by C. C. Monö
“I trust you,” he mumbled.
“Good, because you need to separate the comfort of your training, or lack there of, with the significance of it. I understand that the past three weeks were tough, but they were necessary. In addition, none of the other students has been given this much attention, so you should feel honoured.”
So why me, Axel wondered, but he already knew the answer. “There’s something fishy about Hallman,” Professor Jackson had said. The Academy didn’t trust him.
“Now, Mr Hallman,” Dr Vella continued, “Principal Cunningham has asked me to inform you that you’re not to tell anyone about what you’ve experienced. Nor will he discuss the matter with you.”
“Hold on,” Axel objected, “I’ve been gone for three weeks. What am I supposed to say to my friends? I can’t just pretend like nothing’s happened.”
“If anyone asks, you’ll tell them that you’ve been in hospital for appendicitis. That’s what they’ve been told.”
“I removed my appendix a few years ago.”
“I know, Mr Hallman, which means you have a scar already.”
“But three weeks to recover from an appendicitis operation. No one will believe that.”
“Then you have to be creative, Mr Hallman,” Dr Vella replied. “I have to go now. Enjoy your evening.”
CHAPTER 46
Dr Vella hung up the phone and her pale eyes flashed Professor Jackson an expression that said, “Happy now?”
He gave her a little nod.
“Thank you, doctor, I believe that will do.”
“You promise you’ll have all this conversation erased? If Principal Cunningham finds out…”
“Don’t worry. I’m a man of my word.” Dr Vella pouted and didn’t look convinced at all. It annoyed Professor Jackson. “I’ll call Mr Nakata straightaway,” he added, and, this time, the doctor nodded and turned for the door. “Oh, and on your way out, can you tell Ms Swan that I want to see her at once?”
“Yes, sir.”
As the door closed behind her, Professor Jackson dropped back into his chair. Now that Axel had his instructions, it was time to deal with Nicole. What a disappointment. She should have known better than to express favouritism to a student.
Professor Jackson picked up his phone. He would have to give her an official warning. Although he wasn’t proud of it, he felt a tingle of excitement just thinking about it. Nicole was one of Principal Cunningham’s favourites and stood under his protection. Somehow, that made it all a little more interesting. But, before he dealt with Nicole, he would call Mr Nakata as he’d promised Dr Vella. After all, he was a man of his word.
CHAPTER 47
There are those who claim that time heals all wounds, but when Axel woke up on Saturday morning, he determined that it wasn’t always the case. Sometimes, time would inflict wounds.
He’d spent the entire night dwelling on the fact that he’d been the victim of unfair treatment, and the more he dwelled, the angrier he got. Dr Vella’s argument didn’t seem logical anymore and Axel was ready for war.
After a quick shower, he took the elevator to the eleventh floor, known as the Office and Administration floor. He stepped out into a waiting room that resembled a small living room with a reception desk. Warm light fell over a carpet that was so thick, one would almost need a lawn mower to cross it. There was lots of greenery and even a fire burning in a corner fireplace. On one wall hung a large TV-screen showing the Academy eagle and a golden globe slowly rotating above the text: “You are our future. You are our hope”.
Axel turned from the TV screen to the reception and found a familiar face watching him.
“Good morning, Mr Hallman. How nice to see you again.”
Nicole was sitting behind a computer, elegant as always. Axel smiled at her with unhidden surprise.
“Is this where you work?”
She laughed.
“Yes. When I’m not needed elsewhere, you’ll find me here.”
It struck Axel that he didn’t actually know what Nicole’s tasks were.
“What is your job?”
“Oh, nothing fancy. I do a little bit of this and a little bit of that, depending on what the principal or assistant principal need me to do.” She beamed. “Now how can I help you?”
“I’d like to talk to Principal Cunningham.”
Nicole gave him a rueful shake of her head.
“I’m sorry. That’s not possible. He’s in Portugal at the moment.”
“When will he be back?”
Nicole checked her phone.
“Two weeks from now, but he will only be here for a day and he’s fully booked, I’m afraid.” She looked up. “If you like, I can check with Mr Hennigan, Principal Cunningham’s assistant. Maybe there’s a possibility to squeeze you in between meetings next time the principal returns, but that’s six weeks from now.”
“Six weeks!”
Nicole gave him an apologetic smile.
“It’s the first semester with a new class. The interest in the Academy is at its peak, which means Principal Cunningham is more or less fully booked until July. Things usually slow down around then but I would assume it’s a little too late for you. Of course the assistant principal is here. Will that do?”
Axel hesitated. The wise thing would be to wait for the principal to return, but six weeks? No way! Axel wanted answers, and he wanted them now.
“Yes,” he replied with a little more force than he’d intended, not that Nicole seemed to notice.
“Very well, Mr Hallman. Please follow me.”
They walked down a long, dark corridor, passing several meeting rooms and offices before Nicole stopped in front of a wide, wooden door.
“Here we are.” Nicole pointed to another door at the end of the corridor. “That’s Principal Cunningham’s office, should you ever want to see him and I’m not in.” She adjusted her suit jacket. “Ready?”
