by Cooper Eaton
He turned back, and in his hand, he held a silver globe. "Is this what you're looking for?"
All eyes turned to me as if I would somehow know what amorphous was and be able to confirm with the man.
“Is it amorphous?”
“Ah, perhaps I was mistaken. Maybe you aren’t who I thought you were. My mistake. Would you by chance be interested in rubies?” He asked changing the subject as he went to put the small silver globe away.
“No, wait. That’s what we are looking for. Can we see it again?”
“I’m afraid the time for your acquiring of that globe has come and gone. But as I said before I would be happy to interest you in something else.” He swooped his hand around the room.
“No wait, we need that-”
"Kind sir, won't you please share your special trinkets with a more fitting group of children," Matthew said jokingly as he entered with a baseball bat over his shoulder!
The rest of his group entered, but their senior leader wasn't with them, and they were all armed with pieces of metal and wood! Now there was no one to control Matthew!
“Would you mind pulling out that artifact one more time?”
“Sir, as I was explaining to the others, I no longer feel that selling it would be right at this time.”
“Haha, you think I’m asking, how sweet.” Matthew grinned.
And then he swung! He pulled the baseball bat from his shoulder and with a monstrous cry he smashed it into the old man's head!
“Hey, cut it out, cut it out!” I yelled at him!
But my yell only seemed to encourage the group. The four of them turned towards me, all with weapons raised.
“What are you gonna do about it, you couldn’t fight me without a weapon, how do you hope to beat four armed testers?” Matthew taunted.
His bat now dripped with blood! Looking past him all I could see was the crushed head of the now unmoving man!
“What have you done! You killed him!” Rachel shrilled suddenly bursting into tears!
The sound of sirens fast approaching sounded. "WEEEE OOOOH, WEEEE OOOOH!"
Matthew turned to his horde of crazed followers! “Everybody split up! Make your way towards the fountain! We’ll all meet up there! Let's go!” Everyone followed his instructions and tore off their separate ways! He turned back to me! “If my team can’t have the metal, then neither can yours!” He began to smash the set of drawers where the valuables were locked away.
“Hahahaha! You’ll never beat me!” And with that he was gone, running off just a police hover crafts appeared!
“I turned to my crew. “We’re gonna have to split up. Whatever you do, don’t get caught by the police! I have no idea where the fountain is, but try and find it. I’ll see you guys there, go, go, go!”
The police were outside now with a mega amplifier shouting something about coming outside with our hands up, or they would shoot, but with the new laws that'd been passed, we all knew they couldn't.
My team scattered, but I remained. I have to get that globe! I rushed towards the now smashed drawers and began trying them. No, no, no, this can’t be happening! One of you has to open! The metal had been bent so badly there was no way I’d be able to get in there without a blow torch. And then I heard him!
“Ugh, ugh.” The man on the ground suddenly began to cough up blood. “Boy, come here.” He motioned.
I complied despite his horrid condition.
“Uck, uck, uck." He continued to cough up dark blood that ran across the floor like syrup! “Take it.” His whispered opening his hand to reveal the silver globe! “Do with it what you must, but remember what happened here. Don’t be fooled by what your told. You must truly see to know. You must think for yourself, or those around you will do it for you. Remember me, remember what happened here, or you will be sorry…” The man’s voice faded as his eyes slowly glazed over.
I can't believe it; he's dead! Matthew killed him. I can't think about this, I need to move, or I will get caught.
“Come out with your hands up!” Came the mega amplified voice once more.
Part of a plan formed quickly in my mind, and I began to act before I knew what I was doing! I have to try. I rapidly climbed a short set of stairs jumping out an upstairs window and onto a low rise rooftop! I can do it! Just don’t look down.
A shingle broke and down I went! "Smack!" My face connected with the rooftop and I immediately tasted blood! Ahh!
“He’s on the rooftop!” Came a cop's voice!
I stood and began running despite the pain! Running with everything I had I began jumping from rooftop to rooftop! Luckily the old, decrepit buildings held, and I was able to stay above the convoy of pursuers. The roofs flashed by, red, brown, black, yellow! I began to slow as my legs started to burn. I don't hear anything. Did I lose them? Yes, yes I did. I’m home free; I did it! Wait, is that Matthew?
Looking over I saw a boy. He was making his way down one of the streets with a slight gimp in his walk. I know I shouldn't have, but anger seized me, and I changed course. That is Matthew, I know it is!
I made my way to the single story rooftop closest to him. I crept silently above Matthew. As I approached and made ready to leap he heard me! Abandoning all sense of sneaking I sprinted, placing one foot on the edge of the roof and launched!
The ground came rushing up to greet me, but luckily I slammed into Matthew, and we tumbled to the ground! Surprisingly he was still full of fight. "Ugh, ugh." "Ugh, ugh." We both grunted in an attempt to gain the upper hand.
Upon gaining the upside, I swung, but all I managed to hit was concrete! Ahhh I felt pain shoot up my arm! “Ahhh!” Matthew seized the opportunity!
“Haha, that’s what you get, now your going to pay!” He rolled on top of me and wound back his fist but stopped!
