The seasons were changing, and Candi was growing very unhappy in her new environment. Suspicions of Meethlite activity were everywhere! She had only the minister, Wilbur, for understanding and support. Yet, she couldn't tell him everything!

Whom could she trust? Was Donte really dead? And if so, who could ever be there for her? She passed through the halls of the Scarr Building* with overwhelming loneliness.

What she'd encounter next wouldn't help matters any.



A phantom scream! It was tiny, but her ears perceived it. Something evil was going on in the classroom nearby! She had to listen in, but how could she without getting caught?



She'd invested in numerous tricks to her identity, fake glasses and even fake freckles. But she felt the disguise would only continue so long. As she put her ear next to the wall, she listened intently. What she heard was anything but what she wanted to hear!



It was Emille!!! The girl that had grieved Candi so much in high school was back! She was now a teacher at Viron; and she was arguing with none other than the most sinister professor Candi had yet encountered on campus—Yuri Krennt!

Yuri: "What rot! What do you mean that girl simply escaped?"

Emille: "The Meethlites didn't find her!"

Yuri: "Hmmm..."



Yuri: "Purpose-driven nonsense! That girl is a thorn in both our sides! I have little doubt that this Candice Flippo IS the Gifted One!"

Emille: "Neither do I! Though, we shouldn't give up searching for her sister Miriam. That twit is now Sniperbadger! Why Gunner and Skellig didn't finish the task Arfaas gave them is beyond me!"



Yuri: "This simple-minded twit will exhaust herself! If she tries to hide, she'll be found!"

Emille: "I had her removed from more than one website, but I won't rest until she is completely gone! Meethlites or not, I don't want this girl breathing!"

Yuri: "Easy! We don't know who is overhearing us!"



Yuri: "She could be...right outside this door!"

Tan...bleach...what would Candi do about her skintone? Emille knew who Candi was; and not even the glasses and last name of Stevens would fool her!

Yuri, she had been able to fool. But with Emille, she was trapped! And sure enough, she had overheard them talking. They hadn't revealed anything other than that they were aware of the murder of Erin. But still, they were conspirators who were after her! Candi grew desperate - where would she turn for cover?



Just what Candi needed—Merdie showed up!

Merdie: "Hey there!"

Candi: "Shhh!!!"

Merdie: "What?"

Candi: "Just...stay there!"



A nervous Krennt, following the lead of Emille, opened the door to check. To his surprise, Merdie, not Candi, was right outside!

Yuri:(enraged) "Insignificant pig!!! What are you doing here?"

Merdie: (calm) "Oh, nothing in particular."



Believing that Merdie had heard everything they were talking about, Krennt dragged her into the classroom!

Merdie: "Oh! A kidnapping stunt! Am I on Candid Camera?"

Emille: "What does she know?"

Krennt: "Hard to say! But I have a feeling she wasn't the only one that heard us!"

Emille gazed at Merdie, emotionless.



Candi panicked as she made her way down the steps. She felt guilty for having set up a fellow classmate to Meethlite spies. But on the same token, how would anyone believe her for accusing a teacher? To accuse, she'd have to go public, and that would threaten everything she loved that was still living!



Candi made it all the way down to the first floor, near the passageway that led to the theater, and caught her breath. She would not be able to forever disguise herself! She had to face the evil around her sooner or later! But with whom for an ally?

The blandness of the cinder blocks around her began to resemble a prison.



This figurative prison resembled the one her heart was in. If there was a way out, she hadn't found it yet! How would she be able to navigate if there were more Meethlite spies? Leaving Gerosha, alas, hadn't made her any safer!



Priya: "Oh, Candi! What are you all bent out of shape over?"

Candi: "Ur...uh...nothing! Just...you know...some punk from Detroit giving me trouble."

Priya: "And how'd it go down?"

Candi: "Uh...his girlfriend tied into him."

Priya: "The usual! Sorry about that."

Candi: "See you in class."

Priya: "Yep, I'll see you."



"Over here!" a man waved at her. Who could this man be?

Candi: "Yes?"

Denny: "Your name's Candi, right?"



Candi: "What's it to you? Mr...."

Denny: "Levens! Denny Levens!"

Candi: "Fine, Denny...what's going on???"

Denny: "Shhh!!!!"



Denny: "I know what Krennt is up to up there!"

Candi: "What?

Candi had to admit in her heart that she did find this new stranger quite amusing - if not charming. But she still wasn't sure she could trust him!

Denny: "You're very beautiful and all, Miss Stevens, but not all of us are as naive and moronic as the majority of dregs who go here!"

Candi: "What's that go to do with anything?"

Denny: "Let's just say that I've had a few bad run-ins with Meethlites and their spies as well. You match the physical description of the missing Candice Marie Flippo!"



Candi: "You can't be serious!"

Denny: "Relax! I know you don't know me, but if I've deduced so easily who you are...they'll eventually figure it out as well!"



Candi: "What'd you ever do to get them after you?"

Denny: "Well...let's just say that when I discovered who they were, I stopped trading with them..."



Candi: "You're a supplier?"

Denny: "Shhh!!! Yes, I used to give them some of my inventions...but no drugs! Come with me!!!"

Candi's phantom screech danger sense didn't go off around him, but she was still uncertain as to whether or not he could be trusted. She decided to follow him anyway. She could easily defeat him if he proved trouble.


* The "Scarr Building" is a parody of the Starr Building at Ferris State University.