by Dexx Peay
I noticed that I didn’t have on a long sleeve shirt. I slyly moved my right arm behind my back.
“So where you headed off to?” I asked.
She kept trying to look at my arm, causing me to move it more towards the center of my back.
“Ugh, lunch with some of my sorority sisters,” she said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. We got up pretty early to get this workout over with.”
“Guess I have to go. I don’t want to keep the girls waiting.” She grabbed Marcus at the shoulders. “Hey, wake up buddy,” she charged. “Can I get inside my vehicle?”
Marcus jumped and wiped the drool off his mouth. She got inside and waved as she drove off. I put Marcus’s arm around my neck and dragged him inside to our room. I rested him on his bed, then went into my room and flopped on the bed.
I woke up and checked my cell for the time. It was right before five. I walked over to Marcus’s room. I was still tired and moving just so. He was still asleep. I walked over to him and shook his body. After a few shakes and me screaming his name, he was up.
I had a few missed calls from Hudson and one from Sam. Marcus looked at his phone and had the same. We must have slept longer than them. I called Hudson. They had already gone out to grab some food and were going to catch a movie later. Didn’t really have the energy to try and catch up, figured I’d just call up the old gang and see if they wanted to hang out.
Marcus and I got ourselves together and walked over to Palladium to the food court. Gunner, Chris, Charlie, Delilah, and Stacey all met us over there. It was the first time we were all together since last semester.
We got our food and took a seat at an empty table near the entrance. Delilah and Marcus sat next to each other, barely keeping their hands off one another. Charlie and Stacey were the same. The rest of us sat on the opposite side of the table just staring. I almost lost my appetite, but the smell of beef, cheese, and pickles wouldn’t let me starve myself.
I took a bite.
Once I did, everyone else started to eat.
“What’s the plan for tonight Dylan?” Delilah asked.
“Why you asking me?” I mumbled with a mouth full of food.
“How about we go walk around Washington Square,” Stacey said. “There’s never a dull moment around there.”
“And,” Charlie added. “It doesn’t cost anything to walk around. Plus, it wouldn’t kill me to walk a little extra now and then.” He started to pat his gut.
“It sucks being a broke college student,” Gunner said.
Delilah and Stacey looked away. Clearly they aren’t feeling the brunt.
“So how about it Chris? You ‘oughta come out to the rodeo with us.”
Chris looked scared. As always. “Maybe, just maybe. I mean, I did study this morning and I could finish my paper tomorrow… if I wake up early enough though. We are not going to be getting into any trouble are we?” he rambled.
Chris was such a nerd, but he was our nerd and we loved him, especially Gunner.
“We won’t let anything happen to you, I promise. Just a good time,” Gunner said.
Chris agreed and Gunner wrapped his oversized bicep around Chris’s frail neck. He turned blue instantly.
We all laughed.
“I think you should let him go before we spend our night in the emergency room,” Delilah joked.
Everyone finished eating and went their ways until we met up again for the night. The goal was to meet at the shuttle stop to catch a ride. Washington Square was a cool place to just go hang out. The infamous arch was magical. There were food carts, the water fountain, a lush green park area and plenty of locals. There was a little for everyone.
The twins and Sam agreed to meet up with us later after their movie. Marcus tried to crawl back into bed as soon as we walked inside. I forced him to watch television on the couch with me so I could keep an eye on him.
After watching a couple hours of TV, we got dressed, grabbed our backpacks and headed outside to our meet up spot. Gunner and Chris were already there once Marcus and I arrived. Soon after, everyone else showed. We loaded up the shuttle and were dropped off around the corner from Washington square.
The well-lit buildings illuminated the night. People were gathered around in one section playing guitars and saxophones, and in another street dancing. The girls giggled and clapped their hands to the beat. The fountain shot streams of water into the sky and if you caught the right angle, it looked like it reached the moon. Couples held hands as they walked the streets and kissed under the moonlight.
New York is the perfect city.
Delilah took Marcus’s hand and ran off somewhere with him to make out I’m sure.
“Hey!” Gunner yelled as they ran off.
Delilah smirked as she looked back. I was happy every time I saw Marcus happy.
“So what do you guys want to do?” Gunner asked the group.
“I want to dance, and you, are dancing with me,” Stacey said, pointing to Charlie.
“But wait, I don’t dance,” he cried as she dragged him off.
“Like I didn’t see this coming,” Chris moaned. “There are some people over there playing Connect Four, want to get on it Gunner?”
“Shucks, Connect Four? Let’s go! Dylan you want in?” Gunner asked.
“No, I think I’m going to sit this game out, and walk around...do some admiring.”
I walked around the fountain to clear my head. I thought about my little brother. I had really been missing Dalton these days. Needed to find some time where I can go home one weekend and hang, just the two of us. I feel like I’m missing out on all the good parts of being a big brother. He is in the eighth grade now and I know how challenging that time can be. The kids can be mean and the coursework gets harder. Your body changes and your quest to find your place in life begins.
