by C. S Luis
“Who are you?” he asked, then bit down on his bottom lip as the force shoving us together hummed through and around him. His eyes filled with agony, and he struggled against the power drawing us closer. But the next surge between us weakened him even more, and his shoulders slumped in defeat; it seemed the more he tried to fight it, the more he couldn't help but give in.
Then he stopped struggling, and the energy shoved him forward until he stood right in front of me. I stepped back and found myself pinned against the lockers, staring up at him. His cologne—citrus, peppermint, and spearmint—engulfed me.
This was real. The energy of us together this close was overwhelming, pulsing through our forms, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. His eyes lit up, flashes of gold dancing in the center of his pupils.
“You're real?” he gasped in delight. “I feel like I've known you my whole life.” He drew closer, now just inches from my lips. The warmth of his breath against my cheek sent chills up my spine.
I blinked and reached up to touch his cheek. He exhaled at my caress, almost as if in pain. I felt the same thing here with him as I did the night my grandfather was taken; this man would protect me no matter what the cost, even if I didn't understand the danger.
“Who are you?” he asked, but I couldn't give him an answer. I didn't even know.
Without warning, I felt a tug against my heart, against him—something pulling us apart and trying to separate us. I couldn't stop it. The wall behind me collapsed, and I stumbled backward into it, almost as if I'd been sucked through to the other side. He reached for me and managed to grab my arm, but the pull was too great. My arm ripped from his grasp, and he ran after me through the shattered wall. Whatever force had a hold of me pulled me further away from him and wouldn't let go, taking me farther and farther into a nothingness I didn't understand.
“I'll come for you,” I heard him calling out. “I'll find you. I promise!”
“Claudia?” The sound of Michael's voice made me blink. Then I realized another man stood behind him, also staring at me with more than a little concern.
I couldn't believe it. The man from my vision was here, now, in my grandfather's old office, staring at me with those green eyes beneath golden-brown hair. The flecks of gold exploded around his pupils even here. I swallowed; while the electrifying current between us wasn't nearly as strong as it had been in my vision, I definitely still felt it now. He was real. I felt myself blushing when his mouth curved up into a small, confused smile.
Hello? I figured I'd try speaking with him this way; we'd done it before.
'I didn't think you were real,' he replied, and my heart fluttered to realize we could actually communicate this way, standing right in front of each other. 'Why do I keep dreaming about you?'
I don't know. That was the only way I knew how to answer. I thought I was the only one. A warm blush rose up my cheeks, and I watched him watching me.
Then he glanced down at his wristwatch, which wasn't really a watch at all, I realized, when I caught a glimpse of his frustration at the fact that it didn't seem to be working the way he wanted.
'You're… happy,' he thought. 'I can feel it.'
I smiled. You're like me?
'No.' He looked up to lock his gaze onto mine again, his eyes revealing what the rest of him tried to hide. I saw flashes of pain there, and images of people—others, just like me—being captured, tortured, experimented on, delivered to people in white coats. Instantly, I remembered what my grandfather had said about scientists selling us to the highest bidders.
'You're not like the others…' he added. 'I don't understand why I feel so…'
I reacted to his sudden intensity and mentally pushed him away, needing just a little bit more space. Apparently, it did nothing to discourage him, only fueling his curiosity and his desire for more.
“Claudia,” Michael asked again, interrupting the moment. “Is everything okay? Did you need anything, honey?”
I stared at him, and then another man stepped into the office to join Michael, the blond young man with the green eyes, and me.
“And who is this lovely young lady?” the stranger asked. He wore a dark blue, pinstriped suit and a striped grey tie. He looked Hispanic, his skin a darker tone and blond highlights in his dark brown hair. His thoughts and emotions were a blank canvas, nothing but a few wrinkles in his brow to show he was curious about me.
“Dr. Müller,” Michael said, “this is the late Dr. Edward's granddaughter. Claudia Belle.” I fidgeted, trying to give the newcomer enough of my attention to not be rude while still consumed by the sparking pull between the green-eyed man and me. The lights flickered again above us.
