‘The first time I went in, I didn’t see anything,’ I explained. ‘Wyatt just disappeared. But I came back the next day to investigate it some more.’
‘Course you did,’ Zoe sighed.
Opening the door, I stepped into the room and put my finger to my lips, telling Zoe we had to be quiet. As we walked to the door in the back of the room, I whispered. ‘I found this other door and when I opened it … I saw what Wyatt has been busy doing.’
Zoe was confused. ‘Was he working on a science fair project or something?’
‘Ew, no,’ I replied. ‘He’s been busy building another ninja clan. Remember? I told you I saw a red ninja clan.’
Zoe continued to sneak through the room with me. I couldn’t see her face, but her voice told me she was rolling her eyes. ‘I’d say you were full of baloney, and that you’re just talking crazy now, but then I remembered there was a secret ninja clan that used to train in the woods … so I’ll take your word for it.’
I put my finger to my lips again, and stared at her until she nodded. Then I placed my hand on the handle of the red ninja’s secret entrance and pushed it down as quietly as possible. There was barely a click, but it sounded like a gun went off. I held my breath and waited. When nothing happened, I pushed the door open a few centimetres.
Zoe stepped up to the slit in the door and stared through it. After a second, she spoke. ‘What am I looking at?’
‘Ninjas!’ I whispered. ‘There are ninjas training in there!’
‘No,’ she said, standing up. ‘There’s nobody in there.’
Pushing her out of the way, I pressed my face against the open space. She was right. There weren’t any red ninjas in the next room. ‘That’s impossible. Where could they be?’
‘Here!’ a shrill voice shouted as the fluorescent lights flickered on overhead.
The sudden light was blinding as I spun around. Pain shot through my head and down my spine as I covered my eyes. ‘Zoe, what’s happening?’
‘I think we’ve found your red ninjas,’ I heard her say.
When I opened my eyes, I saw three members of the red ninja clan standing near the entrance of Mr Lien’s classroom. They were dressed in red silk robes and closing in on us.
‘You’ll pay for your actions,’ said one of the red ninjas at the front. ‘Our leader, Wyatt, has a message. You’re done at Buchanan.’
Grabbing Zoe’s arm, I flung the door wide open and pushed her through. Hopefully Zoe was right and there weren’t any other red ninjas training in there. ‘Go!’ I shouted.
Instantly, Zoe started running through the dark room. I jumped through the door, pulling it shut. Sliding my hand across the surface of the door, I couldn’t find a lock. There wasn’t any time to keep searching so I started backing away. One of the red ninjas twisted the handle and started pushing it open. I threw my body forward, slamming it shut again. I could hear the other ninjas colliding with the closed door.
‘Come on!’ cried Zoe.
Buchanan School has this weird feature where every room has an entrance at the front, but also a door on the wall that goes into the next classroom, completely bypassing the hallway. I think they built it like that in case of emergencies. If there were ever a fire in the hallway, students and faculty could use these other doors to leave the building.
I did my best to avoid the desks, but the new room was so dark that it was hard to see. Instead of a swift getaway, I tumbled across the floor.
The red ninjas poured into the dark room and continued chasing after me. I didn’t know what they were planning on doing, but I sure didn’t want to find out.
Crawling across the carpet, I grabbed a desk leg and pulled myself up. Spinning around to see how close the ninjas were, I saw a foot come at my face. I dodged it, rolling backwards across the desk, and landing perfectly on my feet. A bit of excitement sent a chill through my body, and I couldn’t help but smile.
‘I’ll rip that smile from your face!’ cried another red ninja as he dove at me.
This time, I hopped off one of the chairs and jumped across the room, over to where Zoe was holding another door open.
‘Quickly!’ she shouted waving me into the next room.
I grabbed the door and gestured for Zoe to walk through. ‘Ladies first!’
Suddenly, I was pushed to the floor, but tumbled until I was back on my feet. The other ninjas jumped through the door one by one. And then one of them started running towards Zoe.
‘Chase!’ she cried.
As they reached their hands out for her, I pushed against a chair with my foot, sliding it across the floor. The red ninja stumbled, tripping over the chair and fell to the ground.
