Watcher Academy

by S. K. Gregory

  He opened one of the doors to a small room. “I guess so. I’m just glad I work in IT. Here it is.”

  I stepped into the room, immediately spotting the wall of journals at the back.

  “Have fun,” Spencer said. He started to walk away, then turned back. “Would you like to grab a coffee or a drink with me sometime?”

  “Is that allowed?” I asked, surprised that he asked.

  He shrugged. “It’s frowned upon but not against the rules.”

  “Okay, that sounds nice.” I smiled. Why not?

  “Great.” He walked away, whistling to himself.

  Maybe a date is exactly what I need. Max is probably right, this is all just stress. It’s not like I haven’t zoned out before, as a kid, I used to do it all the time. One time, I zoned out while on a train and ended up over a hundred miles past my destination. Not really the same thing, but I had form.

  I walked along the shelves, checking out the journals. They weren’t labelled, but the shelves were in alphabetical order. Moving to G, I pulled out a journal and flipped it open to the front. George Gardner. I checked five more before I found Edward Grimm. I recognized the cursive right away.

  Grandpa wrote this, details of his cases. He couldn’t tell me too much about what he worked on, the League had rules, but every now and again, he would have a few scotches in the evening, and he would tell me about his most famous excursions. Like the hellhound. He found it hilarious that they had been able to convince the witnesses that a bear had escaped into the mall. People will believe a rational explanation over a supernatural one any day of the week. Which made our jobs a lot easier. The hellhound injured three people, but thanks to him, no one died. I’m sure anyone who saw it, still had nightmares.

  I flipped through the pages, stopping on an entry dated May 2006.

  We answered a call in North Dakota about a winged creature seen flying over a small town. Several animals were found slaughtered and a small child had gone missing. The police believed it to be a mountain lion killing the animals, and the winged creature, a figment of their imaginations.

  Eyewitnesses claimed that the creature only emerged at night and appeared to have scales and red eyes. Some described it as a dragon. A ridiculous assumption, they died out over five hundred years ago.

  We set a trap on the edge of town, using a goat to entice it. We settled down for a long night, but it only took an hour for the creature to emerge. It landed by the goat, ripping the creature apart easily.

  I fired a tranquilizer dart at it, but its hide was too thick to penetrate. I moved closer for a better shot and that is when I got a good look at it. It appeared to be some kind of lizard, but like nothing I’ve ever seen. Possibly some kind of cryptid or something summoned from another dimension. It didn’t appear to be very old, which worried me as it could grow considerably larger and its appetite along with it. I did consider that it could be the offspring of a larger creature but have no evidence to support that.

  My partner fired off a flare to distract it, giving me the opportunity to get in close and decapitate the beast. We burned the body and buried the remains deep in the woods. A search of the town yielded no results as to where the creature came from and we found no evidence that anyone summoned it. The Witch Index shows that no witches reside in or near the town. We will be monitoring the town in case there are future incidents.

  Unfortunately, we never did find the child. Our opinion is that the creature did in fact eat the child, but we cannot inform the family, so they will likely never have closure. For now, the case is closed.

  That poor child. I wondered how many of his stories ended that way. The downside to being a Watcher, is that we only get called in after someone has been attacked or killed.

  Moving on, I found another entry dated later that year, in mid November.

  We were called to an incident in Boston. A young man had been arrested for attacking a married couple in their home. His extreme behavior and weapon of choice, a music box, led our man in the inside of Boston PD to believe he was possessed.

  We interviewed the boy the following morning, claiming to be psychiatrists. My partner, Douglas, performed the necessary tests on the boy – prayers, holy water, he showed no adverse reaction to any of it.

  He was a local college student with no record, yet he entered the couple’s home and beat them brutally with a small wooden music box. Both remain unconscious in the hospital. The wife is unlikely to make it.

  When asked why he did it, he claimed to have no memory of the event. The last thing he could recall was working in the college library and then coming to when the police arrested him.

  As time wore on, he seemed calmer and more focused which seemed to indicate something else at play. Drugs were a possibility, but the tox screen came back clean.

  The boy told us that it wasn’t the first time he had lost time. He had experienced several blackouts in recent weeks, including where he woke up in a hotel room alone.

  A visit to the hotel proved fruitful as we were able to view the CCTV footage and witnessed a young woman leaving the room. Enquiries around campus led to a fellow student, who had been seen with the boy before. The former foster daughter of the victims. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

  The strange thing was when we showed the boy her photo, he had no idea who she was and didn’t recall ever meeting her before. I now had a fair idea what we were dealing with. It took two days to track the girl down, but we caught her trying to skip town.

  When confronted, she attempted to use her ability on us. The girl used mind control, a siren offshoot, to persuade the boy to attack her former foster parents. They sent her back to the home and abandoned her. When she came into her powers at eighteen, she saw her chance at revenge, using a gift they once gave her. There may have been abuse, but nothing had ever been reported. Simple abandonment seemed like an extreme reason, but she refused to tell us more. Nothing is known of her real parents.

