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tsumi-to-higeki · 3 years

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A Little Something New

I normally wouldn’t post a story here, but I figured since I was proud of this one being as my own creation, I think I will.

Story Summary - Charlie has noticed strange occurrences that have been happening within his high school, particularly to do with the students and staff. He has ignored them for some time, but can't do so any longer.

He has ignored them for some time, but can't do so any longer.

Not when he has realised his best friend, Kes, has changed.

So the only question is what the hell is going on in this high school exactly?

Oblivion

It’s happening again.

I just know it.

It’s been happening for the last month; classmates go and then come back… changed. How changed? Hah, well let’s just say that they more resemble what we picture advanced robots to be like. If a little brain dead when it comes to the social side of things, if you know what I mean. This time it happened to my friend, Kes, he was called down to the Principal’s office not that long ago, about two hours ago actually when in English.

Anyway, that’s not important, what is important is what ‘Kes’ became; them. Their lifeless eyes, that horrible bug-eyed stare that they all seem to do from time to time, their sickly-looking skin and the monotonous way that they talk grates against my eardrums. Like shrill mockery. Am I going insane? Because I think that this may actually be the work of either, now just hear me out, a lobotomy, government experiments to create super zombies or what if its… ALIENS!?

Okay, so maybe it isn’t the last one, maybe… But it could have been! If only they just listened to me when I spoke about what goes on behind closed doors, none of this would have happened and Kes wouldn’t look how he does now; plastic. Wait… Plastic? I go to take a closer look at Kes, to confirm if I actually saw plastic but just as I do I hear the intercom crackle to life. It booms out a name.

Mine.

I don’t move, don’t say anything and pretend to go back to my current work; which happened to be solving a maths problem. As I begin to put pencil to paper, my teacher calls out to me.

“Charlie, did you not hear that? The intercom lady clearly said your name.”

I wanted to scream. Yell. Chuck something. Possibly dive bomb out of the window to my right. Why of all days did my name have to get called? Why!? And here I thought I escaped the cold clutches of being called out by that dreaded damn intercom lady.

“Ah ye..s. I… Wanted to complete my math problem before, you know, heading out to the… Principal’s office.”

More like my walk of doom. You old uninterested, heartless cold hag…

“Yes well, be that as it may, when your name gets called you go. Don’t make me have to call The Learning Support staff up here again.”

I feel a quick sense of fear at hearing that, making my body work on autopilot and stood up.

“No. That won’t be necessary at all, Mrs Shepherd. I’ll just be going now.”

I make my way for the classroom door, pause and look around quickly before carrying on and causing more suspicion to myself. All are watching me with that dang lifeless bug-like stare that they all seem to do. Why? Well… I guess I’ll be figuring that one out real soon wont I?

Out in the hallway now I can feel the atmosphere lighten on me, the stares having been cut off me now, but that frightened feeling I feel is still there. Hold on, did the lights always blink in and out of life like that? Did the floor always have this much dust and grime on them? And what’s…

I jump a little, startled by a rumbling sound from my left.

What the heck was that? It sounded something like a muffled scream. But that doesn’t make any sense since no one is allowed to be over that side the now. Does this mean my lobotomy and government idea could be right? Looking to my right, the direction I am meant to be heading in, I feel myself sneaking toward the left. With my mind already made up, I begin cautiously taking off down the hallway to my left.

Keep reading for pt2?

Oblivion – Continued

Charlie began making his way down the hallway, the only sound present was the clacking of shoes hitting the surprisingly immaculate floor. But there was another sound that Charlie could hear. Which was… Ticking? How was that even possible?

This part of the school is off limits to both students and staff as it still was under renovation. That was still the case, right? So how could there be any ticking noises coming from here? There is no clock to be seen about anywhere.

A coldness ran down Charlie’s spine at that realisation.

Walking further in he kept an eye out for anyone else down here. Charlie suddenly felt a sinking feeling enter his stomach, even more so when the slight echo of beeping – beep, beep, beep – made it to his ears. It was just loud enough to be heard faintly and nothing more. It was always coming in threes – beep, beep, beep – Charlie noted, with intervals which would last for a few seconds each and then start back up again.

Why?

Confused, Charlie picked up his pace and soon the beeping he had been hearing was beginning to get louder. It was clearer. Way clearer than before.

Looking ahead Charlie saw a door. He figured that the beeping was coming from there. It had to have been, there was no other explanation for it. Following the beeping noises like a honing beacon, Charlie swallowed and looked through the small window that the door had carved into it at the top. Almost like it was some observational window.

But an observational window for what exactly?

‘What the…’

Charlie immediately shut his mouth, clamping a hand around it and then took a few steps backward. Shock and fear gripping at him now. Inside of the room, from what Charlie could make out, he saw a girl around the age of sixteen or seventeen like himself – if the blazer she was wearing was any indicator – sitting in a chair, wearing headphones, wore blinders and was facing a white board that appeared to be flashing a series of pictures.

From what Charlie had observed the pictures seemed to be showing what is right and what is wrong. Why? Charlie had no clue. For what purpose? Charlie didn’t know. Not yet anyway. Did he even want to know now that he thought about it? Something deep down was telling Charlie to get out of there. Leave the school. Get back home to where it’s safe.

Well… safer than here is anyway.

Maybe Charlie could go back the way he came, stop by the nurse's office to make up some excuse of not feeling well and get sent home. Then he could tell his mum.

Charlie turned to face the way he had come down but then stopped. The sound of footsteps and talking was heard coming his way now.

‘Oh crap… Oh shi- I gotta hide and fast…’

Charlie stated quietly, taking off down the hallway some more. Just what was going on exactly? Charlie’s heartbeat was pounding thunderously in his ears. He managed to happen upon another door.

Without hesitation or thinking he ran into the room, just wanting to hide somewhere. He had no idea why he felt scared when hearing those footsteps, as they were most likely staff at the school. But then again, nobody was meant to be down here; staff included as well.

