The Ark of Power

by David Barco

  "Uncle Adam!" Harrison loudly hollers, leaping to embrace him.

  His head bounces off his uncle Adam's solid chest. He barely gets his arms all the way around his back while hugging. His uncle’s long, flimsy auburn hair is in a tight braid tickling Harrison's hand.

  "Man, it's been too long, Uncle Adam," Harrison says, looking right into his shadowy brown eyes.

  "Yeah, I think the last time I saw you was when you were about ten years old. Now look at you, fifteen years old, and you have a girlfriend. Wow!" his uncle Adam says.

  "Oh no, she isn't my girlfriend, we are just good friends," Harrison responds awkwardly.

  "Yeah, we aren't dating, but my name is Victoria, Victoria Grant, and it is nice to meet you guys. You must be from the Academy, aren't you?" she asks them.

  “Yes, ma'am, you are right, as you heard, I am Harrison's uncle, his mom's favorite brother-"

  "The only brother!" the other man interjects.

  "Still makes me her favorite brother, thank you, but like I was saying. We are both from the Academy, I am on the Ragnar Council and Sebastian Darby right here, is our Elder's understudy for the last two years and may just be the next Destine Elder and leader of the Destine nation," his uncle Adam announces.

  Sebastian smirks proudly. He holds his hands behind his back, constantly rubbing his thumbs around each other while swaying back and forth.

  He comes up to about his uncle Adam's shoulders. His short black hair recedes in the front and his scalp forms a nice circle in the back that he is trying to cover up.

  "Hey, Uncle Adam, I just got to know something since I really didn't get a confirmation since that energy bomb kind of tried to take me out the other day. I just want to know if I made the Academy. My letter didn't say if I did or didn't," Harrison asks.

  Harrison notices Victoria through the side of his eye. He sees the misunderstanding on her face. She moves close to his ear so only he could hear.

  "Why do you need to ask your uncle if you got in if you already know? I mean I heard you tell your mom that you saw it on the letter before it exploded," she whispers to him.

  "What are you saying, young lady? See only couples tell secrets with each other, so you aren't selling it to us very well," Sebastian says, still bouncing and spinning his thumbs behind his back.

  Harrison immediately responds, "Oh, it's nothing really-"

  "Apparently we are just friends because we keep secrets from each other. We don't tell them," she says under her breath.

  "Well, Harrison, what did your letter say then since it didn't say either one?” Sebastian asks fascinated.

  "It was just a blank sheet of paper, that's it. That's why I was so confused," Harrison says.

  "No wonder that boy that did this to you is struggling in Norman Drake's Power Flow class and doesn't know how to properly channel his energy throughout his body. He is so intelligent that he puts a blank sheet of paper in the envelope," his uncle Adam says sarcastically.

  "I mean, the students nowadays just don't have what the ones years ago had. I mean, our nation is in for some trouble with this generation. I guess they all can't be like your dad," his uncle Adam says, sounding disappointed.

  "Yeah guess not, huh?" Victoria takes a couple of steps. "I got to go; my mom is probably worried about me. I guess I will see you around sometime, Harrison. I am glad you are alright and that energy bomb from the blank letter didn't hurt you worse than what it did."

  "Well, we are thrilled to announce that you are accepted into the Destiny Academy and will begin classes in three months, at the beginning of fall," Sebastian announces cheerfully.

  Harrison listens halfway, glaring at Victoria walking away upset.

  "That's awesome! I can't believe I got in," Harrison says, trying to sound excited.

  "In a couple of weeks, we will mail a list of items you will need to get for the upcoming school year," his uncle Adam says.

  "Yeah, I have had enough fun from letters from the Academy already. Think you could just, like tell me now and let me write it down?" Harrison says, laughing but half serious.

  "We promise nothing like that will happen again. And we came here to check up on you and send the Elder's condolences to you," Sebastian says confidently.

  "Thanks, I appreciate that," Harrison replies.

  Even though he may have been the one who tried to kill me!

  Nudging his head through some of the roses, the Red Hawk leader whistles.