Axel frowned.
“Ready for what?”
Nicole knocked on the assistant principal’s door.
“Ready for Professor Jackson,” she whispered and winked.
The door opened inward with such force, Axel could feel the suction before the professor himself appeared. He gave them an indifferent glare.
“Aye?”
“Sorry, Professor, but Mr Hallman would like a word with you.
“Is that so?”
Axel stepped forward.
“Yes, sir. If you don’t mind.”
Professor Jackson took off a pair of reading glasses and looked very much like he did mind. Nevertheless, he stepped aside.
“All right, come on in.”
As soon as Axel entered the office, the assistant principal slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Nicole to return to her desk.
The first thing that struck Axel was the overwhelming scent of coffee. He surveyed the large office. It wasn’t very bright. The windows were tinted, and the carpet was dark, as was the furniture. Three small armchairs stood positioned around a small table near the windows. Foolishly he approached them, thinking he would be offered a seat.
“No need to sit, Mr Hallman,” Professor Jackson muttered. He walked around his large desk and dropped into his own wide office chair. “I have a great deal of responsibilities; things to do. Thus, time is a very limited commodity for me.” He leaned forward, his eyes cold and indifferent. “Now, why are you here?”
At that instant, without any warning, Axel felt his anger wash away, leaving him with nothing but uncertainty.
“It’s about Black Sunday,” he began.
“Aye. Black Sunday. It’s a very good exercise, wouldn’t you agree?”
Axel stared at his teacher, trying to figure out whether or not he was making fun of him.
“No…well, I…I don’t know.”
Professor Jackson leaned back in his chair, steepled his fingers and frowned.
“That seems to be a common problem for you, Mr Hallman. I’m curious; what do you know?”
/>
Axel tensed, absorbing the anger as it returned.
“I understand I was held isolated in a small room for three weeks,” he started. “Everyone else was held in a common room for a few hours.”
“Aye. And?”
“I want to know why.”
Professor Jackson raised his eyebrows with mock surprise.
“Are you a little upset, Mr Hallman?”
“Yes. I am!”
“Then deal with it, Mr Hallman. You’re here to become a leader, and we’re here to make that happen. Thunderstruck, remember?”
“I beg your pardon?”
Professor Jackson snorted and stood up. “Our Leadership Allegiance! Let me hear it!”
Axel kept his head down, focusing on the man’s polished shoes under the big desk. Things were not turning out as he’d expected.
“Come on, let me hear it, Mr Hallman! Let me hear you pledge allegiance to the Academy and your role as a future leader!”
Axel raised his head reluctantly. “Sir, I…”
“LET ME HEAR IT!”
Axel reared. He felt a drop of sweat trickling down his back.
“Out of darkness and into light,” he mumbled, “I come walking without fright. I am strong and I am proud…”
It felt as if he had an invisible noose around his neck, and, with every word he uttered, it tightened. By the time he was done, he could hardly breathe.
The tight-lipped professor stood as if frozen for a good thirty seconds or so. Then he blinked.
“Come here,” he hissed. “Go on! A little closer.” Axel obeyed, albeit with reluctance. “You know what, Mr Hallman?” Professor Jackson whispered with venom. “That was the most pathetic thing I’ve ever seen. I want to shoot myself out of embarrassment. Where’s the power? The honesty? You sound like a schoolboy caught fondling himself.” Then without warning, the professor launched forward grabbing Axel’s head between his large hands. “Now you listen to me!”
CHAPTER 48
The man sat in the corner of his dark little room. His eyes darted back and forth between the two screens while his fingers smattered against the keyboard. He was close. Any minute now…
“Access denied.”
Darn. The man rubbed his face and stood up. There had to be a way. He’d been at it for weeks now, sniffing through the system like a bloodhound on a trail. It shouldn’t be this hard. The system was impossible to access from outside the Academy, and, with the exception of Mr Nakata and his team, only a handful of people knew it even existed.
The man grabbed a cold beer from the fridge and returned to his desk. Mr Nakata was a paranoid chap and downright bonkers when it came to security. The system was booby-trapped to the point of absurdity. On more than one occasion, he’d been close to setting off the alarm, thinking he was on safe grounds.
He sighed and tried again.
Yawning, he pressed enter. The screens went black. Sitting in complete darkness, the man froze and held his breath as he stared at his screens. Had he stepped into a trap? He’d been tired; maybe he’d missed something?
Five seconds passed, then another five. He pushed back his chair. If he’d set off the alarm, he would have to leave now. There was a bag under his bed, packed with clothes and enough money to last him a week. If he survived that long, the Box might be able to save him.
The man interlocked his hands behind his neck, pressing his arms against his ears. He lacked the skills that Thor and the other spies had. There was no way he would last a week on his own. The Academy would have him dead within an hour.
Another five seconds passed, and then the screens flickered and lit up. “Welcome to EKCOM.”
The man let out a muffled cry of relief and dropped his hands. Good Lord! He was in.
