~ Tell her. ~
I stared into her warm face long and hard. Her smile never wavered.
~ Tell her Lucas. We can trust her. ~
The voice in my head settled my nerves. I leaned into Olivia, carefully.
“Okay,” I gave in, with a long sigh. She bit her bottom lip and stepped closer to me. Her face was only an inch away from mine. I inhaled a deep breath and began to speak.
BUZZZZZZ - BUZZZZZZ - BUZZZZZZ - BUZZ!
I sat up quickly in my bed with my arms wrapped around my pillow. It, along with my sheets and mattress, were soaked in sweat. Franticly, I looked around my bedroom, trying to settle my nerves.
“Olivia?” I yelled out. My room was dark and empty. Everything looked normal, no damage anywhere.
BUZZZZZZ - BUZZ - BUZZZZZZ!
I focused on the unwelcome sound coming from the floor. The buzzing was coming from a crumbled up pair of jeans. It was my cell phone. I reached down to snatch it from the pocket when a sobering thought hit me. It was all a dream. Olivia, Felicity, the pain...it was all a demented dream.
BUZZZZZZ - BUZZ!
Then I remembered I never ever set my phone to the vibrate setting. Never. In my hand the phone kept shaking with a bright red heart flashing along the screen. It reminded me of a heartbeat. Below the blinking image was the word ‘UNKNOWN’ and my cell phone number. How could my phone be calling itself? Even as drowsy as I was, I remembered the collision with Olivia in the auditorium, earlier in the day.
I had mixed up our phones. She had mine and I had hers. Gently, I swiped the screen with my finger and answered the call.
“Hello.”
“You gave me the wrong phone,” Olivia stated the obvious. She sounded annoyed. I didn’t care though, because I was still imagining her from my dream.
~ Tell her. ~
“Sorry about that,” I said, nervously. My voice cracked.
“I’ll get it from you tomorrow,” she said.
“Okay.” I wasn’t sure how to begin, or exactly what to say.
“Until then...” She tried to end the call.
“Wait!” I called out, with a clinched fist.
A few silent seconds ticked by. “What is it?” she finally asked.
I froze for a moment, scared again. “I wanted to tell you...something...”
“It’s late. Tell me tomorrow.” Click. The line went dead. Staring at the blank screen of her phone, my heart sunk a little. Maybe I was kidding myself. I had spent all these years a nobody to her, why would that change now? Would she even believe my story?
“Tomorrow,” I whispered. I let out a long yawn and popped a few bones in my back. With the nightmare still fresh in my mind, I knew I wouldn’t be getting much sleep the rest of the night. Why was Felicity in my dream? I’ll never forget those eyes. A thin chill slithered down my spine.
I hopped out of bed and made my way downstairs for a much needed drink and a snack. When I returned with my bowl of Cheetos and Cherry 7-Up, I was surprised to see what was waiting for me. Olivia’s phone was lit up with a flashing screen. A new text message had appeared, waiting to be open on the phone. Carefully, I picked it up and realized that the message had been sent from my phone number. Olivia had sent me a message. I opened it in a split second and read...
____________________
........................................
‘THANX 4 COMING 2
THE SHOW 2NITE. O’
........................................
____________________
My chest popped with excitement and a tiny sliver of hope.
LEVEL 08: Every Day Is Exactly The Same
I felt frozen. Paralyzed by the sight in front of me. I managed to force my feet forward. They stumbled over themselves, staggering through the front doors of the high school. There were police officers everywhere; in the streets, in the parking lot, inside the school. Two rather large officers stood quiet and observant at each side of the doors. They watched me with anxious stares. I tried my best to not make eye contact with either of them. Sirens rang out from behind me as an ambulance and firetruck pulled up. The two officers closed the doors quickly, shielding my view. What was going on here? If there was such a big emergency, why were they still letting students into the building?
