classes ever again; if she didn't die first, of course. Bianca went to ask Alexander if she could eat lunch with him and Ida, to which he suspiciously asked her why she wanted to.

"I'll try to get her in trouble" Bianca admitted.

"Uh!? Wha-!?"

Bianca hurriedly shushed him and explained she'd try to bother her (Ida) slightly to the point of being bullied, then she'll record it and show the proof to Principal Thomas.

"The f*ck are you doing that for? Are you crazy?"

"Don't you mind she'll get away with it, getting free food and ridiculing you, without any consequences? Besides, your 'manly honor' will be intact: I'll be the one risking myself".

Alexander stood there silently, thinking about it for a minute before he sniffed, fake-crying. No one has ever worried that much for him besides his deceased and loving mother. He couldn't restrain himself anymore and suddenly hugged Bianca, engulfing her small body completely while smiling like a fool: she was so soft and huggable!

Bianca quickly freaked out and kicked him on his right knee, effectively making him let her go. The boy ignored the slight pain, still very glad he had such a good and forgiving friend, but a bit disappointed for losing such a great source of softness and warmth.

"Sorry I was an ass before! You're truly a saint".

No, I'm not. Bianca thought. If it wasn't for certain brute and protective brother, she wouldn't even think about doing this foolishness: much less for an estranged friend who didn't deserve any forgiveness. But she had a pending moral debt with Mr. Hamington, so she'd pay for it through helping his son.

And then they proceeded with the plan. Maximilian had lent Bianca a small mp3 player, seeing that recording with her camera would be too obvious, and explained her how to use it discreetly. The next day when she entered Home Economics classroom to eat lunch with Alexander and Ida, she was understandably nervous, especially at the suspicious look the witch threw at her.

"You both seem to have a custom of fighting a lot" Ida commented, half-joking.

"It's because he tends to act idiotically" Bianca replied.

Alexander got offended at that, but both girls ignored him and proceeded to take their spots to eat. Ida even shrugged nonchalantly.

"He's a human: he doesn't need to be intelligent" Ida stated.

"Then how would he survive in this world if he doesn't?"

"Doing physical labor. For example, his cooking" She elaborated, raising a spoon of her meal "At least he could work as a decent chef".

"If it was like that, then there wouldn't be any need of humans attending school. No doctors, no lawyers, no business men... there wouldn't be anything".

Alexander was growing more uncomfortable with the current atmosphere, wanting to hide like a turtle on its shell. He also felt very degraded by Ida's initial comment about humans, but didn't say anything in fear she'd retaliate against him.

"Mm... I guess you're somehow right. As humans are the majority of people, some of them should be allowed to be educated and occupy important positions such as... on the medical or researching field. The rest, like this one, should do physical labor".

"Why are you so intent in saying Alexander shouldn't study?"

"Because he has a strong body, and a pretty face. He'd be of more use with his body than his brains; he'd have to lose some weight first though, no one likes a fatty. It's gross".

An humiliated Alexander kept eating his food silently, looking down. Bianca reminded herself not to grimace at the witch's cruel comment, and prepared herself mentally to really start provoking Ida. Her grip in the hidden mp3 player inside her pants' pockets grew harder.

"Are you really Alexander's friend?" Bianca asked her, already knowing the answer.

Alexander lost his ability to breathe for a second, getting scared in Bianca's stead.

"What?" Ida replied, confused.

"I'm asking if you're really friends with him. You're saying awful things about humans, and he's human".

"I'm just stating the truth. And what about you? Who do you think you are, questioning me in that demanding tone?"

Okay, this was getting bad. The mission has to abort. Alexander was regretting agreeing with Bianca to provoke the witch; and the hybrid started to feel the same.

"Girls, don't fight, okay?" Alexander promptly added "Bianca just wanted to..."

"You have to keep yourself away from other people's business, stupid human".

Bianca peeked at Alexander's fearful and hurt expression. Crap, there was no going back to what she was about to do. It was now or never.

"You're clearly not his friend, leave him alone".

"Why would I listen to an insignificant hybrid? You think you have some power over me?"

Ida had long ago stopped eating and has now stood up, leaning towards Bianca menacingly and ready to attack at any moment.

"I-If you do something to Bianca, I won't prepare your meals anymore!" Alexander threatened fearfully.

The witch turned her evil look towards the boy, making him want to pee himself right there.

"Ha! How funny! You believe you have a say in this? Well, let me clarify it: you don't. From the first day I saw you, I warned you to make my meals everyday obediently or else..."

She then grabbed him by his shirt's neck, effectively scaring him to death, but was released when Bianca slapped the witch's arm.

Big mistake.

"You dare touch me!?"

Bianca screeched and ran backwards when the witch pounced on her, clearly angry and barely missing her. Just as she reached the classroom's entrance, Ida pushed her making her fall while Alexander kept screaming like a banshee.

F*ck. Why no one was coming to help with all this noise!?

But before Bianca could recite her last prayer, a big hand appeared out of nowhere and smashed Ida's head against the wall, immediately knocking her out. Her body fell hardly on the floor just a few meters away from Bianca like a sack of potatoes.

"What a conceited b*tch" Her 'savior' spat, revealing himself to be Maximilian.

When Bianca's initial shock vanished, she shrieked in horror remembering what she just witnessed. He had sneakily appeared without anyone noticing him, and knocked a girl out as easily as learning the one-time table.

"Brother! God, so happy to see you!" Alexander said in relief, patting Maximilian's back "Never thought I'd say that, but yeah".

"You're welcome".

Bianca turned to look at an unconscious Ida and shrieked again, crawling away from her. Only then both brothers turned to the scared girl, Maximilian almost rolling his eyes at how sensitive she was but still half smiling at it. Meanwhile, Alexander ran towards her and helped her stand up.

"Thank you so much, Bianca. You're my hero".

He then proceeded to hug a very disturbed hybrid happily, who didn't reciprocate and remained motionless. It lasted a little too long, making Maximilian frown at him and slapped him harshly so he (Alexander) would reluctantly let her go.

Meanwhile, Bianca still replayed the whole event in her mind and glanced at Ida, ignoring the brother's interactions.

She was determined to stay away from them, more than ever. They were abnormal.