by C. S Luis
John is controlling, aren’t you John? John is possessive. John is assertive. John is aggressive and straightforward.
“But you already paid,” Claudia insisted, digging through her bag; she had a cute little red wallet handbag that she pulled out. I put my hand out over her handbag, forcing her to lower it. She blinked up at me, surprised by my mere motion.
“And I have no problem doing so again,” I sternly said. “In all my years I have never allowed a woman to pay when in my company, and I’m not about to start, so don't argue with me, Miss Belle," I firmly said. She had gotten a rise of me.
John relax.
I hadn’t even realized it and immediately grinned. Claudia looked startled. I winked with a folding smile, and then she grinned. "I’m a gentleman first, Miss Belle. Now what would you like?”
She turned tomato red before my eyes, lowering her eyes to me.
Ah that’s more like it. That’s how you like it, isn’t it John? A submissive woman, a passive creature under your will, that’s your type.
“You said you don’t eat meat, only chicken. How about a chicken biscuit and some orange juice?” I asked.
“That sounds good. Yes, please,” Claudia said.
“Excellent,” I said. “Would you like anything else?”
She shook her head at me timidly, and I smiled and turned to the speaker as the very scratchy voice at the other end came to say in greeting, “Welcome to McDonalds, may I take your order? Would you like to try one of our fresh latte coffees?”
I ordered the sausage and egg biscuit and chicken biscuit with coffee and two hash browns, one for me and one for Claudia. Then I drove up the drive-thru to the cashier side window where a skinny young boy with braces was waiting for us.
I figured he had to be at least in his twenties. I handed him a twenty, and he gave me some change back and then brought out the bag. I handed it to Claudia who was now sitting very quietly with her hands in her lap.
She looked ready to receive John Slater’s direction.
I gazed over at her, and she appeared timid, and when she looked at me she seemed to want to please me and earn my approval.
Just like you like it John. Your type once again.
Claudia went through the bag, nodding over at me, and then the guy handed me the drinks in a small carrier. I handed it over to Claudia and put the car into gear and drove off. We arrived at the school within ten minutes. I pulled into the parking lot and put the car in park. The hole was still visible and boarded by yellow tape and dividers. The retrieval team had long ago gone. They had retrieved any evidence available and fled the scene.
I wanted to ask her about it, but I didn’t want to ruin our moment alone with questions that would pull her away from me. She saw me gaze over at it momentarily and tried to avoid the subject just as I had. Perhaps we would have time later to discuss it when she was more comfortable. I felt I would get that chance.
“Shall we?” I said, and she nodded. I turned off the engine and got out, walking around to passenger side to help her out of the car, grabbing the drinks and the bag from her. I noticed Claudia grab my briefcase from the back seat before closing the car door.
“Let me,” I politely said, taking the briefcase from her fragile hand; her hand touched my cold fingers, and I nearly flinched from the strange sensation. Not only had the link or this connection had me questioning my insanity, but her touch was unsettling.
Keep it together, John.
She grabbed the drink carrier from my hand, and I tried to balance the bag in my other hand.
“Let me help. After all, you did pay. I should at least help carry something,” Claudia politely said, and I smiled and allowed her take the carrier from my hand, putting the keys in the pocket of my suit and suddenly feeling the crystal in the side pocket. I hadn’t even realized I had left it inside.
The time John is perfect. Don’t you think so? It’s time to work.
Claudia followed beside me into the building, holding the drinks carrier; her school bag was draped over her, crossing over her chest. We entered the quiet halls of Milton High. The building was quite empty. I was beginning to think that all the teachers had decided to stay home or take the time off, as it was their option. It was only going to be one or two days. I guess they had taken advantage of them. We passed the assistant principals’ offices, and they looked empty.
I stopped by the main office entrance, placing the briefcase upon the floor and searching my pocket for my keys to open the door. Finding them, I opened the office door as I held the bag and picked up my briefcase, and we walked in. I pushed the door open and turned the lights on and then finally put the bag of food on my desk and the briefcase on the side of my desk.
Noticing the laptop I remembered the flash drive and walked around my desk to make sure it was still there where Claudia wouldn’t notice. Thank goodness it was. I thought of Roberts returning to take it. I feared he had seen me.
“Well, shall we eat?” I asked, grinning big. I started taking the items out of the bag.
She blinked and then said, “Dr. Black I need to get some documents for Michael upstairs. I think I should go up now before I forget.” She put her book bag on one of the seats facing my desk.
“Oh?” I said and then asked: “Would you like me to come with you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Dr. Black, you’re not gonna pull a Michael are you? I’ll be fine.” She smirked. I on the other hand blushed. How had she again reduced me to a foolish boy?
I smiled and laughed. “Sorry Miss Belle, just being a gentleman.” Claudia gazed at me for a long moment, and then she said something I’ll never forget. “You are a gentleman Dr. Black.” Then she walked toward the entrance of my office and turned before she stepped out to give me a warm smile. “Thanks,” she said.
“Hurry back,” I could only say, trying again not to blush. “I don't want your food to get cold.” I was nothing but butter in her hands. God that sounded stupid.
Really? John is that the best line you could offer her when she just paid you a compliment?