“How do you do, Miss Belle?”
A distortion of sound came from him, echoing, buzzing and making it hard to hear anything else. It grew louder, like someone kept changing the stations on a small radio. I caught him glancing at his watch and jiggling it on his wrist when Michael wasn't looking.
'Your assignment is to engage with Mr. Michael McClellan and the staff. As the new principal of Milton, you will assist John in this aspect of the job. Find out if they know anything.'
'Yes, Dr. Nicholson.'
'John will do the rest, as he always does…'
I didn't see faces, just heard the voices of this memory, a little flash of Dr. Müller's profile when he interacted with someone I couldn't see. And that was all I could get out of him.
Then I looked up again and saw the green-eyed boy still staring at me. I frowned. Go away.
“I'm so sorry for your loss,” Dr. Müller said.
'No,' The boy who apparently went by John would not let me turn him away. 'I want to talk to you. You make me… I feel so much stronger.'
I blinked in disbelief. He stepped forward anyway, and I wondered if he was going to get as close as he had in my vision. But he stopped, the centers of his eyes still dancing with that golden hue.
“Hi,” he started. “I mean… hello. I mean… I'm John.” He blinked and frowned, clearly confused and unable to say out loud what he wanted.
I know, I thought. John Slater. I wasn't sure if he'd heard me; he looked disconnected and embarrassed.
“Ah, excuse my nephew, Miss Belle. He's not feeling a hundred percent. I think he's catching something going around…”
John glanced at Dr. Müller and frowned. “I'm fine.” He said it just a little louder than necessary. Then he looked back at me, his unwavering intensity making me uneasy.
'I want to talk to you,' he told me. 'I won't hurt you. I just want to… explain.'
I pushed at him again, not hard but enough to get him to move—at least, it would have made anyone else turn away. John didn't. The adults continued the conversation around us, and no one seemed to notice our own secret conversation.
The only thing I could think about was that both my father and my grandfather had warned me about people who would try to use me—people like this Dr. Müller, maybe.
'No,' John repeated, almost as if he knew I just wanted to get out of the office as quickly as possible. He wasn't going to get out of my way.
A row of lights flickered again in the ceiling, then popped and shattered. Glass rained down on all of our heads, and I made my move, shoving past John and out of the office. I thought I heard him coming after me, so I ran to the nearest stairwell and hurried up to the second floor. Halfway down the empty hallway, I stopped and turned around, only to find that I was alone.
Chapter 15:
The Lecture
A few minutes later, Michael, Mr. Vasquez, Mr. Claypool, and I sat in Michael's office on the second floor at the back end of the school. It was almost a little nook, though much bigger than the offices given to Mr. Claypool and Mr. Vasquez. From where I sat on a ledge by the small glass window, I could see the entire library below us.
Michael sat behind his desk, his suit jacket hung over the back of his desk chair. This time, I knew without a doubt that all three of them knew the truth about my grandfathe
r—about me. They'd spent years together before I came to Texas and Milton High School. How could they not have known?
“What happen?” Michael asked. I wanted to pretend I had no idea what he was talking about, but I couldn't anymore. “Milton has its faults and needs a lot of upgrades,” he continued, “but we know those lights didn't shatter on their own.”
“I'm sorry,” I whispered, unable to look up at him.
“What happened? Did something upset you? I know you're still mourning, Claudia, and that's perfectly normal. I want to help in any way I can.”
“I don't know.” I wasn't sure what to tell them, or even if I should say anything at all. More than anything, the last few weeks were enough to frighten me into silence, especially now with our new principal and his strange nephew, if that was who they even were.
“You said you saw something,” Mr. Claypool prompted. Michael looked up at him and raised his brows. “That something was coming.”
“Did you have a vision?” Michael asked, which surprised me even though I'd expected something like that. “Your grandfather had visions, but most of the time, they were random things. Disconnected. Not easily clear to him. A feeling or a single image, harder to interpret. Is that what you saw?”