Clutching Zoe’s hand, I started running for the front entrance of the classroom. There was no way these red ninjas would risk going into the hallway, would they?
I opened the door and glanced over my shoulder. The red ninja that I tripped was trying to stand up, but the other two were still coming after us. I guess they meant business.
Zoe and I started running down the hall, back towards the cafeteria. It felt like a bad dream. No matter how fast we ran, it didn’t feel fast enough. I kept looking back to see if the red ninjas had left the room yet.
Suddenly, I felt a strong hand grab my arm. It yanked me into another dark classroom. My hand was still gripping Zoe’s so she fell right in there with me. Then I heard the click of a door locking.
‘Keep your heads down,’ said a boy’s voice. ‘Hopefully they’ll pass by, and we’ll be alright.’
Through the window of the door, I saw a line of red blurs pass in front of it. The red ninjas had chased us into the hallway but had no idea where we’d gone.
Ha! Take that, red ninjas!
After my eyes adjusted to the dark, I looked at the kid who saved us. It was Gavin, the captain of the hall monitors. ‘Why’d you help us?’
Gavin stared through the tiny window of the door. ‘That whole thing that went down yesterday with your friend Brayden? Somethin’ was fishy about it. The way the president was so keen on lettin’ Wyatt off the hook for his crimes just felt … off.’
‘What’re you saying?’ Zoe asked, catching her breath.
‘I ain’t sayin’ anything specific now,’ Gavin replied. ‘Just sayin’ somethin’s off about it.’
The bell rang, signalling the end of the lunch. Students rushing through the hallway was a welcome sound. The red ninjas chased us down an empty hallway, but I knew they wouldn’t stick around when it was full of kids. No ninja was that stupid.
‘Brayden’s innocent,’ I whispered.
Gavin nodded. ‘I suspected that. He moves too goofy to be a real ninja. Clumsy and all that. Plus, when Principal Davis was questioning him, he had all sorts of stuff to say about Wyatt and his involvement with the ninja clan.’
I felt my cheek twitch. ‘Really? What’d he say?’
‘He kept sayin’ it was Wyatt and Carlyle who were up to the nonsense this week with your little love note and the photo of the ninja in the school paper,’ Gavin sighed.
‘I don’t know about Carlyle,’ I said, ‘but it was Wyatt for sure.’
‘Brayden mentioned Wyatt stole your backpack on Monday,’ Gavin said. ‘Is that right?’
‘Mmhmm,’ I hummed. ‘And I also saw him hanging up a copy of my note.’
Gavin paused. ‘You’re one of them, aren’t ya?’
I remained silent, but Zoe put her hands over her mouth and squawked.
Thanks, Zoe, for totally giving me away.
‘You wouldn’t be gettin’ chased after unless they had a reason,’ Gavin explained. ‘And those other kids were dressed in red ninja costumes. The one I’m after wears a black costume. Normally when I see a group of kids chasing one kid with a girl by his side … I’d bet my money that it’s the one kid who’s innocent.’
I didn’t know what to say, but a bunch of sounds tumbled out of my mouth anyway. ‘But I … um … it’s kinda … well …’
Gavin laughed. ‘Your secret’s safe with me. Is that what you want to hear?’
‘It is,’ I said.
Gavin swung the door open and nodded his head at Zoe. ‘Ladies first.’
‘Thank you!’ Zoe said, blushing as she stepped through the door, glancing back at me. ‘Sounds better when he says it.’
As Zoe and I stepped into the hallway, Gavin said. ‘I got a little pull with Principal Davis. I’ll let him know what I think about Brayden, and hopefully he’ll listen.’
‘Where’s Brayden been today?’ Zoe asked.
‘He got all-day detention,’ Gavin replied.
I shuddered. ‘Ouch.’
Gavin joined the other students as they walked through the hall. Zoe and I split up to swap our books out at our lockers. With Wyatt and the threat of the red ninjas looming over me, it felt good to have someone new on our side – someone with some official authority at Buchanan. I wasn’t sure what Gavin was capable of, but I was just happy he was one of the good guys.