I kept walking and ended up at a small park. The grass, dewy and dark green shone bright from all the lights. The trees were evenly spread out so it didn’t feel like a forest. It was peaceful. There was people spread out on blankets. Some reading on their tablets and others just relaxing. I sat down at a tree, and pulled out my journal and a pen from my bag.
This school year started off good. I know it will be a challenge with classes, training, and a shot at a normal life. Marcus is doing well. He’s had such a positive change over the past year. If you just had the opportunity to meet him you would be so proud of him. I have my birthday in a few days and Marc’s is coming up soon too. I wish there was a picture of you in here, I wonder who looks more like you, Marcus or myself? What happened back then? Where is my mother and where is Marcus’s mother? Are they even still alive? Is this our fate too in a few years? Fall in love, have kids and give them up for adoption while we run away. How many more of us are out there? There is still the question as to why I can’t fly like the others and why Marcus and me can move objects with our minds? We need answers, but more importantly, we need our father. I know you are looking out for us even from the skies.
-Dylan Ferrari-
I closed the book, crossed my legs Indian style and rested my head against the tree. My eyes started to close, but I wasn’t tired. Right when I got relaxed, my phone started to ring. It was Hudson. He and the rest of the crew were in the area looking to meet up with us. I told him everyone had run off, but I was in the park if he wanted to come over. He said they would be over in a few. I put my phone down and closed my eyes again.
I started to think about my father.
Tried to paint a picture of him in my head. Took some of my features and some of Marcus’s and blended them together. I gave him my hair texture with Marcus’s length and skin color. My face is not as round as Marcus’s so I gave him my face shape along with my hair color. I was taller than Marcus but just by a few inches, so I made him five foot nine inches. Neither one of us is big so his body resembled ours.
I smiled and nodded, still with my eyes closed. Dad I whispered. Wondered if Marcus ever did the sa
me thing. I started to picture the three of us together. Never once thought about us with him at an early age. I didn’t want to forget my father, but I wanted a relationship with my real one.
As I continued in my thoughts, I envisioned us on a commercial plane. It’s funny because Marcus has never been on one. I’m sure he’d love a window seat. Marcus was looking out of the window, while Dad was in the middle and I had an aisle seat. We were flying across an ocean towards a big city. Imagined it was somewhere in California.
I’ve always wanted to go to Cali.
Marcus was acting like a little kid. Jumping up in his seat, pointing out the window. Every couple of seconds he would tap Dad on the lap and tell him to look too. Dad had already been on a plane before but he still looked and smiled to make Marcus happy. He then turned to look at me. His eyes were telling me to get a grip on my little brother.
I laughed.
He put an arm around my shoulder and the other around Marcus. He pulled us in closer. “My boys.” His voice masculine and smooth. We both hugged him and wrapped our other arm around each other.
When I opened my eyes, the smile had only gotten bigger. Hudson, Hachi, and Sam were all sitting on the ground with their chins in their hands.
“You looked so peaceful, we couldn’t bother you,” Hachi said.
I stood up.
“Just thinking about my dad…and the rest of my family. I really miss them.”
“Well let’s get up and do something. No offense, but I didn’t come over here to lie in the grass,” Hudson said.
We all got up and walked back over to Gunner and Chris. They had migrated from Connect Four to chess in the elapsed time.
“Ha! Your queen is mine. GG,” Chris said.
He got up and Gunner, who was observing, followed.
“Good stuff Chris,” Gunner said. “Where did you run off to Dylan?”
“I just went for a walk for some alone time,” I replied. “Everyone left me to fend for myself.”
“The love birds still gone?” Gunner asked.
I shook my head. I didn’t know where they were hiding.
We all started to walk down the busy streets. Conversation flowed and laughter followed but all that ended for me when I saw something. It was Monica and she was with a friend...I think...at least that’s what it looked like. She was standing on the corner under the streetlight eating an ice cream cone and smiling. The guy next to her was smiling and then they both started to laugh.
I contemplated going over there to say hi.
Then my feet started moving.
Contemplation over.
“Hey guys I’ll catch back up with you all,” I yelled out.
They all started to gossip about where I was running off to in a hurry. I made my way through the traffic of people. She wasn’t too far from where I was standing. I got there in a matter of seconds. She was laughing hysterically when I got to her.
“Hey Dylan,” she said through the laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
The guy was hurled over holding his stomach with one hand and the ice cream cone in the other. Something was really funny and I was left out.
“Nothing, nothing, nothing,” she said. She wiped a tear that started to form in the corner of her eye. “Ahh… Dylan.” She hugged me.
I hugged her back trying to avoid the cone.
“Who’s this?” I pointed to the guy.
