Chapter 24

New York, a few months earlier.

That day, all the students came early to take the quiz given by their respective lecturers as a form of simulation in facing the final exam and trial, including one of Alisa's classes. A stocky man with square glasses that slid slightly past the bridge of his nose stood at the front of the class to distribute one sheet of question paper and one sheet of answer paper to each student. He was Uncle Barley, the lecturer who had been teaching Alisa's class for the past two years after a career as a teacher in the city of Seattle.

"You have 60 minutes to do the questions," Barley said sternly. "Make sure you all do well and don't cheat on your friends' answers."

His lanky body then made its way to his chair in the corner of the classroom. With slow movements, the 50-year-old sat behind his desk and observed all the students who were busy reading the question papers. After confirming that the students