The Soulkeepers

by G. P. Ching

  Chapter 17

  The Fight

  “LAU,” Dane Michaels barked from the end of the row of mustard-yellow lockers.

  Jacob turned but did not respond. He was waiting for Malini to finish talking to Mrs. Jacques about a job working in the Biology lab. It was the end of the day, and the hall was empty.

  “Lau, I’m talking to you.” Dane spread his hands like he was surprised Jacob wasn’t responding, as if they talked every day.

  “What do you want, Dane?”

  “I want to show you something. Can you come with me, outside?”

  “No.”

  “Come on, Lau. There’s someone I need you to meet.” Dane looked agitated. He had dark circles under his eyes and Jacob could smell that spicy sweet stench on him again, like a combination of cigarette smoke, alcohol, and coffee breath.

  “Why would I go with you, Dane? What? Are a bunch of your friends going to jump me as soon as we’re outside?”

  “No. It’s not like that. Listen, Lau, I met someone who wants to meet you. I don’t know why but it’s important. Just come with me, all right?”

  “No way. I’m not going anywhere with you. If you’re going to do something to me, do it right here. And, don’t think I don’t know you were behind what happened to Malini last night.” He pointed a finger at Dane’s face.

  Dane chuckled. “Hey, that was just a joke. Besides, it was Amy, not me. Now stop messing around and come on.” His hand shot out and grabbed Jacob’s shoulder.

  “Let go of me,” he said, yanking free of Dane’s grip.

  Dane looked frustrated. He opened his mouth as if to say something else but then seemed to give up. Instead, he sank his shoulder into Jacob’s gut and tried to lift him from the floor. Apparently if he wasn’t willing to come voluntarily, Dane was prepared to force him.

  Jacob sank a knee into his chest and with a twist freed himself. Thinking fast, he sprinted toward the office. No way would Dane pursue him there. But he was wrong. Something hard hit his ankles and his forearms slapped the linoleum floor with such force, pain shot up both elbows. He clenched his teeth to avoid yelling out. Paris High School had a zero tolerance policy. If he was caught fighting with Dane, they’d both be suspended regardless of who started it.

  Dane’s body weight was on top of his calves from the tackle. There had to be something he could do to fight him off. But every time he pushed himself up off the floor, Dane pulled his legs back, flattening him to the linoleum. The worst part was he knew Malini would be coming out of Mrs. Jacques’ room any minute. If Dane hurt her…

  In an army crawl, he pulled Dane toward the wall. If he could just get some leverage, he might be able to flip himself over. He reached for the pipes of the water fountain across from the office. The silver tube hung down from the porcelain bowl, almost level with his head, and he desperately gripped the cold steel. The humming started again, the same as that day at the grocery store. He could hear the water, calling to him from the pipes. Everything slowed. He tried to gather the hum inside, like he’d done before.

  The door to Mrs. Jacques’ room opened. It was now or never.

  The release reverberated inside his chest. Water sprayed from the fountain toward Dane’s face, not a gentle spray but like hail that formed in the air. The sharp pieces pegged Dane in the forehead and he released Jacob’s ankles to block his face with his hands.

  “Ahh! Crap!” Dane yelled from behind his forearms.

  Jacob flipped onto his feet, leapt over Dane, and headed for Malini, who was emerging from the science lab.

  The fountain stopped, just as Principal Bailey stepped out from the office door.

  “What’s going on out here?” he asked. His eyes moved from Dane to the puddle of water on the floor, which was all that was left of the hail, and then toward Jacob. He stood at the other end of the hall, completely dry.

  Dane stood on wobbly legs, holding his head.

  Principal Bailey gave Dane another once over and then turned back toward Malini and Jacob. Eyes squinting in their direction, he looked much older than the man Jacob had met the first day of school.

  “You two move along,” he said. He placed a hand on Dane’s arm. “Let’s have a talk in my office, Dane.”

  “We need to go,” Jacob said to Malini. He took her hand and headed for the exit. As he held the door open for her, he looked back to see Dane seething with rage as he followed Principal Bailey into his office.

  “What was that all about?” Malini asked.

  “Dane.”

  Malini needed no further explanation. She nodded and walked faster toward Main Street.