Diving under a table with chairs in front of it obscuring the view underneath, Charlie waited for whoever it was that had been following him to burst through that door. Hopefully, whoever it is that had been coming his way does not get too curious and look under anything or around the room to find him.

Then again, there could have been cameras that captured him and alerted the staff to his presence. But then what about that girl he saw in that room? How did she get here? Why was she here? This was all beginning to get confusing the more he thought about this.

Suddenly three people wearing long white medical looking gowns entered the room. This just further confused Charlie even more now. The three people stood in the centre of the room.

‘Has anyone noticed anything?’

One of them asked. A high-pitched female voice.

‘Not yet. At least… no adults or anyone out of the school has anyway.’

Another answered. The pitch was deeper. A male.

The third person, another male, looked around suspiciously. As if they knew that something was off in this room. As if knowing about Charlie being there. This just had the teen frightened even more at this prospect.

‘No matter. You all know what we have been tasked with doing. What he has told us to do and why we do what we do. Go and head back to room 148, I will be along to join you both there shortly. I just have to report on something before doing so.’

The third spoke.

The other two nodded and then headed off. The third was just getting ready to leave and follow, but not before pausing in the doorway of the room. It was apparent to Charlie that this looked more like lingering, for some reason or other, and just as Charlie began to fear the worst, they left the room.

Charlie waited a few moments, listening to the silence, before deciding to come out of where he was hiding. He stood and sighed. The tight feeling in his chest lightened, but the feeling of fear and confusion remained.

Just who were those three people? Charlie did not recognise them as any of the teachers or staff. And then there was those things that were said. Who had that third person been talking about? He? Who exactly is he? Again, Charlie was unsure whether he wanted to know any of the answers to those things. Did he? More significantly how was he going to get out of here? There is going to be people, or at the very least someone, guarding his way out.

Watching.

Waiting.

Charlie paused as something in the corner caught his eye. It was not the table that was there that had caught his eye, but the two objects on top of it. A scalpel and then underneath that was some… paper? Charlie picked the paper up carefully and examined it. It was folded over, crumpled. It looked …odd.

Charlie took care when unfolding it and smoothed out some creases and wrinkles. His eyes were met with many words in fancy handwriting written out over the page. And upon a closer inspection Charlie realised that this was not just some simple letter. But something documenting an event. A piece of paper from a diary. He began to read.

“Tuesday 29 October 2016,

I’m beginning to make progress with this case, I just know it. Me and Elliot both are. We managed to secure jobs within the educational system under false names and donned disguises to help with not being known, and we will be starting first thing in November when the first week for that begins at this high school called “The Auld Fae”. Then we will climb the ranks of trust in this cult to get to where we need to, and then finish this. It has not been easy – nothing ever is really in this line of work that we do – but we are coming to the end of this mission. Thank God! I cannot wait to put an end to this and see her again. Her and the boy. Although… Would she still be waiting for me like we promised each other during our last meeting? Hard to say. Though I could hardly fault Liz if she did not, it has been some time that has passed since I said when I would be finished and return (I still can’t believe it has been eleven years since then to this day). Hopefully, this is the beginning and end to things, and this happens quick.

Signed Adam Doonecast .”

Charlie was not sure what to make of this note at all and what the contents inside revealed. He wondered if this “Adam” would have the answers that he seeks. It was a wild guess that, but one Charlie had to consider.

Shrugging, Charlie placed the paper down upon the table once again. He then turned his attention to the second item.

‘Huh? It looks like a… But why? Why would a scalpel be here? In a school of all places laying out like this...’

Reaching a tentative hand out Charlie picked up the scalpel, checking it over. He knew that this could come in handy later, if he needed it, for a “better safe than sorry” situation and he carefully placed it in his trouser pocket on the left.

Charlie remembered reading somewhere on the internet, in his free time when he had nothing better to really be doing, that the brain to protect itself when in stressful and tense situations thinks up the most dreadful of dreadful situations that could happen to oneself to ensure that they are not caught off guard. So you can react in time. It is a form of preparation. A form of self-preservation.

Heading out of the room and quietly closing the door behind himself, Charlie ventured the only way he could go which was further into this hellish and confusing place. There were long narrow winding corridors with many more doors that he did not dare to investigate.

And then the sound of ticking could be heard once again. Louder than before.

‘Where is that damn ticking sound coming from…’

Even the shadows in the corner of Charlie’s eyes seemed untrustworthy and unsafe.

As he continued down this never-ending maze, he paused in the corridor then and looked straight ahead. In front of him were a set of double doors.

Apprehension was beginning to seep into Charlie once again. The question now was whether Charlie was going to check out what lay beyond the set of double doors. But what choice did Charlie really have?

He was getting ready to step forward and reach out but did not, as the sound of approaching calculated footsteps came. And then the sound of someone clearly their throat

‘Well, well, well. Why am I not surprised that you would be the nosy and curious type to venture off from what you were actually called out of class to be doing?’

Charlie felt coldness. He was frozen in place.

‘Nothing to say at all?’

Slowly, as calm and composed as he could be in this situation, Charlie turned and faced the other person. Charlie spoke the next sentence with much steadiness as possible.

‘Hello… Mr Johnson…’

Mr Johnson was a tall and slender looking man with short deep brown kempt hair, his face was clean shaven, with piercing blue eyes and wore the typical teacher garb; white shirt, black tie, black trousers, black fancy shoes and a brown blazer.

‘Hello Charlie.’

Mr Johnson answered back in his usual smooth baritone voice with a slight smile playing on his closed lipped face, arms folded.

‘What are you doing down here? You understand you are not to come down this side of the building, yes? It is not safe.’

Charlie did not answer at first, his eyes narrowing slightly in suspicion. Then with increasing certainty he responded.

‘I could ask the same thing of you, Mr Johnson?’

Mr Johnson allowed a humorous laugh to slip before he decided to lean on the wall in a relaxing manner while staring straight at Charlie.

‘True enough. Though unlike you I am allowed to walk the premises as I see fit, since I am part of the staff and must make sure that no naughty student comes down here. Don’t you agree? How else would I nor anyone else know you were down here? Something bad could have happened indeed to you down here.’

