An ellipse of several months.

Christmas is coming. It's the first time I'll spend it without Papinou. I sigh as I reread the Christmas postcard from my parents. It's the only news we've had from them since school started. They are basking in the sun. Mélia and I are condemned to stay alone at school. We are not even allowed to visit our cousin and her parents. Our parents don't deign to give us permission to go out. I know that my uncle has offered to take us in and pick us up for the holidays. Fortunately, my two stupid parents don't stop us from writing to our cousin. Our little baby Mélia and I.

I'm in my sister's room. Lying in the width. My feet in the air. The four Kawai scoundrels descend on me under the pretext that my gloom is dampening the mood of their workshop creating personalised cards. Mélia makes one for our baby and her parents. I walk out of the room grumbling and threatening that the first person who sends me a little cat or unicorn will eat her card. They laugh, not at all frightened. My little girl sent me a card full of glitter that melted all my credibility in terror. My Kawai know that I'm not actually a bad person. I'm just very grouchy.

I pass the basketball team on my way to the stables. I try to pass without being spotted. Not that I don't like them, on the contrary, they're quite nice apart from Maltez. I don't feel like talking to anyone today. I know I'm in a bulldog mood with a toothache. Bad luck, Blaise sees me and runs to kidnap me. He needs my feminine opinion on a crucial subject. I immediately get scared. I see a pile of girls' magazines in front of them. Although a little panicked, my curiosity gets the better of me.

— What are you doing? Don't tell me that Maltez has finally decided to give himself a makeover

— No way, silly. Stop looking for lice. I'll think you're in love and I'll get jealous, sweetheart. Nah, we're looking for presents for the girls. We've nicked some magazines from them, though, so we've run out of inspiration. Please, please, please. Help us, my little sweetheart, my princess Xena, please. Please, please, please. Please, Blaise begs me, clasping his hands together.

He is so comical that I cannot resist. Some of my bad mood fades away in front of his cocker spaniel eyes. He has a way of making me laugh like Melia. So I sit on his lap, next to Thibaut. He puts an arm around my waist. He pulls the magazines in front of me.

— Well then. Budget. Girl. Affection level. We're going to do this efficiently.

I'm doing my drill sergeant. Blaise starts with his sister. Easy. Kigurumi pyjamas, cat or unicorn. Maltez follows with his sweetheart. Bottle of the latest luxury perfume. The guys make their requests one after the other. I give them all an answer that delights them. I learn that Thibaut has a crush on Clarissa. I can't help but wince at his bad taste. But, like a good friend, I recommend a Swarosky bracelet that will delight the girl.

— What about you, Farmer? What would make you happy?

Maltez is looking for a fight. Clearly. You can see it in his eyes. Any other time, I'd be laughing at him. Right now, I'm not in the mood. I hand him the postcard angrily.

- Others parents.

Then I run away so that the boys don't see me crying with rage. I run towards Grumpy and climb on him bareback. I throw him into a gallop. I need breath. I see the boys coming running. They want to apologise, to console me. This is not my plan. My wonderful stallion runs at them and jumps. I don't feel like talking. Melia has already told them all about our family. I refuse to be weak. I have to isolate myself if I don't want to explode with anger. We run across the yard. We leap over school bags and students with ease.

Once away from them, in the forest next to the school, Grumpy starts to pace himself. I tell him about my misfortunes while he grazes on the rare grass he finds. I bang my fists on the tree trunks. I scream my anger. Noise is heard. We both listen carefully. I quickly climb onto my faithful steed. We wait, hidden behind some trees. Naya and Prince. They are looking for us. I don't want her to see me in a weak position. I give the signal for Grognon to leave.

— Megan. Wait a minute, wait a minute. Are you all right?

Too late. Grognon reacts immediately. He gallops off immediately. I hear Naya chasing me. Prince is faster but less enduring and agile. I zigzag to wear him down. Fortunately, Grumpy and I are in symbiosis, I didn't even take the time to put reins or a saddle on him. I point him in the right direction with my hands and my voice. We reach the heart of the forest. We have lost them.

I get off to let Grumpy breathe. I give him a hug to congratulate him. He grazes quietly in this green area spared by the snow. Sitting at the foot of a tree, I observe the birds, squirrels, foxes and deer that pass by. The peaceful nature calms me. Eventually I fall asleep. I am awakened by the worried neighing of Grumpy.

It's the dark night. I have slept for several hours. Strange noises are heard in the distance. Grumpy and I are not afraid. We know the normal sounds of the forest. This is not what we hear. The grunting of beasts. Breaking branches. Sounds of struggle. Human groans. Something not normal is approaching. Quickly. Very fast. We have to get home to safety. I jump on Grumpy and we run towards the school.

I turn around to identify the noises and see human forms. I try to analyse the threat in order to adopt the best defence strategy. What I see is not human. Skeletal, bloody, some arms hanging off or missing, red eyes, sallow skin; five foul creatures are fighting and chasing us. Zombies. That's the word that comes to mind immediately. We have to run without thinking.

We finally reach the stables. The riding instructor is there with his daughter. My words are somewhat barked at. They understand that the gates must be closed and that there is danger. Within minutes, the five monsters arrive and drum. They howl like hungry beasts. The horses are in panic. One creature breaks a window and sticks his bloody arm out to try to grab us. The professor reacts and unhooks the fire axe. He cuts off its arm. The skeletons try to get in, but we dismember them with the axe (the professor), the pitchfork (Naya) and a shovel (me). Prince and Grumpy help us by kicking and smashing the skull of one creature each.

The fight lasted only a few minutes that seemed like hours. The professor immediately calls the police. We waited, shaking nervously with adrenaline, for the cars and their flashing lights to let us out safely. The noise has brought the whole school to its feet. Fortunately, the teachers kept the students away. I came to my senses, the teacher and Naya. We are not hurt. The horses are fine. Naya and I look at the bits of humanoid on the ground.

— Fucking! Megan. What are these things? she whispers to me.

I shake my head. I don't know. It's not human, or rather, it's not human anymore. The monsters are taken away in body bags to be dissected by experts. The police would have thought we were crazy if they hadn't seen the bodies. They immediately set up a security cordon and called in internal security as a matter of urgency. Our testimonies were taken carefully.

We were asked not to talk about the real events with anyone. We only have to talk about an attack by a gang of young drug addicts, without going into details. It's four o'clock in the morning when I return to my room with Naya. Her father is stuck at the police station for the night. A welcoming committee is waiting for us, sound asleep. Blaise, Thibaut, Damien, Mélia, Sarah, Fleur and Lilou are in our room. Mélia is in my bed with Lilou. Sarah and Fleur are in Naya's bed. The boys on the floor. I signal to Naya. She has no desire to be interrogated again. We leave them to sleep and go to room 326.

— Meg? I know we're not exactly friends. I mean... what happened tonight.... I...

Naya hugs me tightly and bursts into tears. We had the scare of our lives. She's right. We're not friends, we're not enemies either. I return her hug and stroke her back to calm her down. She's shaking like a leaf. She's a scared little girl in my arms. I reassure her as best I can.

— Aren't you crying?

— No, I'm not crying. I swore to myself that I would be strong and never cry again when I buried my grandfather. And I must admit that the adrenalin hasn't worn off yet...

I said this with such a detached air that I make her laugh. I'm crazy. For once, this side of my personality is rather reassuring. We collapse on the beds and can't sleep. We can't talk, just smile at each other and give each other a check of exhaustion and encouragement. Naya cries a little more. I grab Melia's stuffed animal and hand it to her without a word. She's getting rid of the aftermath. I dissect it.