Chapter 32
Cast the Dice into Time
‘His options are simply waiting or not waiting, I cannot defend my position if either one of them is used. I guess the game is lost… I’m sorry Alvin, I screwed up…’ Jake closed his eyes, clenching his teeth. His head was wringing, ‘how can I create a gap?’ he screamed inside his head.
Karl, Randolph and Jake were walking on the hallway; the adults were running around, pushing the door open angrily to track down the intruders. Karl watched them dully, and continued walking. Jake was in his underwear and was covered with coat which Randolph gave him.
In the past, Alvin told Jake about what Nina had told him at the shooting range when he was still under Polchinski’s command. She was out practicing the shooting with him. Nina said,
“Alvin, nothing is certain in presence to time. Just like some malfunctioning machine, then you get frustrated and hit the thing, then it works fine. If you have time, there is hope. As we all know Alvin, it takes less than a second to kill a man.” Nina pulled the trigger but missed the target, she groaned.
“Creating new rules…” murmured Jake. He felt like a dog tied to two men walking ahead of him. It will be a futile attempt to beg for mercy. Jake looked cautiously at Randolph.
“Sir?” said Jake, and Randolph looked at him.
“Yes my child,” said Randolph.
“Can I have a uniform? I’m bit cold. It’ll be a while to stand there. I don’t want to be embarrassed in front of my friends,” said Jake.
Karl scoffed and stopped on the spot, slowly turning to Jake. Randolph gazed at Jake with his big eyes.
“Of course my dear, I’ll get the new uniform for you. Wait here Karl, I’m going to take him and…” said Randolph, but Karl cut him off.
“Get it yourself, Randolph,” snapped Karl, coldly. His voice pierced Jake’s heart. “The kid stays with me.”
Randolph frowned and leered at Karl repulsively, but nodded and went away. Karl looked at Jake. His dry face had a fiendish smile. Jake shut his eyes tight.
“Well played, kid,” he said.
“…” Jake suffered in silence, gulping.
“I guess your friend won’t recognize you from afar if you put on the uniform, instead of that idiotic underwear. If your friend notices you, then he or she would want to get close to you, then you can control the situation. So, you can hide in the place other than the medical room because that room is where I’ll be expecting both of you. Or… maybe you were planning to just simply tell your friend to run. Lousy, but good work kid, I’m guessing there is a boy inside a janitor’s room which I’ll have to deal with it later.” said Karl, looking at Jake.
“I…” murmured Jake, little surprised.
“Well, I’ve got to thank you; it was a bit of an amusement to see the school upside down. I was sitting dull for so long… Tell me your name kid?” said Karl.
“It’s Jake, sir,” answered Jake.
“Orphan?” he spoke, plainly.
“Yes sir,” said Jake.
“My name is Karl Wolff. But everyone from your neighborhood calls me the Straw Man,” said he.
“The Straw Man sir?” said Jake.
“Yes, are you friend with Nina Polchinski?” asked Karl.
“No, sir,” Jake shook his head. Karl stared at Jake for a moment and continued.
“Huh, I thought… Well, never mind, but well, that small girl is pretty infamous. Such a contrasting looks she has, considering her deadly skills,” Karl chuckled.
“Have you worked under Nina Polchinski?” asked Jake. But Karl ignored him.
“When Randolph comes back, then wear the uniform he gives you. Then follow him to the stage. I’ll tell them that I’ve seen two guys running across the yard and escaped from the institution. Then they will dismiss the crowd. You’ll have some times to find your friend, so you can get out of there,” said Karl. “And don’t get caught kid. I won’t spare you if you are caught by one of these magnetic fools.”
At that time, when the reddish sun is almost set, the star started appearing in the sky. Diana was worried about Jake and Tasha. Alvin was enjoying the light purplish, brownish colored tea with a ginger flavor, pouring the maple syrup with small metallic cup on the side.
“Diana, I think my ass is grass poisoned,” said Alvin, sipping a drink and poured more syrup. Diana muttered something to Alvin, blushing. She was walking around front and back, anxious.
Tasha and Jake managed to escape from the institution. But they couldn’t get to the janitor’s room as there were too many people. Tasha ripped up her pants as it was too big for her. While doing that, some group started looking at them funny, murmuring amongst themselves and some pointing fingers. Tasha and Jake looked at each other started running without thinking.
“Wait! You can’t run yet! Get my clothes!” shouted Tasha, dragging him.
“Uhh,…! Urgghh!” bellowed Jake, shaking off her grip, there are shouts coming out from behind them, and the old professors start noticing and were running to get them too.
“Why are you making that sound? Trying to inform everyone that we are here? Dumbass?” shouted Tasha.
“Urgghh, shut up!” shouted Jake.
They’ve arrived in the field, went down the hill and struggled to get into the gap, the rock scratched the skin but they’ve successfully got in, there were angry shouts and yelling came from outside.
When Tasha and Jake was out of the tunnel, it was already dark, the moon shone upon them. They arrived at the town; they trudged heavily on the pavement absentmindedly.
“You know what?” said Jake.
“What?” grumbled Tasha, flapping her absurdly big uniform.
“I think I like this game,” grinned Jake.
“Well, you crazy bastard, just buy me new clothes” Tasha scoffed.
When they got home, Diana was sitting in the chair, furious. She slapped Tasha and Jake’s butt for almost an hour until her own palm became blue and purple.
“Don’t you ever do this again! Now go to bed!” Diana screamed.
Poor children stood up but unable to walk, so they tried step by step. Eventually they just crawled out of the room. But as they went to the living room, Tasha fell down on the floor and Jake too. Tasha laughed.
“Well, that was… fun.” Tasha murmured.
“Fun?” said Jake. “You’ll one day run some fetish shop, and you… will be a millionaire.” Jake said with a dying voice, drunken with pain, sniffing. There was a tear drop on his cheek. Tasha stared at him, and smiled.
“Don’t cry… you are a guy.” Tasha said this and took a deep breath. She put her cheek on the floor, and went to sleep.
“Tasha?” said Jake, but Tasha was sleeping peacefully. Jake looked at her face for a while, and went close to her, put his arm under her head and hugged her, and he went to sleep too.
Alvin watched this from the fireplace. He was sitting there for a while Diana was screaming at the children. Alvin walked toward them, the floor made a creaking sound. He took off his jacket and covered them. And Diana appeared from the room.
“Children… what?” Diana murmured, seeing the children on the floor.
“Shh, they are sleeping.” Alvin made a gesture, putting the index finger on his lips.
“Sleeping? What, on the floor?” Diana’s voice trembled a little; it was mixed with tears.
“Yes, on the floor, dear. Let them be.” Alvin tapped gently on Diana and walked away from the living room.