by C. S Luis
A shutter raced up my arm. Immediately, I knew Claudia was there. Either she was seeing me, or she was close. Either way, she was sensing me, as I was sensing her. And why not? We were like two connections that had to flow together and kept reaching for one another.
I liked that feeling, that sense of belonging. I had become an addict. I walked through the parking lot, trying to see if I could sense her, see if I could spot her glow. She always left a nice path for me to follow, I considered it an advantage.
Moving through the vehicles, I felt a tug to my left and spun my head back expecting to see her, but there was nothing but cars in my line of sight. The feeling immediately faded. My heart ached; it longed to be close to her.
Disappointed, I entered the building and moved through the halls, I stopped by the lockers and took out a piece of paper. I’d write her a little note to ask her to meet with me. Maybe I could convince her to go to the party with me.
Students started to arrive. The halls began to get crowded. The assistant principals, Mr. Vasquez and Mr. Claypool appeared directing traffic. The security guards walked the halls to keep order. I moved away from the chaos in search of Claudia’s locker. When I found it, I slipped the note into one of the gaps.
“What’re you doing?” I spun around to find Joseph creeping behind me.
“Shit, do you have to do that? Don’t you have work to get to, Principal Müller?” I teased.
“I didn’t scare you, did I?” He whispered into my ear, “A big, tough hunter like you…”
I pulled away from him, puzzled by his attitude. What the fuck was he up to?
“I am working,” he said, insinuating by his tone I was failing in my duties. “Just go walk the school before you have to go to class, will ya?”
I moved away from him, shaking my head. Above us, the bell rang. I’d take a quick walk and give the place a check; the day was beginning, anyway. The halls where the activity had occurred on the second floor were quiet. I swore the shadows were alive reaching out to me when I stopped. I decided to listen and close my eyes, so I could hear what they would say. Would they talk to me? Why did I sense something was even there to communicate with? And why did I feel it had everything to do with Claudia? I was afraid for the first time that I might lose her to this thing. I didn’t understand, but in my vision, it had been attempting to take her away. I couldn’t see the end of that vision; I stopped it. Had I kept it away?
My eyes closed, I took a deep breath, and did my meditation. I asked the question plaguing my mind, Why do you want her? Why her?
You know why, it replied. It was there, waiting. You’ve felt her power. You’ve felt her energy. She is sought out. I am not the only one; others will come- others will seek her. They have been searching since they first felt her. They will not stop…they will not stop…
Who do you mean? I asked.
But she is mine…if I am the darkness then she is the light of my light…she is the light….
I opened my eyes, gasping. Time seemed to have passed me, how long had I been drawn to it. I looked at my watch, time had leaped from the moment I had arrived, to the moment I called to it. A shadow faded back into the cracks of the building to hide. I looked around.
Where are you, Claudia? I knew I had to find her, the desperation I felt carried into my mental voice.
Please, be safe. Where are you?
John? I suddenly heard her voice.
Yes! Where are you? I want to see you—I’m sorry if I said something to frighten you. Claudia?
Her voice stopped. I couldn’t feel her any longer, Something was blocking me, something foreign, something I had sensed before in the cafeteria when I had come looking for her.
I ran into the hall. A ghostly face made of smoke emerged from out of the darkness. It stopped me dead in my tracks as it came forward.
Stay away from her! Stay back. She’s mine!
I had no time to run. Instead, I ducked as the face vanished before it came to engulf me. I was on the ground holding my arms and hands over my face while all around me students were passing by wrinkling their noses back strangely.
I rose dusting my pants off and hurried down the hall hoping to sense her. The bell rang as students raced pass me toward their classes. I looked hoping to find her among their faces, but not one was her.
Claudia, I called to her. What had tried to attack me in the hall? Whatever it was, it was blocking my mind from reaching her.
The hall was slowly thinning out. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t feel her, nor did I hear her. I panicked.
Claudia, where are you?
The distorted and foreign element that kept blocking me from her was faint now. I heard her, John?
Yes, where are you? I felt her; she was scared.
What’s going on? I feel how afraid you are right now. I sensed her trembling; her breathing rate was increasing.
Are you okay? Tell me, please. I want to see you. Is it something I did?
The sensation of her current returned, but the more I recognized her glow and energy the more the fear grew inside her. She didn’t answer the thoughts I sent to her. It was making me nervous.
Why are you scared? Are you in danger? Tell me! I’m coming…
The energy from her was growing, whatever was scaring her was now making her lose control of her gift.
I rushed down to the first floor. Almost immediately, a golden path appeared like a glitter of gold specks of light. It was like bread crumbs leading me to her.
I raced down the hall; the specks of gold were fading as I reached them. They led through the doorway at the end of the hall, right across the library.
She was in the office? With Joseph? Claudia? I’m here…
My instincts were flaring. If he said anything to upset her, if he said anything at all… Walking into the interior office, I was relieved not to find the secretary at her desk. Joseph’s office door was closed, and that sent panic and anger into every pore of my skin. The energy from her had lit me up like a firecracker. I could feel my pupils dancing in their sockets like hot marbles.