Claudia smiled and nodded and said, “I will.” Then she hurried away. I heard her step out into the hall, and then it was quiet.
I was alone with my thoughts and the crystal in my pocket. I had to figure out how to handle my duties.
Just take her already, Bryce’s voice was saying. She’ll never remember what happened, so what’s the problem?
But that was the problem. I wanted her to remember. I wanted her to remember John because I cared about her so much. She wasn’t just someone I could forget. I wanted to protect her any way I could, protect her from them and perhaps from me.
No. Just leave before things get bad. Leave now John!
I tried to ignore the voice. I gasped and took a seat behind my desk. Claudia had already been gone ten minutes, and I was in anguish. I took the coffee from the drink carrier, pulling off the lid and taking a sip, and then I sat back, opening the laptop I had left behind.
Before I even logged in a message from The Man in White appeared on my screen. What now I was thinking? The message came up with a skull with a clock upon it.
“Tick tock, tick tock,” the eerie vocal message began. “Your time is running out, and I have yet to see any progress.”
“I’m working on it,” I said out loud to the screen.
“She’s become a distraction, as I feared.” I panicked. Roberts had seen my weakness.
“Can’t you just leave her alone? Punish me if you have to, but leave her alone!” I growled, dreading his words.
“I can see now you’re not going to do what I want you to do. So, I have no choice but to help you along,” The Man in White said with a sneer and a cold smile upon his pale, pasty face, and the message vanished from my screen.
I launched myself out of my seat, nearly spilling my coffee. I screamed, “Claudia!”
But she was too far away to hear me.
22
Claudia
I sm
iled back at Dr. Black as he grinned and said, “Hurry back. I don’t want your food to get cold.”
“I will,” I said and marched out the door and into the hallway. I raced down the hallway and climbed up the dark staircase. God it was scary. The hallways were creepier than before, and the empty classrooms were eerie. I looked back at the end of the hall as I came out of the stairwell. The lights were dim, almost dark, since there was no one upstairs. The place looked deserted, and it seemed every sound the pipes were making this morning was louder than they had ever been.
I walked with haste towards Michael’s classroom and reached it. Taking the key from out of my pant pocket, I slowly put it into the keyhole, and then I turned it as I heard sounds coming from down the hall. I looked, but there was only an empty hall staring back at me. The sounds I was hearing now were coming from above; the pipes rattled, and I smiled as I turned the key into the lock and opened the door, disappearing inside.
The door closed behind me as I entered, and I turned the light on, hurrying towards Michael’s desk at the other end of the room. There were two doors to the classroom, and I had entered from the one closest to the stairwell. I pulled open the drawer and began looking through Michael’s things; each time I heard something above me, I frowned. The pipes were making me nervous; they were so loud.
I pulled open the middle drawer and found what I was looking for. With a smile upon my face I grabbed it and held it up and then closed the drawer. Upon turning to leave I found the door of the classroom nearest to Michaels’ desk wide, and standing there blocking the entrance looking into the room was a man in a police uniform.
I immediately recognized him as one of those men standing outside in the parking lot directing traffic when Michael and I had come in the day before. He was the one that had stared at me and had even waved at me at one point. I was startled when I saw him now standing at the entrance of Michael’s classroom. He was smiling, leaning upon the side of the doorway, taking off a motorcycle helmet. He was wearing those strange shades that reflected whatever was in front of him. I could see my reflection staring at them.
“I apologize if I startled you, young lady,” he simply said, still grinning, and then he stood up straight and began to walk into the classroom; he merely set his helmet upon the nearest student’s desk all the while staring back at me.
“You didn’t. I just didn’t expect to see anyone here,” I tried to say, trying not to let my voice sound shaky. And I wanted to say more, but I was trembling, and my lips were quivering. I wondered why I couldn’t read his thoughts. The smile on his face grew.
“What seems to be the problem, officer?” I asked, and it sounded like a bad line from a movie. “Is it about the hole?” He smiled, this time almost laughing. Did I miss the joke or something?
“Now shouldn’t you be with the rest of the students, miss? What are you doing out here all by yourself?” He again asked, ignoring my questions to him; his smile spread. I could now see perfectly straight teeth from the gape of his mouth.
“I’m not by myself,” I offered. “I’m here with Dr. Black. He’s the principal.” I knew Dr. Black would straighten up things. But somehow, I doubted this man was at all interested in that. My hands were shaking, and I almost lost hold of Michael’s lesson plan.
“Ah, I see,” he said. “And where is Dr. Black?” He asked, and I swallowed as he slowly now closed the door behind him.
“Sir? He’s in his office. We can go there if you’d like. He’ll straighten things out. I mean…” I nervously said, and he smiled, removing his glasses and placing them on the student’s desk were his helmet remained.
I could see his eyes from where I stood, and I began to tremble as he smiled back at me and pulled out a pair of gloves from his pocket. “Officer, what are you doing?” I asked, feeling nervous, and he merely smiled back.
“Just relax honey. Everything will make sense soon enough.” He took out a syringe and a vial and filled the syringe and then placed it upon the desk. Next he took a handkerchief from his pocket, and he took another small bottle and poured it onto the napkin.
