Belatedly, while climbing all those stairs, it had crossed Flynn's mind that all the professors might have actually been fake and maybe they couldn't trust anyone anymore, but when he saw Kitridge he relaxed a tiny bit.

Just a tiny bit. But only because she had once been his mum's favourite professor. It was hard to relax in general at the moment. And that little bit of relief drained away when those.... people flanked her. The professors that were here, that were good and real and had nothing to do with any of this and Flynn suddenly realised how tenuous a position they were in. Worse than the kids. His hello died on his lips and he gave Kitridge a stricken look instead before slipping into the seat next to Kale.

He gave his friend's shoulder a reassuring (and apologetic) squeeze and then focused his attention on the rocks with a lot more interest than they deserved.