Part One
Chapter One:
The sound of rain, oddly muffled, slowly woke me up from an unwelcome and rather unexpected sleep. As my senses, which had been so bluntly dulled, began to return to me, I became aware that I was inside, laying on a bed. Gradually I became aware of a dull throbbing pain in my chest, and something soft wrapped around my ribs. A bandage? I thought still unable to move, or even open my eyes. Where am I, and who treated me? I found myself asking in thought. The slight smell of something tickled my nose, a light sweet scent that was familiar to me, but in my cloud of weariness, I couldn’t place it’s origins. Gradually my mind began to wake up, processing the sounds and smell around me more readily. A wash of pain flooded over me, which I was ill prepared to receive. My own breath, in shallow, pained gasps gave more away about my condition than I wanted. A sound next to me stirred, I made myself look, opening my eyes slowly. To my pleasant surprise, I wasn’t in any danger.
Crystal sat in a chair, her face flooded with worry. I caught the twinkling of a tear ready to fall as I glanced over. Upon seeing me shift positions, Crystal quickly gathered herself together, hiding her face from me for a moment. She walked over to the bedside and grabbed my arm at just about the wrist, gripping it tightly. Never once did her face falter from its worrisome expression. “Are you all right?” Her voice was dry, tense.
My face turned a slight pink at the display of emotion. I wasn’t very comfortable when people started getting mushy, and I felt the situation going in that direction. Not wanting to make something of nothing, I didn’t react to the touch as I normally would have. “I’m sorry, it looks like I’m not such a good protector after all.” I spoke in weak tone. “You saved my life, it’s not supposed to work that way.”
“Don’t force yourself to talk.” Crystal said firmly. “You need to rest for now.”
“Thank you for your kindness.” I managed to say before my throat stopped working from a lack of moisture.
Crystal let go of my arm and stood up. She seemed to take a cue from my voice, and left the room, I presumed to get something. That gave me time to survey my surroundings, and figure out just where I was exactly. The first thing I noticed was the bright shade of blue the walls were. A dresser sat next to a closet door on the wall opposite the bed I lay in, and to the left of the bed, in a corner was a plain wooden desk. Several shelves throughout the room were neatly arranged with stuffed animals. In addition, there were a lot of pictures everywhere, photos and drawings of all kinds. A hand drawn poster hung above the desk, the characters locked in a sword struggle reminded me of anime. Sitting on the desk, in a neatly folded pile, were my clothes. It was then that I noticed just how badly I’d been hurt. Most of my chest was wrapped in gauze, my right arm from shoulder to elbow also covered. I pulled the covers back to examine my ankle, which was pulsing with sharp bursts of pain. I had to slide the pajama pants leg up to see the wrappings on my leg, but they went up to knee level. I began to wonder about the situation, but my mind didn’t have time to dwell on it. Crystal reappeared suddenly, carrying a glass of water. She handed it to me before taking a seat at the desk.
“How did I get in here?” I asked after taking a slow sip of the water, which had an odd taste to it. You didn’t drag me up the stairs yourself did you?” I looked at Crystal, my eyes still heavy and tired. I emptied the glass, and reached out to set it on a bedside table, noticing that Crystal was staring at me with an odd expression. I knew the look, having seen it many times before at public pools, or when changing for Gym Class. It related to a scar I got in my training at the Program, the wound ran down the front of my chest from my right shoulder, all the way to my left hip. Since the bandages mostly covered it at the moment, I knew she’d seen it when attending my wounds while I was out cold.
“I had to get my parents to help. They’re a bit worried about you too you know.” Crystal answered. “May I ask you something?” She looked at me with a bit of curiosity.
“Go ahead.” My tone did not betray that I knew what she would ask. If I were right, Crystal would ask me about the scar. People always asked me about it, since it presented an enigmatic opposite to my usually calm and quiet persona.
“How did you get it, that scar I mean?” Crystal asked, fumbling nervously, not wanting to offend me, but curious nonetheless.
“I’m not comfortable discussing that subject.” I closed my eyes, lowering my head.
“I’m sorry if I offended you” Crystal spoke with a note of hurt in her voice.
“I should apologize for being so blunt about it. It’s one of those facets of my life I don’t like others to know about.” I was terrible with apologies, and that one came out all weird and wrong.
“You look tired. I’ll let you rest now. I’ll be back in a bit if you need anything.” Crystal got up again and started to leave.
“This isn’t right.” I observed. “It’s my duty to protect you, nothing will change that, but here you are, in a way, protecting me.” I added.
“Tom, someone has to save you from yourself.” Crystal said as she pulled the door closed behind her, leaving a small gap open.