  Too dangerous to be left in the world, we locked the siren away in the League confinement center where a decision will be made on her future. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do for the boy. He will face charges for something he had no control over.

  I closed the journal. Mind control? Could that be it?

  Is someone controlling me?

  Chapter Six

  Mind control is not something that is easy to do without magic or a serious set of skills. From my research, I discovered that it could only be utilized for a short amount of time, took a lot of power and the person responsible had to be close by to make it work.

  A few humans had the ability, although there was debate that it was due to some throwback gene where they had supernatural in their DNA. Creatures like sirens, succubi and vampires had the ability to different degrees. Since none of these creatures could enter the Academy, I could rule them out.

  I immediately ruled out some talented side show mentalist too, considering where I worked. It started with the orb, so it had to be connected to it.

  Maybe something inside the orb leaked out when I dropped it? Or I unleashed a spell someone conjured and contained within it. There were too many options and without the orb, I couldn’t check any of them. I searched for it too, when Chelsea was elsewhere. At least in the obvious places. I couldn’t check the other Watcher’s lockers or any place I didn’t have access to.

  I wished I could have taken Grandpa’s journal home with me, to check out the rest of the entries.

  Brenda stormed into the room and hurled her book bag onto the bed. “Stupid asshole!”

  “Is something wrong?” I asked.

  “No!” She moved to the kitchen, slamming things around as she got herself some juice.

  “Clearly something is wrong. Do you want to talk about it?” I offered, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do.

  “Like you would understand,” she snapped.

  I couldn’t spend the rest of the evening listening to her have a bitch fit, I needed to get o
ut of here.

  Grabbing my stuff, I left the room, with no idea where I was going.

  What would I do if I was back home?

  Checking my phone, I found the place I was looking for, a couple miles away.

  I could use the break.

  Back home when I felt stressed, I would go bowling. It sounded lame, but I found it relaxing. It was something Dad used to do with me when I was a kid. We only went a handful of times, he was usually too busy with work, but when we did go, we had fun. He seemed to relax and smiled more.

  I paid for my shoes and set up at a lane. As I was tying my laces, I glanced up to see a guy in the next lane, flash me a smile.

  Urgh, I do not want to get hit on tonight.

  I pretended not to see him and picked up a ball. Taking a breath, I took a shot and bowled a strike.

  “Yes,” I said to myself. Still got it.

  “Nice one,” the guy in the next lane said.

  I glanced over at him. “Thanks.”

  “You have a good arm. But your form is terrible. Can I help with that?” he said, taking a step toward me.

  “No, thank you.”

  God, that was his opening line?

  “Come on, it will be fun.”

  “I’ll tell you what. If I don’t bowl another strike, you can help me. If I do, you go back to your own game and leave me alone.”

  He smirked. “You drive a hard bargain, but okay.”

  Lifting my ball, I bowled again. A perfect strike.

  I saw the guy’s jaw clench. “Well done. Guess you don’t need my help.”

  “Nope.”

  He went back to his friends. I hated jerks who pulled stunts like that. Allow the big strong man to help you out little lady and then you can swoon at my feet when I prove how superior I am to you.

  I returned to my game, and for the first time since I started at the Academy, I actually started to have fun.

  It sucked that I had to come to a bowling alley to feel that way, but at least for now, I was in control.

  ***

  Over the next couple of days, I looked at everyone with suspicion. If mind control was involved, could one of the Watchers be behind it? I didn’t want to believe it, but Watchers were human like everyone else. There could be a bad seed inside the Academy, one who had their own reasons for being there.

  They are all vetted though. Just like I was.

  While I didn’t want to believe it of my fellow Watchers, I still felt paranoid walking around the Academy. Every time someone looked my way, I wondered why. Of course it could because I looked like a deer caught in the headlights, jumping at everything.

  Max was still looking into the orb but had no luck either. He had more access than me. If it was the source of the mind control, maybe someone found it and used it against me. I still didn’t remember getting home that first night. Or where I went during those missing hours.

  There were cameras around campus, maybe I could get access to the footage and figure out where I was. I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to know what I’d been up to, but I couldn’t ignore it. It would have to wait until lunch though as Chelsea had me back shelving books. More seemed to have materialized since and I actually wondered if she just removed them so I would have to put them back. There was no way this many were removed by the Watchers for research.

  Spencer wandered my way. “Back here again?”

  “Yeah, Chelsea likes me out of the way, I think.” Or she just hates trainees.

  Spencer rested his arm on a shelf. “I was thinking about that drink? How about Thursday at eight? There’s a bar just off campus. It’s quiet, has some good music.”

  “Yeah, that sounds great.”

  “Awesome. I get a date with the prettiest Watcher in the Academy.”

  “You are such a flirt,” I teased.

  “I try to get in a good flirt every day. It’s good for the soul,” he joked.

  He moved the next stack to retrieve a book. Spencer seemed like a great guy and I was seriously considering telling him what was going on. Maybe he could help me.

  Or he might think I’m crazy and cancel our date.