“I’m Brandon,” he said.
His voice was deep but his face looked like he was in the eighth grade.
“I would shake your hand but I have ice cream all over it.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “What brings you two out here, at night...just the two of you?”
“We’re on a date,” Brandon said.
“Ohhh… a date.” I replied.
I walked behind them. Monica’s forehead fell into the palm of her hand.
“How old are you Brandon?” I asked.
“I’m eighteen sir,” he replied.
“What am I, your dad? Call me Dylan. Walk with me.”
I put my arm around his shoulder and started to walk. Monica stood there. I’m sure I embarrassed her a bit.
“So tell me how you guys met?” I said.
“She’s in my Composition class. I thought she was very attractive and seemed like a nice girl. We hung out with a group of friends together before I asked her out.” His voice confident and strong.
“Well listen Brandon, I’ve known Monica for a good chunk of my life. You make her happy and we are cool. You upset her, I’m upset; and things go bad around me when I’m upset…okay?”
“What do you mean, things, go, bad?”
“I’m not trying to scare you or threaten you but…this is a threat. Okay?”
“We are, I am, yes Dylan understood,” his voice trembled.
“Can I talk to you?” I motioned to her.
We both laughed and walked off. She punched me in my arm.
“What did you say to him?”
“I just scared him a little bit. I dunno, he seems like a pretty cool guy.”
“He is. Where’s Marcus?”
“You should call him sometime, you guys are friends and you both need to talk. He’s around here somewhere.”
“Is she with him?”
“Why does it matter? You’re here with Brandon. Focus on him.”
“You’re right. I just…miss him at times. His company that is?”
“I know you do and I am sure he misses you too. That’s why you two need to talk and not just when you run into each other on campus, and learn to call me too punk!”
She hugged me and we walked back over to Brandon.
“You two enjoy your night. Hey Brandon!” I called out.
He turned around. I glared him. He nodded, and turned back around as they walked off.
I called and found out where the others were. I met up with them to tell them I was going to head back to the room. I was tired and just wanted to lie down and listen to some music.
I caught a cab back to the room and gave the driver some cash once I got out the car. The night was dark but the dorm was lit. I walked up to my room and went inside. Dropped my bag at the door and grabbed a bottle of water out the fridge. I opened the door to my room and stopped when I heard a knock at the door.
I wasn’t expecting anyone.
I walked towards my bed.
There were three more knocks.
Only louder.
“Who is it?” I called out.
No answer.
“Who is it?” I repeated.
Still no answer.
I looked at my phone; it was after midnight.
I walked to the front door and without hesitation, I opened it.
There was no one there.
I stepped out and I didn’t see anyone.
I knew I wasn’t going crazy.
I was sure I heard the knocking.
I went back into my room and there it was again.
I marched over to the door and opened it once more.
It happened so fast.
Two guys dressed in all back with ski masks on.
They grabbed me and put a cloth to my mouth.
I got sleepy
And two seconds later…
I woke up in a struggle to keep my eyes open, trying to figure out where I was located. My head pounded and frustration took no time to build up. I was in a chair with my hands tied behind my back. The anger started to counter all the side effects from the chloroform and I was feeling fine after a few seconds. I looked around and there were ten other guys in chairs staring at me. We formed a circle and they all had their hands tied as well. I looked around and noticed that Airez was in the circle of guys. The rest were unrecognizable.
The flickering light of a dozen random candles bounced around the black room. We were in an almost empty living room. The only thing occupying the space was a carpet and large TV mounted on the wall in front of me.
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“Is everybody okay?” I asked. Everybody looked at me with angst. “Did you all get drugged and woke up here?”
They didn’t talk. Some looked away and some just looked down.
“You were the only one they did that too, the rest of us, they just grabbed and tied us up,” Airez quickly whispered.
“Who are they?” I asked.
Still no one talked.
“I’ll figure a way to get us out guys, don’t worry.”
I closed my eyes and started to concentrate on the duct tape around my hands.
“Welcome pledges,” a voice called out from behind me.
I heard footsteps coming from the stairs. I couldn’t believe it. I was picked for Xi Beta Kappa! My father will be so proud of me. As happy as I was, I was pissed that they drugged me. I tried to turn my head to see behind me, but I couldn’t. I felt a smack on the back of my head. I turned to the right and saw somebody making their way around the circle slapping all the guys on the head.
Three guys made their way to the center of the circle while the other guy finished his rounds of slapping heads then joined them. I looked at the circle, they all looked pretty nervous except Airez. All the guys had on ski masks. They removed them. Of course Airin was one of them.
“Listen up!” Airin said.
His voice was threatening.
Everyone adjusted their posture as much as they could and tuned into him.
“From now on, I’m gonna be your daddy and your momma, but you will refer to me as Big Brother Airin. Do you understand?” We all shook our heads. “I said, do you understand!”