Now there was a response that Charlie felt he could latch onto to.

‘Oh? Meaning what exactly?’

‘It’s as I said, Charlie, “something bad could have happened” and it’s just a good thing that it didn’t.’

‘And you also said “indeed” which is rather an odd thing to add unless you were certain of that thing actually happening.’

Again, another laugh came from Mr Johnson, this one filled with more humour than the last.

‘Clever catch there, Charlie.’

Charlie did not understand, why was Mr Johnson acting so nonchalant about this whole thing? If something bad was going on this side of the school, then he should be more concerned by such questions, right?

‘Mr Johnson, what is going on?’

Mr Johnson answered with no hesitance and just smiled. ‘Isn’t that the question of the day.’

‘Be more serious!’

A sigh escaped the older male.

‘Fine then, we’ll be “serious” then if you want that. What do you assume is going on then, Charlie, from what you have seen? Go on and take a wild guess?’

Charlie tensed slightly from the change of tone in Mr Johnson.

‘I… I don’t quite…’

Mr Johnson shook his head slowly.

‘Wrong. How about this for some help; try again much harder.’

Charlie swallowed audibly and thought back to what he has already seen so far while traversing this place, keeping his eyes firmly locked on Mr Johnson while he did so.

‘Well… I have seen some things…’

Mr Johnson raised an eyebrow.

‘Well? Go on. Don’t be shy now.’

Charlie was quiet for a few beats, collecting his rushing thoughts, and then answered.

‘While I wouldn’t like to entertain my paranoid brain more than I do, I will mention two things that has raised some questions: I saw a student inside a darkened room strapped to a chair in front of a screen of flashing images, and I also saw within another room a scalpel and a note.’

Mr Johnson said nothing.

‘Mr Johnson, please tell me this time straight; what is going on here?’

Mr Johnson remained quiet and seemed to be chewing over his response. Eventually, stretching out a hand toward Charlie, and wearing the friendliest and the most inviting smile that Mr Johnson could muster. He answered Charlie.

‘For that answer, Charlie, you’ll be more safer coming with me. There are eyes and ears everywhere around this place, so I cannot speak more of what you have seen.’

Everything inside of Charlie was telling him not to trust Mr Johnson here, not one little bit, especially with how shifty Mr Johnson has acted. He could not put his finger on it, not entirely, but there was something off about everything and Charlie felt that he might be better doing this alone.

‘And I have your word that you mean me no ill will at all?’

Mr Johnson raised an inquisitive brow then at the question asked but answered in a faint voice.

‘Yes. You have my word.’

As Charlie was about to reach out and take Mr Johnson’s offered hand, his other hand slowly began reaching into his pocket where he had housed that scalpel. Charlie then brought forth that scalpel and plunged it into the offered hand. A loud pained sound came from Mr Johnson as blood began to pool to the surface and glide downward, disappearing beneath a blazer sleeve.

Charlie took this moment to run past the injured man, but not before having to fend off the other uninjured hand that belonged to Mr Johnson that groped out toward him. Coming to a junction where there were three winding paths to choose from, Charlie chose the one to his left and sped up in his movements.

Charlie made sure to lighten his footfalls so Mr Johnson could not easily follow behind him.

‘Gotta keep going… Gotta…’ Charlie thought, repeating that repeatedly within his mind as he ran. Soon, to Charlie’s own surprise and thanking, he came upon a group of large steel lockers, and without thinking about it began trying to pry at them to open.

It was not until the fourth locker that Charlie was offered a semblance of a safe place to hide. Charlie climbed inside and quietly closed the locker over and peered out through the small, vented section into the hallway to watch what may happen.

The teen tensed when an approaching shadow appeared to grow and move on the wall ahead of the locker and following that came Mr Johnson straight into Charlie’s line of sight, and he had to supress a sound from slipping out there in being startled.

Mr Johnson looked about frantically and then looked downward, a pained groan leaving him as a few splash sounds hit the ground and then a loud crashing sound of metal.

‘Damn that kid…’

Mr Johnson spoke to himself, nursing his hurt hand with the other and then ventured on.

Charlie waited a few long silent minutes to tick by to be sure that Mr Johnson still was not around, then quietly climbed out of the locker, and breathed a much-needed sigh of relief.

‘That was too close.’

Charlie commented quietly and walked back the hallway he had come down when fleeing from Mr Johnson; knowing better than to go in the same direction that Mr Johnson had gone. As Charlie walked, he saw the occasional blood splatter speckling the wall and floor at times until he came upon that junction again. Choosing to go to his left, again Charlie hurried on and made sure to be extra careful and attentive to his surroundings.

If Mr Johnson was here and doing this, whatever it was, then who else was there? There was that lone girl and those people that Charlie had encountered when they entered that room he had taken to when hiding. And what of that note he had read, how did that connect to any of this?

Charlie ventured on. He made sure to pause every now and then, making cautious glances.

‘This place is like a maze…’

Charlie voiced aloud but made sure to be quiet about it. Coming to a corner in the hallway he squints his eyes, then rounded it.

Nothing was to be found or heard. Except for a flickering of a few lights overhead, and a prominent steel door with the words “ Staff Only ” upon it. Charlie did not hesitate before placing his hand on the handle, turning it, and then pulled. A few mournful cries from having little use came from the doors’ hinges, which made a home within Charlie’s mind. But what was revealed that lay behind the door both fascinated and deeply disturbed the teen.

‘Huh? But…’

Charlie stopped himself short, his eyes took in the stairs that were before him and appeared to be descending. To where? He did not know. He did not want to know. As he was about to step backward and close the door, the sound of approaching footfalls was what made his mind up for him.

And that was to venture on and down, down to where he knew naught, closing the door behind himself.

Was this even all real? Was this all legitimately happening here and now? And what was even happening here? He did not have a clue. Mr Johnson had said that he would have told Charlie that answer, everything, but he did not trust those words. Nor the man that spoke them. How could Charlie trust Mr Johnson when the man was acting so shady?

