This is the Second Character Narrative I've written. I've been promising it for a long time now, and well, here it is. I do want to thank those that commented on my first story Rain. I may not have followed up individually on those comments but I appreciated them. Please enjoy this one, done in two parts.
Secret(Part One)
"Mister Harris," The stern voice of my Algebra teacher brought me back to reality. "I trust there are more important things outside than the coming finals?" He said, trying to emabarrass me. I didn't really care, but I played along, forcing my face to flush a slight red color.
"I apologize sir, it won't happen again." I promised in a subtle voice, barely loud enough to hear.
"I'll hold you to that." The Teacher replied. "Now if you'd all-" The bell ringing cut him off. He changed directions in an instant. "Have a good weekend everybody."
"Tom, wait." The voice struck my ears before I could even stand up. I turned as I stood to see Crystal, a classmate of mine who was usually surrounded by the popular set.
"Crystal." I acknowledged, and didn't say anything else.
"Would you do me a favor?" Crystal asked, her voice was very serious.
I thought a moment, wondering what it would be. It could have been another prank, or some other sort of cruel joke, but I didn't think she'd do that to me like many of her friends did. Crystal didn't look like she was hiding anything, so I decided to give it a shot, it couldn't be that bad anyway.
"Sure, why not." I finally said, after deliberating on it.
"Would you meet me out by the main doors in say about five minutes? I need to ask you something, privately." Crystal asked, catching me by surprise.
"Okay, I'll be there." I assured then hurried to my locker wondering what was so important that Crystal would want to talk to me privately about something. I gathered everything together and was out by the door just in time to see Crystal walking up.
"Walk with me for a bit." Crystal said as she started down the sidewalk.
"Mind if I ask you something now?" I caught up with her and kept in step. "What is this about?"
"You want to know why I asked you to come along with me right? Well that's simple. You don't normally daydream in class, so I thought there was something wrong, and you know I'm always trying to be a friend." Crystal responded directly. "There was something in your eyes too. The clouds, they remind you of something you lost a long time ago."
I was a bit confused by the perception Crystal seemed to have, I did want to tell her, but I was sworn not to say a thing about that part of my life. I remained silent for a while, not sure what to say. If I said too much, it would be a disaster for both of us, and too little would leave her wondering what kind of person I really was.
"Was there really something in my eyes?" I asked after an uncomfortable few moments.
"Yes there was, a glint of hope, whether or not you believe in it." Crystal said hinting at my outspoken belief that hope is a sham.
"I see, I guess the clouds do remind me of something, but I can't tell you anything more than that." I tried not to sound mysterious, but it came out wrong, and I got a curious look. "Well, ask me what you wanted to ask me." I said with a bit of impatience.
"Give me time to get to it." Crystal said with mock annoyance. "I'm having a few people over tonight and I'd like you to be one of them." She added casually.
"You want me to come to a party?" I was almost sure that I was being set up for something. "Why?"
"Well, I wouldn't call it that, it's just a few people getting together to talk, listen to music, and maybe catch a movie or something. Besides that, talk around school is that you don't get out much and socialize, and you don't invite people over to your place either." Crystal answered. "I think it's time that changed."
"I don't go to parties because I'm not invited, save yours just now, and the Program won't allow me to bring outsiders into the dorms." It came out a little more bluntly than I wanted it to, but I think Crystal understood.
"Oh, that's right you're in that Program for kids who lost their parents in that plant disaster about ten years back." Crystal reacted, having just remembered. "It must be hard for you there, not having your parents and all. They will let you out tonight won't they?"
"I manage." I pushed it off as nothing. "I don't think it'll be a problem, but it's hard to say. I'll have to check in with them first." I tried not to sound like I didn't want to go, but in truth I was really not in the mood to try and socialize with a bunch of people who wouldn't give me the time of day under normal circumstances.
"You can do that at my place." Crystal offered as she turned a corner on the street.
"Okay." I said suspiciously. "If you insist." I noticed something tagging along behind us as I rounded the corner. It wasn't something I was concered with right away, but as it came closer, ducking in and out view behind me, I knew it was going to be trouble. I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and grabbed Crystal's arm. Leaning in close I whispered in her ear. "When I say down, jump behind that bush over there, cover your head, and don't get up until I tell you it's safe, okay?"
"Why, what's going on?" Crystal's voice was concerned, having picked up on my tone of utmost seriousness.
"I'll explain later, now isn't the time, Please, trust me." I said with renewed urgency.
We took a few more steps, and I could see in the corner of my eye the thing following us was still moving closer. I stepped back from Crystal and whipped around to face the empty sidewalk. My hand went to my side, but I knew it wasn't time to break the Oath and reveal my weapon. I waited a moment, looking for the pursuer carefully, not seeing it I turned around and took another step with Crystal. Then, everything happened at once.
The pursuer lunged at us from a tree, and I pushed Crystal toward the bush. "Get down!" I blurted and couldn't wait to see that she had done so. I grabbed at my left side and tore the Concealment Sash off of a very old sword I had been issued by the Program. Drawing it quickly I cut into the pursuer, it's body crumbled apart and turned to dust right before my eyes. I didn't have time to resheath my sword as two more enemies popped up from nowhere. They attacked both at once trying to catch me off guard, but I moved too fast for them and quickly sliced through one, then spun around and took the other down.
"Tom?!" Crystal's voice came, and it was terrified. I looked to see another of the drones had grabbed Crystal and was holding her hostage with a hand to her throat.
I resheathed my sword, taking out one of three knives that had also been issued to me by the Program for defensive situations. Holding it up to my forehead, I closed my eyes and threw it quickly. The drone took the blade right between the eyes and let Crystal go. As it crumbled to dust on the ground Crystal ran to me, very much shaken by what went on.
"You'd better have a good explanation for all this." Crystal said, her voice shaking.
"Let me get you home first, the drones that can spot us out here can't see us through walls."
To Be Continued. . .
|
