The cafeteria buzzed with students grabbing lunch, but nobody sat near Drake. He picked at his food, ignoring the sideways glances. His fork scraped against the tray - the only sound at his lonely table.
Then came the crash of a tray slamming down.
"Ugh," groaned Xian Lee, wrinkling her nose at Drake like he was something rotten. "Another damn Null stinking up the place."
Drake didn't even look up. "Piss off."
Alexis Knight adjusted his glasses as he slid into the seat next to her. "Don't mind her. She calls all guys Nulls."
Xian twirled a strand of bubblegum pink hair around her finger, grinning. "Cause that's what you are. Disgusting, useless things." She poked Drake's forehead hard. "You especially."
The fork bent slightly in Drake's grip. "Do that again and I'll break that finger."
"Ooh, scary," she mocked, but pulled her hand back.
Alexis cleared his throat. "She's not wrong about one thing though. You being here... unaffiliated, unawakened at your age..." He trailed off meaningfully.
Xian tossed a crumpled note onto Drake's tray. "Probably why psycho Maya wants to play with you. Lab 4B. Tonight."
Alexis stiffened. "Xian, don't-"
"What?" She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Mad Scientist Frey loves her freaks. Maybe she'll finally cut open a guy worth looking at."
---
Drake shoved the note in his pocket as he left the cafeteria, the paper crinkling loudly.
"You shouldn't go," Alexis said, suddenly beside him.
Drake snorted. "Why? Cause she's 'obsessive'?"
"Because last term," Alexis lowered his voice, "she kept some kid in Lab 4B for twelve hours running 'tests'. When they found him, he was shaking and babbling. Gone within two days."
Xian popped up behind them. "Oh please, he was fine! Just a little... drained." She smirked at Drake. "But you? Unaffiliated and barely registering? She might actually kill you."
Alexis shot her a glare. "This isn't funny."
"Everything's funny when it happens to Nulls," Xian sang, skipping away.
---
Maya's office was a mess of glowing screens, all showing Drake's test results. She chewed her thumbnail, staring at the numbers that didn't add up.
"This can't be right," she muttered to the empty room.
The door creaked open without warning.
"Maya." Principal Winston's voice made her jump. "My office. Now."
---
Winston's office was all cold efficiency, just like the man himself. He tossed Drake's file on the desk with a slap.
"Explain."
Maya stood stiffly. "His readings don't make sense. The evaluation pod was fine, I checked. There's no way-"
"I know the numbers," Winston cut in. "Why the obsession?"
"Because it's impossible!" Maya's hands clenched. "Cores don't just-"
"Enough." Winston stood, looming over her. "His records are clean. Drop this. Now." His voice turned dangerous. "One more unauthorized test, one more glance his way, and you're gone. For good."
---
The hallway to Lab 4B was too quiet, Drake's footsteps echoing. He hesitated at the door, his hand hovering.
Lab 4B. The place sounded like a trap. But if Maya knew something, he had to risk it.
He pushed inside.
The lab was dark except for one glowing screen - his test results, that damn 0.52 flashing like a warning.
"You came," Maya said without turning.
"You wanted answers," Drake said flatly.
"I want the truth." She finally faced him. "That reading change was impossible. The pod was-"
"Broken," Drake interrupted. "Like they said."
Maya's eyes narrowed. "That's what they want you to-"
The lights blazed on.
"I believe I was clear." Winston stood in the doorway, face like thunder.
Maya didn't back down. "You can't hide this! That boy isn't-"
"Enough!" Winston's shout made the glassware rattle. "Drake. Leave."
As Drake walked out, Maya's final words followed him:
"He's not just weak. He's wrong."
The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Drake alone with that sick, twisting question:
What the hell am I?