  "It's time to go, my Honor," the Red Hawk leader says, as he sniffs the roses.

  "I understand. I will see you when you get to the Academy. I am glad you are okay, and tell your mom I said hey, and I hope to come to eat some of her nasty cooking during the holidays this year," his uncle Adam says putting his hood back on.

  "Yeah, I will," Harrison replies.

  "It was finally nice to meet you. I look forward to seeing you again, young Grady," Sebastian says while also hiding his face with his hood.

  Harrison sees Rena, his nurse, looking for him. Knocking into Sebastian's shoulder, she falls over. Sebastian catches her before she hits the ground.

  "Sometimes we are in a hurry and aren't careful at what we are doing, huh?" Sebastian asks Rena.

  "Look who is talking," Rena says walking towards Harrison.

  "Are you okay?" Harrison asks Rena.

  "I am the one who is supposed to ask you that. Come on, let's go back upstairs," Rena responds.

  Chapter 5

  Painful Decisions

  The leaves begin to change colors for the fall. Harrison jogs around his neighborhood. Slowing down in front of Gavin's house, near his own house, he hears a door hurling open.

  "Harrison, why don't you ever wake me up to run? I tell you every night to make sure you wake me up, so I can go running with you," Gavin says, pulling up his baggy pajama pants with various colorful cartoon characters.

  "I promise I will remember to have you run with me one morning before I leave Thursday,” Harrison responds, laughing under his breath.

  "Well since you didn't let me go with you today, how about this evening you come over and train with me? Maybe you can help me with my martial art forms. The instructor I just know is about to fail me!"

  "Sorry, buddy, but everyone is hanging out at the skating rink before the ones who made it into the Academy leave. It's our last time to get together before we start classes," Harrison responds walking back to his yard.

  "Great! Well, have a great time skating around in a circle tonight knowing I am probably going to fail my mixed martial arts class. THE FIRST ONE! I mean it's embarrassing when you fail summer school," Gavin says.

  "Thanks, man,” Harrison chuckles and slowly waves at Gavin. “I appreciate it!"

  Pulling up to the skating rink, the bright giant sign is visible all the way down the road, with BACK TO SCHOOL BASH written on it. People wait in a line stretched all the way around the building.

  "Have a great time, honey, and make sure you are back here at 1:00 for me to pick you back up. Don't make me wait," Francis says.

  "Thanks, I won't. I don't want to ride home with a black eye," Harrison says.

  "Hush!" she says as he closes the door.

  Heading to the back of the line, Harrison gazes JT, Jaylen, and Joseph.

  "About time you got here," Jaylen says to Harrison.

  "Late, as usual. We would think something is wrong if you were on time," Joseph says.

  "Come on, I can't help that I got to wait on my mom. Just wait and see, when we’re at the Academy, you will see how I am always going to be on time." Harrison responds.

  "Hey! We aren't talking about the Academy or anything like that. We are going to go in there, talk to some girls, eat some nachos with extra cheese, and watch you bust your butt trying to skate. We worry about the Academy after tonight!" JT says.

  They march into the skating rink.

  The strobe lights paint the walls. The old dirty money smell rushes into Harrison's nose.

 
"Let's go get our skates before the line gets worse," Jaylen says, pointing at the line.

  Harrison feels JT hit his chest with his backhand as he notices Victoria.

  "Dude, there's Victoria. You won't believe it, but I heard she is dating Samuel Prince now," JT says.

  "Really? I haven't talked to her since she came and saw me at the hospital three months ago," Harrison responds.

  "Yeah, man, that stuck up fool got him another reason to be even more stuck up now," Joseph says, with disgust.

  Harrison glares at Victoria as she leans against the little wall separating the lobby and the rink. Samuel skates over to her. Sliding in front of her, he kisses her.

  She giggles. Harrison looks away at a girl in line trying on another pair of skates.

  Harrison finally gets his skates.

  "Okay, already? Let's get on the floor," JT says.