Charlie began the descent downward, the quietness of being in this stairwell playing on him, but soon he came to the bottom where there was a door with light shining some life at the bottom of it. Relief flooded the teen then as that would mean he could leave the quietness of this stairwell journey behind.

Placing his hands upon the door handle he gave a push. Nothing. Groaning, Charlie tried jiggling the door handle a few times, each time with new strength, and then surged forward. Quick and powerful.

Thump!

Charlie collided with something, then a pair of strong hands seized him at his shoulders. And then his eyes saw a man, someone who he has never seen around here and yet something seemed oddly familiar. The man’s face was taut, he had brown piercing eyes, unruly dark curls, and a beard.

‘So, you’re the brat that’s been skulking about!?’

Again, something seemed familiar and yet not.

Charlie’s eyes widened, as he began to struggle fiercely against the hold the other man had on him. When the hold was strengthening, Charlie turned his face to the left side, craning his neck down slightly and leaning forward Charlie then latched his mouth onto the other man. Right between where wrist and hand meet.

The hold on Charlie persisted, which may have strengthened due to that, so the teen in turn increased the pressure of his bite. When the hands jerked free of their hold on him, which also dislodged the man from between the teenager’s teeth Charlie took that moment to push the man backward into the wall, and then took off running. Panting and fearing for his life.

Charlie soon came upon what looked to be a piece of the wall curving slightly inward with two pillars on either side of it. He squeezed into it.

A minute ticked by. Nothing. Then five minutes. Still nothing. And just when he had been about to just make up his mind to come out of hiding, he paused and held his breath when a few pair of shadows passed him by.

‘Are you to tell me that you seriously let that brat over power you like that and get away? Pathetic man!’

An angered sounding gruff voice spoke.

‘I know… I’m sorry, Sir, for I know I have done something terrible indeed allowing that to have happened. Let me make this right.’

A low in tone voice spoke back to the first.

‘No! You have done quite enough already in letting this happen. You of all people know what is on the line if our secret is found out, for you and I have worked for a long gruelling 40 years together now doing this, and here I am considering trusting that Mr Johnson more than you right now to carry out what I need you to do. Are you still up to the task, old friend?’

The first voice asked the second.

‘Yes. Always! I… I just had a moment of weakness there is all, it will not happen again.’

The second replied.

‘Good. keep it that way then.’

The first spoke. And as a few footsteps began to be heard, they paused.

‘Oh, and I would advise you may want to go and wash that blood off around the bite.’

And then the footsteps could be heard again, but this time they grew in distance until they could not be heard anymore. Tentatively, Charlie reached a hand upward and placed his fingers against his mouth and when he drew his hand back, he saw a faint colouration of red marring against his skin. Drawing his brows together, Charlie grits his teeth and then sighed.

He had not even realised he had bitten down that hard. Then again, he had been in the hold of fear, flight, and haste when he did that.

Stepping out from where he hid, wiping his hand on his shirt without another thought and then used one of the sleeves to wipe his mouth, Charlie glanced around. Charlie had three options he could pick; the first being to continue onward in the direction of where that gruff sounding voice male went, the second was to go back the way he came to see if there is another way out and his third was that he could checkout a door which he just noticed was directly in front of his hiding spot.

The teenager decided to combine the second and third option together, starting with the door option.

Stepping inside and leaving the door ajar a little bit, Charlie gazed around. Nothing stood out really to him, for there was not anything that special – chairs, tables, folders, books, a fridge was in the corner and a coffee maker was next to that. Was this like some break room then? Walking closer toward the table in the centre of the room, that had chairs positioned around in a circular fashion, Charlie saw a written note atop the table’s surface. Curiosity bubbled to the surface anew, the teen bent to retrieve it and then began reading.

“Thursday, 27 August 2020

I feel it. Much like I had back in ’85. We are close. Almost close now to discovering how to make these bratty children finally know how to behave as they should. Yes, I will admit, honestly, what we did to those children before was regrettable. We should not have… What happened to Mary that day was horrible. But a necessary horrible act. This was done with a purpose for making children finally prove the worth that they should be. Too long have children been unruly as it is. And it is only getting increasingly worse with each passing year as new ones come, and old ones leave. Just maybe, with the work that we do here then we will be able to make children grow into adulthood with actual manners, a mind for work and behaviour. One can only hope. Call me – us – monsters all you want when we are done here. For we are something more. And done more. Just got to keep going and keep testing. If that Mr Johnson, or whatever his real name is, does not come poking around here again with those probing dangerous questions that he had done in the open not that long ago, all will be fine. I will just need to keep an eye on him is all.

Signed Director of Education Edward Moore.”

When Charlie had finished reading that note, a sense of dread washed over the teen’s mind then in a flash. Just what had been happening that this note had been referencing? And who is this “Mary” that was also mentioned in this note? Charlie recalls someone by that name being referenced in the previous note as well.

Dropping the note back down on the table, Charlie then exited the room.

‘Oh god… Why do I get the feeling that these people did something horrible like commit murder?’

Charlie asked himself quietly, glancing around and seeing no one. Having walked back the way he come down; he soon came upon another steel door like the one he saw before coming down here.

Surely this door could not do the same and lead downward some more?

Not that he had much time to ponder that thought as a loud angered voice spoke out from behind him. Whipping around quickly, Charlie saw the man who he had ran first into when coming down here.

‘There you are you little slippery worm! Thought you could slip by huh? No chance.’

Charlie did not think in this moment as he instead turned and pulled at the door behind himself and rushed on inside, not fearing the dark that greeted him as he did so. Charlie just ran down step after step.

Reaching up with a curious hand, Charlie was surprised to feel wetness there and feel a slight stinging. As he began to wipe furiously at his eyes, in hopes to relieve the stinging sensation but instead amplifying it, Charlie yelped in surprise and felt his momentum plummet forward.

