Rod Wars

by D. J. Hoskins

"What's with all the laundry? It's like you're a six-year-old planning to run away."

  Alex didn't answer.

  "No way..." Melissa continued, snickering. "Don't tell me, you're planning to run from Corpus?"

  "A-as if,” Alex muttered and avoiding eye contact he shoved the underwear in the backpack and zipped it closed.

  She was too perceptive.

  "Anyway can you get out? I need to get, um...ready for...class."

  "Ah, you're so cute when you're embarrassed,” she teased, sitting on his bed. "We don't have class today. It's Saturday...remember?"

  "Ju-just get out will you? Geez...you come in here almost every day; it's like you're my sister or something."

  Standing Melissa shrugged. "Alright, I see how it is,” she said patting Alex on the shoulder, her expression mockingly grave. "But..." Her tone turned serious. "You fail to realize I'm not looking to be your sister..."

  "Then what Melissa?" Alex asked rolling his eyes, then sarcastically, "My girlfriend?"

  Her hand, trembling slightly, slid off his shoulder and dropped to her side limply. Wrought with nervous uncertainty, her expression turned angry.

  Grabbing his clock from the dresser, Melissa chucked it at him.

  Alex ducked.

  "And how is that such a bad thing?" she demanded.

  "Um...it's not? I...think?" Understanding what he'd just said, he winced as the guilt stabbed him.

  Unable to bring himself to tell Melissa the truth in the face of the flicker of hope lighting so brightly in her eyes, Alex kept silent. He didn't want to hurt her, didn't want to be hated. He feared her resentment, unlike anything he ever had. Once, money had solely held the same position, the niche of friend, a section of trust, of warmth within his heart. But now Melissa was closing in on his heart. Alerted by the telltale misting of her eyes—a sign of tears he'd encountered many times over with his sister—Alex panicked.

  "I mean, er...I-I never said...it was a bad thing...in fact it could be a very...good thing?"

  "So many hints,” Melissa said softly, disappointed. Ducking her head, she ran for the door. Catching her arm before she could twist the knob, Alex held her. Making decisions may not have been his strong point, but Alex had sensed—had seen enough TV to know that when a guy let the girl walk out, their relationship was never the same thereafter. His suspicions had been confirmed—Melissa liked him.

  "Wait...Melissa...I—I...umm...er...well..."

  "You what? Like me?"

  The knife of guilt paused, as did his words. Did he? He hadn't a clue. She was attractive, yes.

  The knife pricked his heart. Strong? Another positive.

  The blade slid further in. Not to mention a badass. The knife was halfway in.

  But he had an inheritance in another world; he couldn’t simply choose a girl over his precious dollar. Money was power, money was…everything. What could she give him? He couldn’t sell her for a new car or a yacht, not to mention an estate.

  Unless he wanted kids, she’d yield no return on investment.

  But…why did his chest hurt so much? Why was his heart beating so fast? Was there something wrong with him? It was getting harder to make contact with Melissa.

  The knife went all the way in and Alex winced, biting back a gasp of pain.

  Maybe…maybe he could have them both…but if it ended in divorce then… A single tear worked its way down his cheek, and off his chin. Its moisture absorbed into Melissa's—out of dress code—jean jacket.

  Melissa, touching Alex's hands with her own, dug her nails into his skin. "Let go of me Alex."

  Alex winced, and holding her tighter, rested his chin on her shoulder. "I—I can't..." he said, voice cracking.

  "Why—what's with your voice?" Melissa asked, worry seeping into her own voice as she tried to turn.

  Alex buried his head in her shoulder. "Nothing."

  "Right...okay, I've had enough of this,” Melissa said, pulling at Alex's hands. "Let go of me, Alex, let go!"

  "Well...you see, er...if I did...well..."

  "You guys all right in there?" Daniel yelled from the other room.

  "Damn it Alex, let me go,” Melissa seethed, elbowing him in the side.

  Grimacing, Alex held on. "I—I refuse."

  "You never change,” she said, her tone betraying her frustration. Stomping on his foot, she broke his embrace and turned to face him. "I like you,” she breathed, touching his chest as she looked up at him, purple eyes searching. "So tell me, do you like me or not?"

