Philosophy of the Rat

As the bell rings, the girls leave the room and you crawl to a corner and breath deep, trying to get your mind back and your body back under control. Your first thought is that you need to get a change of clothing and a wash. You wipe your face and begin to get your strength back, stumbling to your feet.

So this is how it's going to be, you think once your mind is behaving rationally. It's going to be one of the more violent years, and you really can't count on protection. You'll have to do what you can to stay alive. Some time ago, you developed a way of thinking and acting called The Philosophy of the Rat. It's simple, hinging on basic survival. You do what you have to and you plot the downfall of your oppressors behind their backs. You have to smile as you think of your few successes, small things done to remove the truly dangerous ones, including a principal. Sure, she'd never known you were responsible, and certainly, she would have no reason to suspect you, but it's enough for you to know you've done it. Now you've got a whole class full.

What you need are allies. Rats work best in packs.

There's another man working here that you know enough to trust, a janitor who knows the school better than anybody and who is very good at disappearing when he needs to. He's someone you can rely on. Your female allies are more iffy, however. The head of security, although she likes you, can't risk her job. Best not to try her. The science teacher likes you enough to listen, but you don't know if she'd stick her neck out for you. Still, might be worth a try. The leader of the group of girls would be the one to focus on. If she's taken, the whole structure might fall. You gather your things together, at least those that were not damaged, and begin to stumble back in the direction of your own campus appartment, the obvious victim of a vicious attack and not really giving a damn what people who see you think...and pretty much expecting they won't give a damn about your situation anyways.