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

"This late? Why would Mr. Simmons want

be back soon," Layna replied, her face all innocent and

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 was glued to

go with you," Carli said, swinging her

Layna whispered, "Okay."

that might

was on duty that

and he could be, but he wanted the best for these kids. Even though he knew most of them only copied their homework or scribbled something nonsense he still graded it carefully, always adding comments in the

wait in the hallway, then she pushed open the office

"Layna, why

in, her expression as sweet as

here a month. You're 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

trouble just to get attention. But not Layna. She was so quiet and

time she'd ever

made his skin crawl. He finally snapped, "Go back to your

and suddenly smiled—a strange, unsettling smile. “Mr. Simmons, I'm leaving tonight.