Rise of Alpha (The Prodian Journey #1) (26 page)

She shook her head in amazement. “You don’t think that way anymore?”

“Not since day one. I’m the self-proclaimed president of Shannon McKesson’s fan club.”

This made her laugh, but we soon cupped our hands over our mouths and held our breath when we heard scraping footsteps approach my door.
 

“Brian, are you talking to yourself again?” Dad asked, his voice muffled.

“I’m watching TV, Dad!” I replied, fumbling to turn the television on.
 

“You better catch some sleep. It’s your first day back to school tomorrow.” There was some reproach in his tone.

“Yes, Dad.”
 

After we heard the sound of his retreating footsteps, Shannon giggled. “Whew, that was close.”
 

I got settled and patted the pillow. “Time to sleep, gorgeous.”

She smiled, turned off the lamp, and nestled right next to me. I wrapped my arm around her and after a few minutes, her breathing evened out.
 
The soft sound had become my nightly lullaby, soothing me to sleep.

I was watching the homecoming game, except it was between the Ergans and Mark, Kevin, and the rest of the Barrister football team. The official counter ticked down to the end of the game.
 

Ergans = 3, Barristers = 0.
 

The field erupted in cheers when Kevin launched a Hail Mary pass to Mark.
 

Then a hush fell over the crowd while everyone followed the ball’s trajectory toward the twenty-yard line. It was close to the end zone when there was a sudden snap and the lights went out. Total darkness blanketed the field.

I scrambled to my feet, calling Shannon’s name. I heard a muffled sound, a faint crying, then a curse. I ran, trampling over people’s feet in my haste to pursue the fading sound.
 

Groping in the dark amidst the cries of protest of students and spectators alike, I made it down the bleachers, moving as fast as I could. Then as if nothing had happened, the lights came back on.

Looking around, I noticed black rose petals everywhere I could see. I shuddered, fearful of one thing.

“Shannon!” I shouted.
 

Then I woke up.

It was just after one o’clock in the morning. Disoriented, I jerked into a sitting position. I reached for Shannon, relieved to find her sleeping like a baby.

Damn it. I thought the dreams were over. Too disturbed to go back to sleep, I got the bottle of ibuprofen and tiptoed to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I downed three caplets and stood there in the dark.
 

It was such a confusing dream. I’d seen every event unfold as if I were standing in the middle of it, but there were some patches that seemed to have been blotted out of the scene.

I walked back to my room, still worrying over my latest vision. Unable to decode it, I gave up and climbed back into bed, and wrapped my arms around Shannon protectively. She leaned into me.
 

Waking up to my alarm hours later, I ran my hand over the space next to me. I wasn’t expecting Shannon to be there, but a little part of me hoped to find her there. As fast as I could manage, I went through the motions of getting ready for school. After I endured Mom’s perky chatter, I ran out of my house just as Shannon stepped out of her front door.

“Good morning,” she greeted, much too chipper for me, especially after the dreadful nightmare I’d had the night before.

Then a distinct scent permeated the air. It was the sort of salty aroma I might associate with food, but this smelled more like sweating bodies. Ergans!

“Shannon, get over here, fast!” I shouted.
 

Mr. Ax

Shannon’s eyes widened, and she assumed a fighting stance as if by instinct.
 

“Brian, what do you see?”
 

“Just run here, now!”

She blinked like she was waking up from a bad dream and streaked across the lawn, her momentum carrying her to me. I tucked her into my arms, protective in the face of the threat from our unseen enemy.

“What’s going on?” Shannon asked after she caught her breath.

I surveyed the half-empty street. There was a man walking his dog and watching us, maybe wondering what the hell these two teenagers were up to. Then I scanned our front yard and the neighbors’. When the surroundings checked out okay, I let her go.
 

“Sorry. It’s just my paranoia kicking into high gear. I thought I heard something.” It was a lie. There was a lingering scent burning my nostrils, even though I couldn’t see anything.
 

Shannon seemed unconvinced. “That didn’t look like nothing. You’re scared.” She tugged at my hand. “Look at me, Curly.”
 

The panic in her eyes made me wish I could erase her fears and the threat to her safety.

“Let’s go. I don’t want to be late to school on my first day back.” I winked at her, hoping she wouldn’t see right through me, and led her to my car. I opened the door for her while glancing around.
 

Again, I heard faint murmurs, which grew louder by the second, echoing in my ears. There were unfamiliar voices, foreign sounds, screeching and bellowing. My neck started getting stiff and my shoulders jerked involuntarily while I walked around my car and slid behind the driver’s seat. I gripped the steering wheel when a few tics erupted.
 

Shannon placed a comforting hand on my thigh while I went through the embarrassing round of spasms I hated so much.

“I’m good.” I lifted Shannon’s hand and placed it back on her lap without looking at her.
 

Her expression said it all. She was showing compassion, and I was blowing her off like it meant nothing to me.
 

Shannon didn’t say anything while I maneuvered the car onto the street. We drove in silence. She was undoubtedly a bit pissed at me for not taking her offer of comfort with grace, and I was worrying over the new developments.

