Alex McKenna & the Academy of Souls

by Vicki-Ann Bush

  "How do I do this, find out where she is?" Alex bit a cookie.

  "If this girl truly needs your help, she will find a way to contact you again. When she does, get as much information as you can. Anything she can give you will help."

  "Can't we just summon her like we did Catherine?" Alex questioned.

  Catherine was a tormented spirit forced to kill by the human hand of Greta Kirkpatrick, a woman with an eighty-year grudge. She possessed a hold on Catherine's soul using dark magic.

  "No. When a soul is trapped in the between world, summoning spells can be inaccurate. We might cause the child to wind up some place worse than she's in already."

  "Okay. I'll wait. I guess I don't have a choice." Alex put his phone down and shoved it.

  Frustration was not an emotion he dealt with well.

  The bus ride to school was quick. Lost in his thoughts of Haven, he barely noticed Heather Johnson, the spirit of a young girl killed by a hit and run fifteen years ago. Every day she rode the bus from her parent’s former house to school. Alex tried to help her cross over a few times, but she wasn't ready. Normally, he'd give her a nod when he boarded the bus, but not today. The ghost must have missed the attention, because for the first time in two years, she sat next to him. Alex didn't notice until the bumps mapped their way across his forearms. His spidey sense, the terminology Margaret coined his psychic ability and his family referred to as their know, had kicked into high gear. The closer a spirit was to him, the more predominant the bumps. He rubbed his forearms and pivoted his head to face the filtered spirit of Heather. When an entity uses its energy to appear corporal, it drains them. So, most of the time, they remain in a celestial state. Their bodies muted in color, roll through the air similar to ripples in water.

  Alex smiled and Heather was satisfied. Drifting back to her usual seat, she went back to her normal ritual of staring out the window.

  The bus stopped at its destination, The Academy of Cain Amry Thearige. A long name for the man that had the original school built in England, several hundred years ago. His great grandson insisted on carrying the name over when he donated a small fortune for the American version. That was over a hundred years ago, and Alex wondered why they just didn't simplify it for modern society. It was a cool name, but try letting that roll off your tongue when you’re in a hurry. The kids just referred to it as the Academy. It worked.

  Margaret was waiting for him in their usual spot by the bleachers.

  "Hey you." Alex wrapped his arms around her waist and tasted a sweet chocolate cherry kiss.

  "You look tired." she ran her fingers through his hair.

  "I'm beat. Had another bad night. Only this time Haven took over where Tom left off."

  "You speak to your gram?" She sat down.

  "Yup. I gotta wait until Haven comes back. If she comes back." He frowned.

  "If she needs help like you think, she'll find a way." Margaret gently raised the corner of her mouth.

  A deafening ring signaled the start of the school day. Alex groaned before caressing Margaret's lips with his. They were headed in opposite directions and he hated leaving her. Holding onto her hand as her fingers slipped through his, he squeezed gently before letting go.

  Begrudgingly stepping one foot in front of the other, he landed in front of Chemistry, his least favorite class.

  Luckily, he had a seat by the window, and unlike Math, this one faced the west side of the building. He could see the three-block strip of town in the distance, and below, the grassy fields that lead to the bleachers. A much better view than asphalt. Taking out the book, Chemistry in the Community, he opened to the assigned reading and let his mind wander. Dust particles danced along a luminous beam of yellow ribbon, punching its way through the glass. Mesmerized, Alex swayed with the swirling motion. A flush of cold air wisped around the base of his neck brushing up the tiny hairs, his hands trembled, and the room slowly spun with the speed of a child's ride at Disney World.

  Glancing around the room, the peculiarity was his alone. The other students had their attention on the assigned class work. Alex's gaze focused on the corner of the wall behind the teacher’s desk. Peeling back like wallpaper, the landscape of the classroom began to change, replacing the sleek, modern desks with thick, solid wood chairs and tables. A fireplace in the corner crackled, illuminating the room. Heavy drapes covered most of the windows, drawn back in the corners with gold tassels. The clanging of a bell startled him, and he nearly jumped from his seat. Checking with the kids next to him, no one seemed to notice. The door to the class flew open, and the students glided in. The waves of their celestial bodies sliced through the air and took a seat. Alex leaned forward, could they see him? He thought. Trying not to attract too much attention from the present-day teens surrounding him, he knocked one of his books on the floor to see if the ghostly class responded. One girl looked up. She turned around and locked eyes with Alex.