There was nothing to grasp for, not that he could see clearly for, and his hands went forward to brace for anything. He was falling. Fast. Clenching his eyes tightly shut and preparing for a most painful landing, nothing came. Slowly he opened his eyes, for he thought that the pain was that much great his mind was too dismayed at what to make of it, he noticed he was not laying upon the ground in pain but safely in arms of someone who broke his fall.

When Charlie made to make a noise, a hand flew to his mouth hastily and tightly pressed against his lips and blocked the pained yelp that came from him.

‘Do not speak. For you shall draw his attention.’

It was Mr Johnson. But where had he come from exactly? How had he been able to break Charlie’s fall before certain doom is what Charlie should be more concerned with. No… For another thought was now plaguing Charlie’s mind, and that was why Mr Johnson was even helping him here. Didn’t Mr Johnson mean to do him harm?

Charlie closed his eyes and fought the renewal of shooting pain through him. It seems Charlie had twisted his ankle when running down those steps from that person by misjudging his footing.

A few minutes had ticked by when a thunderous roar of steps passed them along with the sound of haggard breathing. And then, as quickly as it had come, it had gone. Leaving the pair in quietness and darkness.

Slowly the hand atop Charlie’s mouth lifted and allowed Charlie freedom to speak again if he wanted to. Which he did.

‘Why did you help me?’

Mr Johnson quirked an unseen eyebrow.

‘Nice to know that is how you thank those who save you from certain pain.’

Mr Johnson nor Charlie spoke, until the older man’s voice sounded again.

‘You’re welcome by the way.’

Charlie huffed and pouted, wanting to argue back on this point but decided against it. Mr Johnson had helped him instead of the opposite.

‘Thanks…’

Charlie lamely answered in a quiet tone.

‘Like I said, “Your welcome” so don’t worry about it.’

Footsteps could be heard when Charlie realised it was just Mr Johnson walking.

‘What were you thinking? You big idiot… Do you have any idea what danger you’re in right now?’

Charlie did not answer, choosing instead to sulk and hold back from making the pained noises which wanted to come forth that was caused by his ankle.

‘Are you even listening to me?’

Mr Johnson asked with an edge, like one would when scolding their child.

‘Yes!’

Charlie stated loud, angered, and frustrated, then hung his head low and sighed. Then the teen tried again.

‘Yes… I am listening. I’m… I don’t know… Tired I guess.’

Mr Johnson made no comment just walked. After a few minutes of nothing Charlie spoke again.

‘Where are we heading?’

Mr Johnson used one of his shoes to slide under the door handle and then pulled backward, repeated the motion until the door opened fully, then illuminating light flooded Charlie’s sight. It was so bright that the teen had to use his arm as a shield for his poor eyes against the invading light. Then Mr Johnson answered Charlie’s question.

‘There is a medical room just up ahead from here, I thought we ought to take care of that ankle for you a little. Unless you prefer to walk about with a painful limp causing you to waste time.’

Charlie nodded his head, but there was a curious gleam in his eye.

‘How did you know my ankle was in pain?’

Charlie watched as a harmless and knowing smile made itself at home on Mr Johnson.

‘You needn’t have had to, I’ve plenty of experience to know when one suffers something like that.’

Charlie quirked an intrigued eyebrow.

‘Oh?’

Mr Johnson just laughed, a quiet sounding thing, but loud enough to just be heard.

‘I have had my fair share of dealings with medical matters. As well as many other things. But that is a conversation for another time. Come, let us see to that ankle of yours before we are discovered and something bad happens.’

Mr Johnson started down the hallway, keeping a firm hold on Charlie.

‘And why should it worry if anyone catches you? Don’t they think you are working with them? If that is the case, then you lie and say something like “I caught the naughty pesky child and am dealing with him now, no need to worry.” Or something like that...’

Again, laughter left Mr Johnson.

‘You say the strangest of things, Charlie; I wonder if your ankle pain has any play in that.’

Charlie scowled and crossed his arms.

‘Don’t change the subject.’

The conversation died as Mr Johnson came around a right bend and headed straight for the second door on the left side of the wall then entered the room. The medical office room was clean and clinical looking; that for sure was true. Other than that, there was not much that could be said. As Charlie looked around, Mr Johnson had taken the liberty of placing the teen down on one of the chairs in the room and simply strode off toward the cabinets at the wall area.

‘What happens if someone hears us?’

Charlie suddenly asked, keeping his sore ankle suspended in the air not wanting to risk causing it further pain and slouched back in the chair.

‘That won’t be an issue at all. So don’t worry about such a thing.’

Mr Johnson nonchalantly called from where the cabinets were, as he rummaged around inside one and then another for something.

‘Not an issue?’

Charlie watched Mr Johnson turn toward him with grace, and held in his hands pills, bandaging and tape. The teen watched as Mr Johnson came and seated himself by Charlie on the floor to be at a better height level with the injured ankle and placed the stuff down before extending a hand toward the ankle, as a show of asking a silent question. Which Charlie, having thought over, soon nodded.

‘Go ahead then… Just, be careful.’

Mr Johnson gave a curt nod making sure to be light in his touch and careful not to cause further damage. The older male got to work on a temporary fix for Charlie to walk without too much of a problem, not a great fix but it was something, so there was that. The pills Charlie had been given by Mr Johnson proved to help. Charlie noticed the bandaging around Mr Johnson’s hand, which, at first, had Charlie questioning what had happened until a sudden memory came to him; the scalpel incident from earlier. Charlie felt bad having done that but shook it off quickly as he was not wanting to dwell on such a thought as that.

Not the now considering what is going on.

That explains where Mr Johnson had gone and how he had gotten down here.

‘Okay, I think I am owed some answers.’

Mr Johnson cocked his head.

‘Do you now? How interesting of you to assume such a thing.’

The teen sighed and Mr Johnson merely snickered.

‘I am only joking, no need to be acting like such a child now. I will say what I am able to, but even I do not know all the answers. Not yet anyway…’

Charlie waited for what had to be said.

‘Right. Well, I’m sure you have noticed that the children and staff at this school do not exactly act normal, Charlie, right? They don’t because an organisation has stripped away their autonomy.’