  Alex looked away. What had he been holding her for, if he hadn't yet deciphered his own feelings? And then there was money, no doubt waiting for him and he was messing around?

  He took a step back racked with guilt. "What am I doing?" he whispered, brushing off Melissa's hand.

  Melissa, rejected, retracted the hand, her smile tight, pained, and embarrassed. "But, oh, you couldn't give me an answer even if you'd wanted to, right? Because you're leaving?" she said, feeling as if she'd been taken for a fool.

  Lied to and evaded, she'd been chasing Alex in vain. "You've never given half a thought to a relationship with me, admit it." Turning, she put her hand on the doorknob. Closer to him than anyone, she was betrayed, left behind. "Your eyes, I can see it. You've always been so set on some goal."

  Alex didn't answer, didn't want to answer, to tell her about his past, his parents, his inheritance...himself; and yet, he was so tempted to. Lying, after all, had never been his forte, but he was secretive. Never wanting to reveal too much, hesitant to give others a solid basis to form an opinion. He didn't want to be judged, not by Melissa, not by anyone.

  "So eager to learn how to use titus. Such enthusiasm for understanding the concepts, the limits, rules, and what not. And for what. Alex?" Melissa demanded, her purple eyes stony. "For what?"

  "I don't have to answer you,” Alex retorted reflexively.

  "You know what I think?"

  "Not real—"

  "Hey guys," Daniel said opening the door. "Now that you're all buddy, buddy...oh." He looked from Alex to Melissa, concern writ on his face. "I'm sorry...did I, did-did I interrupt some—"

  "No,” Melissa snapped, pushing past him after giving Alex one last look. "I was just leaving."

  Daniel moved aside as she passed.

  "Okay..." he said, looking at Alex. "What was that about?"

  "What do I care what she thinks?" Alex said, more to himself than Daniel.

  Perhaps putting distance between Melissa was the right thing. Turning, he looked at his bed for a moment. Melissa was too clingy, too suspicious, not to mention she was illogical and a woman. It was too emotionally complex for Alex to handle.

  "You know, when I said solve your—"

  "Melissa!" Alex cried out after her.

  Opening the front door, Melissa looked back, eyes blurry with tears. Dashing out of his room for her, Alex tripped as his sock got caught at the threshold. Stumbling he went down as and the door clicked shut.

  "Melissa..." Alex wheezed on the floor. "Don't go..."

  "Huh?" Daniel looked down at Alex. "What are you doing down there?" He looked back up at the door. "Oh, Melissa..." He shrugged. "Hmm...would you look at that? She left."

  Alex sat up, catching his breath. "You're not helping...Daniel."

  "I'm not the one who made her cry." Daniel's voice had an edge to it. "This is for Melissa."

  Balling up his fist, he socked Alex a good one.

  Alex held his bleeding nose. "The fuck man?"

  Chapter 23

  Urgency

  Later that night, Alex finished packing, Melissa on his mind. She had plagued his thoughts incessantly throughout the day. Nevertheless, she was in the past, as she had left him first. It was only right for him to move on as well. His mind was clear, he felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. It was Corpus that'd been holding him back. Corpus, Melissa and Wilson...once he left, he'd be free.

  The additions to his backpack included a water bottle,
numerous fruit snacks and crackers; he was good to go.

  Taking the elevator down, despite it being after curfew, Alex pushed open an emergency exit. He clapped his hands over his ears as the alarm went off. Trudging across the campus, he made way for the tier one building and from there, he decided to head towards the creek. As the high pitched scream of a fire drill siren went off lights flicked on in the Commons as students, panicking, ran to the elevators and stairs.

  "It’s their fault for never doing fire drills,” Alex laughed. He circled around and passed the dragon statue in the grass. Following the lone sidewalk, he was careful not to fall under the lights and reached the tier one building. Touching its red brick and heading to the back, he broke from it and turned for the bridge at its back.

  "So far so good."

  The Commons were in chaos, with many students gathered outside. Others, trampled or jostled into walls, took their time stumbling down stairs while some went back for them.

  "Where's the fire?!" one student amongst the milling crowd cried out above the rest.

