Part 3Born Bad: The Twin's Revenge

I found Jacob’s desk. It was in the back, next to the trash cans.

The surface was covered in permanent marker: Retard. Waste of space. Freak. The chair was sticky with glue.

I sat down, my face expressionless.

The other students whispered. "Weird... Jacob doesn't look stupid today. Did he get a brain transplant?"

"Jacob," a boy with glasses walked up, looking terrified. "Mr. Henderson wants to see you."

I stood up. The boy looked at me with pity, like I was walking to my execution.

I walked into Henderson’s office. It was empty.

I started rifling through his desk. Why was a teacher on Jacob's hate list?

The bottom drawer was locked.

"Looking for something, Jacob?"

A greasy voice slithered from behind me.

I turned. Henderson was leaning against the doorframe, his gold-rimmed glasses glinting. He looked like a viper.

He grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. "Bad boys who snoop get punished."

I wanted to snap his neck right there. But I had to play the part.

I cowered, protecting my head. "Sorry! Sorry, don't hit me!"

He slapped me twice. Then he sat in his chair and pulled me onto his lap.

"Baby, I missed you. Why didn't you come to school? Was it because we played too rough last time?"

His hand slid down my back, towards my pants.

I froze.

My brain short-circuited.

This sick, twisted animal assaulted my brother?

Henderson’s breath smelled like rot. "Are you still sore?"

I stood up abruptly, suppressing the urge to vomit.

Henderson narrowed his eyes. "What? Are you defying me now?"

I clenched my fist. Just as I was about to crush his windpipe, the bell rang.

Henderson sighed. "Get to class. We have plenty of time later."