Charlie sat up straighter in his chair.

‘They had their autonomy taken. Why? What for?’

Mr Johnson shrugged.

‘I’m not sure. Not fully. I have been, I suppose as you would say, acting as a spy here. I have been so for the last two years. Though one thing I have noticed while here is that paranoia runs rampant in the ones at the higher chain of command, they do not like questions being asked at all and they are untrusting to those that are new. Two of those things which I mentioned would apply to myself.’

Charlie gave a nod.

‘Yep, I saw a note from someone called an “Edward Moore” mentioning something about that about you.’

Mr Johnson nodded in understanding, and Charlie noted how unaffected the older male appeared to be about that news. Which was strange for a spy to be.

‘He’s the Director of Education from what I have managed to dig up on this fellow.’

Mr Johnson casually stated.

‘Is that so? Hmm… Who else is involved then?’

Mr Johnson closed his eyes and answered.

‘Your principal as well from what I understand. They have an accord, from what I have heard. Through the Principal is how the other teachers of this place are controlled, as they are just as ignorant and kept in the dark about what is happening as the children are, which makes getting help from anyone a difficulty. Especially when you don’t know who is really involved in things and who isn’t.’

Charlie was silent for a few minutes, before speaking up again.

‘How do we proceed now?’

Mr Johnson shook his head.

‘We? No… Your job is done. It would be better getting you out of here to safety, wouldn’t you agree?’

Charlie shook his head in reply, trying to stand and feel how his ankle would hold him. It was painful, but it was dulled and something more manageable to maneuverer about in.

‘No! I want to help, and help is what I will do! I want my friend Kes back, this is a personal manner… Besides, I can walk again without trouble and would not be that much of a bother like I would have been previously if you had not done what you did, so thank you.’

Mr Johnson became silent listening to what Charlie said, before a smile graced his face and he placed his hands in a comforting manner on Charlie’s shoulders.

‘I know when I’m beaten and don’t have a hope of changing how things are going to go. So, I guess all that is left is… Well said, lad! Well said. Now come, onward and downward we must go and put a stop to this horrible business.’

Mr Johnson and Charlie wandered on with care. It was not an easy task for Charlie to wade himself on like they were doing due to his temporary ankle fix, but every now and then Mr Johnson would offer time to rest.

They eventually stumbled upon another door and when opened led further down with stairs. Dull flickering lights were their guides down this stairwell. Which Charlie was grateful for, as that would save him from getting hurt again like last time.

‘Hopefully, there aren’t many more of these.’

Charlie muttered heading inside then began the descent downward. Mr Johnson had not missed what the teen had muttered there, a smile came to his lips, and he followed behind Charlie.

‘You and me both, son. You and me both.’

The venture down was easy, it was just quiet. Too quiet. It should not have been a dreadful thing, but it was. It was something about this eerie silence that just seemed off to the teenager. Something heavy in the air. Why did he have to begin getting a bad feeling stir within his gut area now?

‘So, you got any words of wisdom for me back there at all, Mr Johnson?’

Charlie asked, it had been some time since either spoke or heard anything other than their own shoes, and they had been walking down these steps with nothing but silence as their companion.

‘No. None.’

Was all Mr Johnson answered.

Mr Johnson seemed to catch onto the turbulent feelings that Charlie was facing, for he stepped forth and placed a comforting hand on Charlie’s shoulder and rested it there. Mr Johnson allowed for his hand to give a small squeeze of further encouragement then.

Charlie took comfort from that.

‘Have courage and faith and do not allow for any fear to cloud your mind at all, Charlie, for I will not let anything happen to you. I promise. I give my word.’

Charlie pressed forward and headed the last few steps that were needing to be taken, before coming to a door. Charlie pushed the door open and then stepped inside. Except something was off, this place seemed to be filled in dull flickering lights, making it a bit of a strain to see anything. What Charlie could make out were blurred silhouette shaped things, though it was not truly clear what those were. Or if they were even there at all and it was not just Charlie’s mind playing tricks on him.

When Mr Johnson entered, he noticed a switch to the side of the door, curiously, the older male reached out and flicked it.

‘Oh my god…’

Charlie breathed out and backed away, bumping against Mr Johnson which had the older male tense and flinch, then turned as well to see what had Charlie in this manner. Then Charlie found his eyes covered by the hands of none other than Mr Johnson in a shielding and protecting manner.

‘Jesus.’

Mr Johnson spoke.

What lay in that room were rows of chairs with a few teenagers, not much older nor much younger than Charlie’s age, strapped in them with restraints around their wrists and ankles to keep them in place, their eyes were held wide open as blinking for them seemed but a chore, blinders blocked out the views from either side of them, a projector was placed directly in front of them all with flashing images of which wasn’t clear, headphones were placed upon the teenagers as well which was likely to block out any sound that might disturb them.

Mr Johnson, keeping his hands over Charlie’s eyes, began to move forward. Charlie allowed himself to be guided. They walk for about roughly ten minutes in silence, and when they are clear of that room, only then does Charlie get his sight returned to him.

‘What the hell was that? Why were they…’

Charlie spoke after a few tense and heavy moments.

‘I am not sure what I was expecting really when I was finally going to get down to the bottom of this, but certainly not that anyway.’

Charlie considered Mr Johnson’s words and then locked eyes with the older male.

‘So, any idea as to what was going on back there?’

Mr Johnson gave a half nod to what was asked.

‘I, that is to say think, know what that may have been back there. I think that place is what is used for stripping away the autonomy from those they want to make complacent. If you remember what I had said earlier about that whole thing?’

Charlie did remember and shivered.

Charlie and Mr Johnson began pressing forward. The part was much different from what has been previously seen, it was more tense, dull, and less quiet. Small sparks from time to time would come off equipment, indicating the age of this place.

Stepping a few steps further in and hanging a left, then right, followed by two rights, they both arrived at a set of double slightly rusted over steel doors from much wear and tear.

