Into the Shadows (18 page)

“I just feel like such a freak,” Paivi whispered.
She noticed an ATC agent up ahead that had not been in the group
earlier in the morning. She looked at him in disgust.

“It’s like they’re multiplying,” she muttered.

“Who?” Jason asked, and then noticed her staring at
the man dressed in black, his badge glowing, silver and bright.
“Oh, these guys? I know! It’s like they came out of nowhere.
Listen, let’s just go get some lunch, my treat. I think it’s hot
cookie day,” he tried to make it sound enticing.

Paivi felt like crying for the second time today,
remembering the policies. She wanted nothing more than to enjoy a
nice lunch with Jason.

“I can’t,” she sighed. “According to my new rules, I
have to sit at a lunch table with the other freaks.”

“Stop it, you’re not a freak. I guess I’ll just have
to walk you to your new table and pick you up after lunch is over.
In fact,” he added, as they entered the crowded lunch room, “why
don’t I just be your personal security?”

She cracked a smile at the absurdity of it all.

“Aha, there’s a smile,” he laughed. “No, really,
I’ve always wanted to be a Secret Service agent, well, until
Senator Stevens got elected. He’s on his own. But in the mean time,
I can practice on you!”

“Whatever! You’re crazy! I have to find my
table.”

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, she thought, if it
meant she would get to see him between every class.

Paivi spotted the lone table — it was at the far end
of the cafeteria. An ATC guard sat on each end, guarding the four
students already sitting there. She could see Christian’s blond
hair — he was seated in the middle, the furthest he could be from
the two guards. At least she wouldn’t be alone. As they neared the
table, Michaela came running up to meet them.

“Paivi, what are you doing? Are you guys sitting
together today?” she smiled.

“No, actually, I have to sit there,” Paivi gestured
towards the table ahead.

“But why?” Michaela seemed a little annoyed by the
information.

“It has to do with this whole thing,” Paivi pointed
to her badge. “Trust me, I’d much rather sit with you.”

She could see one of the agents eyeing her.

“Look, guys, I better go.”

Michaela threw her arms around Paivi.

“This sucks! I’ll miss you!”

“Don’t worry P, we’ll come get you at the end of the
hour,” Jason reminded her.

Michaela unlocked her arms, releasing Paivi from her
grip. She gave one last sad look at Paivi and stepped back. Paivi
turned without another word and headed to her new table as Jason
and Michaela looked on.

Paivi walked by the agent at the end of the table.
He looked at her, checking her badge, even though he had already
seen it from across the room. He didn’t say a word, and didn’t
offer so much as a smile. She passed by him, her head held high,
and chose a seat next to Christian. From there they could see the
whole cafeteria. Christian looked up as she sat down. His chemistry
homework was spread out in front of him.

“Hi.” He didn’t sound pleased.

“Hi,” she answered. It didn’t seem like he was very
talkative and she didn’t want to push him. She pulled out her paper
lunch bag from her backpack. Luckily, she had remembered to bring
some food today. Who knows how long it would be until the agents
would let them go get lunch.

Paivi opened her bag. Peanut butter and jelly. Bag
of chips. Apple. The only thing she hadn’t brought was a drink.

“Do you want some of my lunch?” she offered a half
of her sandwich to him.

“No thanks,” he responded. He shoved his book toward
her. “But I could use your help with these chemistry problems.”

“But I don’t…,” she began to protest, preparing to
explain that she hadn’t had chemistry yet when she saw what was on
the notebook paper sitting on top of Christian’s open book. In the
middle of his homework were the words PAIVI PLEASE JUST READ.

Paivi looked at him.

“Uh, sure I can help you,” she glanced back to the
page.

“Well, I am mostly having trouble with this number,”
Christian pointed, touching it with his pencil. The writing jumped
to life, like a swarm of ants, rearranging across the page into a
new message.

YOU CAN JUST THINK, DON’T SPEAK.

She looked at Christian, and for the first time that
day he smiled. She understood. He could read her mind. He touched
his pencil to the paper, the words dissolved and re-formed.

THEY KNOW ABOUT US.