The minute the car stopped, Shannon opened the door without waiting for me as she had for the past week. She walked toward the school entrance without even glancing back.

As much as my body hadn’t completely healed, I forced myself to ignore the pain and ran after her. When I caught up to her, I took her hand.

“Hey, what’s going on? Why’d you just walk away?”

She pulled back her hand and continued walking. “Nothing.”

Time with Shannon had taught me a few things about girls in general. My brush-off had struck the wrong nerve.
 

“Shannon, please. Can we talk?”
 

She stopped.
 

“Hey, look at me. I can be an asshole. You know that already, right?” I tipped her chin so she was looking straight into my eyes, and she nodded. “I can’t change overnight, but I’m trying. I just hate being reminded that I’m so different from everyone else.”

Wow. Shannon had changed me. Never in a million years would I have expected to be talking about my condition so openly with someone.
 

“I understand. It’s just annoying when you push me away,” she said, looking as lovely pouting as she did smiling.
 

“Can you forgive me?” I brushed a finger along her cheek. She didn’t seem to mind my touch one bit. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mark and Darryl by the steps, snickering at me.

“There’s nothing to forgive. Just promise you won’t do it again.”

I placed a palm over my heart. “You got it.” Emboldened, I twined our fingers together. “Happy?”

Shannon flashed her million-dollar smile. “Shall we?’
 

We climbed the steps and headed to our respective classes. I had been gone for only a week, but it felt like it had been a month.
 

The hallways were plastered with campaign signs, most of them with my name on them. I was surprised to see that groups I wouldn’t have expected to know I existed had endorsed me.

Mark nudged me. “I think the joke is turning around, bro. You might have a chance,” he said, sounding proud.

“This is freaky,” I muttered and nodded at some students who pumped their fists in the air when we walked past them.

“I have my money on you, Curly.” Shannon winked at me.
 

Kevin was standing just outside the classroom with his group. He glanced our way, and his eyes narrowed. Shannon nudged me to keep going, and we took our seats right away.
 

The day wouldn’t be the same now that Mr. P wouldn’t be around anymore. From the gossip circulating, a new teacher would take over and replace the substitute who had covered the class. The students piled in, scurrying into their seats, followed by a rather young looking man wearing dark sunglasses. He closed the door behind him and strode to the desk, placing his backpack on the table.
 

He took his time taking papers out of his bag before he addressed the class.

Then he sat on the edge of the desk and cleared his throat. “I’m Mr. Bon Ax, and I’ll be taking over Mr. Peter’s class for the rest of the year.”
 

The class started murmuring, and the new teacher waited until everyone quieted down before he continued. “I apologize for not removing my glasses, but the glare is not good for my eyesight.”
 

More whisper rippled across the room while the class reacted to this.
 

One boy in the back raised his hand. “Sir, it’s school policy for everyone to remove their sunglasses while in class.”

Mr. Ax’s shoulder tensed a bit, but after a moment, he smiled. “I’ve got a prescription for mine, and Mr. Delson has approved it. Now, let’s proceed with class.” He handed out papers to the front row to be passed back to the rest of the class.

While sheets of paper were passed around, he glanced at his copy. “I’m revising the remaining subject curriculum for the rest of the year. I’m going to schedule photo tours with smaller groups of students. We’ll focus on landscape photography, as well as the use of filters.”
 

Mr. Ax continued talking, but I started tuning him out. I turned my attention to where Car usually sat during class. The seat was empty, which made me wonder where he was.

“Who here are members of the yearbook committee?” I heard Mr. Ax ask.

Shannon and I raised our hands, and he looked over the rim of his glasses at me. The moment our eyes met, the hair at the back of my neck rose. His irises were acid yellow with a little black dot in the middle.
 

“Did you see that?” I whispered to Shannon.
 

She looked at me questioningly. “See what?”
 

“His eyes.” I looked again, but his sunglasses were back on.

Shannon snuck a glance and shook her head. “I didn’t see anything.”

“You in the blue shirt. Would you like to share with the class what you are discussing back there that can’t wait until class is over?” Mr. Ax stood up and moved closer.

I straightened in my chair. “It was nothing, sir.”

Kevin snickered together with some of his friends, and Mr. Ax turned to him. “Is there anything you want to say, Mister . . . ”

“Kevin Masters. I’m sorry, sir.”

Mr. Ax paced, stroking his chin before addressing the whole class. “This goes for all of you. If you want to talk, raise your hand so I can call on you to share with everybody. If not, I expect you to hold your tongues until this class is over. Are we clear?”

Feeling suddenly out of sorts, I tried my best to concentrate and listen for the remainder of the class. My skin was prickling, and my gut was screaming that something wasn’t right with our new teacher.
 

A hard tug on my shoulder announced incoming twitches, and by the time class ended, I was tired from holding them back. The pain in my rib wasn’t helping either.
 

Thank God the rest of the day went by faster than I’d anticipated. By the end of sixth period, I was overwhelmed and in a great deal of discomfort. After dropping off Shannon at her house, I went straight to bed and fell into a deep, but troubled, sleep.