I was sure I’d still hear some shouts about my love note. For the most part, the teasing died down. Of course there would always be stragglers, but that’s what you get when you’re around kids your own age. It didn’t matter. Faith was in my next class, and we were still lab partners. That was enough for me.
There was still half a day left and a few classes to trudge through before the weekend officially started … oh yeah, and a skate party I had to attend.
I stepped out of Zoe’s dad’s car. We had just arrived, and my rollerblades were slung over my shoulder. Already running to the entrance of the skating rink was my younger sister, more excited than I’d ever seen in my life. Third graders had no idea how easy they had it.
‘Thanks, dad!’ Zoe said, shutting the door.
Her father rolled the window down. ‘I’ll be here at seven, alright? You have your phone on you?’
Zoe pulled her phone out of her pocket. Then she rolled her eyes and groaned. ‘Yesssss, it’s right here, dad.’
‘You got your two bucks for pizza?’ her dad asked.
‘Yesssss!’ she answered, loudly.
Uncle John pointed at me. ‘What about you, pal? You got two bucks?’
I nodded with my hands in my pockets.
‘See ya, dad!’ Zoe said, letting him know he could leave at anytime.
‘Love you!’ he shouted from the car.
I flinched, feeling pain for Zoe. A parent shouting ‘I love you’ from a car was the worst thing they could do to their child! Didn’t her dad know this? Didn’t he get the memo?
She smiled. ‘Love you too!’
I looked around at the other kids who were being dropped off, waiting for someone to tease her but nobody did. Huh … guess I was wrong about that.
‘Wait up!’ I yelled as I jogged to Zoe’s side. My stomach started to gurgle. ‘I’m having second thoughts about this.’
‘It’s fine,’ Zoe said with a hop in her step. ‘It’ll be fun, really. And who cares? If anyone says anything, just ignore them!’
‘Easier said than done,’ I replied.
‘I know,’ Zoe said. ‘But the best thing you can do is let it slip right past you. Anyone who says anything is just being a turd. If you lash out at them or try fighting back, it just makes things worse.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Tell me,’ she said. ‘What do you think would happen if you freaked out?’
I thought about it for a moment and then answered, ‘I don’t know.’
‘They’d get the response they were looking for,’ Zoe explained. ‘Kids who tease are doing it to make someone else feel bad, whether they know it or not. If you can show them you don’t give a stuff about it, then I’d be surprised if they kept doing it.’
I hated when Zoe had a point. ‘Right.’
‘Don’t just say ‘right’,’ she said. ‘How old are you?’
‘Eleven,’ I replied.
‘Eleven years old is almost an adult! You’ll be shaving soon,’ she joked. ‘You’re really gonna let a couple of kids tease you about liking a girl who might actually like you back?’
I stopped walking, floored. ‘What? Did Faith say something about me?’
Zoe fumbled over her words as she started walking faster. ‘What? Nothing! Never mind! I didn’t say anything!’
Smiling, I let her walk ahead of me until she disappeared through the doors of the skating rink. Breathing deeply, I felt the cool air fill my lungs. Maybe this whole thing wouldn’t be as difficult as I feared it was going to be.
Boy, was I wrong.
I walked to the table where Zoe was sitting. Emily and a couple of other girls were there too. There were several paper cups filled with soft drink on the table, along with some chewy fruit lollies.
The skating rink was dark, with lights that flashed on and off to the beat of the music. The bass was, as usual, over the top. I’m sure I’d recognise the song they were playing if it didn’t only sound like, ‘BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!’
‘Hey, Chase!’ Emily said cheerfully. ‘Have a seat.’
Emily was always super nice. Even if I were a monster, she’d still offer me a seat.
‘Thanks,’ I said, dropping my rollerblades on the floor. I pushed my shoes off and forced my feet into my skates.
Zoe had to shout so I could hear her voice. She pointed at my rollerblades. ‘So you know how to use those things or what?’
I smiled as I pulled my laces tighter around my ankle. ‘I know my way around these things, yeah!’
Pushing herself away, she rolled backwards. ‘Race ya!’
