It took several minutes to calm the boy down, and return the effects of gravity to normal. Once Hanini was able to stand again, he was unsure what to do. His opportunity to speak with Gale openly faded the second someone else walked in. He was trying to make up his mind when the intercom went off.

"Hanini Mahoe, please report to Principal Spencer's office, Hanini Mahoe, report to Principal Spencer's office."

Hanini let out a sigh. There was no way he was getting called to the office about not returning to class quickly enough. They would only be calling him about one thing...

"I'll see you later, Gale." He said, offering the boy a nod before leaving the pool area and making his way to the office.

His heart raced with every step he took. The white, spotted tiles on the ground seemed to warp, getting smaller and larger in sequence, until he stood at the door. What would he say? He couldn't give them any reason to investigate him, or anyone near him. He took a deep breath, and made his way through the door, where there was a police officer standing in front of the Principal's desk. "Have a seat, Hanini." The principal said, seated in his chair as always. Fat bastard never got out of his chair. Hanini couldn't think of a single time he had seen the balding man in the halls.

The boy's heart was now pounding as he took a seat, and his gaze shifted from the Officer to the Principal. "What is it?" He asked, as if he didn't already know.

The officer continued to lean against the desk as he spoke. He was no better than Spencer... "I'm officer Charles, and I'd like to ask you a few questions." He opened a pad and took out a pen. "When is the last time you spoke to your mother?" The officer asked. So he was the one in charge. Hanini thought of Gale, and how she had composed herself when it all went down. He needed to be like her. "Before the riots." Hanini answered calmly.

This seemed to catch the Officer's suspicion, as he stood up straight, and looked down at the boy. "You haven't contacted your mom in three days with everything that's going on?"

Hanini shook his head "It's not that I haven't tried. I went home after school Friday, and she told me to go to the store. But I got caught in the rain and..."

He decided it was best not to tell them he was staying at a friend's house. They would surely want to question that friend.

"When I saw the riots on the news, I rushed home. I looked for my mom, but she wasn't home. I figured she had gotten away, so I found somewhere safe to stay for the weekend I've been calling the house ever since but she hasn't picked up." In the end, there was no way around it. "Are you here because she's looking for me? I was going to go home right after school today. With everything that's been going on, they cancelled after school activities."

The suspicion on the officer's face turned to sorrow as he heard Hanini's story. It seemed he had hit all the right buttons. Gale would be proud. "Hanini, I'm afraid your mother has been killed."

Hanini didn't have to fake the sadness upon hearing the news. He was still fighting with the reality of having lost both his parents. "Are you sure?" He asked. His mind and heart begged his mother to forgive him.

"That's why I'm here." Charles stated. "We need a family member to confirm the identity." Hanini didn't want to go. He didn't want to look at his mother's mangled body again. But it wasn't like he could refuse. "I also want to ask you a few more questions. Where did you stay after you left your home?" He asked.

Hanini shook his head. "I can't tell you that." He said. "They'd get in trouble if their parents found out I was over while they were away." He intentionally avoided confirming whether the home he stayed in belonged to a boy or a girl. Even whether it was one or multiple friends was ambiguous. And the story about protecting them from getting in trouble was easy to understand.

"I see..." Officer Charles said, taking a note in his pad. Hanini had a feeling that if nothing else, he had successfully protected Liz and Gale... A few more questions, and he was getting this things, and on his way out the door behind the Officer. Just in time for class change. Surely the rumors would be flying in no time....