I nodded, thinking that was the best option. I didn't want to reveal the truth about John, or the things I'd felt connecting us and drawing us toward each other. I didn't want to frighten Michael or the other administrators, especially because I had no idea what was going on.
“I am sorry about the lights. I'll help pay for them.”
“There's no need for that, Claudia. I just want you to exercise a little more control over your… abilities. We're running out of light bulbs.” Michael barley managed to contain his smirk.
“Not to mention excuses,” Mr. Vasquez added, which was more than I'd heard him say in weeks.
“Do you think the vision provoked your power?” Michael asked.
I shrugged, though of course I knew exactly what had made the lights shatter. “I'm not sure,” I muttered instead.
Michael took a breath and leaned back into his chair, frowning down at his neatly organized desk. “Well, just like your grandfather. You have to be careful. Learn to control it.” He finally looked back up at me.
“Did they say anything about it?” I asked, referring to John and Dr. Müller.
“As far as they know,” Mr. Claypool replied, not missing a beat, “it was nothing but the failing lightbulbs for which Milton is so popular.”
“I'm sorry I caused so much trouble…” I said.
“Don't be. About the visions, though,” Michael said. “Should I be worried about you, Claudia? Maybe you should go home. Take the day to just rest.“ Mr. Claypool and Mr. Vasquez both nodded in agreement.
“I'm all right. I just… got a little overwhelmed. Please don't send me home. I'll be okay.”
“Are you sure?” He leaned forward over his desk, trying to smile beneath the genuine concern in his eyes. Mr. Claypool and Mr. Vasquez copied him almost exactly, and I suddenly felt like I had three new father figures, all ready to do what it took to make sure I had what I needed. “I can take you home,” Michael offered.
“I'm fine.” Somehow, I managed to smile back at all of them.
“All right, then,” he said. I got up to leave, and as I opened the door, Michael added, “Try not to pop any more lightbulbs, please.”
He smirked, and I couldn't hide my own slightly embarrassed smile.
Chapter 16:
Lunch Group
I wanted to disappear, to be left alone. Students and even a few teachers had filled my locker almost completely with letters of condolences they'd slipped through the little vent. I tried not to let it annoy me; people were just trying to be nice. But it was only a constant reminder of what I'd lost.
My morning classes went by so incredibly slowly, and I found myself completely unable to focus on anything my teachers said. Instead, I kept seeing John's green eyes, heard him telling me he wanted to talk to me, that I made him stronger. I couldn't deny what I felt around him, but I had no idea who he was, and the truth was obviously not what Dr. Müller had said.
During lunch, I stepped into the cafeteria and glared at the nameless faces of other students who eyed me with concern. Some of them tried to hide their annoyance, but I heard their thoughts; they assumed I was just trying to milk their pity for all it was worth.
I didn't see anyone I recognized and considered fleeing to the library. But I was starving, so I reluctantly stepped into the lunch line and waited. Then I saw Tina at the far end of the cafeteria, sitting with the others in their normal spots. Once I got my lunch, I made my way to their table with my tray and sat down without a word. They didn't even try to bring up my grandfather, though they'd left notes in my locker, too. Honestly, though, I was glad they didn't bring it up; I just wanted things to go back to normal, or as normal as they could be, now.
“I heard the rug in the new principal's office got ripped almost in half and they have to get him a new one,” Alex said. “Serves him right for swooping in like that after your grandfather.”
I looked at her blankly for a minute, then smiled. At least she was trying. Then a chuckle escaped me, and the rest of the group seemed to realized it was safe to relax around me.
“Sucks about what happened,” Alex mumbled, smacking the gum in her mouth. “Sorry.”
“Thanks,” I whispered. She smiled.
But what could be said? I wasn't sure myself what people thought best to tell those who had lost loved ones. Still, I was grateful for her attempts to connect with me, especially after we didn't have the best introduction.