There was another officer down the hall questioning students. As I made my way down the hall for a better look things started to feel different. Everyone I passed by would shoot me an accusing glare. I had a bad feeling about all of this. Something was very wrong. The overwhelming truth that this was somehow my fault, numbed me.
“Just breathe,” I said. Get to your locker and the stone. Just grab the thing and go home. You’ve done nothing wrong. I tightened my grip around the strap of my backpack and pushed through the congested hallway.
~ Leave now. ~
Oh great, not now. A slow tingle slid along my fingers. My right hand had felt weird since early this morning. I just thought I had hurt it in last nights adventures, but as I looked at my fingertips, I remembered it was the same hand I had touched the mysterious stone with. Only ten yards from my locker, a fever scurried up my arm. Did that thing infect me?
~ Turn and run. ~
I ignored the warning in my head and pushed on. I had no time for insanity this morning.
~ Run. Now. ~
My hand started to throb as I stepped up to the section of lockers that housed my secret. If only I had listened to the voice in my head.
“Is that him?” an angry officer asked. Three other police in full uniform positioned themselves on both sides of me. In the middle of the quartet stood Felicity. She nodded her head yes.
“Are you sure?” another officer asked, with his hand shaking at his side.
“Yes.” She looked terrified, but happy enough to turn me in. But for what? I had done nothing illegal. She was lucky the four officers were there as I felt my face fill with red hot hate. My archenemy had crossed the line this time. Before I could unleash my wrath, my eyes focused on the lockers behind Felicity. My heart stopped. Against my locker door was a collection of weapons, huddled together in a mess of steel. A couple pocket knives of different shapes and sizes, a large hunting knife and four handguns. Even the heavy emergency ax from the big red box on the wall stuck there as if magnetized. Positioned all over the metal door like the magnets on my refrigerator at home.
“Are you Lucas Ryan?” the first officer asked, annoyed. He stepped towards me cautiously. That’s when I noticed all four cops were missing their weapons. Four empty holsters dangled from their sides.
~ Run. ~
“Is this your locker, boy?” he asked, angry. A large lump slid down my dry throat. I stupidly nodded yes. They pushed Felicity out of the way and surrounded me completely. One lifted his police radio and called out to whoever was in charge.
“He’s here, we have him secure.”
From the speaker came a voice I would never forget. It was ridiculously cheerful with a slight raspy overtone. “Bring him to me.”
“Come with me, boy,” he ordered. His big hands grabbed my arms and turned me toward the office. Another officer yanked at my backpack. The tingle in my hand had now become an itch. It was time to fight back.
“Wait! What’s going on? What did I do?” I yelled. He tried to shove me forward, but I locked my feet in place. Felicity watched from a distance with disbelief.
~ Fight. ~
My body tensed up all over. Aggression bubbled to life within me. With a protective stance I fought the new desire to smash my bag into the officer’s face. Did my new bravery come from my fear, or the talking gem in my locker? I pushed myself backwards with more force. Forcefully, a second officer latched onto my other arm.
“Please, do not resist!”
~ Fight! Now! ~
My hands balled into fists around the straps of my backpack as my body swelled with a strange and powerful inner strength. This must be how Dr. Banner feels before hulking out and destroying everythi
ng. This was happening! I was going to fight back! Lucas SMASH! My eyesight tightened to a razor-sharp focus and my blood pressure raced. But before I had a chance to release the smack-down, a student walking by started screaming at the top of his lungs. TWACK! His whole body zoomed past us and smashed against my locker.
“Help! What the hell?” he called out, reaching for the police officers. They watched in wide-eyed horror as the boy was pinned by his school bag that tightly held him inside of its straps. The bag and zippers pushed against the metal as if they were one. He tried to look over his shoulder at the locker door, but couldn’t turn his head enough. He tried to reach behind his back and free the clasps on the straps, but it was useless. He was locked in, nice and tight. He would need to be cut free. He dangled from the locker door like a flinching rag doll, inches off the ground, kicking and screaming.