  Losing his balance, JT starts swaying trying to gain his balance by gripping the wall. Missing the wall, falling into the rink head first, he rolls as two little boys’ trip over him causing a mass pile-up on the floor.

  "My bad, my bad! My wheels must be loose!" JT says, under the crowd of people that fell.

  "C'mon guys, we got to help him,” Jaylen says.

  "Yeah, right. But I will meet you guys on the floor in a second," Harrison says.

  He watches Samuel skate into the bathroom, leaving Victoria with just her two friends.

  "Hey Victoria, haven't seen you in a while. How is everything?" Harrison asks.

  "Fine. But I could actually mean something else by that, or I could be lying or hiding something. Oh, that's right I'm not you!" Victoria says.

  "C'mon it's not like that Victoria. So, don't act that way-"

  "What way? The way a friend would act when they were just told-"

  "Told what?" Samuel says interrupting her as he skates next to her and Harrison.

  "Nothing, I just told Harrison to leave," she says.

  Coming close to him, Samuel is face to face with Harrison.

  "You heard her. She told you to leave. So, go skate somewhere else, Grady." Samuel says not blinking as he gazes into Harrison's eyes.

  "Yeah, I hear you. Maybe if you weren't so close, I could skate off," Harrison responds.

  Samuel slowly moves back. Harrison starts to skate into the rink.

  "Is that what your dad did?” Samuel grabs Victoria’s hand. “Did he skate away that night because it was too much for him? That is what my dad says he did. Says he finally figured out he wasn't man enough for it. My Pops isn't wrong about much, but I think he is on that. I think your old man is dead."

  "Samuel, shut up!" Victoria says as Harrison turns around.

  He feels the anger escalating inside. His palms are sweaty and tingling with a warm sensation. Harrison races towards Samuel.

  "What did you say? Don't you dare talk about my dad," Harrison says.

  Samuel's two friends’ step-in front of Samuel.

  "Don't you ever say anything about him," he shouts continuously as the two friends are pushing him back and Samuel laughs behind them.

  Suddenly the two giant plump boys being bodyguards push Harrison back.

  "You heard him, skate on like your loser father!' one of the boys says.

  Harrison leans forward and seizes each of them by the middle of their shirt.

  A green glow covers Harrison’s hands.

  "TAKE IT BACK, NOW!" Harrison screams.

  Pushing as hard as he can, the two boys go soaring backward crashing into the wall. Harrison, seeing both of his hands shining green, doesn’t see Samuel charging at him.

  Samuel tackles him. They fall over the wall into the skating rink. Landing on top of him, Samuel punches Harrison, hitting him in his left eye. Clutching his throat, Harrison sees his hands are back to normal now. Harrison pushes him off. Harrison sits up and sees JT.

  "Harrison I am coming! You better get off my boy!" JT says falling down every couple of feet.

  As soon as Samuel is back on top of Harrison, one of the workers snatches him dragging him back.

  "This isn't over Grady! When we are at the Academy you won't be as lucky. Believe me!" Samuel shouts.

  Being helped up by Joseph, Harrison sees Victoria, sobbing as she leaves. Jaylen, holding JT up, skates over to them.

  "Dude, he was lucky, I was coming straight for him! Nobody messes with my friends," JT says.

  "Yeah, it looked like you had a hard-enough time with the floor," Jaylen says.

  A man working there skates over to them.

  "Okay boys, turn in your skates. Your night is ending early," the man says.

  The boys sit on the curb. Harrison's mom pulls up beside them, rolling the window down, looking surprised.

  "I am fifteen minutes early, and you are already waiting? Wow, you are on it tonight," she says.

  Getting in the car, Harrison sits down and knows his mom notices.

  "Oh my gosh, you have a black eye. What happened?" she asks, concerned.

  "Nothing really, just got in a little fight, that's it," he says staring forward.

  "Oh, my goodness. Did you get in a fight too JT? You look worse than him," she says.

  "Yeah, Momma. It was like seven of them, but I took them all out," JT says.

  "Ms. Grady, he is lying. The floor did that too him," Jaylen says.

