Bugged Out!

by Matthew Porter

  “What the heck was that thing?” asked Abby with a trembling voice.

  “I don’t know,” I answered. “But it’s interesting...if only I could have collected it to study. It may be an undiscovered species.”

  “Don’t even,” Kelly said, cringing. “You saw what that thing did to Mr. Simmons. It’s like something straight out of a horror movie.”

  “It is strange,” I said. That got me thinking back to the previous night, when the woman in the trench coat had told us that our school was in danger. Was this what she meant?

  Kelly, Abby, and I walked down to the nurse after school, where we met with Nick.

  “How is he?” Kelly asked, distressed.

  Nick shrugged. “The nurse called an ambulance,” he said. “Weird thing is, Mr. S. seemed fine by the time they got here. They took his vitals and everything, and everything was perfectly normal.”

  “Where is he?” asked Kelly.

  “They took him to the hospital to run some tests, to be on the safe side,” Nick answered.

  “I’d like to see the results of the lab work,” I said, thinking about that insect. “Perhaps it will shed some light on the thing that attacked him.”

  Abby shivered. “I don’t ever want to see anything like that again…”

  “It was pretty gnarly,” said Nick. “I shoulda squashed it.”

  We made our way to the student parking lot, which was almost empty at that point, except for Nick’s car and someone else’s parked in front of his. It was a white Lamborghini with two blue stripes down the middle.

  “Dang,” Nick said in awe. “Now, that’s a car!”

  Right before we reached Nick’s car, someone got out of the Lamborghini.

  It was the woman in the trench coat.

  “What is she doing here?” said Abby in disbelief. “This goes way beyond stalking.”

  “You four need to listen to me,” the woman said firmly. She took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of bright sapphire eyes.

  “I thought I told you to leave us alone, lady,” Nick said angrily. “We’re going to tell the cops.”

  She didn’t seem to care. “Please, I have an important message. I demand you listen to what I have to say. After that, I give you my word that I will leave you alone if that’s what you wish.”

  The four of us looked at each other, then back to her.

  Nick seemed to relent. “Okay, you got three minutes. What kind of message? Do you need to phone home, or at least phone a shrink?”

  She glowered at him. “I am not crazy, Nicklaus. I come to you bearing a message that will forever change your lives.” She paused, studying each of us before she spoke again. “You have been chosen to protect these islands from an evil force bent on conquering them.”

  Nick chuckled humorously. “As in, go, go, Power Rangers?”

  She glared at Nick more intensely, then continued. “If you please, my name is Kristiana Yuda. I am the vice president of the Edania Organization. My husband, Eli, is the organization’s president, and he’s chosen you to rid this land of an evil long since forgotten—an evil that still dwells within the shadows, hidden from the light.”

  “Yup. Definitely crazy. Let’s go.” Nick opened the car door.

  “I can prove it, Nicklaus,” she said, sounding like she actually believed the craziness she was spouting.

  He fumbled with his keys and turned to her. “Lady, I would really like to see you try, ’cause you sound like you’ve been spending too much time in crazy town.”

  “Listen to me—” she said quickly. “I’ve watched you for two days now, and I know for certain that the four of you are the ones I am looking for.”

  “So, you say you’re following us because you need our assistance...and you are the vice president of the Edania Organization?” I inquired, not believing her at all.

  “Yes, I am,” she answered confidently. “And I have been following you because I had to be sure. I tried to tell you last night, but you obviously did not want to listen.”

  “So, you stalk us wearing...that?” Abby asked, looking Kristiana up and down.

  Kristiana sighed. “I told you, I needed to follow you to be sure you’re the ones Eli was talking about. The four of you are the next generation of agents chosen to fight the battles that are hidden from the world, to ensure that safety and peace remain on the islands.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Kelly, who actually sounded intrigued.

  “I’m afraid I haven’t the time to explain here. My three minutes are almost up, after all,” Kristiana answered in a snarky tone. She pulled something out of her pocket and handed it to Nick. It was a business card. “Please come to this address promptly at seven o’clock, and I promise everything will be explained. For now, please trust that I am very much in my right mind, and we are facing a very real problem. I expect to see you there. Farewell.”

  With that, she got back in her car and drove off.

  When she had gone, the four of us looked at the business card. It looked legitimate enough.

  Kristiana Yuda

  Vice President

  Edania Organization

  1207 Bethel Street, Force-Pointe City, Force-Pointe Island 96989

  “The address is correct. That is where the Edania building is,” I said.

  “Is that place a big deal or something?” asked Nick.

  “Yes. It’s a prestigious research facility responsible for many recent scientific and medical breakthroughs. It’s hard to believe that a person that...colorful, is the vice president,” I said.

  “Well, what are we going to do?” asked Abby.

  “Let’s go check it out,” said Nick simply.

  “Um, why?” Abby said.

  Nick shoved the business card in his pocket. “How else are we gonna find out what’s going on?”

  Abby sighed. “We could not go, and stay away from that crazy lady. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

  “I agree with Nick,” said Kelly. “Let’s go. I think we should hear her out. I know she sounds crazy, but what if she’s telling the truth?”