I grabbed at the door knob. First, though, I had to calm down. Taking a deep breath, myself focused on the meditation techniques we were taught at The Academy. The watch on my wrist was blinking. I switched up slightly enough for it to help me regain control of myself.
I took a breath. What is this you do to me, Miss Belle? How? Why? Although, I’d rather not have it any other way.
One last breath and I opened the door.
“Claudia!” She was standing right in front of me. “I’ve been looking—” I bit my lip hard, feeling a slight shove. I was confused right until I realized Joseph was rising from the back of the office.
“Nephew! Look who came to pay me a visit. We were just having a little discussion.”
I ground my teeth together to force the rage back.
“What did he say to you?” I whispered.
Tears traced the side of her bronze cheek. I reached to wipe it away, but she recoiled from my touch.
“Claudia, whatever he said, it’s not true. You know me. I told you everything…”
Joseph was coming toward us. I had very little time before he would be right next to us.
“Who’s Rachel?” she demanded. Her words shocked me. Of course, he would have told her. That bastard said nothing about it last night. My trust in him having my best interests at heart were starting to deteriorate.
My brief silence and the shock in my eyes, confirmed Joseph spoke the truth.
“I had to. It was part of the job.” I cringed, part of the job? Seriously?
“Am I part of the job, too?”
I expected that.
“No… Never. You’re different. You mean something to me.”
She moved passed me, but I grabbed her. She had to understand that she meant more to me than anyone else I had come across, or would ever encounter. She was my equal; no, she was a part of me that I had been missing.
&
nbsp; An electrifying, violent shock shot from her body and raced up my arm when I gripped her. My fingers felt like they were locking up. I took the discomfort, ground my teeth, and bared it.
“Let go,” she whispered.
I shook my head. Joseph was nearing. I had no choice but to release her. She raced away into the interior office, running into Michael. He had come into the office looking for her; now, he stood blocking her path.
“Claudia, oh thank god. I’ve been looking all over for you. Mr. Thomas told me you were in here.”
I felt Joseph come alongside me.
“I hope she hasn’t been a problem,” Michael said as he noticed she’d been crying. “You scared me. Are you okay?”
She nodded.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Oh, not at all, Michael.” Joseph answered. Claudia avoided our eyes. I moved the watch slightly, hoping to feel her. She shoved me back when I tried to reach out to her.
He kissed the top of her head. I wanted to hold her myself.
Claudia? My internal voice reached out to her again, but she wouldn’t respond. I was desperate to reach her.
“Mr. Thomas said she was on the roof,” Joseph said.
“What were you doing up there?” Michael asked her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Michael cupped her cheek.
“It’s okay, Michael. We had a long discussion, didn’t we, Miss Belle?” Joseph continued his assault on her. I wanted to launch myself at him.
I took a calming breath. Control, control, I repeated the mantra to myself. It was getting easier to lose myself when she was close, especially when someone was hurting her. My instinct was to protect her in every way.
She nodded but didn’t respond to Joseph.
“I figured a few hours of detention in the cafeteria or working in the main office would help set her back on track,” Joseph’s punishment added insult to the injury he’d already inflicted on Claudia.
Michael was just as surprised as I was. I shoved a shoulder against the side of Joseph’s arm. It did nothing.
“Is that really necessary? It’s her first time breaking the rules, and she’s never been in trouble before,” Michael said.
“I agree,” I was quick to say. “Isn’t that a little too much?”
Claudia looked over at me. Michael agreed.
The asshole who was supposed to be my ‘uncle’ was smiling at me.
“Now, now, nephew.” He directed his eyes over at her guardian as if he were some kid he was dictating the rules to.
“We can’t be too soft on kids. You know this. Michael. We do have to set an example, and rules are rules. If I give one student a pass just because I know her guardian, someone might consider that favoritism.”
Michael’s expression was anything but understanding. If he had once found Joseph likeable, those thoughts were changing quickly.
“Yes, of course. I apologize for the intrusion, Dr. Müller.” Michael moved to leave.
“Its quite all right. Please, call me Joseph. I had the impression we were at a first-name-basis by now.” He was making Michael feel foolish, too. How dare he? He had gone too far.
“Yes. Absolutely, Joseph.”
Claudia, I tried reaching out again. She furrowed her eyes at me and turned away. Michael ushered her out with him.
I reached out again, pulling her to me, but she shoved me hard and I fell back slightly.
Leave me alone!
Joseph gave me a stare; then, walked back into his office. He had that all-in-a-day’s-work kind of look on his face.
17
Who’s That Girl?
After they were gone, I swung the door shut and faced him.
I came at him as he turned, swung a fist across his face, and knocked him right over the jaw. He didn’t flinch. I went for it again. He caught this blow and stared at me boldly.
He was surprised, but not as much as I thought he would be. He looked more disappointed at my reaction. I pulled my arm away from his grip.