“Are you all right?” Tina asked. Ruben and Sean gazed back at me too.
I nodded. “It was harder in the beginning. Thank you, guys, for the cards and notes and stuff… I really appreciate it.” I tried as hard as I could not to get all teary-eyed in front of them.
“Well, we're here for you. If you feel like talking about it,” Ruben offered.
“Thanks.” I caught Sean staring at me. He smiled, and I dropped my gaze, certain I was blushing now, too.
We caught up with school gossip and talked about Alex's run-in with Thomas the security guard and the house party coming up the following weekend. For some reason, talk of a party made me think of my handsome rescuer from the pool and the gorgeous face that still kept me awake at night. What had happened to him?
Alex stood and walked out into the hallway toward the Coke machines. When she disappeared, my mind dove into that hole again, and I couldn't stop thinking the strangeness of my life these days—stranger than normal. Nothing made sense—that day at the pool; the man in the black suit and red tie; and now John and his uncle, the new principal.
I wanted to tell Michael what I'd seen. John must have known I would want to, and I wondered if that was why he'd tried to stop me from leaving. If everything I'd seen in his mind were true, was he really sent here to watch me? But then why did I feel he would protect me with his life?
I thought again about my rescuer and the evil lurking in the pool that of course hadn't existed. My rescuer scared and intrigued me at the same time, and I had no explanation for it. And I couldn't help but wonder what connection existed between him and the dark shadow in the pool that had tried to scare him away. The worst part about it all was that I had a feeling that I knew them both in some way and just couldn't remember.
“You're so quiet. You sure you're okay?” Tina's voice brought me out of my deepening thoughts. I glanced at her. It had always been hard for me to pretend I was normal, and having lost both my parents and grandfather in the same month made it even worse.
“I'm fine,” I said. “I just have a lot of things on my mind, I guess.”
She smiled and put her hand on my shoulder. “Don't worry. It's going to be all right.” I wished I could believe her.
Ruben and Sean locked their eyes on me at the exact same time and smiled together. It wa
s more than a little spooky.
“Yes, everything is going to be all right,” Ruben said. Sean nodded.
“He's been looking,” Tina said.
Maybe I'd missed part of their conversation while I went off into my own world. “He who?” They smiled but didn't answer. “What's he looking for?”
“He's looking for you, silly. He's found you. Praise him. He's found you.”
“Yes, praise him,” Ruben and Sean repeated.
“What?” I whispered.
Tina reached up and cupped my cheek. “When the time comes, he will reveal himself to you. That time approaches quickly.”
I blinked, frowning, then had the strangest feeling that all three of my friends at the table knew something about what I'd just been through. If they hadn't been acting so weird, I probably wouldn't have said anything. But I took the leap. “Tell me,” I whispered. “Please. Who is he?”
Tina simply smiled. “He rejoices at your longing for him.” She leaned closer and whispered, “But he said be patient. Be patient, my pet.”
My head started spinning, along with the entire cafeteria. I closed my eyes, my head throbbing, and then it all stopped. The voices and the loud noisy chatter in the cafeteria came back to me before I opened my eyes and blinked. Tina and the others were talking about the party the following weekend.
“What did you say?” I asked Tina.
“When?” she asked, taking a bite of her lunch.
I grabbed hold of her shoulders and turned her to face me. “Tell me! I have to know who he is!”
'Be patient, my pet…'
It was his voice, rolling through my head.
Sean and Ruben stared back at me, like two lifeless dolls, and I let go of Tina. Then all three of them seemed to jumped right back into their conversation like nothing had happened.
Alex returned and took a seat beside me. “Hey, want one?” she asked and put the soda on the table. I stared at the Coke can and closed my mouth when I felt it hanging open. “Sorry about being such a bitch the first time we met,” she added. “Calling you Pocahontas and all. But the hair, you know. And, well, I'm sorry. I have issues, but doesn't everyone, right?” She laughed, cracking her own Coke open to take a long drink. “You okay?”