  “Or what if she’s a psycho who’s going to murder us as soon as we get there?” Abby said.

  “That’s a strange place to kill us. There’s a lot of surveillance around that building,” said Kelly.

  I shrugged. “I have always wanted to visit the Edania Organization. I hear they have the latest and greatest lab equipment. I do not want to miss this opportunity.”

  “Guess we have no choice,” mumbled Abby.

  “Now that that’s settled, let’s go see how cuckoo this lady really is,” said Nick.

  CHAPTER 4:

  Chosen—james

  “So, what’s this place like, J-Man?” Nick asked as we headed toward the Edania Organization building after grabbing a bite to eat.

  “Honestly, I have no idea,” I answered. “I’ve always wanted to go there but never had the opportunity.”

  Abby fidgeted in her seat. “I still think this is a bad idea. What if we get abducted and get our kidneys removed? It happens, you know. Don’t you guys ever watch True Crime?”

  “I don’t think that will happen,” said Kelly calmly.

  “That’s what they all say,” said Abby, “’til they wake up in a bathtub full of ice.”

  “From what I have heard about the Edania Organization, it’s a very ethical business. I doubt they are involved with the black market,” I said.

  “We’re about to find out,” said Nick, looking up at the handsome white skyscraper just ahead of us. “Looks like we’re here.”

  We arrived at about 6:50, just as the sun began to make its descent toward the horizon, painting a golden canvas in the sky. The Edania Organization was housed in a twenty-four-story white building that thinned every five stories or so into a spire. With each tapering floor, there were engravings of eagles perched on the corners, their wings stretched out toward the city. It truly was breathtaking.

  We parked in the garage at the b
ack of the building and headed to the elevator. When we got to the first floor, we walked down a narrow hallway and opened the door to the lobby.

  The only word I could think of to describe the lobby was luxurious. The floors were polished marble, as were the two giant pillars on either side of the room. Golden lamps lined the walls, and large mahogany bookcases were in each corner. The walls themselves were a rich royal blue, with purposeful brushstrokes that mimicked waves at sea.

  An exquisite grand staircase graced the upper left portion of the lobby. Both outer handrails were made of some sort of dark wood, and each had a detailed wooden carving of an eagle with its wings outstretched, much like the ones on the outside of the building. These eagles, however, faced each other, and their wings formed an incomplete archway above the staircase. Above the staircase was a domed, stained-glass ceiling with a crystalline chandelier in the center. On either side of an antique clock were two elevators with mahogany doors designed with carvings of lions. The far right side of the room had a marble fireplace with eagles carved into them, their position identical to the ones on the staircase.

  “Wow, I feel like we just walked into a ritzy hotel or something,” said Nick, looking around.

  “Look at how beautiful everything is,” said Kelly, eyes darting everywhere like she was trying to take everything in at once.

  Abby looked around the room, then looked at us. “I feel like we’re all underdressed.”

  The people in the lobby were dressed formally, as if they were at a wedding or a banquet instead of a research facility.

  “Alright, let’s go to the reception desk, and we’ll see if that woman truly is the vice president of this place,” I said.

  The receptionist was an older woman wearing a professional black dress, and her hair was pinned up with a fancy hair clip.

  “Excuse me, ma’am?” Kelly asked, folding her hands on the desk.

  She looked up from the computer. “How may I help you, dears?” she asked. Her voice was serene and kind.

  Kelly smiled. “Can you tell me where we can find Mrs. Kristiana Yuda?”

  The receptionist looked at Kelly like she was speaking a different language, which made me think this was all just a big hoax, when finally she asked, “Do you have an appointment with her?”

  Nick dug out the now-crumpled business card from his pocket and gave it to the receptionist. “She gave this to us and told us to meet her at seven.”

  The receptionist typed something on the computer. “It looks like she’s blocked off an appointment for you, dears. If you walk up those stairs and take the elevator up to the twenty-fourth floor, you’ll reach her office. You’ll need this to gain access.” She pulled out a key card from a drawer, swiped it on the computer, and handed it to Kelly.

  Kelly nodded and thanked her.

  We walked up the grand staircase toward the elevators. I looked up at the domed stained-glass ceiling. It reminded me of the one at Joel’s Place, but this one depicted a much different scene. It had the same young woman, but she was wearing a white and blue robe instead of tattered rags. Her dark, wispy hair looked as if the wind were blowing it. She was holding a blue bow with a brilliantly white arrow that emitted a reflective light like the sun was hovering directly over it. The arrow was aimed at some shadowed figure on the edge of the image.

  “Okay, James. Hit the elevator button,” said Kelly.

  “Huh?” I said, snapping out of my trance.

  “Hit the elevator button,” she repeated.

  I looked at her with disgust. “Do you realize how filthy elevator buttons are? Someone with influenza could have coughed on their hand and then touched the button. No, thank you. I’d rather not sign my own death warrant.”

  Kelly rolled her eyes, pushed the button, and touched my cheek with her finger.

  “K-Kelly!” I said in a panic. “Why in the name of all that is holy would you do that?”

