by C. S Luis
“My pet come now…walk into the light. I’m here waiting.”
The vortex was spinning faster now, as large as a window. I only saw the lights inside; I felt like a moth caught in the glowing web of a flame.
I made an attempt to move forward but felt hands grab and pull me away from the edge. Suddenly, the light seemed to fade and disappear as I dropped.
Claudia dropped into Jimmy’s arms. She gazed blankly up at him, but she looked lost and confused, like she wasn’t even there. Then she passed out.
“Claudia?” Jimmy called to her.
Michael came to his side and knelt next to him.
He had come onto the roof when Jimmy claimed to have seen Claudia standing on the edge. At once Michael followed the teen’s distressed call to the roof’s doorway.
* * *
“Quickly boy, lift her,” Michael ordered the confused and worried Jimmy.
The teen did what he was told.
“Did you see that?” he asked, looking over at Claudia. “What was that?” Jimmy pressed.
Michael tried to ignore what he was being asked, knowing full well they had both seen the light spinning in the distance. At first, he thought he had been the only one to see it. But when Jimmy and he got to the roof, the youth froze. He pointed into the distance as Michael rushed over to Claudia, who was standing on the edge, about to move forward toward the light. Jimmy broke loose as if he had snapped out of a trance. He grabbed hold of Claudia’s arm and pulled her away. She dropped into his arms, and behind them, the light dimmed and finally vanished.
“Did you see it?” Jimmy was curiously asking Michael.
Michael rose and walked over to the edge of the building. Below he noticed the buses slowly start to move. One at a time, they drove out of the parking lot like a line of disciplined soldiers.
“They’re gone. Quickly, boy, bring her.” He didn’t want anyone to see them, or anyone to question what was happening or why. He lifted his radio as he opened the roof door for Jimmy. “Mr. Claypool, what’s your location?” he asked into the device. A clear voice from the other end responded.
“In my office, sir.”
“We have a problem. Meet me in my office. Clear anyone around.” He figured less was enough for Mr. Claypool to know.
“Claudia?” the man asked from the other end.
“Yes, hurry we are headed in that direction.”
“On my way, sir.”
Jimmy’s face was riddled with questions, but far more intrigued by what he now seemed to be a part of.
“Has this happened before?” he asked Michael. Michael didn’t say anything. He didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t want to reveal anything to Jimmy. He was afraid to find out how the boy would take it. Would he freak out?
Michael opened the door and checked it; the corridor seemed to be empty, the rush of students had already abandoned the school halls.
“Hurry, Jimmy, to my office,” he said and ushered him out into the hallway. They were just a few feet from the main office. Mr. Claypool was already there and opened the door for them. Mrs. Wallace wasn’t at her desk.
Michael looked over and Mr. Claypool noticed the expression on his face. “I sent her to make a few copies,” he offered the principal in response. Not that Mrs. Wallace wasn’t already a part of all this, but the fewer questions, the better. Besides, the woman was close to retiring; he didn’t want to burden her further.
Michael nodded as Jimmy entered the office with Claudia. Mr. Claypool seemed confused to see him there. He looked at Michael. “He knows?” he whispered softly.
Michael shook his head in resignation. “He saw enough,” the principal could only offer.
Mr. Claypool closed the door behind them as Jimmy set Claudia down on a couch in the office.
He now stood to face Michael and Mr. Claypool, with a rather startled expression on his face.
“Thank you, Jimmy,” Michael said politely. He attempted to usher the boy towards the door. “Now go home, we’ll take it from here.”
“Wait, what? What’s going on here? What happened? That light – what was that?”
“Light?”
“You saw it; the light. It was as large as a window, it was glowing and growing. Didn’t you see it?”
Michael eyed him strangely.
“You didn’t see it? But how could you miss it?”
“Jimmy, I know you think you saw something, but I think that after what could have almost happened, maybe we are over-thinking what actually did happen?”
“What did happen, Dr. McClellan?” Mr. Claypool looked over at Michael. He was stumped and wondered if Michael had any ideas on how to deflect such a question.
“Claudia has been suffering from sleep deprivation. I think this was all a result of that.”
“Sleep deprivation?” It sounded far-fetched; Mr. Claypool knew it and Michael knew it but that reason was the best he could come up with under pressure.
Jimmy didn’t seem to know how to answer or respond to Michael’s account. He seemed almost to accept his explanation.
“Is she going to be okay?” he finally asked.
“She’s going to be fine,” Michael reassured as he motioned over to Mr. Claypool, who escorted the boy toward the door and opened it. Jimmy glanced back over to where Claudia lay.
“Will you tell me when she wakes up?”
Michael nodded. “I will have her call you immediately when she wakes.”
Mr. Claypool smiled politely, pushing the boy gently out, and closed the door. He then spun around to face Michael.
“Sleep deprivation?” He glanced over at Michael puzzled.
Michael shrugged his shoulders. He gazed back over at Claudia laying on the couch. He dug through his suit pocket and pulled out a spherical crystal that was pastel-blue in color. Mr. Claypool watched him kneel in front of Claudia’s form and put the crystal in her hands where they laid across her chest.