  "Who are you?" The girl rose from her seat.

  Hovering, she reached out and then pulled back.

  "Ophelia. What the hell are you doing?" Kyle quipped.

  "Don't you see him?" Ophelia's eyes widened.

  "Who?" Kyle looked around the class.

  "Him. Right there in front of me." Ophelia pointed.

  Alex was stunned. Not by the meeting with the dead teens, he was used to that. When you see the departed for as long as you can remember, it becomes, normal. No, he was shocked by the resemblance the girl had to Haven. Same eyes, hair color and delicate features. Only this girl was clearly several years older.

  "I don't see anyone. Dang it, you okay, Ophelia?" Kyle's voice softened.

  Ophelia didn't respond. Fixated on Alex, she asked again.

  "Who are you?" She inched closer.

  "A..."

  "Mr. McKenna, do you mind?" Mrs. Jenkins said sharply.

  Startled, Alex gasped when he realized he had unknowingly migrated toward the front of the class. He was standing at Mrs. Jenkins desk, facing the dry erase board. Scanning the room for remnants of the ghostly girl, he sighed. There was nothing left of his vision but embarrassment. Head down, he murmured an apology to the teacher, and shuffled back to his desk.

  "Way to go McKenna. As if you weren't already weird enough." A voice echoed from behind.

  Alex didn't need to turn around to know where it was coming from. Kyle Branders was the school bully who had been giving him crap since he first arrived at the Academy. Ignoring him was hard but feeding into him would be worse.

  Closing his eyes, he retreated into the event that had captivated him moments ago. Who was she? Why did she remind him of Haven? And how did they connect? The barrage of questions hammering around in his brain gave Alex a headache. Balancing his chin under his folded hands, he tried to calm the neurons and ease the pain.

  Jolted by the firm grip of someone shaking his shoulder, Alex looked up. The class was empty, and Mrs. Jenkins was standing over him with pursed lips. Glancing up at the clock, it was eight-thirty. He had slept through the entire period.

  4

  The Embittered Zachary Knowles

  Ophelia slid back into her chair.

  "Hey what's going on? You sure you're okay? That was some pretty far out crap." Kyle rolled his eyes.

  "I saw this—boy. He was about our age, but I think it was the living world. He wasn't like us."

  "Did he say anything to you?"

  "No. He was about to, but something stopped him, and he disappeared." Ophelia looked away. "I don't understand what's happening."

  "What do you mean?" Kyle whispered.

  "Well, today I see this boy and the other night...never mind. I know this stuff creeps you out." Ophelia looked down at her desk.

  "No. Lia, it's okay. I want to hear," Kyle said confidentially.

  Ophelia was stunned. Kyle never wanted to know about her connection to the living, and he never, ever called her Lia. Only Amry referred to her like that.

  "Why? You usually go out of your way to
avoid listening to me when it's about things like this."

  "I know, I'm sorry. It made me uncomfortable in the past. But not for the reasons you think. I'm a little jealous. You still get to do the things I wish I could, but I'm done with that. From now on, keep on truckin." Kyle grinned.

  "Where did this change of heart come from?" Ophelia leaned in closer to him.

  "Zachary."

  "How did Zachary change your mind?"

  "Reading about his life, what he went through as a breather and then after his beginning, it made me think. The guy has basically been alone his whole life and after life. Yeah, the Headmaster is his uncle, but clearly, he hasn't had much to do with the guy’s world. My life before this was pretty good with friends and family, but when I got here, it was a strange experience. If I didn't have you nerds, I... never mind, I don't want to think about it. Anyway, understand?' Kyle winked.

  She did. Ophelia was lost for so long and if it weren't for Amry, she still would be.

