Returning to school

There was a month to the annual exams, and then another couple of weeks to the start of the next academic year. Amyra doubled up the intensity of MenMen's schedule. And everyone followed suit. It almost seemed as if they were all aware of what happened at school.

"Do you know," MenMen asked over dinner.

Everyone nodded in reply, not bothering to pause their eating. MenMen sighed as if in frustration, but smiled sweetly as she continued eating as well.

Amyra gave up more than half of her time to the brothers, in the remaining taught MenMen to care for herself. Ada taught MenMen to freely shift her centre of gravity so she wouldn't lose her balance whatever her position or posture. Adi taught her to fight better freestyle, showing her how to increase the speed of her kicks, how to sharpen her punches, how to be even more lethal overall. Em borrowed the tests from the last few years, having MenMen answer one each day. Jem began cooking in MenMen's presence, showing her how to handle flames and knives. He didn't intend to teach her to cook, only to let her be prepared. Kira was silent until the last night.

"Act as you see fit," Kira told MenMen. "Leave the fallout to me. You have fun."

MenMen nodded readily.

"Anyone tries to act up in front of you, kick their knees out from under them. You know how to blow up the joints, so the injury will disappear but the pain will last a long time. Leave a scar over their heart," the brothers said.

"Crush their pride with your incomparable head," Em said. "Crush them under your feet so all they have left is shame."

The most ruthless were Jem and Amyra.

"A proper mix of regular items that you can easily find in the school's kitchen would turn into poison," Jem said. "I'll give you recipes. You can reach out to me anytime, if you want something more specific. Let's not reach for explosives. They're harder to hide the traces of. And unnecessary for a bunch of brain dead kids."

MenMen wondered, for but a moment, if it was normal that no one seemed shocked or scared at the idea.

"Get me their medical histories, if you can," Amyra said.

"I can."

"Good."

Amyra was the most ruthless after all. Not voicing the suggestion was the most frightening.

Finally, Kira gave her the presents. There was fountain pen, to write with. A thin body-suit to wear under her uniform that was the same colour as her skin and wouldn't show itself even if someone looked close. It would offer her protection from sudden assaults. And there was a small pencil that was actually a flame thrower.

"Anyone looks unpleasant, burn their papers," Kira explained. "Don't target the person. The flame isn't strong enough to set them on fire."

MenMen nodded seriously.

"Do you think we are turning her into a psychopathic killer?" Jem wondered aloud. He was the kindest of the lot.

"Does it matter," Amyra asked in reply. "She'd never compare to those juvenile crazy bastards at the academy."

Jem nodded in agreement.

"Burn it all down, and that still wouldn't be too much," the brothers added.

MenMen smiled at them fondly. That was the end of dinner. The next morning, Kira woke her earlier than usual. After she got ready, he drove her to school. Dropping her off at the gates, he stopped her long enough for a brief chat.

"You'll be okay?"

She nodded. "I've learned everything I need."

"I meant it. Do the damage. Leave the explaining to me. Show them hell."

"Are you sure?"

She looked dangerous. He paused a moment before nodding without hesitation. She nodded too, and was off.

She thought back to the conversation from the morning after Kira brought her away from the orphanage.

"Your identity is special," Kira told her. "Your story is more than normal. Even though I cannot tell you now, know that it is special. That also guarantees that you will be experiencing a lot of ugliness directed at you. I want you to experience it before returning home. I want you to be able to bear a toned down version without blinking. Then, I'll know you are ready, and we can return."

The orphanage was bleak, but it was by no means ugly. In comparison, the plush academy couldn't be uglier. The old her would have loved returning to the orphanage. The old her wouldn't care for the ugly world. But she wasn't the old her. She knew there were secrets she wasn't aware of, that she couldn't run away from. She knew there was a good place on the other side of the ugliness. To get there, she had to wade through the ugliness. Knowing this, she had come to the academy. Knowing this, she accepted the bullying. She was toughening herself up. The accident tore out whatever little lingering feelings she had for the old her. She had made peace with the departure of her old self. Now, she was stronger and readier. Now, she would make it across the ugliness more easily.

The school was quiet during exam times. MenMen wasn't surprised at finding the grounds empty. And she felt it was fitting that the first person she encountered was Nana wearing an arrogant grin that gelled well with the blue streaked hair and the almond eyes on the pretty face. MenMen smiled. Nana felt prodded, and reacted with expected violence.

"What's the ugly beggar doing here? You're already recovered? Would you like to taste another car?"

MenMen's smile turned into a grin, her lips parted to show her teeth, which then separated to allow for the tongue to sneak out and lick the lips. It was naked provocation. And Nana didn't disappoint with her reaction.

"Oh? You're all arrogant? Let's wipe that grin off of that ugly face."

Nana swung an open palm toward the side of MenMen's face.

MenMen remembered what Adi told her as she reached for the needle hidden in the sleeve of her jacket. "Needles are beautiful. They damage just as much as you intend them to. They can be just as painful as required. They are instruments of precision. And they are instruments of terror greater than blades." MenMen's smile was one of fondness as she held the needle deftly. When Nana's palm made it half the way, MenMen stabbed the needle into the base of Nana's middle finger. Just deep enough for the shock to register and the hand to freeze.

A moment later, Nana collapsed, clutching her hand and whimpering. The shock was so great and so sudden, her voice wasn't able to form a scream.

MenMen kneeled next to Nana, looked into the scared girl's wide open eyes, and spoke slowly. "We have a test, don't we. Wouldn't it be too painful to write with the finger? Hmm. Let's make it easy on you. If you don't have to write, you wouldn't be burdened."

Waiting long enough for the words to register, MenMen stabbed the needle into the base of the index finger before Nana could react. Just as Nana seemed able to scream, MenMen spoke again, in the same slow and soft voice.

"Should we silence the throat as well?"

And Nana became mute. She was cowering in fear. Her eyes were flooded, and streams rushed down her face. She felt like she was staring at a monster.

MenMen wasn't done, however. "It looks very painful. No. You're too little to bear such a pain. Let's make it better." She was slow this time, with the needle. And yet, Nana remained unmoving. The needle stabbed into the base of the wrist, going in much deeper, and stopping only when faced with the unflinching bone. She let the needle stay a while, before pulling it out even slower. Nana felt like her whole hand was on fire.

"Better, isn't it?" MenMen asked. She was expecting an answer. She stared, grinning and unblinking, until Nana nodded. "Good. But how are you going to explain this. How would they be able to help? Let's make it easy for Ms Nurse."

MenMen picked up a rock the size of her fist, and slammed it into Nana's hand. MenMen was very strong now. There was a crack, as if the rock had crushed Nana's hand. And then, Nana screamed. MenMen waved goodbye at the fallen Nana, and left, a spring in her feet.

"I feel so good," MenMen said to herself. "I'm so ready for the test."