I was a bit puzzled by the statement, but didn’t want to think too hard on it. I didn’t really notice just how tired I was until that moment. A weight of heavy air seemed to smother me, taking that last bit of energy I had to stay awake. I found myself caught between consciousness and deep sleep, floating in that midway point. It wasn’t long before I fell fast asleep, getting the recuperative rest I needed.
I sat out of Crystal’s way on the bleacher, disguised as a complete stranger waiting to use the Y’s pool which had been rented out for a party. I did that so not to call her attention to me. I tried to be as unobtrusive as I could when she was with others in public, and succeeded without any difficulty. It would have been awkward situation for her try explaining what I, ‘Tom’ was doing there since I was not invited to the party she was attending. Crystal appreciated my giving her the distance to be herself and go about her routine like nothing was amiss. She knew that I’d be there at the first sign of trouble though, ready to fulfill my duties. Having to hide myself let me use the training I received in the Program anyway, so I didn’t complain.
The splashing of water, a chaotic crackling mixed with a myriad of plunks, and other noises, which came from the pool, was oddly calming to me. Water, making any sound, put my mind in a state of higher alertness, which felt quite good. To someone who needed his mind running at its fullest. I leaned back against the plank behind me, not sensing any dangers around. I was relieved that nothing was going on for me to worry. It meant that Crystal wasn’t seen as a high level threat anymore. I watched as the group splashed and swam about, being glad of the mirrored sunglasses I used as part of the disguise.
“Crystal, you’ve been unusually quiet tonight?” One of the other girls there spoke up.
“I’m just thinking Amber.” Crystal replied. Her tone was distant as she panned her eyes around the room, stopping on me for a moment. Another girl swam up and leaned on the edge of the pool. She seemed interested in the conversation.
“Really, it must be important,” Amber said in a way that implied amusement. “Or are you thinking of a someone special?”
“He’s just a friend, that’s all.” Crystal said a little too much, wishing she hadn’t after it was too late.
“Sound’s like she’s got herself a boyfriend.” Jennifer, a.k.a. ‘Jen,’ said in a gossipy way.
“Sound’s like it to me, who’s the lucky guy?” Amber prodded. “I’ll bet it’s Ben from the football team, isn’t it?”
“No, there’s nothing like that going on.” Crystal said defensively.
“Right, you’re here staring off into space thinking about ‘just a friend’ that happens to be a he. If that doesn’t say boyfriend, nothing does.” Jen said good-naturedly.
“He’s not my boyfriend!” Crystal yelled, causing everything in the room to get silent for a few moments. Crystal got out of the pool and picked up her towel. She wrapped it around herself and began to head toward the locker room. The others shrugged and continued about their business beginning to spread the gossip about Crystal’s mystery man.
Feeling a tingle on the back of my neck as Crystal went through the door of the poolroom, I got up, moving swiftly, following to make sure everything was okay. The tingle turned into an electrifying static coursing throughout my head, neck and shoulders by the time I’d gotten out into the corridor. I looked up and down it, seeing only one person, a janitor running a vacuum on the carpet. I was bothered by the fact that I didn’t sense it sooner, and it seemed to be emanating from the direction Crystal had gone.
“If I mess this up now I’ll be in some serious trouble at the Program.” I thought out loud which was odd for me. I wondered what was lurking and where it would strike. All I could do was wait, and make sure I was close enough to stop whatever it was when
it needed to be.
It didn’t take long for me to figure out where the attack would take place, as a scream broke the silence, and echoed down the hall. I couldn’t afford to hesitate, so I tore the Concealment Sash off my sword again, and bolted down the corridor to the locker room were Crystal was.
When I got to the door, it was either jammed or locked from the inside. I expected as much. Forcing it open I found myself tumbling into a scene of crazy chaos. A drone was lumbering toward Crystal who was pinned in a corner of the shower. The drone flailing its arms wildly attempting to grab her. I quickly dispatched it with an x stroke of my blade. It fell to the ground in a smoldering pile of black rocks and dirt, hissing and crackling as it disintegrated.
“Are you all right? That thing didn’t get you did it?” I looked over toward Crystal, to see if she had been in any way harmed by the drone. It was part of the training I went through to make sure the Charge wasn’t hurt during an attack. It never occurred to me to make an exception considering the circumstances. Only after I looked up did I realize I shouldn’t have done it. My face got really hot, an indicator that it was beet red by the feel of things. I managed to force myself to look at the floor before my mind completely froze up.
The shade of red in Crystals face wasn’t completely embarrassment, she was furious. She stormed over to me and slapped me across the face so hard I almost fell. “GET OUT YOU JERK!!!” She roared at me. I hurried out of the locker room as fast as I could to keep from being hit again. I found a place to hide myself from Crystal and still protect her. Where there was one drone, usually more would show up. |