“These two things go together,” she pointed at the
paper, trying to keep up the guise that she was helping him with
his Chemistry. She glanced at the end of the table, checking out
the ATC agents. They were looking around the cafeteria in utter
boredom.

What do you mean ‘they’?

The message changed again.

ATC.

How do you know that?

She made a face.

I KNOW OTHERS ON LIST.

I don’t understand. We’re not
criminals.

MAYBE.

He smiled again.

“What about this problem? Number three?”

Paivi gave him a dirty look.

Well, we aren’t terrorists.

NOT US. MAYBE OTHERS.

By why mess with us. We aren’t bothering
anyone.

NOT SURE.

“Well, I think you’re just kind of dumb. This
problem is easy,” Paivi tried not to laugh.

MAYBE WE ARE DANGEROUS.

Us? Dangerous? Come on!

Christian shrugged his shoulders.

WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER.

I suppose. But now you can’t blackmail me
anymore. It seems that everyone knows my secret thanks to the
ATC.

OKAY YOU WIN.

One of the ATC agents suddenly turned around, facing
them. Paivi’s heart jumped into her throat.

“EOS students,” he addressed them. “There will be no
lunch for you today.”

And with that, he turned back to surveying the
lunchroom.

The three students at the other end of the table
grumbled to each other. One of them had a lunch that they split.
Paivi handed half of her sandwich to Christian.

Here’s to sticking together, she thought.

“Thanks,” said Christian quietly.

The mood at home was solemn. As bad as her first day
back to school had been, she hadn’t even thought about what things
had been like for Torsten or her parents.

Torsten’s day had mirrored her own, with the added
bonus that the junior high students were more than prepared to
hassle anyone who was slightly different. He had to endure shouts
of ‘Freak!’ as he walked down the hallway, to pennies being thrown
at their ‘special’ table at lunch. The ATC guards at Torsten’s
school made no effort to stop his harassers.

Mrs. Anderson was informed upon arriving at the St.
Andrew Public Library that she was still permitted to work there,
but only at the front desk where her supervisors could watch her.
Her workday was shortened, as she wasn’t allowed to take a lunch
break anymore, due to security reasons. Aside from the new
policies, Mrs. Anderson found her co-workers to be extremely
kind.

Mr. Anderson wasn’t so lucky. Upon arriving at the
St. Andrew Police Station, he was escorted by a pair of burly ATC
agents to the police chief’s office. The chief didn’t say much, but
the ATC agent wasted no time in telling him that he was a security
risk and furthermore, a disgrace to his badge. They led him to his
locker, forcing him to clean it out, showing them everything as he
removed it. Afterwards, they took his badge and gun, and showed him
the door, telling him never to return. Aside from a few pitying
looks from his former co-workers during the last two hours he spent
in the Police Station, no one spoke to him. He was surprised to
see, however, that some of his colleagues were wearing ATC badges
as well.

“If you can’t work, what are we going to do for
money?” asked Paivi, looking around at their comfortable kitchen
and family room. “Are we going to have to move?”

“No,” said Mr. Anderson. “Not right away. We have
some savings. I’m going to go to the bank tomorrow. But just be
forewarned, no spending money on anything but necessities. Right
now that means food and bills. Nothing else.”

Paivi and Torsten nodded silently. Mr. Anderson
rubbed his face with his hands. Paivi noticed he looked tired and
much older than he had just the week before. Their new status as
Enemies of the State posed further problems. They needed groceries,
but because of the curfew and the shopping restriction, they
couldn’t go. Mrs. Anderson called the neighbors they had always
been friends with, the Cardinellis. Mrs. Cardinelli agreed to run
to the grocery store for them after dinner. Paivi was relieved, as
was Torsten, as they both had a feeling they wouldn’t be getting a
chance to buy lunch at school after their experiences the first day
back.

The next few days were more challenging at school.
The students began to hear more from their parents and from news
reports about what the EOS badges meant. The media wasted no time,
reporting on what kind of crimes the Enemies of the State might
possibly have committed, such as murders of innocent men, women and
children and aiding the terrorists by not going to the police. They
even speculated as to whether or not they could be responsible for
other crimes, from robberies to assassinations. What were curious
stares on the first day became worried glances. Most students tried
to avoid her, but some felt the need to say things to her, shouting
at her in the middle of the hallway.

