by C. S Luis
I hesitated. “Nah, just some guys and a girl.”
“A girl?” He looked up immediately focused and interested. “Well, do tell, Nephew…”
“It’s just a girl, Joseph. She invited me to a party this weekend.”
His grin widened. “Well, what did you say?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure if I should even go.”
“Seriously? This could offer something. Besides, you need a girlfriend.”
I wrinkled my eyes over at him. I was thinking more along the lines of Claudia Belle, but I felt I couldn’t tell him that.
“Since when have you become Mr. Love Connection?”
“Since we started this mission. Remember, I’m the guardian, the one who holds all the cards. It would be good socializing and knowing who is who around this place. You take care of that end; I take care of the other end.”
I curved a lip. Seriously? What ends were those?
“We’re a team remember.” He winked.
“So, what’s her name, and what’s she like?”
“I don’t know, I think she’s a cheerleader.”
“Cheerleader, interesting. Right up your alley.” My alley; what did that even mean?
“What’s that mean?”
“Well, your stats as a jock, a football player. I bet they got that vibe from you.”
“Yeah,” I whispered. “Guys look nice though, might hang with them.”
“Yeah, socialize, invite them over, get to know what they know. They might offer something, who knows? We have until the end of the year, depending on what Dr. Nicholson decides.”
“I know the routine, Joseph,” I said wrinkling my nose at him.
“So, what do you think of, Ms. Witherson?” I asked him.
He smiled almost immediately.
“Very hot,” he joked. “But we aren’t here to socialize, of course.” He got serious. I could tell he liked her and would have asked her out if given the chance.
“Of course,” I uttered under my breath.
“What about Mrs. Whitman? She seems interested,” I joked.
“Even if I was here to socialize, there is no way.”
“Joseph, don’t be rude. She looks like your type.”
“Go, we’ll talk about your little girlfriend later; I want to meet her,” he said again.
“She’s not my girlfriend, Joseph.”
He narrowed his eyes up at me.
“Sure, whatever you say, kid.” He shooed me away and went back to the contents of the box as the phone on his desk began to ring. I heard him gripe, “I hate desk work,” before answering the phone.
“Yes. No, this is not Dr. Edwards. I’m Dr. Müller. Yes, I’m the new principal. No, Dr. Edwards did not leave…”
I glanced back at him, he rolled his eyes and motioned for me to close the door. I smiled and walked out. The secretary spotted me at the doorway.
“Hi, again. I was just talking to my uncle.”
“Not a problem.” She grinned.
“I’m heading out; thanks.” I waved feeling silly.
I walked back into the hall it was quiet. Being away from the barracks and out in the real world allowed me time to drift into my thoughts and relax, take a moment from the life back at the military base. The atmosphere was peaceful. Students were in class learning; teachers were in their classrooms teaching. It was nice just being a teenage kid with no responsibility but school assignments and making the team. There were no drill sergeants here barking orders in your face, no running simulations. It was nice to just be. But I would be a liar if I said I didn’t miss the military. Once I had enough of being just a kid I was ready to go back. I had the advantage of wandering the hall with a pass from the principal in case I was asked why I was out of class.
I thought of Claudia, of her power and ability to push me away. We shared a connection.
Concentrate, my mind urged, but I found it far harder than it should be. I wanted to be near her, to feel the surge of power flowing through me. She made me stronger and alive like I’d never felt before!
Nothing had prepared me for her…
She needs to be protected; she needs my protection. I rubbed the back of my neck. I couldn’t believe I was saying that, let alone feeling it. Since when does John Slater protect anyone?
Concentrate.
Of course, my first thought was to go find Miss Belle, but I didn’t want to scare her. I had to find another way to approach her.
Concentrate. Get to work.
The school layout should be easy. The school was big, but nothing complicated. A good walk through would be in order just to assure protocol. The library faced the main office. I took a left turn down the hallway, getting a view inside of the library’s interior as I passed by. Inside, students were checking out books, while others were seated at tables studying and reading. Frowns and curious glances regarded me as I walked past the library window.
I continued down the small hallway noticing one or two classes to my left; they were in session. Ahead, a doorway led out into the courtyard where Michael had taken Joseph and I on our tour. I headed in the same direction we had come. At the end, I took the staircase to the second floor. The second-floor hall was fairly quiet. Instead of heading to my left as we had earlier with Michael, I decided to take the other direction leading into the balcony area. It was too quiet. The school seemed eerily creepy when the halls were empty.
I made my way to the other end. That took me into another doorway, and into another hallway. A stairwell greeted me to my left. Lockers lined each of the walls.
I passed a few doorways, and curiously looked into one. It looked like a productive class. Two students were debating. On the opposite side, another student- a girl- wrote on the chalkboard listing their disagreements.
I moved on before the teacher caught sight of me and asked questions. Above, the bell rang again just as I started walking away. I continued; taking a right at the next intersection instead of continuing straight ahead. I could see the hallway curve in front of me, displaying a railing that- according to my diagram- overlooked the auditorium below. It would prove to be an interesting view.
