The Bound Between Us

Chapter 995

Layna was unusually well-behaved today.

She sat quietly through class, and when the bell rang, she just rested her head on her desk, silent and still.

She didn't get involved in the other kids' mischievous plans-like dropping boogers into the teacher's mug, squirting glue on the chair, or rigging a bucket of water above the door. To Layna, those tricks were child's play.

At eight years old, Layna was far more calculating, and far colder, than anyone realized.

Some kids, people say, are just born with a streak of darkness. Maybe that was Layna.

The next day arrived in a blink.

That night, the temperature dropped, and as evening settled in, rain came pouring down in sheets.

In the dorm, Layna suddenly sat up in bed.

The girl in the bunk beside hers was startled awake by the thunder. Seeing Layna getting up, she asked, "Layna, where are you going? It's pouring outside."

There were four girls in the room; Layna was the youngest, and the oldest was twelve.

a sly little grin. "Mr. Simmons wants to see

"This late? Why would Mr. Simmons want

know. Go back to sleep, Carli. I'll be back soon," Layna replied, her face all

here for being too rebellious. She was ten, and before Layna arrived, she'd been the youngest-and the one everyone picked on. Layna once stood up for her, and ever since, Carli

Carli said,

Layna whispered, "Okay."

a plan—one that might finally get her out

office, rain pounding against the windows. Mr. Simmons was

could be, but he wanted the best for these kids. Even though he knew most of

to wait in the hallway, then she pushed open the office door and

stern. "Layna, why aren't

stepped in, her expression as sweet as ever. "Mr. Simmons, I want to

not going anywhere until you turn things around. Your family left you here for a reason, and it's my job to make sure you're ready to go back. Honestly, he could never quite figure this girl out. She looked so innocent, but sometimes she gave

just to get attention. But not Layna. She was so quiet and good, the staff even wondered if her parents had made a mistake

was the first time she'd

for so long it made his skin crawl. He finally snapped, "Go back to

Instead, she stepped closer, locked eyes with him, and suddenly smiled—a strange, unsettling smile.