“I should go. Dr. Black is waiting for me. He’ll worry, and he’ll come looking for me if I I’m not back soon,” I nervously said, trying very hard not sound frightened by what he was doing. But with the syringe now sitting on the desk by his helmet there was little left to the imagination of what his intentions were.
“I’m counting on it,” he hissed. I could see what was in his eyes; although his thoughts weren’t revealed to me. At once I made a movement towards the door. But he suddenly grabbed me, and I screamed, dropping Michael’s lesson plan on floor. He put the cloth he was holding in his hand over my mouth and nose.
“Relax baby,” he hissed. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not going to do anything that you don’t want me to do. I just want to give you a little something that will help you relax.”
I struggled, but my fights were useless, and I felt faint. My whole body felt weightless, and I felt dizzy and lightheaded.
“This is just a little something to help John come around, that’s all baby. He’s having a hard time concentrating. And you’re making my boss angry.”
I exhaled. I could do nothing else. I was feeling dazed and relax and wondered why I had resisted in the first place. I dropped to the floor at his feet as he stood over me and kneeled, and I felt the end of the syringe puncture my arm.
“There, there. All done,” he said, stoking my cheek gently and then rising and stepping back to the side of the student desk where he retrieved his things. I crawled away to the other end of the room as I heard his laughter, and I caught a blurry image of him walking over to open the door. He looked out and stood there for a moment, and dazedly I stared up at him as he gazed over at me.
“Now the fun begins,” he hissed. “I wish I could stay and watch or take part.” He smirked. “But I have work to do. Word of caution, John wants you bad. Even if he is in denial, He’s not gonna be gentle.”
He again laughed, and then he walked out. I collapsed upon the floor, and everything was swirling around me. Everything was echoing loudly all around me as I closed my eyes and only blinked to life when I saw him, but then I didn’t know what I was looking at.
“Dr. Black?” I asked fuzzily as the familiar face cleared.
“Claudia,” he said lifting me off the ground. How long was I out?
23
Dr. John Black
I screamed and ran out of the office and into the hallway; if he harmed her, if he touched her, I would kill him! I growled, running up the stairs and coming into the second floor. As I neared the class I hurried, my heart hitting the inside of my head. I kneeled; lifting my pant leg where strapped on was my pistol. I was always prepared. I leaned closer, listening for voices and then carefully came into the open entrance of the classroom.
Claudia was on the floor, merely sitting there on the ground with her back to me; something had happened. I raced to her side. “Claudia!” I called as I put the gun back into the strapped holster upon my leg.
She slowly turned and looked up at me. She seemed slightly confused and unsure of what was happening or where she was. “Dr. Black?” She whispered.
“Are you alright? What happened?” I asked, helping her up from off the floor and picking Michael’s lesson plan. I placed it upon one of the desks nearby. The scent of chloroform hung heavy in the room and I wondered what had happened.
“I feel strange,” she suddenly said, blinking and putting a hand to her head.
“Did you fall sweetheart?” I asked, looking around to make sure there was no one else in the room. The message Bryce had sent me had made me nervous, and I was waiting to see Roberts appear any moment.
“I can’t remember,” she said, and she fell forward upon me. “What’s happening to me? I feel really strange.”
“Come over here, sweetheart, and take a seat,” I said, nervously helping her to the chair by one of the worktables in the classroom; again I
looked around. The weapon was still close enough to reach it if Roberts showed his face.
I kneeled beside Claudia as she closed her eyes for a mere moment and then opened them again, blinking up at me.
“Claudia, are you alright?” I again asked as her eyes smiled up at me.
“Yes,” she hissed, looking right at me. “You have such pretty lips,” she suddenly said, that I blinked over at her, unsure of what I had heard. I nearly lost myself. Her hand gently reached to touch my cheek.
“I can’t believe I’ve never noticed that,” Claudia again whispered.
“What?” I gasped, rising, “Claudia what are you talking about?”
Claudia rose and came forward upon me, reaching forward she put her hands on my face again, but I held her hands to stop her.
“Claudia?” I asked, but her body fell upon me, and it was more than I could take as she leaned forward onto me. I nervously stumbled back, falling against the counter in the back near the window as Claudia came fast upon me. The connection was there in all its glory mocking me from within my soul. It was ripping at me, flashing at every part of my being.
We’re bonded; it said. We’re linked—through her, it said.
“Kiss me. I know you want to. I can feel it. I can see it. Tell me,” she hissed, pressing ever so close to me.
“Tell me,” she pleaded. Claudia was within inches of me, and her breath was touching my lips! Her lips kissed mine ever so briefly, and I nearly drowned, feeling her mouth upon mine for the first time. I collapsed, defeated; I could fight no more and then I realized what was happening. I desperately pushed her back, losing my mind.
“Stop!” I pleaded. “You don’t know what you’re doing!” I desperately said, and Claudia stumbled back, dropping to the floor near my feet and then slowly gazing up at me as I tried to regain my sanity.
“Don’t you want me?” Claudia desperately asked, and at first I didn’t answer. I was in a state of disbelief, watching her from where she sat upon the floor.
