FANGS IN DISGUISE

THE OPPONENT

CHAPTER FIVE

THE OPPONENT

The air inside the IQ classroom was getting hot and stuffy as everyone struggled to come up with the answer.

Mr. David glanced at the timer.

“The answer?”

“Tomorrow!”

Alexandra and Crystal answered at exactly the same time.

They immediately turned to look at each other.

For a few seconds, neither of them said a word.

“Correct,” Mr. David announced, looking at both girls.

The classroom immediately became noisy.

Everyone wanted to know who had won.

“Who is the winner, Mr. David?” Lexi asked.

Lexi was Alexandra's short name, and she preferred it.

Mr. David looked at the two students.

There were two winners.

But which one was the better student?

The seconds ticked away as everyone waited patiently for the teacher's decision.

Finally, Mr. David closed his book.

“Class dismissed.”

The students immediately began gathering their belongings.

“But we still have two more questions!” Lexi scoffed.

She smiled.

She loved making people uncomfortable, especially when she knew she had a point to prove.

Mr. David glared at her.

Without saying anything, he raised his timer.

“In less than five seconds, I want everyone out of this classroom.”

The students stared at him.

They thought he was joking.

Until he started counting.

“Five.”

Everyone froze.

“Four.”

Students grabbed their bags.

“Three.”

They rushed toward the door.

“Two.”

Before Mr. David could finish counting, the entire class had already disappeared.

Mr. David shook his head.

---

“Wow, Crystal, you are cool!”

Helen gave Crystal a thumbs-up.

Crystal looked at her strangely.

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“You are now Alexander's opponent.”

Crystal's smile disappeared.

She suddenly felt uncomfortable.

There was something strange about Helen's expression when she said it.

“Who is Alexander?” Crystal asked, frowning.

Helen stopped walking.

“You don't know Alexander?”

“No.”

“How can you not know him?” Helen asked, almost stammering in disbelief.

Crystal shrugged.

“Should I?”

Helen stared at her for a few seconds before sighing.

“I'll tell you, but walk faster. We have Criminastics next, and we can't be late to class.”

Helen grabbed Crystal's hand.

They both ran down the hallway as fast as they could.

Crystal tried to keep up as Helen began telling her everything she knew about Vanguard International.

And with every word Helen said, Crystal began realizing something.

Being a student at Vanguard International wasn't going to be as simple as she had thought.

Especially now that she had somehow become Alexander's opponent.