He didn’t say anything as he walked back to his desk. He seemed unsure, but far more displeased than anything. I was the boss here and he had overstepped his boundaries. However, if for any reason he sensed, I was falling off track, he had a duty to report anything and to stop me. He was authorized to do so.
He was silent, and I knew when he was concerned about something, he was quiet. I worried he would consider reporting my behavior to Dr. Nicholson. He didn’t even meet my eyes, or say anything of what had just had taken place. I ground my teeth, the anger in my veins boiling over.
“What did you say to her?” I angrily demanded, clenching my jaw with such force I felt my pupils dancing in their sockets. The watch jolted and that took me by surprised.
“What needed to be said,” Joseph answered not looking up. I came and leaned forward on the desk with my hands resting on top of it.
“You had no right to say anything to her.”
He narrowed his eyes up at me.
“I believed she was a distraction to the mission. It’s within my discrepancy to say something. It’s my given duty, if I feel it’s interfering with your performance. It’s my responsibility as your guardian.”
“Performance? Joseph, your out of line! First off, nothing is interfering with my performance!”
“Oh, really? Then, why are you digging your nails into the wood of my desk?”
My nails had torn through the surface of the desk where I had laid my palms. I hadn’t even noticed.
“Your anxiety levels are up. The hunter in you is ready to strike. I’ve never seen you so alert and so full of aggression.”
I pulled my hands off the desk, stumbling over to the seat in front of his desk. Joseph leaned forward.
“What’s so special about this girl that has you up on all ends, Nephew? Is there something you need to share with me? Something you’ve been hiding?”
Regaining my composure, I stared up at him.
“Why do you say that? Of course, not. Do you even have to ask me such a thing?”
“Then, what has you defending her? You hardly know her. A girl like that? She’s ordinary, simple. John Slater likes cheerleaders.”
I darted my eyes up at him when he said that. Shit, is that what he had told her? He would say something like that.
“Is that what you told her?”
“More or less.”
“You asshole! You had no right!”
“Watch your mouth, kid. I’d tolerated this!” He pointed to the side of his jaw where I had slugged him. “But I won’t hesitate to report your lack of performance to Dr. Nicholson. Now, we were sent to do a job and they’re waiting. He’s waiting on results. You have none but what you think you saw on the second floor, because your too busy with your head somewhere else. Now, forget her; she’s no one. We have work to do.” He settled down.
“You’re going out with Rachel…”
“I don’t care about her,” I said biting at my lip. “She’s too superficial.”
“Since when does John Slater care about anyone at all, or whether or not they’re superficial?”
I furrowed my eyes. Since when had I given the impression I liked superficial girls? Then again, I guess the teen I was playing was that type.
“Why does it have to be her?” I nagged.
“Because she fits who you are. You’ll go out with her to complete the look and cover…”
“Just who am I, Joseph? Who?”
He gave me a big, fat grin only Joseph could display. A wise guy, a friend, and sometimes, someone who thought he knew better than me. Uncle was probably the best description for what he was to me.
“You’re the kind of guy that doesn’t date girls like Claudia Belle. You are the football star, the popular guy, the new face of Milton.” He grinned. “You are the kind of guy who likes superficial girls like Rachel. Besides, she’s from a wealthy family, too; her father’s an attorney. So, yeah, she fits. Claudia Belle is jus
t too ordinary of a girl for you. We don’t need people wondering why a popular guy such as you will date someone like her. We don’t need that kind of attention; we’re on assignment.”
I wrinkled my lips together, and crossed my arms, frustrated with what he was saying. Ordinary, if he only knew. Attention? How?
He came around the desk and sat on the edge, his eyes softened. “Look, kid, it’s just part of the job. What’re you gonna do? It’s not like we’re planning on setting up roots here. You’re never gonna see her again, you know that. You’ve done this before. I know people think you’re this big romantic…”
I blinked at him. They did? What people?
He smiled. “Yeah, they do. I’ll admit I had something to do with that.”
I rolled my eyes; seriously?
“Yeah, I had a job to do. I needed to gloss up your image,” he answered the puzzled expression upon my face. “I have to keep your image looking sharp, and if a few female conquests can do that, then, I’ve done my job.” Now, it seemed to make sense why some of the other cadets and recruits always admired and looked up to me. The older ones were giving me high fives.
“You go out with a bunch of soldiers one night to a brothel and everyone thinks the worst of you…”
“I just might have exaggerated the tale…a little.”
“So, you’ve revealed.”
I leaned on the chair, feeling slightly vulnerable that I had been living a lie in part. Did I seriously need that kind of credit on my image? Wasn’t being the best enough?
“Isn’t being the best enough?” I voiced the question that plagued my mind.
“Nope, not with soldiers.” He smiled. “That kind of street credit always gets you further. Face it, kid, I made you look like the James Bond of the ADA.”
So, what? Did he want a thank you?
“Besides, the cadets and soldiers need someone to look up to. To give them that extra push and drive. John Slater, the hunter and ladies’ man, fits that quite nicely.”
“Now, it makes sense,” I whispered. “It was only one time.”