  "Yeah, he took seven of them out all right, each time he fell," Joseph says.

  Slowly rolling the window up, Francis smiles.

  "Let me get him home. You boys have a good night," she says to them.

  Pulling back into the road, Francis glares at Harrison.

  "Well, I thought you said you didn't want to ride home with a black eye?"

  Harrison stares at the bright sign in the mirror as they drive away.

  ◆◆◆

  Francis stops in front of Hall-way Antiques. Harrison observes the newly constructed building.

  She hands him a list.

  "Now make sure that you do not forget anything on that list. That's exactly what you need for this school year. Your uncle Adam got it to us late since he said, you mentioned something about you being nervous about getting another letter from the registration department. So, he wrote it for you," Francis says giving him the list.

  "I was just playing around when I said that…kind of," Harrison responds getting out of the car.

  "Now if you forget anything you won't have much time to come back and get it since you leave in two days. So, you and JT help each other remember to get everything.”

  "I won't forget anything mom, you don't have to be on my back so much, I can handle things like this.”

  "Okay. I will pick you up later when you guys get back from the shopping outlets. Be careful."

  She drives off.

  Harrison goes inside the antique shop for the first time since he was blown through the front of the store. The scent hasn't changed. The grubby timeworn smell attacks his nose as if it was showing it was still there.

  "My boy, it is so good to see you!" Mr. Hall says.

  JT walks out of his office.

  "What's up Harrison?" JT says.

  "Mr. Hall, it's good to see you too, and what's up JT, ready to go get this stuff for the school year?" Harrison asks.

  "My goodness, son! Who gave you that black eye?" Mr. Hall points at Harrison's black eye.

  "Oh, it's nothing really. A really insignificant story," he responds.

  "All right Dad, enough asking about Harrison's black eye that he got from Samuel because I couldn't get there in time because of all the little kids falling in front of me. We got to get this stuff, so we are heading out," JT opens the door.

  "Mr. Hall, I never got to apologize for damaging your shop so badly that day. I am sorry that your shop took so much damage," Harrison says.

  "Son, don't worry about it, I am just glad you are all right and still with us. It's a miracle. No one survives a blast like you did. It's just remarkable you are alive."

  "Th
anks, Mr. Hall!" Harrison exits the shop.

  ◆◆◆

  Approaching the Shopping Outlet, Harrison opens his list to see the items.

  This is what you will need to get for this year:

  Destine Academy polo shirts and button ups. The only colors allowed is blue, white, green, red, orange, and Navy.

  Khakis

  Notebooks

  Pencils

  Pens

  Destine Academy gym shorts and tee shirts.

  Towels

  Bed sheets

  Pillows

  Remember Harrison, the dress code states that during the school day you must wear a polo or dress shirt with Khakis. That is for male and female students. The only classes where you will wear something else is in Mr. Drake's Power Flow classes. The first year in his class you just learn the basics and are required to wear normal dress code clothing. Sebastian wanted me to tell you hello, and that he hopes you and your girlfriend are doing well. See you soon!

  "This dress code stinks! I would rather be able to wear my own clothes and be comfortable,” Harrison says as they walk past various stores.

  "Yeah, they seem kind of strict up there about it. My dad says he heard that they make you tuck your shirts in too," JT says repulsed.

  "Dang man, that's terrible,” Harrison says upset.

  "Hey, look over there. It's Victoria. She's coming out of the store,” JT points at her.

  "I need to go talk to her real quick. I will meet you in the Academy store when I get done,” Harrison says.

  Harrison walks towards her.

  "All right, I see how it is! I am good enough to be around to save your butt when her boyfriend is clubbing you but not good enough now. Okay!" JT says, slowly going inside the store.

  Harrison, grabbing Victoria's arm, turns her to face him. By her facial expression, he could tell she was stunned to see him.

  "Victoria, I really want to talk to you for just a minute. Please listen to me. Please!" Harrison says, releasing her arm.

  "I really shouldn’t. Especially after how you and Samuel showed your butts at the skating rink, you really don't deserve to talk to me."