CHAPTER 49
Professor Jackson’s fingers pressed hard against Axel’s head, as if trying to rupture his skull. With their eyes locked onto each other, the professor began to speak with his deep-seated voice.
“Out of darkness and into light,
I come walking without fright,
I am strong and I am proud
I have the power to rule a crowd…”
He spoke with fiery passion, reading the entire Leadership Allegiance before letting go of Axel, who stumbled back.
“Thunderstruck!” Professor Jackson roared and stretched to his full length. “That’s what it’s all about. Men who spit fire when they speak; who exert power and determination; who are loved but feared; whose passion can turn anyone into a follower. That’s what we create here!”
Axel was shocked. His cheeks burned as if the professor had slapped him, and deep within, the seething anger began to grow once more.
“Your followers must love you. Your enemies must fear you. We expect greatness, Mr Hallman, not a spoiled ungrateful little brat. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but…”
“There are no ‘buts’, you imbecilic! Our job is to prepare you for what’s coming. Your job is to learn. We’ll adjust your training depending on your needs and you will accept it, no questions asked. Or do you doubt the Academy?”
Professor Jackson said the last words as if the mere thought was absurd. Axel fought hard not to let his anger take over.
“No, sir,” he replied through clenched teeth.
“Then you should know that if you were in there for three weeks, it’s because you needed it.”
“What did I need that the others didn’t?”
“Oh, don’t push it, Mr Hallman! The Academy doesn’t have to justify its training methods to you. If you don’t like it…”
Axel glared at the man who let the words hang. This was going nowhere; he was just getting himself into more trouble.
“I’m not quitting,” he said with strained composure. “I just want to understand if I’ve done something wrong. How else can I improve?”
For a few seconds, Professor Jackson remained motionless. Then he dropped back into his chair with a hint of a smirk on his lips.
“Information in order to grow, you say? Well, I’ll be damned. I didn’t think you would play that card.” He leaned back and tapped his fingertips against each other. “All right, there are two main objectives with Black Sunday.” He held up his index finger. “First of all, great leaders must learn that they’re never safe. There are always threats and you had better remember that or you’ll end up as many other leaders in the past: dead by the hand of an unexpected enemy.
“Secondly –” Professor Jackson raised a second finger “– all great leaders face situations that will shock, scare and bewilder them. When this happens, and trust me it will happen, then your success depends on how well you can master your emotions. Remember, regardless of the situation, your followers will expect you to be in control of the situation. Black Sunday gives you a better understanding of how you feel and react in times of shock. From now on, all of you will work with Mr Nakata to improve your mental strength.”
Professor Jackson’s blue eyes narrowed.
“There’s a third benefit with Black Sunday. It will test a student’s willingness to become a leader. Black Sunday is a tiring exercise, and for many students it’s the first time they realise what they’ve signed up for.
“This isn’t a playground where toddlers come to play. We prepare you for the game of power. This is a game played by the biggest fish in the pond, and if you don’t want this bad enough, you have to quit. If you don’t, you’ll get swallowed by someone bigger and meaner than you, and that would be an embarrassment to our Academy.” The professor got up and walked to the door. “And that’s why you were held longer than the rest. I need to know that you want this more than anything.”
“You doubted me?” Axel asked.
“Aye, and I still do.” The professor grinned and opened the door. “I have work to do and you need to head down to your class with Professor Evans.”
“But…”
“No. This conversation is over. Next time you come to complain about the
training, you better have a damn good reason and be far more prepared. I’ll never show you this kind of patience again. You have to remember that out in the real world, people don’t care about you. They don’t care about how you feel or the effort you put in. What matters are results. So, if you want to graduate, you better give me results.”
Axel hesitated.
“What kind of results, sir?”
“That’s for you to figure out.” Professor Jackson grabbed Axel by his lower arm. “And one more thing, I believe you’ve been told not to discuss your experience during Black Sunday, so consider this a warning: if you so much as breathe a word about this to anyone, me or Principal Cunningham included, you’ll be expelled and I’ll turn your life into a living hell. Clear?”
CHAPTER 50
TWELVE YEARS EARLIER
“The greater the leader, the greater his sacrifice,” Professor Jackson barked and pointed at his door. “Take it as a compliment. Now get out!”
Sarah gave him a defiant look. She was different that way. Most people reacted like a frightened pup when he yelled at them, but not Sarah. She would stare a person straight in the eye no matter what. Professor Jackson admired that in a student, even if he found it annoying at the time. He knew what she was doing; she was trying to provoke him into continuing their conversation. It was a good strategy, but he wouldn’t fall for it.
“I said, get out,” he hissed. “This conversation is over.”
He walked back to his desk, sat down and began shuffling papers. He could feel Sarah watching him for a few more seconds before she turned on her heels and left. Professor Jackson listened to the door close behind her. She was a wild-card. Sarah had the attitude and the brains to become great. She had the passion. Born with nothing, she’d made it all the way here. No wonder the other students disliked her. On paper she should be inferior to them all, but if she just got her act together she could become one of the strongest students to ever graduate from the Academy.