“Ow, oh no, not now!!” He fell off of me and began writhing and squirming on the pavement! “Make it stop, it hurts, make it stop!”
All I could do was look on in confusion. “Wait, is this some kind of joke. Are you playing around?”
It has to be. There was no way this is real. I stood and stepped closer to him and was about to kick the crap out of him when he spoke.
“The colors! What are they? Why are they attacking me?” He pleaded with eyes that told me he wasn’t lying.
“What?”
“It hurts so bad!” He continued to writhe on the ground in agony.
"Listen, Matthew; I don't have time for this. Either tell me what's happening, or I'm leaving."
“It hurts so bad!”
"Alright, I'm leaving," I said turning to go.
“Fine, walk away, leave me alone with them, I could never explain to you what’s happening!” He yelled at my back.
I turned now deciding to throw caution to the wind. "Maybe I do know what you're going through. Maybe I'm going through the same thing. Maybe I can see the colors too. Maybe I'm the only person here who could help you."
“How?”
“I know what you’re going through! If you’re talking about what I am, then I’ve been seeing them for weeks.”
“What! I thought I was the only one! Are you serious?” Matthew said with a sudden joy. “So you see them too, the cords of color?”
“Yes, some are green, others, blue and others red. And they fly around people right?”
"Well, mine always attack me. I don't know what it is, but if I start to see them, they immediately attack me, what should I do?" he asked.
I honestly have no idea, and even if I did I'm not about to tell you, you're a psycho who just bashed a man's head in. Although, if he thinks I have the solution, what harm could it really do? Maybe he'll leave me alone, and he might be helpful. Can I trust him though? "We can talk later, but if we sit here, we're both going to get eliminated. We have to go now, or both our teams will suffer." Matthew's pain seemed to lighten a little, and with my help, he got up.
"You know what William, I may have
underestimated you; you may not be such a prick after all."
I secretly wanted to beat him right there, but something inside me told me I might need him later, so instead, I just smiled and held back.
Chapter 11: SWIPE
Dinner was good, but I still couldn't get the bitter sight of the poor old man's crushed skull out of my head. Except for that, the mission had gone fairly well. After Matthew and I had decided to help each other, we'd made our way to a weird fountain of cherubs spitting water at each other. Both of our teams found it odd that we'd walked back together, and now that we'd gotten a free moment after dinner my team crowded around me for answers.
“So what happened, what’s up with you two?” Jack asked annoyed.
How do I tell them we can both see strange color cords? I better not tell them what happened.
"It just happened. I found him, and we fought for a while before we decided our violence was futile and decided to call a truce."
“Wait, your serious? Just like that? Now everything's cool?”
“Yeah, we decided our fighting was getting us nowhere and decided against anymore of it.”
“You can’t be serious. I cannot believe what you’re saying!” Jack was suddenly angry. “He’s been a total jerk the entire time you’ve known him, and you just decided to be friends out of the blue? I don’t believe it.”
“Well I do,” Jess jumped in. “I think what you're doing is very manly.” She said scooting closer to me. “You’re being the bigger man, and it’s very becoming.” Her eyes twinkled ever so slightly.
“As do I.” Rachel agreed, but then instantly corrected herself. “About being the better person, not about the becoming part.”
“Sure, a bunch of girls would say that, but you're not supposed to side with the girls, what’s gotten into you?” Jack continued to press.
“I hate to do this Will, but I agree with Jack, I don’t believe it. There was so much hate between the two of you.” Chris added.
"Well, I don't need you two's approval on my decisions." I defended "I can make my own."
With that, I stood and began walking away. No one followed although, I could feel all of their eyes as I wandered from the grand dining room that was filled with only a few testers.
I found my room quickly and had just laid down to sleep when Rasben entered. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake. You.” He apologized.
“You didn’t. But if you don’t mind turning out the light I’m about to hit it.”
“So early?”
“Yes.”
“You know they didn’t mean it. Jack and Chris just don’t want to be friends with Matthew, so they don’t want you to be either.”
“Well neither do I, but it’s for everyone’s benefit.”
“What do you mean, I thought you two worked things out?”
“If you call sharing a common enemy working things out.”
"Wait, what?"
“I can’t tell you now. It isn’t the right time. You’d never believe me.”
“Try me.”
"I'll tell you this much; I don't know what to think. I've been seeing things that I thought were impossible, but then Matthew said he was seeing them too. It was relieving to hear I wasn't completely crazy."
“What did you see."
“Nothing.”
“Come on, I won’t laugh.”
"Fine, but I know you won't believe me. For the past couple of weeks, I've seen colors. I know I sound crazy, but it's really happening."
“Wait, what? What are you talking about.”
"I mean it, I can see cords of colors flying around! They look sort of like snakes, and sometimes they fly harmlessly by, but others they attack me, and I don't know why."
“So you’re telling me that sometimes you see color snakes flying around you? Have you talked to a doctor?”
“I knew you wouldn’t believe me. No one does, but Matthew, and that’s why I need to be friends with him. I have to figure out what he knows and see if it can help me. I promise something is happening. I don’t know what it is, but I’m going to figure it out.”