“Terrorist!”

“Murderer!”

Paivi would generally just put her head down and
keep walking. Luckily, she was almost always with Jason, Michaela
or Aimee, who seemed to make it their mission to protect her. They
would link arms with her and pull her down the hallway, shooting
deadly glances at anyone who dared shout at her. On more than one
occasion, Paivi had to pull Michaela back as she moved to silence
Paivi’s harassers. She didn’t want anyone to get into trouble
because of her and felt lucky enough to have friends that backed
her up. Some of the girls, like Jenn Hernandez and Paulina
Kaminski, were still nice to Paivi, but didn’t seem to want to be
seen with her. Crystal Harris, who shared Current Events with Paivi
and Jason, explained to Paivi one day after class that her parents
had told her under no uncertain terms was she to talk to or hang
out with Paivi or any other EOS kids anymore. Not that Paivi was
shocked by this news.

“It’s okay Crystal, I understand,” she said
quietly.

Jason arrived at her side, having overheard the
exchange.

“Well I don’t. Nice friend you are,” he snarled at
Crystal. “Come on Paivi, you don’t need this.”

He dragged her off down the hall toward the
cafeteria.

“Jason, you don’t have to get so mad. It’s going to
happen,” offered Paivi grimly.

“That’s the point. It shouldn’t happen. Not to you,
not to any of these people! I just can’t take it! People are so
stupid!” He was fuming.

Paivi didn’t know what else to say. She had just
lost a friend. She didn’t feel like losing two. Jason glanced at
her and registered the sad look on her face. He put his arm around
her.

“Hey, hey, I’m sorry. I know this stuff is hard for
you. I’m just so angry that you all have to deal with this garbage.
They have no proof that you did anything wrong and yet you’re
treated like a criminal. And everyone just goes along with all of
this blindly, believing whatever their parents say, or whatever
they see on T.V.,” he paused, “but I have good news for you! Well…
maybe.”

He turned to her, holding both her hands in his. Her
heart fluttered as he looked into her eyes and smiled.

“Paivi, would you go to the Winter Dance with
me?”

She looked at him. Her heart was bursting she was so
excited. Then realization set in.

“I would love to, but how can I? I can’t be involved
in any after school activities or anything, plus, there’s my
curfew.”

“See, that’s just it, Michaela was able to grab one
of those handy little EOS Rulebooks and we noticed that while you
can’t be involved in clubs or sports, there was no rule about
dances. So we went to see Mr. Carson to make sure it was all right,
and he said yes. You just have to be home by nine for curfew, but
we can still hang out afterwards, if you want. So you can go! Isn’t
that great?”

Paivi stared at him, stunned.

“You guys did all that and even went to the
principal for me? I…uh…I don’t know what to say!”

“Saying yes would be a start,” he laughed.

“Yes,” she sputtered. He squeezed her hands.

“Now, come on, I have to get you to your table
before Agent What’s-His-Face notices you’re missing!” he said as
they ran down the hallway, barely clearing the cafeteria doorway as
the bell rang. The agent at the table gave them both a dirty look
as they walked up. Jason looked at him and smiled. The agent looked
disgusted at the sight of them together.

“Have a nice lunch, Paivi,” he said, waiting for her
to sit down before walking away.

After lunch, Michaela ordered Paivi to go dress
shopping with her on Saturday. After all, the dance was only two
weeks away, so they had to hurry. Michaela was going with Dan, a
guy in her English class, who she described as ‘dreamy.’ The rest
of the week passed quickly, despite the daily torment at school.
With Jason and Michaela at her side, she felt relatively
comfortable. Her teachers were still nice to her, mostly just
giving her pitying looks. Dr. Hasenpfeffer made every effort to
treat Paivi normally, continuing to insist that she stay in her old
seat.

As they sat in class on Friday, Dr. Hasenpfeffer
discussed the European economy. Paivi doodled in her notebook and
thought about her lunch.