  "The other night I had a dream about Haven. It was a bad one, she was in trouble. She yelled out a name—Alex. I spoke to Ms. Dunworthy, she thinks it's Haven communicating with me."

  "Oh wow. This is the first time this has happened, right?"

  "Yes. The doctor also said that either it's someone who can help us, or maybe the person holding her. But I don't know, that doesn't feel right to me." Ophelia slumped down in her chair.

  "What do you think it means?"

  "I think Haven is trying to give me the name of someone who can help. The thing is though, how would she know this? I mean the Soul Gatherer has had her hidden since the first day of her beginning."

  "Maybe one of the other souls who escaped knew of someone who could help and told her about him before they got away." Kyle nodded and grinned.

  "You're pretty pleased with yourself. What are you a detective now?" Ophelia giggled.

  "To the max," Kyle said in a cocky voice.

  "And there he is, the Kyle Burkletter we all know and love."

  Kyle turned around and Ophelia spent the rest of the class period fixated on the boy in her vision. But it wasn't a vision, was it? she thought.

  After class, she and Kyle met Amry and Bethany at what they all laughing referred to as the cafeteria. A large building with tables, chairs, and a kitchen. No one understood why it was there. Clearly no student attending The Academy of Souls, yearned for a quick lunch before afternoon classes.

  "You ever wonder why we have showers? I mean aside from Ophelia, they're pointless. Like this building," Bethany blurted out. “I used to love to sing in the shower, though.”

  "It must be crazy in that head of yours, Bethany. You're always popping off with the most random thoughts." Amry chuckled. “What did you like to sing? Did you have a favorite song or group?”

  “Ohhh, for me it was David Cassidy all the way. He was so cute. I did like the Bee Gees too. But they weren’t like David.” Bethany batted her lashes.

  “I was more of a Rolling Stones and Jethro Tull fan, but I can dig what you mean. Mick Jagger did it for me. It was funny, my mom thought he was ugly, but not me, he was gorgeous. I even had tongue patches on my jeans, mom hated it.” Amry laughed.

  Bethany’s voice softened. "My dad used to tease me about it." She smiled. "I had posters of David all over my walls. I knew it frustrated him because the scotch tape marred the paint. But he never said anything negative about it to me. In fact, he’d sometimes give me a couple of bucks to get the latest issue of Tiger Beat. David was always on the cover. I miss my dad." Her smile faded.

  "Was he still alive when you started your beginning?" Kyle stroked her hair.

  "He was. Might probably still be. Although he'd be very old by now. That was nearly forty years ago. It sounds so strange to say that. You'd think I'd be used to all this by now. But I don't know, does anyone ever really get used to it?"

  "I myself enjoy being dead." A deep voice carried from across the room.

  The four of them turned around and cringed. Zachary Kowal was standing in front of the door.

  "What in tarnation?" Ophelia murmured.

  "Well we’re supposed to be watching him. This is kind of convenient," Kyle said.

  "I don't care if it's convenient, the guy gives me the creeps." Bethany scooted closer to her boyfriend.

  "I'm with her, he's creepy times ten." Amry turned away and locked eyes with Ophelia.

  "You understand I can hear every word, do you not?" Zachary moved closer.

  The group closed in their circle, leaving no room for the unwanted boy.

  "Whatever, we don't care. Are you following us?" Kyle puffed his chest.

  "Now why would I want to subject myself to such a torturous way to pass the time? I am merely wandering about, assessing the lay of the land.”

  "I thought Mr. Coal and Mr. Rain were keeping an eye on you?" Ophelia squeaked.

  "Oh, what do you know. It's the freak. No. They were with me for a time, but they cannot watch me all the time. There is really nothing they could do if I wanted to start something. They are just a pair of low-level reject sorcerers. The guys I run with would obliterate them." Zachary tapped his lips with his fingers.

  "Why don't you go? There's nothing going on here that could possibly interest you." Amry broke the circle and faced Zachary.

  "You are the pretty one. I heard about you... Too bad you are closed up tight like a clam shell." Zachary sneered.

