The Mortal Instruments: High School Version

In The Janitor's Closet

"Just follow me!" Simon whispered, dragging his best friend Clary by the arm.

"Why? I don't understand!" she complained.

"I have to tell you something..." Simon said, slightly embarrassed.

Suddenly curious, Clary let him pull her forward, until he stopped at an intersection in their school halls.

"Somewhere private..." Simon muttered to himself.

A slim door to the left caught Clary's attention. The janitor's closet. A perfect place to hide and talk alone. As she started towards it, she said, "I think I found the perfect place!"

Clary assumed Simon was following her and when she reached the door, she yanked it open and jumped back in shock.

At her feet lay a funky-looking, blue-haired guy who was barely conscious, being stared down by a shockingly attractive boy with golden eyes. This one was flanked by two other students who looked at Clary, surprised.

"Jace..." a tall, skinny boy with piercing blue eyes murmured.

The golden-eyed boy looked up and froze. Though Clary was very small, he seemed disconcerted by her presence in what was very clearly his territory.

"Who is this girl?" the second student, a girl with long, dark hair asked, annoyed.

"Someone who definitely shouldn't be here," the boy—Jace—replied, looking at Clary the way a lion may look at its prey.

Finally working up the courage, Clary squeaked, "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like we're doing, shorty?" the girl replied. "You're next, if you don't get the fuck out right now."

As if to illustrate her point, she rolled up her sleeves, showing a golden snake tattoo circling her right arm.

"Now, now, Iz...don't scare the poor girl," Blue-Eyes smiled in a less than reassuring way, a piercing glinting at his lip.

Clary looked behind her, but there was no sign of Simon.

"Leave him alone," she demanded, referring to the boy sprawled on the floor in front of her.

Jace grinned. "I'd love to, but, you see, this punk right here has something that belongs to me and I'd like to have it back."

His eyes flashed in a dangerous way, making Clary want nothing more than to turn and run. However, she stood her ground. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not worth it. Look at him! He looks like he's dying!"

"You don't know what you're talking about," the girl said menacingly. "Jace, want me to take care of her?"

"I don't know... She seems like a reasonable girl, perhaps she'll leave on her own."

"She will not leave," Clary replied, fiercely returning his gaze.

Jace chuckled. "Stubborn...I like it. I don't think I caught your name?"

"Jace—" his friend interrupted.

"Let. The. Girl. Answer." Jace growled.

"I-I'm Clary. Clary Fray."

Jace smiled, "Well, Clary. How about this time we let him off easy, huh? This isn't the place for a delicate lady such as yourself."

Clary fumed but said nothing as Jace signaled to his friends and they made their way out, leaving the blue-haired boy behind.

She stared at the boy, unsure of what had just happened and what she was supposed to do now. That's when Simon walked into the closet.

"There you are! Great place—" he started, before spotting the body on the floor. "What happened here?"

"It's a long story. First, we need to get some help."