With steeled emotions, Charlie placed one hand on one of the doors and Mr Johnson repeated the action but with the other. On the count of three, both pushed the doors inward and rushed inside, only to stop short and be greeted with guns pointed their way upon entry. Mr Johnson and Charlie placed their hands up in surrender to show they were unarmed.

Beyond where armed guards with guns, and at the far end of the room was a male with his back to them who seemed to be watching a big projection screen ahead of himself.

‘Had I actually known that you were against us from the beginning, Mr Johnson, I would have had you put down on the spot in an instant to stop you from doing anything like you have. But then again, dropping the act now old chum, Mr Johnson isn’t even your real name at all is it. Aren’t I right about that one, Adam?’

That voice was that gruff sounding one from before. But that could not be right, for that person is all the way back up a few levels from down here. The mysterious gruff sounding male turned to face them and had his arms folded.

‘Well?’

The gruff voice asked again, more impatient though this time. Mr Johnson just sighed.

‘Yeah, that’s me for sure. And you must be this “Mr Edward Moore” I have had the pleasure of hearing and reading so much about, Director of Education to this fine and fair high school and partnered up with the Principal Sam Gully to carry out this whole brainwashing circus cult crap. How am I doing by the way? Feel free to stop me at any point you think so, okay.’

Charlie looked between Mr Johnson and Edward Moore, a look of confusion clearly visible. Then a laugh rang aloud through the room.

‘Oh Adam, you never cease to stop amusing me you know that? Even when you are being a cheeky know-it-all. But yes, you are right. And why shouldn’t the all-great Adam Doonecast be so great at his secret agent job? Heh… And what is this? Bringing someone into the family business I see?’

Edward enquired, a hint of playfulness heard, as a curious and questioning glance was thrown Charlie’s way, to which Mr Johnson took a slight step forward and hid the teen behind him slightly.

‘None of your damn business is “what’s this”, you hear me? He has nothing to do with any of this, Edward, he just happened to get himself mistakenly tied up in this affair, which, need I remind you, is strictly between me and you.’

Edward just released a small chuckle then.

‘All right, Adam. Well? Here I am and here you are what happens now then?’

Charlie noticed the pause Mr Johnson gave to that question, wondering why that was considering it seemed obvious what course of action Mr Johnson was originally and should be planning to take.

‘Why?’

Was all Mr Johnson asked in a quiet sounding voice.

‘”Why”? Why what?’

Edward asked then, playing innocent about what had been asked.

‘You know damn well what I meant when asking that! I want to know why you did what you have, properly and fully. Please…’

There was a pleading tone heard in Mr Johnson. However, that was not all there was to it for it was edged in anger and sadness. Something told Charlie that – whatever this is that has been going on between Mr Johnson and this Edward Moore – this has been happening too long and was fuelled by personal matters.

‘I suppose you have been waiting a long time to figure that one out, I can only imagine how that must be taking its toll on you. How long has it been? Twenty-near-enough years? Too long… But I digress; for I will let you know the answer, and then when I’m done telling that story for you, a bullet is getting popped in that head of yours.

So here it goes; me and my good friend Samuel Gully the current principal of this high school – you already had run into him, kid, he received a biting wound from you, if I’m not mistaken – decided that we would make disobedient children more compliant, behaved as they should and ready to become the working adults of the future that we know they should and ought to be. So, we began looking at things such as counselling theories to tackle this and reached out to doctors alike from around the place for help in how to approach this.

That happened in 1965.

Following on from that moment, we practically set out to put what we had gathered to work. Though it was unsuccessful, as most kids that we saw to help made us realised did not actual do anything of help. So, we scrapped that plan in going through counselling, but not completely; see we still needed that counselling part for what we do now, or else we could not get in the minds of those we talked to and such, so we tweaked it and added some desired modifications.

We took to learning about brainwashing and cult mentalities. And how that could aid us in our goal in what we had set out to do. It proved great, in theory. We needed to test the modifications that we had brought to our plan.

That work began in 1985.

We started small at first; used animals to test the brainwashing capabilities and the compliance that we sought for. It worked as we expected, though there is only so much data that you can draw on from using animals as test subjects and how humans would take to it. Would it be the same? Would there be more compliance? Would nothing happen at all? We still had no idea how a human, how the complex working of the human brain that is, would take to these new modifications that were made. We spent twelve years sticking with animal testing and adding or taking away what was needed to our work, and when the day finally came that we started human trials – 28 th August 1997 – me and Samuel were glad for that.

Though, they didn’t go as we had planned for them anyway.

You have to understand, we didn’t plan on having people actually suffering due to this – loss of memory, speech impairment, motor skills being affected, unable to perform actual tasks correctly even when asked, some had even, unfortunately, fallen victim to death due to the brain being that completely broken due to the methods tried that when it came to performing tasks that the subject should have been doing decided to neglect those in which they should have been looking after themselves as they should without being told to do so in a normal manner – these were some of the unnecessary problems that we had run into before we perfected the method that we use today.

And might I say what a fast and effective method we sure produced.’

Charlie made a sound, which had all eyes going to him then.

‘That’s absolutely horrible.’

Edward regarded what Charlie said there.

‘And yet here we are, kid.’

Mr Johnson took a deliberate step forward then, catching everyone’s eyes once again.

‘That we are. That we are, Edward. And I’m going to make you pay for your sick and twisted methods.’

Edward allowed for laughter to be heard then.

‘And what, pray tell, are you going to do; last time I checked it’s you and this kid standing off against me and bodyguards with guns trained on your very next moves and ready to fire whenever. Your move, mate.’

Mr Johnson made no move at all here, except turned his head to the side a little and locked eyes with one of the bodyguards.

‘Elliot.’

The bodyguard who had been called out by Mr Johnson simply looked back at the male not doing anything. All eyes went to that bodyguard. Then a semblance of a nod was seen by this person, as Charlie watched Elliot pivot to the side and, with the gun still ready in hand, fired. Bang! Crash! One of the bodyguards went down, then another shot rang loud and clear in the air, as another body fell then.