  "Hey! Don't talk to her like that." Kyle snapped.

  "It's okay Kyle, I got this." Amry grinned.

  "Big tough boy. You’re so full of shit. The only reason you’re not in The Nowhere right now is because of the Headmaster. You had blood on your side. You think because you were a minuscule, microfiber of a thug when you were still a breather, it carries some weight here? We're not afraid of you, we said you creep us out. Kind of like when you see a cat with two heads. You're an oddity, something for us to gawk at." Amry whipped up toward the ceiling and landed in front of Zachary. "You're right though, our job is to spy on you. No sense in pretending if you already heard us. But remember, us spying on you means we have all the power." Amry flicked him on the side of the head.

  "You are delusional." Zachary cackled.

  "Am I? All we gotta do is go to the Headmaster and tell him about all the horrible things you're doing. Then it's bye, bye, Zachary. I wonder if the Nowhere is as dark and cold as they say it is? Don't piss us off, thug. Or else you'll be finding out real soon."

  Ophelia was beyond stunned. Amry was always a kind, warm soul. This Amry just cut Zachary off below the knees, and then stuffed the rest of his body in a garbage can. Figuratively speaking. But badass.

  "The pretty one has more to her than just a face. I like it." Zachary sneered. "I will go, but it is not because of you." Zachary glared at Ophelia. "This one is crazy beyond any help my uncle or anyone here can give her. I saw you."

  "You saw what?" Amry stepped in front of Ophelia.

  "I saw her in class. She conversed with someone who was not there, seeing things that are only in her deranged head. I don't want to be any closer than I have to."

  Amry smirked. "So, you're afraid of a small girl? You're pathetic."

  Zachary raised his fist but then abruptly stopped. Turning around, he left in silence.

  "What the hell was that?" Bethany exclaimed.

  "Forget that. Who the heck are you?" Ophelia looked at Amry.

  "Right? Where did that attitude come from?" Kyle ran his fingers through his hair.

  "I don't know. I just got sick of his mouth. I guess I kind of snapped."

  "Whatever it was, thanks." Ophelia smiled.

  "No problem. Us bunnies have to stick together." Amry laughed.

  "Well so much for our anonymous tailing of Mr. Happy. Anything we do now to watch him will be wasted. He's on alert."

  "Yeah. I don't think Zachary is gonna care. He'll be who he is either way, he can't help it," Amry remarked.

  "Still, something is w
rong with him," Ophelia said.

  "Oh, do you think?" Bethany and Kyle chimed together.

  "Not like he's a bad seed, more like he's hiding something. And whatever it is, it's got him all twisted up inside." Ophelia frowned.

  "Lia. Really?" Amry huffed.

  "Let's just forget it. He knows we're watching; we know he knows. We'll all just play the Headmasters game. Maybe Zachary will slip up, maybe he won't. I need to find out who this boy is from my vision, why Haven is calling out for Alex, and a million other things that are more important than Zachary Kowal." Ophelia frowned.

  The bell interrupted with its usual clang, and the four shuffled off. Kyle and Bethany went to their next class, while Ophelia and Amry headed to their dorm room. Levitating past the tallest pine, the girls whisked through the clouds, twirling against the pale blue canvas. Flying was a freedom that one could only know in death. No constraints of a plane, jet pack, or glider, strapping you in. Just you and the vast space of unending sky.

  Ophelia inhaled a deep breath, holding for a moment and then exhaling her anxiety. Floating, she soaked in the silence, allowing the calm to wash over every inch of the pure energy her celestial body contained.

  Turning to Amry, her friend seemed to be enjoying their detachment from the Academy below as much as she was. A sweet smile caressed her serene face. She lay out on a blanket of air, arms stretched out to her sides, hovering in the glitter of a partially clouded sun.

  “Lia. I've been thinking about your encounter with that boy," Amry spoke softly.

  "And?"

  "What if he's Alex?" Amry turned to Ophelia.

  "Maybe. I wish I knew how to reach him. Ms. Dunworthy said to wait. She thinks it'll happen again," Ophelia sighed.