  “Oh, you’ll live,” she said as she, Nick, and Abby entered the elevator. “Come on.”

  “But I have to go wash my face!” I protested. I did not want to have elevator-button microbes forming a colony on my face.

  “We’ll be late if you do that,” Kelly said, crossing her arms. “Get in, or we’ll go up without you.”

  I hesitantly got into the elevator with the others. Kelly swiped the card in the slot and hit the button for the twenty-fourth floor. The doors closed, and up we went.

  The elevator was made of thick glass, so we could see the entire city as we ascended. It glistened a deep red in the diminishing sunlight, almost looking as though it were ablaze.

  When the doors opened on the twenty-fourth floor, Kristiana was waiting for us. She wore a plain gray business skirt and white blouse.

  “Good, you came, although you are a few minutes late,” she said, eyebrow raised.

  “Truth be told, not all of us were up to coming at all,” said Abby, who was the last to get out of the elevator just before it closed.

  She looked at Abby thoughtfully. “I certainly understand your reservations, and I realize how fantastical this all sounds. So, allow me to explain further. Please, follow me.”

  We followed her down a small hallway just off the lobby. There were only two doors; one on the right, the other on the left.

  “I’m afraid my husband is off on important business this evening and will not be able to attend this meeting like he planned to,” said Kristiana as she motioned us through the door on the left, which had a plaque that said, “Kristiana Yuda, V.P.” in gold letters.

  “This is my office,” said Kristiana. “You may sit down if you wish.”

  The room was nice and clean, but very plain, not at all what I expected. There were no pictures or motivational posters or anything, just four plush chairs in front of her desk, which had a small lamp and a computer.

  Looking at her in this plain room, I could see just how lovely she really was. She had golden hair that was pulled back into a tight bun. Her face was delicate and picturesque, very tranquil, except for the piercing blue eyes. They looked strict, almost cold. She observed us as we filed into the room. She flipped a switch near her desk, and the far wall opened up into a giant window overlooking Force-Pointe City. The sun was hovering over the horizon, casting a shade of gold and red over the landscape. It was such a breathtaking view, the four of us walked past the chairs and up to the giant window.

  Kristiana cleared her throat and we turned around. She motioned for us to sit down. When we did, she adjusted her glasses, walked over to the giant window, and looked out upon the city. “You children don’t know what’s really out there, lurking in the dark, do you?” She turned around and seemed to study each of us again. “No, I imagine that you don’t. True evil is out there, waiting for its opportunity to cover this fair city in its shadow.”

  “So are we talkin’ drug dealers or something?” Nick said, and Kristiana frowned at him intently.

  “I am not speaking of everyday evildoers,” she said solemnly. “I’m speaking of evil that goes beyond anything you can imagine, evil that has cast away humanity for the sake of one thing.” She walked back to her desk. “Power. These...Corrupted are the threat that this organization has tasked itself to destroy. It is to that end that the four of you have been called here—”

  “Excuse me,” I interrupted. “But I thought this was a research facility, an organization focused on medical research and scientific inquiry, not crime fighting.”

  She looked at me, and the light reflected off her glasses, making it hard to return her gaze. “While it’s true that the Edania Organization is devoted to the betterment of mankind through the power of science, the highest branch is dedicated to the destruction of those who have chosen to lose their humanity, those who are known as the Corrupted.”

  “So, you’re a bunch of crime-fighting secret agents or something?” asked Nick, and I couldn’t tell if he was being facetious or not.

  Kristiana looked at him with stern eyes. “In a manner o
f speaking,” she said slowly. “Though it’s much more complicated than that. Although—” she pondered for a moment. “Perhaps it would be more efficacious if I just showed you. Please, follow me.”

  We followed her out of her office and back to the elevator. She hit the button for the twelfth floor and swiped the key card.

  The twelfth floor seemed to be a vast single room that made me feel as though we had just entered some sci-fi movie. There were dozens of machines I had never seen before, and could not even begin to hypothesize what they were for or how they functioned.

  There were a few people in lab coats working on the machines who seemed to take no notice of us as we walked by. Kristiana led us to the far end of the room and opened a door.

  “Through here,” she said, motioning us forward.

  I glanced to my left before entering the room and noticed a small staircase trailing down into darkness.

  Kristiana cleared her throat to get my attention. I took one last look at the dark staircase, wondering where it led, then walked through the doorway into a room that looked like an extension of the building’s lobby.

  It had two sleek leather couches on either side and a desk with a computer. A small crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting tiny shimmers along the walls, which were a fiery red with brushstrokes that resembled flames.

  “This is the headquarters of the Edania research department of Segols,” said Kristiana, smiling for the first time since we’d met her.

  “I’m sorry, Segols?” I repeated.

  “Like the birds?” Nick asked with a smirk.

  Her smile quickly vanished. “No, those are seagulls. Segols are… How do I explain this?” She took off her glasses, wiped them with a cloth she took out of her pocket, and put them back on. “A Segol is an ability—a gift, as it were—that certain people possess. These abilities differ greatly from person to person. For some, it’s elemental manipulation. For others, it’s environment manipulation or specialized weapon control.”