Elias's POV

Classes resumed the next morning like nothing had happened.

Like Director Hale wasn't missing. Like we weren't on lockdown. Like Agent Mercer wasn't investigating everyone.

The Academy wanted normalcy. Or at least the appearance of it.

I dragged myself to first period. Advanced Strategy. The professor talked about battlefield tactics while half the class stared out the window.

No one was paying attention. Everyone was thinking about the lockdown. About going home. About when ...