I watched as she skated away onto the rink. I frantically tied knots around my skates and stood. There’s always that awkward moment when you first stand on skates – like your body has to remember how to use them.
I imagine I looked like an old man trying to figure out what was happening with my feet. Zoe was definitely going to win this race, but I’m pretty sure she wasn’t serious anyhow.
‘Sup, lover boy!’ cried a voice from nearby.
I smiled at the kid who threw the insult, hoping that was the last I’d have to hear of it that night.
When I got to the skating floor, it was so packed that I had to wait until a spot opened up so I could jump in. The sixth grade class of Buchanan wasn’t large by any means, but this wasn’t just a sixth grader event. This was everyone from second grade up.
Finally, an empty spot opened, and I jumped forward. Gliding along, I kept the same pace as everyone else. The colourful lights spun large circles around the entire floor while they blinked on and off. The music was even louder in the middle of the rink.
‘C’mon, Chase!’ Zoe said as she zipped past me. ‘You’re already a lap behind! What’re you gonna tell your parents when your cousin mops the floor with you?’
‘That she cheated!’ I replied, pushing my feet forward and gaining speed.
‘Cheated?’ Zoe asked as she spun around. She skated backwards, taunting me. ‘Don’t be a sore loser. It’s not a good look on you.’
I laughed, balling my fists up and swinging them out while I started running on my rollerblades. Weaving between slower skaters, I glanced over at Zoe. ‘How can I be a sore loser when I win all the time?’
As we raced each other around the skating rink, the songs switched and the lights continued blinking. After about twenty minutes, my legs finally remembered how to manoeuvre on rollerblades, and I moved like my own body had grown them.
Exhausted, I rolled up to the spot on the wall where kids could exit. All that skating and racing with Zoe had worked up a sweat, and I felt like I was going to die if I didn’t get something to drink immediately. Ice-cold soft drink was my first choice of thirst quencher.
At the concession counter, I rolled up and waited in line. There were six or seven people in front of me. The menu was filled with all kinds of junk food my parents would try to keep me away from – popcorn with too much butter, chocolate bars, wrinkly hot dogs, nachos, soft pretzels, and of c
ourse … fairy floss.
I heard the girl in front of me giggle. I assumed it was about me. The boy in front of her leaned out to get a good look at me.
‘Hey, man,’ said the boy. He was taller and lankier than I was. ‘How’d the wedding go?’
The girl burst out laughing, covering her mouth immediately. The other kids in line turned around to see what was so funny.
I curled my lip, smiling. I wasn’t sure what to say. ‘Good one,’ I muttered.
Another boy at the front of the line spoke, as if it were his turn to toss an insult. ‘Did you ever get a response from her? Did she hire you for the position of boyfriend yet?’
My face felt warm. ‘Funny,’ I said through my teeth. What was Zoe’s suggestion? Brush it off? Ignore it? Fine, we’ll try it her way.
Pointing towards the dining area, the girl in front of me said, ‘Hey, there’s Faith!’
I spun around, looking for Faith, but I couldn’t see her. And then I heard everyone in the line laugh at me. I didn’t turn back around, instead I skated away. Soft drink wasn’t necessary – I’m sure I could find a water fountain nearby.
I wasn’t sure how much more teasing I could take. It just felt weird to have all that attention on me. Even if it was the good kind of attention, it’d still be weird, but this was the bad kind – the kind where people are laughing at you. Like everyone is in on the same joke, but the joke is you.
Finally, in a dark and scary corner of the skating rink, I found a water fountain hidden among metal lockers. There were two of them, but the taller one didn’t have a spout. The shorter fountain was rusted and smelled like metal, and when I pushed the button for water, it barely shot into the air. The extra special part about this fountain was that the water was a nice cloudy brown colour. I don’t know about you, but I love my water looking like gravy. Ugh … I was going to have to touch this thing with my lips.
Sick! It even tasted like gravy.
But whatever – I was away from those other kids, and I was the bigger man. I took Zoe’s advice and did my best to ignore them, even skating away so they couldn’t say anything else.
Rise of the Red Ninjas Page 6