  "—where's my phone?!" a dismayed girl cried out, no doubt Katelyn.

  "—I bet someone was smoking,” another speculated.

  "—not my video games! I swear—"

  "—hope it burns."

  "—you think it was—"

  "—you did this!"

  He stopped a few feet from the well-lit cobblestone pathway that stretched before him to the concrete bridge. All that was left was to cross it, his last obstacle. Taking a breath, Alex, stepped out into the light.

  "Hey, you there, stop!"

  Jumping, Alex glanced to his right, as three security guards closed in on him, armed with batons. Raising a hand as if to wave, Alex made a run for it. Not eager to start his journey with a foot race, he'd barely sprinted more than a few steps across the bridge before whirling around to face them. Clapping his hands together, Alex closed his eyes as he set to imagining his body encased in a metallic suit of armor.

  "Corpus is a closed campus,” one of the guards said, his combat boots hitting the concrete with what seemed like an involuntary stomp. "What are you doing out so late?"

  Opening his eyes, Alex frowned, disappointed that his appearance differed no less than it had before.

  "No, reason,” Alex answered, casually. "Just taking a midnight stroll."

  "Well, that's against the rules, kid,” the same man said and taking a step forward, he gestured for Alex to follow him. Taller than the rest, the guard was an intimidating figure with closely cropped hair and hazel eyes.

  "No thanks,” Alex said taking a step back.

  The bridge was short and the youth already stood in its middle. It had a slight, overarching frame that in the light of the half-moon reflected white-washed concrete in the fast moving waters of the creek below.

  One of the men put his hands together. His short hair stood on end as he held up his hands—on each finger a was wooden ring. The guard’s hands were up not in surrender but to show off and display a multitude of white electricity extending off his fingers like an extra pair of nails. Obviously, he hadn't liked Alex's reluctance. It was a warning, plain and simple. However, instead of acting as an incentive to cross, putting the youth on edge, it encouraged Alex only to want to leave that much more.

  "Come on, get a move on, we don't have all day, er...night,” the man said. "We're needed elsewhere; we don't have time for your games. As a tier one you're needed in the head-count."

  The third guard, a slim, redheaded woman, unstrapped several fist-sized weighted blocks. Simply letting them fall, she put her hands together. Sets of three weights were drawn to one another and combined. Stepping out of the copper, four dog-like skeletons emerged.

  "Hey," said the first intimidating man to his companions. "Put those away, the kid hasn't demonstrated any signs of aggression. He's that oddity, he's no threat."

  Closing his eyes, Alex pictured the metal railings of the bridge falling away. They deteriorated into sand-like particles and those particles reacting to his will, responded to his command.

  "Well, he is now,” said the woman. Raising a hand, she ordered the skeleton dogs to charge.

  His eyes snapped open and Alex's smile of triumph sank into a worried frown. Hastily directing the particles forth, he caused them to flow through the dogs. Slipping around their skeletal system, the particles bound them at the joints, immobilized them a scarce few feet from Alex.

  With a sharp gesture to the side, the particles, digging into the skeletons, tore free in one fluid motion, ripping the dogs to pieces. The wintry green of the woman's titus dissipated. Alex harnessing the skeleton scrap metal, quickly broke it down, joining it with the others in the continuous stream diagonally encircling him.

  Alex smiled as the woman cursed. "Bring it."

  "Feeding the guy, really, Liz?" the shorter man accused.

  "Like I knew he'd break it down?"

  "Use your head next time; it's obvious he's a decomposer," the taller man, who seemed the leader of the three, cautioned.

  "There won't be a next time,” the woman said, stepping back. "I'm out, that was all I brought."

  "Then try to get a hold over the confusion at the Commons," the leader said fixing his eyes on Alex. "I have a feeling the kid's behind it."

  "Yes, sir,” the woman said with a salute before turning away at a jog.

  "What a nuisance,” the shorter man said and giving a sidelong glance at the leader. "I thought you said he was an Oddity."

  "Maybe it's a different guy,” the leader replied with a shrug.

  "It's got to be."

  The taller man, putting his hands together, lifted one and willed a thin stream of lava into creation which shooting up, erupted at the foot of the bridge.