“Will that help her?”
“I hope so. It should at least break the hold of whatever has her,” he said, but even he wasn’t sure of the power this crystal had. Could or would it work? It had sent Quentin back; perhaps it also had the power to help Claudia come out of this. She had lost consciousness almost immediately and the vortex had disappeared just as quickly. Could they be connected? If so, then it had to work.
“Quentin?” Mr. Claypool asked, in reference to what might be holding her. He appeared just as concerned as Michael.
“How is he reaching her? I thought John Slater had banished him?”
Michael had no answer for him. It seemed like a question he had asked himself before.
“I’m not sure what’s been haunting her, whether it’s Quentin or someone else…she’s been having nightmares,” Michael revealed. It was a burden he had dealt with alone up until now.
Mr. Claypool looked surprised and worried. “Michael, why didn’t you say anything right away?” He took a deep breath. He also worried about her; Claudia was like a niece to him, someone he cared about.
The crystal began to glow in Claudia’s hand; its color remaining that same pastel blue.
“What can I say, Mr. Claypool? There’s really nothing anyone can do. This is beyond our control. All we have is this. First it was Quentin, but now there might be another that’s far worse, terrorizing her…I’m not sure how to help her.”
Claudia opened her eyes and blinked at them. She saw Mr. Claypool and Michael standing over her and immediately sat up, confused about where she was.
She looked around and stared up at the men’s worried stares.
“Claudia, are you okay?” Michael knelt beside her. She again blinked up at him as if in a daze; now realizing she was holding the crystal in her hand.
“What happened?” It appeared she didn’t know what had occurred. She looked around wondering why she was in Michael’s office.
“What am I doing here?”
Michael hugged her and left her feeling far more confused by his acti
on.
“It’s okay; everything is okay now.” He pulled away and stared at her. Her face was riddled with questions. He stroked her cheek gently. “You don’t remember anything, do you?”
She shook her head at him, eyeing both men incomprehensibly. She looked lost and scared.
“Did something happen?”
Michael smiled, brushing a portion of her hair off her face. “It’s okay, you’re alright and that’s all that matters. I’m gonna take you home.”
She looked over at him, then at Mr. Claypool. “But Michael, I’m fine.” She tried to say. “I don’t understand.”
“No, you’re not fine, my dear.” He took a breath; he didn’t want to frighten her and said no more.
Michael rose and looked at his watch. It was late, but he still had a lot of work to finish up. The budget wasn’t going to finish itself but there was no doubt he had to care for Claudia. And still, the work on his desk was stressing him out.
“I think it’s best I take you home and you get some rest.”
She looked far more confused than before.
Michael opened the door and found Jimmy standing by the doorway; he hadn’t left.
“Jimmy?” Michael asked. “I thought I told you to go home.”
“I wanted to see if Claudia was okay.”
Claudia came to the door and didn’t look happy to see him. He smiled at her but she looked coldly back at him.
“Claudia, I’m glad you’re alright.” He stated and reached a hand to her, but she pulled away.
3
The After
I didn’t want to talk to Jimmy. Rachel’s attack in the bathroom was still clear in my mind. Mrs. Wallace appeared at the entrance of Michael’s office and signaled him over.
“I’ll have Mr. Claypool take you home. I forgot I have a lot of work that needs to be completed,” he said. “If I don’t get ahead of it now, I’m sure to get a call about it. I hope you understand, sweetheart. I’ll be home late tonight, so try to go straight to bed. There should be some leftovers in the fridge.” He thought about it for a moment.
‘Work this late,’ I thought, as I heard Jimmy pipe up. I wanted him to leave me alone.
“I can take her home.” Jimmy volunteered and Michael seemed to consider it.
“No, I would like Mr. Claypool to take me home,” I said and walked out of the office. I didn’t even attempt to look at Jimmy’s face. I was too angry, and far too emotional; I didn’t want to break down. If what Michael had said was true, then the dreams were happening now while I was awake. I was losing control of my gift to him. Or was I allowing the loss of control?
“Mr. Claypool, do you mind?” Michael asked. “Also, I think I might have been wrong about the leftovers. Maybe you can pick up a pizza on your way home? Honey, is that alright?” I gazed over at him and nodded. ‘Whatever,’ I was thinking.
He seemed to be far more worried about his work, but my mind was set on avoiding Jimmy. I just wanted to leave. I couldn’t think of anything else but to get away from there and lock myself in my room.
“Not at all, Michael. I’ll take Claudia home. And I’ll get something to eat for dinner. I think pizza sounds great. What do you think, my dear?” Mr. Claypool grinned over at me.
Michael handed the other man some money but Mr. Claypool smiled, refusing to take it.
“It’s okay, Michael, it’ll be my treat,” he smiled.
I was waiting by the door when Mr. Claypool walked out of Michael’s office and into the corridor. I rolled my eyes, avoiding Jimmy the best I could. He was coming toward the door but I didn’t want to give him the chance to talk to me. I was upset.
“Claudia?” he called to me, but I open the door and walked out. He moved to grab me and Mr. Claypool, the protective father-type that he was, stopped him. I saw him pull Jimmy back and shake his head at him, then follow after me.
