Chapter 2 Friendly Foe

As Zomet walked into school that morning, she did her best to put on a brave face. But inside, she was still reeling from the events of the previous night.

"Hey Zomet!" her friend Alice called out. "You okay? You look kinda pale."

Zomet forced a smile, "Yeah, I'm fine."

As Zomet sat in class, her teacher's voice droned on and on about math formulas, but she couldn't focus. She kept glancing over at the window, half-expecting to see the mafia gang stalking the grounds.

Her friend Alice nudged her under the desk. "Earth to Zomet! Are you even paying attention?"

Zomet quickly snapped back to reality.

"Yeah, sorry," Zomet mumbled, trying to smile again. "I'm just tired, that's all."

But her friends weren't buying it. "Tired? Girl, you look like you're about to jump out of your skin," her friend John said, leaning closer. "Is something going on? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

Zomet bit her lip. She couldn't tell them the truth.

"I'm fine, really," Zomet insisted. "Just a lot on my mind lately, that's all."

Her friends exchanged concerned looks. Alice reached out and put a hand on Zomet's arm. "Look, Zomet, if there's something going on, you can tell us. You know we'd do anything for you, right?"

Zomet smiled at her friends, touched by their concern. "I know, guys," she said. "And I appreciate it, really."

But before she could say more, her teacher cleared his throat. "Zomet, can I speak with you a moment?" he said, beckoning her over.

She tried to keep her voice steady as she approached his desk. "Yes, sir?"

The teacher glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "Zomet, I know you've been through a lot lately," he said, his voice low.

Zomet's heart skipped a beat. Did he know? Was he working for the mafia?

"But it'...it's important that you stay safe. And discreet. You don't want the wrong people finding out about...well, you know."

Zomet's eyes widened. So he did know. She felt like the walls were closing in around her.

"What do you mean?" she whispered, trying to keep her voice calm.

The teacher leaned closer. "I've heard that certain people have been asking questions about you," he said. "They know you're still in town."

Zomet felt like she was going to be sick. "What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

The teacher's expression hardened. "I don't want anything from you," he said coldly. "But I do want to protect the school's reputation. I suggest you keep your head down and don't cause any trouble. Do you understand?"

Zomet nodded, feeling numb. As she walked back to her seat, she could feel the eyes of her classmates on her.

When the bell rang for the end of class, Zomet bolted from her seat and headed straight for the door. She needed to get out of there, away from prying eyes and the feeling that danger was closing in.

But as she pushed through the school's front doors, a cold dread settled in her stomach. What if the teacher had already contacted the mafia? What if they were waiting for her right now?

She made her way down the street, scanning the area for any sign of danger. But she saw nothing unusual, and her anxiety began to ease.

As Zomet walked home from school that day, her heart still pounding from her encounter with the teacher, she was stopped by her friend Kate. "Zomet, wait up!" Kate called out, jogging to catch up. "Hey, are you doing okay? I've noticed you've been distracted in class lately, and your grades have been slipping. Everything alright?"

Zomet tried to smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Zomet replied. "Just...you know, family stuff. It's sorted now."

Kate's brow furrowed with concern. "Family stuff? But I thought your family was..." she trailed off, her voice catching in her throat.

Zomet knew what she was referring to, the tragic incident from her past, (actually Zomet told her that her parents died in an accident), but she didn't want to talk about it. "It's complicated," she said, trying to change the subject. "Listen, I..."

"...I've really got to go," Zomet continued. "My aunt's expecting me."

Kate nodded, still looking unsure. "Okay, but...you know, if you ever want to talk about anything, I'm here for you."

Zomet forced a smile. "Thanks, Kate. I appreciate that."

As she hurried away, she couldn't help but feel guilty for lying to her friend. But what choice did she have? Kate wouldn't understand if she knew the truth.

Finally, Zomet reached the school gate, and to her relief, she spotted Fiona waiting for her. Fiona was her best friend, the only one who knew the truth about her past.

Fiona's eyes widened when she saw Zomet's pale face and trembling hands.

"Zomet, what's wrong?" she asked urgently. "You look like you've seen a ghost!"

Zomet let out a shaky sigh. "I nearly did," she said, her voice low.

Fiona's expression turned serious. "What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes never leaving Zomet's.

Zomet hesitated for a moment, not wanting to relive the events of the previous night. But she knew Fiona deserved to know.

"Last night," she began, her voice trembling. "The mafia found me. They were going to kill me, but this guy showed up and saved me."

Fiona gasped.

Zomet saw the question forming in Fiona's eyes. "I didn't ask for his name," she said quickly, anticipating Fiona's curiosity. "I just got away as fast as I could. But he told me something...something about a guy named Chief Diggs, some kind of retired cop who can help me."

Fiona's expression turned thoughtful. "I've never heard of him," she said, chewing her bottom lip. "Maybe he's legit, maybe not."

Zomet shook her head. "No, I don't think Chief Diggs is the answer. My last experience with the cops was a disaster. They didn't believe me when I told them about the mafia, and it almost got me killed."

Fiona furrowed her brow, her expression serious. "Then we need to think of something else," she said. "And to do that, I need you to tell me everything. What really happened between you and the mafia?"

Zomet recounted the events with a pained expression, the memories still raw and jagged in her mind. "The mafia was running a drug operation, and I called the cops on them. They arrested some of the gang members, but they were released because the mafia had connections in the police force."

She looked Fiona straight in the eye. "When the mafia found out it was me who ratted them out, they went after me. They killed my parents for snitching on them when I was young, and they tried to do the same to me."

"Zomet," Fiona said, her voice quivering with worry, "you have to be careful. Revenge might sound satisfying, but it's not worth risking your life. You almost got killed last night. What happens next time?"

Zomet sighed, her face a mask of frustration. "I know it's dangerous, Fiona, but I can't just sit back and do nothing. My parents died for trying to do the right thing. I have to keep their memory alive."

Fiona shook her head, clearly unconvinced.

"Just be careful," Fiona said, her voice pleading. "You're like a sister to me, Zomet. I don't want to lose you."

Zomet hugged Fiona tightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know," she whispered. "I'll be careful, I promise."

With that, they parted ways. Zomet headed back to her makeshift hideout, her mind whirling with thoughts of revenge and danger.

As she closed the door behind her, she didn't notice the figure emerging from the trees. The man reached for his phone, dialing a number. 'Target's location found,' he said, the words ringing through the air like a death sentence.

Zomet, still unaware of her teacher's duplicity, didn't realize that the man was about to sell her out to the mafia. And the man, her own teacher, had been quietly tracking her every move, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

As Zomet settled in for the night, her mind still racing with all the events of the day, she heard a loud crash from outside. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest.

Before she could even move, the door to her hideout was thrown open, and she was face-to-face with the very danger she'd been trying to escape...