The hallway continued connecting two parts of the building like a bridge, mainly because from outside it appeared as such. There was a row of windows on one side to the left; an abundance of sunlight poured through the glass. More classes could possibly be down that way, but it was too dark from inside to see in as I passed.
Ahead, the hall extended into a small hall to the left, continuing further down into two more hallways. The second floor was quiet for a full school of students. It made for a perfect plot to a creepy horror-slasher movie.
Could it be a good place for any extraterrestrial life form to hide? Lurking, perhaps, watching me? Could it be fooled into thinking I wasn’t a threat? I’d recalled Dr. Nicholson’s words, “Find the source...” That was my main objective, it had always been. Even if the product was part- or the majority- of the reason we were here, the source was my focus.
I came to stand before a large window with a perfect view of the library’s interior from the second floor. I must have made a complete circle, because I could see the first-floor hallway. To my left, the hallway’s stairwell would descend into the main office. I was closer to the cafeteria if I descended from that stairwell. If I chose the stairwell on the opposite side, it would take me into the middle hallway. The windows looking into the library had a ledge that one could easily climb on and have a seat. I pictured students sitting there either in observation of those below, or just passing their time.
I retrieved the circular metal devices from my pocket. They were the size of tiny diskettes; flashing lights covered the outer steel of its silver body. The center looked like a swirl, reminding me of the center of a cinnamon bun. Feeling the swirl with my fingers, I activated the device and threw it into the air above me. At once, it stuck to the ceiling and began blinking like a tiny smoke detector. The disguise was obvious, of course.
>
I walked to the other hallway behind and repeated the procedure, coming around to the opposite hall and doing it just once more. Then, I returned to the area where I had been standing before and tossed another far across in the opposite direction. It flew down the hallway, and before it hit the wall, it took a queer turn sideways onto the ceiling where I heard it click. The indicator on my watch confirmed the attachment.
I tossed another; it also took a turn, but in the opposite direction, sticking to the ceiling just like the other one. I activated it on my watch. If something was here, these devices would alert me. They were undetectable to any other devices outside of The Company. Although clearly visible, no one could tell what they really were. As far as anyone knew, it was no more than a silly smoke detector.
Any abnormalities would signal the device on my watch. The thing I loved most about these devices was the self-destruct mechanism; there was no cleaning up afterwards. No one would ever know they were there.
After putting Dr. Nicholson’s devices to work, I walked into the stairwell that led towards the main hallway on the first floor.
I came down the hall into a small crowd of students instead of walking back to the main office. Joseph didn’t really need me; besides he was the principal, he needed to play his role.
I headed towards the cafeteria. The layout for the first floor was simple. I needed to get a few inside the lunchroom, but wasn’t sure how was I planning on doing that in the middle of a busy school lunch.
I came to the end of the hall. Students were heading in and out of the cafeteria, and all eyes again were on me. I wouldn’t deny that my appearance gave me the upper hand when it came to certain elements, especially in a school environment, but sometimes it would be nice not to be seen. I often wondered if my looks were one of the reasons Dr. Nicholson chose to place me in schools for my assignments. I was “easy on the eyes” as Joseph would mock.
I stopped just outside the cafeteria. I walked in cautiously, observing my surroundings and looking for the perfect spot in which to plant the devices. It would no doubt have to be something I’d do after school.
My breathing quickened, my adrenaline picked up. Something was making my heart race. The work seemed unimportant suddenly. There was that strange sensation in my veins again. It was the same sensation, the circuit that connected me to a powerful source of energy. The sensation that had taken a grip of my being when I first met her, and it had a hold of me. She was close.
I wanted to talk to her. I wanted to know why she was electrifying me the way she did? I wasn’t quite sure what had gotten into me, but I couldn’t resist her. I didn’t want to try.
I didn’t have time for this. I needed to know what power she had over me. She was nothing like the rest of the kids I’d encountered, or those I’d hunted for that matter.
I trailed through the cafeteria appearing so powerful and yet, I felt vulnerable and frightened. My excuse was my lack of empathy. My alter-ego, the hunter inside me was a primal creature, ready to leap at the nearest threat. I wanted to know why she made me feel the way I did, completely at her mercy. Maybe this time I could discover why I was emotionally weak, but physically and mentally stronger when near her; why she controlled me, and why I lost control when she was close. I didn’t want anyone to have too much control over me. But there was something different about that surge of energy that raced through my veins when I was near her. Something that both terrified me and made me desire her.
Clearly, I was having some kind of mental breakdown. I was delirious. None of my thoughts made any sense. I felt like a stranger in my own body.
Where could she be? How would I find her?
She was closer than before. If one could see the energy between us, one would see a glittery golden trail floating and leading the way. That’s the best way I could describe it.
Her emotions grew stronger as soon as I walked deeper in the cafeteria and began looking around. She could see me, but I couldn’t see her? Her emotional link to me was driving me, leading me to her. I just couldn’t get the right direction, something was interfering with our current. The path became unclear.