Michael watched Claudia and Mr. Claypool walk out the door. He witnessed Jimmy standing by the office doorway; moments earlier he had tried to reach for Claudia’s arm, only to have Mr. Claypool stop him. He was pleased that Mr. Claypool was wisely protective although, looking over at Jimmy, he felt sympathy for the boy.
Jimmy glanced back at him and met Michael’s eyes.
“Give her some time,” Michael could only advise the young man.
“Why is she so mad at me? I want to know what I did. I want to make it up to her.”
“Go home. I’ll talk to her.” Michael replied simply.
Jimmy seemed to cheer up a bit and nodded in response. “Good day, Dr. McClellan,” he said and stepped out of the office.
4
The Principal
Michael
After Mr. Claypool and Claudia left and Jimmy walked out of his office, Michael reentered the room and took a seat at his desk, trying to get back to his work on the budget. Mrs. Wallace appeared at the entrance of his office, and as he looked up, he clearly saw concerned the look up her face. She entered very slowly but didn’t walk in all the way.
“What is it, Mrs. Wallace?” Michael said. He sounded a little frustrated; at this rate, he would be there all night trying to finish. He surely didn’t need any more interruptions, but now she had appeared and looked like something was on her mind. The day had come to an end and he figured she wanted to know if he needed anything else and if she could leave. Whatever the case, she often stood at the entrance, glancing inside before she would walk in and step up to his desk.
He wished she would hurry; he wanted to get through the budget and didn’t want to stay any later than he had to. He hated dealing with the budget so close to evaluations; it was nice when John Slater was around. He could handle a few tasks at a time. Now it was just him. Not that his assistant principals couldn’t or hadn’t helped, but they weren’t as good with numbers as John Slater had been. Was there anything that man could not do? At times, he wished he was still around. Not only to help him with such tasks and duties but with the worries that had been invading his mind since Claudia’s nightmares began. And even though she claimed her dreams had lessened, he wondered if she was keeping the truth from him, fearing he would worry.
He looked up now; Mrs. Wallace seemed troubled. He had seen that same look on her face once before, but he couldn’t recall for what reason.
“Mrs. Wallace, if you need to go, you can go. I don’t think I need anything else. I’ll be okay; I have everything I need,” he said.
“Mrs. Wallace,” he blinked. “Is everyone okay?”
“Yes, of course, sir, but it’s not that.”
“Then what is it, Alice?” he looked up at her; he wanted to get back to his work and to walk out of the office on time for a change.
“It’s the Superintendent, sir, he’s on the line.”
He realized she was talking about a phone call. He dropped his pen immediately and signaled her to transfer the call over.
“He’s on line 1 sir,” she volunteered.
Why hadn’t she said anything immediately? She walked back to her desk. He took a deep breath and picked up the call; there was a long pause, as he said, “Hello Superintendent, I apologize for the wait.”
The man at the other end answered, his voice was soft but firm and straight to the point. A man he now pictured in his mind. Now he could place Mrs. Wallace’s expression, the fear upon her face. He remembered the man from when John Slater had been principal. John Slater could handle confrontations better than he. The Superintendent frightened him.
“Ah, this is unexpected. Not that it’s a problem to hear from you, sir. What can I help you with?” Unexpected indeed; there was silence for a moment. He didn’t know how to answer this unanticipated call. He had to be home for Claudia, but then again, this was the Superintendent.
“I’m not sure what else I could tell you in person, sir, I know you are very busy. If you could just make a request of the school board on behalf of the repairs...” More silence, ‘dinner,’ Michael thought, looking at his watch.
�
�You need to learn to play politics a little bit more, Michael; you know how these things go. I’ll send my man to pick you up around six.” The voice said from the other end. Michael was numb for a moment. Then the call ended just as quickly as he had picked up. The man hadn’t even given Michael a chance to answer.
Michael exhaled deeply; he felt like he would fall over. He simply looked at the phone in his hand before he put it down.
Mrs. Wallace came to the door of his office. She seemed to want details, curiously hovering into the room like a lost child. Michael looked over at her.
“What did he want?” She asked inquisitively as he put his work aside. The budget would have to wait for now.
“It’s nothing, just a meeting with the Superintendent. School business, nothing to be concerned about,” he said. “He invited me to dinner.” Michael added, looking as shocked as she looked surprised.
“Dinner?” Mrs. Wallace repeated. She blinked over at him; her expression questioned the reasons for his invitation. He wondered the same but had no answer for her.
“Yes, I know,” he could only say in response
“What do you think he wants?” she asked. He blinked up at her.
“I have no idea. A lot has happened…”
She nodded in agreement.
“The sink-hole.” He uttered.
“Mr. Slater…” she offered.
He glanced at her. She was right. Perhaps he was overthinking it.
“Are you worried?”
He looked over at her. Should he be? He thought about it for a moment. “I think it’s okay.” He tried to convince her, but wondered if he was also trying to convince himself. Why would he be worried?
“When is this dinner?”
He looked up at her, curling his lip slightly.
“Tonight. Right now, he’s sending someone for me.” Talk about last minute.