“Please, help me!”
I ripped an arm free from my captive and quickly reached out to the kid. My hand found the release button on the bags straps and when I pushed it, they opened without any trouble. The student fell to the ground in tears with a thud.
~ His name is Grant. ~
“What’s happening?” he stuttered, trying to find his legs again. I pulled him to his feet just before the officer secured my arm again.
“It’ll be okay, Grant,” I said, softly.
“How did you know my name?” he gasped.
“Umm...lucky guess...” I coughed. “What’s in your bag?”
“Nothing,” he whimpered.
“Are you sure?” I asked, again. The officers tightened their grasp a little.
“Just my books and some supplies for Biology class.” Grant started to cry. I felt horrible. What was in my locker? What had I set in motion here? My hand began to ache, softly. The police officers looked at me in confusion and possible hate. With an extreme shove, they directed me towards the office at the end of the hallway. I didn’t resist them this time.
~ We will fight. We will win. ~
The sea of curious students and teachers parted as we made our way for the office. Felicity stared at me with guilty eyes before fading into the distance. Was I dreaming again? None of this made any sense.
I had spent the last fifteen minutes locked in Principal Garner’s office, handcuffed to his desk. I sat with my head lowered toward to the floor. I was so lost in my rushing thoughts, that I didn’t even notice when someone joined me in the makeshift prison cell.
“What’s in your locker, Mr. Ryan?” It was the same eerie voice I heard earlier, over the police radios. In person, the man’s voice was even more strange. I lifted my head to get a better look at my interrogator.
“Who are you?” I asked, bluntly. The tall, bald man looked down at me with a calculated smile that was as disturbing as it was welcoming. His teeth were perfect, exceptional. Like a spokesmodel on your favorite daytime gameshow. His eyes were dark brown, almost black and slightly sunken in his serious brow. He was missing part of his right ear. It looked unhealthy and gross. I focused my attention back to his alligator smile, trying to forget the image of his ear. He was dressed in a black military uniform like I had never seen before. The smell of coffee and bad aftershave filled my nose.
“That depends on you, Mr. Ryan. I could be your best ally, or your worst enemy,” he said, and his brow fell forward with authority. I glanced down at the unnecessary handcuffs, giving them a tiny jingle and said nothing. He was crazy if he thought I would cooperate while being treated like a criminal. He nodded in understanding.
“They call me, Love,” he smiled. “General Love.” I watched him confused and scared. I saw no markings along his uniform. No stars, no stripes...nothing.
“General?” I asked. A small but obvious grin escaped my lips at the thought of his ridiculous name.
“You find something...funny?” he asked, as if he were in on the joke.
“Umm...” I stalled.
“My name, General Love...it’s funny, isn’t it?” he joked.
“A little,” I agreed, cautiously. I felt like I was walking into a trap. The General placed his hands on the face of the large desk and tensed up.
“Mr. Ryan, I have been through many great and gruesome adventures. I have seen it all. Wars. Plagues. Riots. Death. I have experienced the worst in people.” He leaned into me a little, “I have witnessed evil incarnate. The Devil himself.”
“I didn’t mean any...” I tried to say, but it was too late. I had flipped his switch.
“And out of all the horrors I have seen, nothing makes me more livid than someone finding my good name...funny.” His bottom lip quivered with anger even though he spoke as calm as could be. I could feel his disgust on my skin. It hung in the air like a fog. I shifted nervously in my chair.
~ Do not fear him. ~
Easy for you to say. I stared into General Love’s cold, hurt eyes. There was no love there and there was no pain. Just reserved anger.
“What am I doing here, General?” I asked, holding my breath.
“What’s in your locker?”
I was getting tired of that question already. “Books,” I snapped.
He smiled, revealing his wall of perfect teeth, “What else?”
