Chapter 1

I remembered it vividly, replaying in my head again and again like a scene from a movie on replay.

Nothing could distract my thoughts, leaving my head in pain.

A woman with brown hair advanced towards me, her face gave the impression that she was deranged, in fact her whole being gave that impression. I didn't know this person but I knew who she was before this moment. Tears built up in my throat as confusion clouded my thoughts.

She had a sharp knife in her hand, the one with the black bracelet that she never took off. Just like everybody else's except theirs was golden one.

"I-I'm so sorry for giving birth to you...", her voice was cracking all over the place and a sole tear fell down her cheek as she plunged the knife at me.

It must have been the quiet of the library that made it so easy to think about this. My only option was to leave, so I promptly left after packing away the sole book i borrowed.

It was always like this during her death anniversary.

My business class bustled loudly with students as the teacher finally strode. His grumpy face as welcoming as always.

The class silenced as he started to begin his lecture.

Mr Nathaniel, a tall and chubby man who had a permanent frown on his face. He was our business teacher as well as the previous generation, but back then he must have pretty young because before us was a man in his fifties.

He was a normal teacher for all students albeit a bit strict and by many respected. His tidy appearance signified no abnormalities but there sat three bracelet on his left wrist that he was unaware of. That most people were unaware of.

In this classroom there were three people with black bracelets.

One was Mr Nathaniel.

I had many hypothesis' about why people have these bracelets as opposed to the golden ones that the majority of society had.

They were a small thin strand, thicker than a hair and shouldn't be spoken about. The image of the deranged woman flashed before me making me shiver.

Should never be spoken about.

A paper was suddenly put in front of me, breaking me out of my thoughts. A slender arm, clean and nicely maintained for a boys. I knew who it belonged to, but I still glanced up.

He smiled warmly at me, blonde glossy hair that curled slightly and deep green eyes that bewitched all, regardless of sexuality. He was the schools heart throb, the teachers pet and the golden boy all in one. Kevin Wright; black bracelet number two.

He was also the only person who treated me nicely, however, in retaliation I shivered in his presence. The long row of bracelets across his arm always made me squirm.

In my entire lifetime I had never seen anyone with such an amount and I couldn't help but shiver at the fact that I shared two classes with him.

"Oi Nathaniel! What's this shit about a group project!", a boy with black hair and a tan complexion shouted from the back of the class. Everyone was quiet. Fear evident in all our faces, well... at least that's what I would assume, but Mr Nathaniel and Kevin seemed calm.

George Dame, the bad boy, except he was worthy of the name unlike the other few that loitered the school. Everyone was aware of the fact that he was a bully that would stop at no means to make his victims life miserable. He was a rumoured addict, although that wouldn't be surprising with the amount in school. He was also a rumoured murderer which could be true going by one of my many theories on why some people had black bracelets.

Black bracelet number 3, George Dame.

"You see correctly, so stop making such a racket!", Mr Nathan screamed, his face reddened. He seemed to hold a rather obvious anger towards George since the beginning of the year.

"I'll be reading out your groups now", Mr Nathan was giving out groups slowly and pointing out a place for them to sit. "Elliot Hamper", I stood up, "Kevin Wright and George Dame", we were the last group probably because of George.

The boys went to the assigned area calmly but I found myself hesitant. I wanted avoid getting involved with anyone with a black bracelet. I already figured that Mr Nathan wouldn't change our group anyway, so it would make no difference. My only option was to avoid getting too involved. They couldn't kill me in plain sight anyway.

"Hamper! You coming or not?!", George barked at me. I was surprised he even knew my name as I rushed over to a seat. I gave them both an awkward smile and sat down.

"Sorry", i said, facing George mostly. I found it hard to turn to Kevin. He scared me more than George.

I remember when he approached me back when we first had business class together. He was the only one who openly approached me and I honestly wanted him to leave me alone. Back then I would shake in his presence but now I would only tremble occasionally.

As much as I hated to agree to it, I was a good murder victim.

I've attended school in the same area so most people I saw around already knew about my past and found it almost comical and of course uncomfortable to be exposed to. Thus, I became akin to an outcast.

My relatives also openly despised me and Jennifer, my cousin, made sure everyone in school knew that. So if I disappeared nobody would care, except maybe a few teachers who believed I was the only one who might graduate with decent results.

I looked down at the assignment, reading it carefully. Once I understood it I raised to head to find a patient Kevin and George who looked extremely conflicted with what he was reading.

"If you've read through the contents already then I'd like to inform you that this presentation is working towards your final grade for this year", I felt my blood chill. I have to get a good grade on this, "research and analyse from each of your perspective and intermingled perspectives as to why each company failed to be a going concern...", he went on and on about aspects to be touched.

To say the least, the group was actually easy to work with. George was also engaging in and of course the golden boy seemed to bring in an interesting perspective.

The class finished and we got ready to pack up only to be interrupted by George.

"Should we all carry on at lunch tomorrow or what? This is important right?"

My breath hitched as he turned to ask me the question.