  That thought made me pause. Spencer had potential. A nice guy who knew what I did and didn’t act like an asshole. If the date went well, who knows where it could lead. I haven’t had many serious boyfriends, I was always too wrapped up in studying and preparing myself for here. I could never explain to any of them what I planned on doing.

  Yeah, I want to eradicate evil from the world with a group of like-minded individuals.

  That would go over well. Not even Jason knew and he was the most serious boyfriend I ever had. Until it started to go wrong. I’m sure he would have found some way to use it to his advantage if he did know about it.

  I could hear Spencer muttering to himself as he searched for whatever book he needed. If I was going to tell him, it would be better to do it now, before the date. I had to be fair. That way he had all the facts and could make the decision for himself.

  I took a deep breath, ready to tell him. I blinked and the next thing I knew, I was pressed against Spencer, kissing him. His hands were on my hips as he kissed me back. I jerked away.

  Eyes wide, he said, “Not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?”

  “I uh, don’t know,” I stammered. I didn’t remember moving around the stacks or what led to kissing him. This was getting scary. Backing away, my heart thudded in my chest. It’s like my body isn’t my own.

  “Well as nice as it was, just be careful Chelsea doesn’t see anything.”

  I forced a smile. “Yeah, just forget that happened.”

  Hurrying back to my books, my mind raced. Why did I do that? I mean sure, I liked Spencer, but whatever happened was outside my control. I heard him walk away, glad that he didn’t ask more questions. How could I explain this?

  It had to be mind control. There was no other explanation.

  A horrible thought struck me and I rushed downstairs to Max’s office. He had his phone to his ear. I waited by the door until he hung up, trying not to listen in on the call. When he finished, he waved me in.

  “It happened again.”

  “You lost more time?” he asked.

  “Yes, and when I became aware again, I was kissing Spencer. Do you think its him, that he’s doing it?”

  Max considered it for a moment, then shook his head. “Spencer isn’t that kind of guy. He wasn’t around the other times either.”

  “But who has the most to gain from this? Why would anyone want me to kiss Spencer?”

  “That might not have been the goal. Maybe they want to embarrass you or see how far they can push you.”

  Push me? How far would they go?

  I groaned. “This is ridiculous. I need to figure out who is doing this and get my life back. Have you found anything?”

  He sighed. “Not so far. I have to stay under Chelsea’s radar.”

  Letting out a shaky breath, I said, “You have no idea what this is like. To have your free will taken away.”

  Max’s face darkened. “Don’t I?” he snapped. He stormed out of the room.

  What did I say now?

  Chapter Seven

  “What the hell is wrong with me?” I muttered. I’d managed to make Max mad at me again. I just didn’t understand why. He knew what it was like to be controlled? That didn’t sound good.

  Spencer might know the story, but he was the last person I wanted to talk to right now, after I embarrassed myself.

  God, I kissed him. I mean not that he wasn’t kissable or that I never planned on doing it, but I wanted to be present for it. What the hell must he be thinking? That I’m some crazy person who kisses my co-workers whenever I feel like it?

  Urgh, I don’t know if I can ever talk to him again.

  I headed for the coffee machine. Even if it was swill, I needed the boost right now. I’ve been addicted to coffee since I was fourteen. I’ve never touched drugs and I rarely get drunk, but I can’
t live without my coffee.

  An older woman was pouring herself a cup. She smiled as I approached.

  “You’re Dell, right?” she asked. Finally, someone gets my name right.

  She was short, maybe 5’2 with blonde curly hair. Dressed like me, she wore a rose shaped brooch on her lapel.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry I don’t know your name,” I admitted.

  “I’m Anita. I knew your grandfather.” She handed me the pot.

  “You did?” I poured a cup and took a sip, eager for the hit.

  “Yes, Edward was a great Watcher. So sorry to hear he passed. Heart attack?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, it was a shock. He always seemed fit and healthy. It’s been hard not having him to talk to, now that I’m finally here.”

  “He used to talk about you all the time. He always seemed so proud that you were going to be following in his footsteps.”

  “He was?”

  “Edward wasn’t an emotional person, but his face would light up when he spoke of you.”

  That brought tears to my eyes. “Thanks,” I murmured. “That’s nice to hear.”

  Anita patted my arm. “If you need anything, let me know.”

  “Thanks. Actually,” I glanced around and lowered my voice. “I think I kind of upset Max earlier. We were talking about mind control – for research – and he got kind of angry about a comment I made.”

  Anita nodded, looking sympathetic. “Well it is a touchy subject for him.”

  “Spencer hinted that something happened to him. What was it?”

  Anita sighed. “Most of the older Watchers know already. About ten years ago, Max and a team were at a dig site in the Middle East. They unearthed something. I don’t know the exact details, but the team ended up dead and Max disappeared for weeks. He had his mind hijacked by an entity. It took him a long time to recover. Your grandfather worked with him after it happened.”

  “He did? Would it be in his journal?”

  Anita shrugged. “Might be. Edward kept meticulous notes, not just with his journal.” I remembered he would be constantly scribbling away in notebooks at home.