“I don’t know,” I lied. He knew I was lying and leaned closer towards me. I could barely keep my eyes off his mangled, half missing ear. I tried to focus and my right hand came alive with pain.
“I think you’re lying,” he said, intensely. “What’s in your locker, Mr. Ryan?”
“The rest of your ear,” I snapped, with a bubbling anger. I couldn’t believe I said it, I wasn’t even thinking those words. What was wrong with me? The pain in my hand began to swirl up my wrist and forearm. I prepared myself for the worst. I was sure his response would end with me in a massive amount of pain. My big mouth would be the death of me.
“Eww...this is shaping up to be one of the better assignments,” he smiled wider. I leaned forward to apologize for my last statement when he turned and walked out of the room. I let out a sigh, filling with a welcomed relief. Seconds later two military goons, dressed in the same strange black uniforms, stormed into the office. They unlocked my handcuffs and pulled me to my feet.
“Get up, boy!” they threatened at the same time. With a shove, they directed me outside to the main hallway again. General Love greeted me with a smug smirk and a wink.
“Your journey starts now, Mr. Ryan.”
“Where are you taking me?” I asked.
“Detention of course,” he laughed. “Unless you feel like talking.”
“About what? I have absolutely no idea what is going on here,” I pleaded. He forcefully snapped his fingers and I was pushed forward again, this time with more force.
“Looks like we do this the hard way,” General Love gloated. “Be sure to avoid the boy’s locker, the crew will be here soon to handle it.”
I stumbled down the hallway in a daze, escorted by two fully armed soldiers. I watched the craziness unfolding all around me in slow motion. The entire school was being led into the auditorium by another dozen men wrapped in black. All of them fully armed with the latest weaponry. Was this legal? Where did all the police officers go? Was this World War III?
I spotted Taylor at the opposite end of the building. He caught a quick glimpse of me just before I disappeared around the corner. We only made eye contact for a moment, but it was long enough to realize he was worried, maybe even scared. I’ve never seen Taylor scared before. I finally did it. It finally happened. I screwed up bad enough that even my own personal hero, couldn’t save me this time.
A few tense minutes later, I was standing inside the door of the Detention room. It was dark, cold, and looked empty. The soldiers pushed me in and tossed my bag at me. It hit me in the chest before falling to the floor. They slammed the door closed and locked it from the outside. I watched their shadows through the frosty glass of the door. They loomed silently as they stood guard.
“Big bullies,” I whispered. My head fell
from the weight of my worry, and I slowly picked up my backpack from the chilly floor. I was confused. I was lost. I was scared.
But, I wasn’t alone.
LEVEL 09: Demons
“Lucas!” Olivia said, from the dark corner of the room. I stood with my mouth wide open.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, in a hard whisper. She ran up to me, wrapped her fingers along my shoulders and pulled me to the back of the detention room. She made sure the guards outside couldn’t hear us.
Cautiously, she glanced toward the teachers desk and then, back to me. “What’s going on out there? What do the cops want with you?”
“I’m not sure, yet. I think it has something to do with my loc...” I stopped myself. I wasn’t sure how much to tell her.
~ We can trust her. Tell her. ~
She ran a nervous hand through her hair. “Something to do with what?”
“Wait a second, why are you here?” I said, changing the subject. She didn’t like that and her steel blue eyes cut through me. Blue, her eyes were blue today.
“Morning detention. I’ve been coming in early all week,” she said.
“Oh,” I gulped.
“Now, tell me about your locker,” she scolded, under her breath.
“How did you know about my locker?” I asked.
“Soph told me,” she said, looking over her shoulder.
“Sophia? But how could your little sister know about...?” I started to ask, before falling silent. Her sister was a few years younger than Olivia. Why would Sophia be here? A thump came from under the teachers giant, wooden desk. Suddenly, a head of dark hair popped out, followed by a slightly smaller, mildly tamer version of Olivia. She dusted off her knees and sneakers before running up to me with a quirky little smile.