“Whoa, slow down Will. I may not 100% believe you, but I’m not willing to throw your story out the window all the way. Tell you what, if you can come off with some proof I'll help you as much as I can.
"Thanks, man, that means more than you think. It feels good to have someone in my corner. I’ll figure something out.”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”
And with that, he turned out the lights, and we both fell asleep slipping into our own dreamworlds.
As I fell asleep, I couldn't get the thought of the mysterious man, who’d walked passed me with Mr. Blackwood while I’d been hiding under the tester’s body, out of my head. . I'd only seen his feet, but he'd known I was there. Who is he and what was up with those black cords of color? I have to figure out what is going on.
I lost myself in thoughts, of who the man was and how he’d known I was there, eventually drifting into a fitful sleep. Just as I lost consciousness I was jostled awake suddenly.
“Wake up, wake up, follow me.” Jessica whispered as she pulled me from my warm covers. “I want to show you something.”
“Can’t it wait till morning.”
“No, it has to be now. Come on.”
I got out of bed and stumbled around until I found a pair of pants to put on. I threw on a shirt and stumbled after Jessica down the hallway. "Hey, we shouldn't be out this late. If I get caught out after hours again, I'll be in a heap of trouble." I whispered ahead.
“So don’t get caught. Just follow me and keep it down back there.” I followed her until we reached the front doors. “Hey, where exactly are we going?”
“Just keep quite and follow me.I promise you; it'll be worth it."
I felt the hair stand up on my arms. This night was definitely taking a turn, for better or worse I don’t know.
We walked right through the front doors, and no alarms went off. I thought it odd that the security was still so lax but shook my doubts and continued to follow Jessica, who was hopping with excitement. We reached the grass, and she started to jog. The ground was wet, and my shoes were soon soaked. I followed her, and we quickly approached the pond, near the fence line of trees, I'd seen at my arrival.
“Why are we here?”
“I really want to find out what’s happening with you.”
“Wait, that’s it? Why here, why outside?”
“Well, maybe a little more…” She said with a sudden hint of playfulness.
“Well, we could have talked inside the castle. It would have been a lot warmer.”
“We could have, but then I couldn’t do this…” She said coyly as she crossed her arms grasping opposite sides of the bottom of her shirt then reversing direction and pulling it off!
Underneath lay a soft pink bra with frilly white lace perfectly accentuating her beauty! Whoa! The sight that met my eyes was completely stunning! I felt my heart miss a beat as blood began to rush through my veins at rapid speed! My brain seemed to suddenly be starved of oxygen as I choked on my words.
“I… I… don’t know… what to… what to… ”
"How about a trip in the water." She coaxed as she leads me to the muddy edge. "Oops, silly me, what am I thinking, going into the water still clothed." and just like that off came her Pj bottoms!
She pulled them down slightly letting them slip from her smooth hips and down her creamy legs until they lay gently at her feet! Now my heart was hammering! She’s gorgeous!
I couldn’t help but stare! My eyes traveled slowly back from her Pj’s now lying at her feet, up her legs, past the curve of her bottom, around her exposed hips, through her lush, scantily covered chest, up her long neck, past her full, smirking lips and all the way back to her mischievous green eyes that instantly locked with mine!
I was about to explode with anticipation! I could hardly contain the excitement that
was bursting inside me!
“How about a swim?” She said playfully.
“I… I… I…” I replied barely able to from words at this point.
She turned from me and slowly waded into the water. I tore off my shirts and pants and splashed into the only slightly cold water. She made her way to the middle where the water lapped around her stomach gently. I quickly followed but slowed as I approached. All I had on was my boxers! What am I doing?
“You can come closer if you like,” She encouraged
I moved haltingly with each footstep sinking into the mud below.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you. What have you been so secretive about lately?” She inquired.
I was so nervous my voice betrayed me, “Nothing… nothing is wrong. Well, other than the bodies.”
“You mean the testers bodies you told us about the other day. The ones downstairs?”
“Yes, them, I can’t seem to get the sight of their lifeless stares out of my mind. It’s haunting.”
“Is that all. Is there nothing else bothering you? It seems like there's something else on your mind.” She questioned as she moved closer reaching out and touching my shoulder!
I felt fire shoot through my body as her fingertips contacted my skin and an explosion of feelings shot through me!
"Well, I sometimes see colors." I blurted.
“What do you mean?”
"I don't know; it's just that sometimes colors appear and swirl around me. I know you'll think I'm crazy, but it's the truth."
Instead of being turned off as I’d expected, her attention only seemed to increase! “So they swirl around you? When did you start seeing them? What are they like?”
“I can’t really explain it, they’re just there. It started happening out of nowhere, and I can’t seem to shut it off.”
“Well, why don’t you tell me more about the room filled with testers.” she asked.
Jumping at the opportunity to share I began, “Well like I told you, after Rasben and I split up downstairs, I found a giant room. It was completely accidental, but the sight that met me was horrifying! When I turned on the lights, I was greeted by the sight of thousands of cold dead eyes! They were everywhere, and they were all on life support! It was grotesque!"