I stopped at the center of the cafeteria to see if I could get a better feel for her. I felt foolish, but how many times had I done the same thing when tracking a dangerous product? This was different though, she wasn’t a product. At least not one I had read about in the curriculum. She was…Well, I wasn’t quite sure what she was. I shook my head. What was happening to me? I wanted to find out what this meant, why she was haunting me. I couldn’t return like this to Dr. Nicholson. I couldn’t. He would know. And he most certainly couldn’t find out…
I sensed her again, she was afraid, her feelings were everywhere. It was easy to track her. I spotted her, but she wasn’t alone; there was a group of kids with her. I caught the eyes of one staring in my direction. We connected for a moment, and strangely, I immediately knew he didn’t like me. That was odd.
I moved in her direction. I would make her listen. But what then? What could I tell her? Then again, she’d already seen everything I would want to hide. How could I have allowed that to happen? Why couldn’t I think straight where she was concerned?
I tapped at the watch on my wrist. The damn thing had stopped working, I would have to replace it, but there was no time. Right now, my only objective was reaching Claudia. I felt stronger nearing her, revived and alive.
Just as I’d almost reached her, a hand grabbed hold of my arm. I spun around immediately. My reflexes were at high alert until I saw the face of an older woman, with graying locks of long hair gathered into a bundle. Dressed in a pink long-sleeved silk blouse with a purple cotton sweater and a gray long skirt. She wore thick large round-framed glasses. Her lips were stained in a darker shade of pink and her eye shadow was a pastel blue. She wore far too much blush.
“Hello. Are you lost, young man?” she asked.
“No, ma’am,” I said trying to move around her, but she wouldn’t let me go.
“John Müller? I knew that was you,” Mrs. Whitman said. I recognized her.
“It’s a shame you’re not in my class I hear you’re quite the mathematician?”
I ran a hand across the back of my neck. Yeah, I’m good at a few things. I tried to smile.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said looking around towards Claudia’s table. She disappeared behind the body of one of her classmates. Was she seriously hiding from me?
“I heard you competed in a tournament with another school. And won?” She grinned. She stood awfully close and I had to take a step back.
“You’re quite the smart one. Very impressive, John. Now, I know Michael is only doing what’s best because my class is overcrowded, but I think he took the best student out of my class when he took you.” She smiled patting my shoulder; then, she squeezed my upper arm.
“My, my. You’re quite built, and strong. Do you work out?”
I didn’t know what to say to that. No woman had ever well come on to me as boldly as this teacher was now. The girls I dated were mostly shy and not as daring, but then this was an older woman. Much older.
“You should try out for our football team.”
I smiled. I was starting to think that maybe I should. She reluctantly released my arm, blushing foolishly like a teenage girl.
“So, your uncle, he’s of Hispanic heritage?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And adopted by a German family? I find that interesting and strange.”
“Why is that ma’am. I very strongly doubt my grandparents would describe or see it in that matter.”
“Of course.” She said.
I was shocked by her words.
“Mrs. Whitman, I’m sorry—”
She cut me off.
“Please, call me Barbara.”
I nodded.
“Can you excuse me, Mrs.—Barbara? I have to go to class.”
“No problem,” she smiled kindly. “It was a pleasure, tell your uncle I’
m serious about my invitation for lunch. It would be nice to know more about his family history.” The woman jumped at the opportunity to invite Joseph out for lunch when we met her on our tour. He was polite, but we weren’t here to socialize as he had put it.
I hurried away around the other end of the cafeteria, hoping to avoid any further interruptions. Claudia’s eyes were wandering around the cafeteria; she hadn’t seen me excuse myself from the conversation with Mrs. Whitman. She rose turning to look at a girl dressed all in black.
I came up behind her as she stood with her back to me. The girl in black lifted her eyes towards mine, but I wasn’t looking at her. I was staring at Claudia’s slender back and that flowing brown mane as I tried to figure out why I was standing behind her and not doing the job I was sent to do.
The path ended with her. It overwhelmed until all I wanted to do was grab a hold of her and discover her, to allow her to possess me. I wanted to absorb her, while she stole all of me.
I held in my desires. Held it fast. But the circuit between us was too powerful. I was absorbing the current and the more I felt it run into my veins, the more I wanted to have her close.
She must feel me, she must sense me…
I didn’t know what I was doing here, but something powerful had brought me here. All the warnings had been put out there, if I would have just grasped on to them. The day I fried the machine back at The Academy, the Minder who urged me to find and protect her the first time I was on mission.
“Claudia Belle,” I called to her. She jumped. The sound of my voice sent chills up her spine. It wasn’t a pleasure or circuit currently flowing from her, the mere vibrations of my voice scared and stirred an uneasiness inside her. She must have already been keen to me.
Instead of turning to face me, she dashed away which surprised me. When she did, it triggered something inside, and I came alive. The adrenaline rush in my veins was now fueling my abilities as a hunter.
Keep the connection going, my body begged. She was captivating. Every part of me craved to bring her closer with every enchanting inch I moved closer.
A fox after a timid rabbit... “Claudia stop. I really have to talk to you.”
