Chapter 8
546words
The auditorium erupted in gasps and exclamations.
I stared at my score report: Mathematics 800, Physics 800, Chemistry 790. Victoria's scores were visible from where I sat: Mathematics 720, Physics 680, Chemistry 710.
The gap was so massive it couldn't be explained away.
Victoria stared at her scores, face draining of color. Suddenly she shrieked: "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
She jabbed her finger at me: "She must have cheated! A Beta couldn't possibly score like this!"
Classmates immediately jumped to my defense:
"Victoria, just admit you got outperformed!"
"The scores are right there in black and white. What's your problem?"
But Victoria had completely lost it: "You'll see! My father is Richard Blackwood! Our family practically owns this school!"
"When the board finishes investigating, you'll be expelled so fast your head will spin!"
Victoria's threats materialized with alarming speed.
The next morning, I was summoned to the Academic Integrity Office. Victoria sat smugly in a chair, her father—Principal Blackwood himself—standing beside her. They were flanked by familiar faces: Professor Matthews, Mrs. Harrison, and Ms. Peterson.
"Miss Thompson," the principal said gravely, "we've received serious allegations regarding academic dishonesty. These are extremely serious charges."
I took a seat calmly: "Principal Blackwood, what exactly am I being accused of?"
Victoria jumped in immediately: "You couldn't possibly have scored that high legitimately! A Beta simply cannot possess that level of intelligence!"
Professor Matthews snorted: "Lily, it's not too late to come clean. You must have obtained the answers beforehand or used some electronic cheating device."
Mrs. Harrison added: "Given your previous academic record, such scores are... difficult to accept. Confess now, and we'll show leniency."
I looked at these so-called educators surrounding me, feeling nothing but icy contempt.
"Since you're so certain I cheated, I'd like to see your evidence," I said evenly. "I believe the testing center maintains comprehensive surveillance footage."
The principal's expression faltered slightly, but he quickly ordered his staff to retrieve all surveillance footage from test day.
For two full days, they analyzed the footage frame by frame. From the moment I entered the testing room until I handed in my completed exam, every movement was scrutinized.
They found absolutely nothing.
I hadn't brought in any electronic devices, hadn't smuggled notes, hadn't texted on a hidden phone. Even when I used the restroom, a proctor had accompanied me the entire time.
Victoria grew increasingly frantic: "This is impossible! We must have missed something!"
"Perhaps she bribed the proctors!" Professor Matthews suggested venomously.
"Or maybe her family has connections and got the test questions in advance!" Mrs. Harrison chimed in.
Listening to these desperate accusations, I remained composed: "If you have evidence for any of these claims, please present it. Otherwise, I'd appreciate if you'd stop making baseless allegations."
The two-day investigation yielded nothing. The principal's face grew increasingly sour, while Victoria trembled with barely contained fury.
Finally, they had no choice but to conclude the investigation, having found zero evidence of wrongdoing.
As I was leaving, Victoria hissed: "Lily Thompson, you think you're so special because of a few test scores?"
"Let me tell you something—no matter how hard you try, a Beta like you will never even reach the starting line for people like us!"