  "My turn,” the shorter man declared and raising his sparking hands, he started towards Alex at an alarming rate of speed and cleared nearly half the bridge in less than a moment. Fear seizing him, Alex's body was not about to relinquish command of the metal particles it devoted so much brain power into making, sent him into a trance.

  Moving a hand to the side, Alex brought it in and pushed it forward. Almost immediately, two globs of wet sand flew from the creek bed, one from either of the bridge. Hurtling simultaneously at the man, they collided into each other as he ducked. Sidestepping their descent and sweeping out a hand, the man cut through the wall of metals Alex had begun to build, like butter.

  Alex jerked awkwardly to the side as his adversary grazed him with his other hand and passed him by. The smell of seared clothing and burned skin jolted Alex back with groan. Holding his right arm with wide eyes he had the feeling that if he had not moved, the man's hand would've embedded itself in his chest.

  Using particles to break particles, Alex sent forth two small groups while keeping the large majority of them rotating around him; he willed them to shred the railing. As he kept the man busy with an onslaught of offensive attacks, beads of sweat formed on Alex's brow. His mind focused his attention on the task of keeping track of the details and commands of each particle, their groups and orders as if they were extensions of himself, extra limbs.

  Decomposing what remained of the railing in a twisting swarm, each group thoroughly deteriorated the new metal. Synchronizing with its twin, the particle blob swirled up into the air before looping back into the larger flow.

  Frustrated with the patterned yet unrelenting assault, the guard outstretched his arms and turning his palms down, unleashed a combination of electrical streaks from all ten fingers.

  Alex stretched out the particles in a defensive wall, too late. Despite more than a handful of metal particles grounding a portion of the electrical current, Alex taking the brunt of the charge, screamed. His particles dropped about him and the man, showing mercy, ceased his electrical tirade.

  Eyes wild and body twitching, Alex was numb, his senses confused and his body abuzz with unwanted energy. It was painful, it hurt to move, hurt to breathe and he was more aware of
his heartbeat than he'd ever wanted.

  "You didn't kill him did you?" the leader asked easing his lava geyser back into the ground. He cooled it with a dismissive gesture as he stepped onto the bridge.

  "I don't think so,” the subordinate replied, prodding Alex with his boot. The boy groaned and turned over. "See? I told you so."

  "Well, pick him up,” the leader said. Turning, he retraced his steps and headed in the direction of the Commons.

  The situation was still loosely out of hand, but things took a step towards order as more of the Corpus staff stepped in.

  "I bet you money he set off the alarm or something." The subordinate picked Alex up and swung him over a shoulder. "Students aren't allowed to leave without permission. What was he thinking?"

  "Why don't you ask him?"

  "We're talking about the raging hormones of a rebellious teen. Like he's going to answer."

  "How much time do you think he's going to get?"

  "What? In the brig?"

  "Where else?"

  "It's always wagers with you."

  "Gambles are in my nature." The leader looked over his shoulder at his companion. "So? How long, do you think?"

  "Hmm...I don't know, around a month?"

  "I say three weeks."

  "Really?"

  "He's an eleven, remember? And besides, tier ones always get off easy."

  With each step the subordinate took, Alex noted the transition of steel-toed boots from concrete to cobblestone. Their advance was detrimental to his cause. Each was a step that carried him farther away from the creek, from his money and his world. Eyes set on the creek’s current, he lifted his hands. He would not knuckle under, he refused to give up. He would go home, even if it killed him.

  Calling forth a portion of his metals and the silt at the bottom of the creek, Alex, mixing the two, slammed them into the man holding him as he rolled off. Hitting the ground, Alex was too focused to register the pain of cobblestone cutting into his skin.

  Engulfing his opponent, he smothered and immobilized him further as the man solidified his own prison. Caught off guard the man heated the sludgy mixture with electricity whose watts surpassed what he'd shocked Alex with tenfold. As water evaporated out of the sandy silt and metal particles, a scream broke out from under the mass and taking on a golden orange glow, it began to melt. Unfortunately for the guard, his electricity, like that of all static users, held an energy current that worked in collaboration with his heart and thus flowed throughout his entire body.