It starts with whispers, but those quickly escalate. This is Rebecca; she’s everybody’s nobody. Straight-B student, friendly, pretty in a homely way and has lots of friends; not popular enough to be the queen bee, not unpopular enough to be an outcast. She’s simply just there. No one hates her, but then again, no one’s falling head over heels for her.

Until the rumour begins. It starts with little murmurs, people hiding every word behind their hands, but slowly, it grows. It grows into mutters and utterances and, occasionally, shouts. But it has not yet spread. Or has it? Because before Rebecca knows the rumour herself, the wildfire starts. She runs, of course, not wanting to be burnt. But for some, the fire is desire; they want to stick their finger in it, even for just a moment to feel the sting of pain. And others want to jump straight into it to know what it must be like to be that powerful. Eventually, once nearly everyone has been consumed, the hollers and yells begin. Rebecca stays near the corner, smartly avoiding the flames and blazes, but there is one scream that makes her turn.

“Bex slept with her stepdad!”

And soon, the fire erupts.

This is now Rebecca. She’s the centre of every discussion in Hallowed High—everyone’s obsession. Straight-D student, shy and quiet, looks like a zombie and always eats alone. She’s popular, all right, but definitely not in a good way—she’s notorious, even, for being a slut. Everyone hates her, but deep down, they all want to be her. They don’t want to be a whore, of course, but they want her limelight, even if just for a moment.