Edward had not stuck around when Mr Johnson called that name. The remaining bodyguard who still stood and was defending Edward ducked behind a steel desk, a few shots being fired off from him. Mr Johnson had spun around and pushing Charlie backward and then pulled the teen downward to hide behind a desk of their own, and Elliot simply took cover behind a stone pillar and reloaded his gun.

‘Are you okay, Charlie?’

Mr Johnson asked.

‘I… I think so. At least! I don’t feel any pain if that is what you mean…’

Mr Johnson nodded quickly, got into a comfortable crouch position, and then peered around the corner of where he had taken shelter and looked at Elliot.

‘And you mate? How are you fairing over there!?’

Elliot, having finished reloading his gun and giving the trigger a pull, glanced at Mr Johnson and his gaze hardened.

‘Could have planned this better if you must know, but I am fine enough, I suppose.’

Mr Johnson nodded before extending a hand Elliot’s way. Charlie peered around the corner and watched Elliot already seeming to know Mr Johnson’s unasked question and threw a small gun across the battlefield room. Mr Johnson, focused and fully engaged in what was happening, grabbed the gun that came his way and now returned a few shots of his own alongside Elliot’s own.

‘Just like old times, huh, Adam.’

Elliot called out in playful banter.

‘Aye, that it is my friend!’

Mr Johnson replied with just as much banter in him.

Charlie could not help himself but watch as Mr Johnson and Elliot fired shot after shot toward the lone bodyguard, which was returned. Mr Johnson had managed to land a shot right into the bodyguard’s shoulder and Charlie listened as pained cries made it to his ears, followed by the sound of something, or someone, falling to the ground.

Neither Mr Johnson nor Elliot wasted time in advancing forward, Charlie watched as Mr Johnson pressed on leaving Elliot to fully finish the bodyguard off. The teen made a move to follow Mr Johnson, as he weaved in and out of cover making sure to avoid Elliot’s watchful eyes in case he was spotted and then stopped.

Two bullets rang out in the air just ahead of where the teen was advancing. Charlie saw, when he had successfully followed without being caught by Elliot, was Mr Johnson standing over Edward Moore with one foot firmly planted on the downed male’s chest. Where Edward lay Charlie noticed the formation of blood beginning to pool at one knee and then a shoulder area.

‘Any last words before I end your miserable life, you wretch?’

Edward just sneered up at Mr Johnson, as a gun was trained on his head from above. Charlie was unsure of what to even say or do in this moment, however this did not seem like Mr Johnson. Did not even look like the older man that he thought he knew. There was this crazed and lost look in Mr Johnson’s eyes.

‘Would you prefer I beg for my life? Admit I was wrong and try repenting for what I have done? Is that it? Heh… Go to hell, Adam. Like I am going to give you the satisfaction of, what was it again, “last words”? Pfft, yeah right!’

Mr Johnson’s expression tightened, then drew the gun closer toward its victim’s head.

‘Don’t give me more satisfaction than I need to have when it comes to pulling this trigger.’

Charlie ventured toward Mr Johnson and placed his hands on the older male’s drawn arm that the gun was in. This caught Mr Johnson off guard and so the older male just stared at Charlie with a strange mixed expression. Charlie did not know if his conscience was speaking here for why he did that. It was maybe the way Mr Johnson was speaking and acting, but the lost, crazed, and pained look in those eyes that Charlie saw in Mr Johnson spoke volumes to him.

‘Wait! Don’t do this, you aren’t a murderer.’

Mr Johnson narrowed his eyes the slightest bit.

‘Oh? You sure about that?’

The teen swallowed nervously.

‘Yes. I am. You aren’t a murderer; a broken man, perhaps, who has lost a lot and seen and experienced much pain and lost himself during this, but not a murderer.’

Mr Johnson’s eyes remained narrowed as he takes in what Charlie had just said. And then, as if shook out of some reverie nightmare, Mr Johnson lowers the gun and takes his foot off Edward. Edward remains unmoving and watching.

‘No. your right. Not a murderer.’

Mr Johnson replies, just as Elliot comes around the corner and looks at Charlie and Mr Johnson.

‘All threats have been taken care of. The controls for that abomination is just over there.’

Elliot pointed to the side of him, as Mr Johnson excuses himself by Charlie and begins to head toward them. Charlie watches Elliot cast Edward a cold look, then laughs bitterly and looks away.

‘Guess even the lowest of lowest scum gets a chance at living.’

A few moments tick by where nothing happens. Mr Johnson had just finished in getting the brainwashing machine down when he turned to give Charlie and Elliot an order, when a throwing knife found purchase in Mr Johnson’s side. Blood was already beginning to form, as Mr Johnson stumbles backward against the console. Elliot turns in the direction of where that knife had come from, which just so happens to be where Edward is located who tauntingly smirks from where he is on the ground, and in that moment, Elliot unloads a bullet or two.

‘Mr Johnson!’

Charlie yelled out, rushing toward the injured male and places his hands on Mr Johnson’s shoulders. A hiss of pain emits from Mr Johnson as Elliot comes running over now as well.

‘Adam! Oh no… This isn’t good. We gotta get out of here right now if we want to–‘

Mr Johnson shakes his head and cuts Elliot off, surging forward the slightest with what little strength he still has and places a hand on Elliot’s arm. The hold strong.

‘No! We have orders and a mission to complete first, and that continues to remain the primary directive; we knew the risks when we had signed up for this.’

Elliot, about to argue back Charlie notices, instead nods stiffly with a forced and controlled expression and heads out of the room with purpose.

‘Where is he going?’

Charlie asks in a panic, when Mr Johnson turns his attention toward the teen now and weakly smiles.

‘Following orders and completing the mission; like I said.’

Charlie was not sure what to say in this moment nor what to do, and who could blame him? He was only a teenager. Mr Johnson continues.

‘I want you to go with Elliot and the rest of the kids when he comes back, do you understand me?’

Charlie shook his head feeling his eyes stinging.

‘No! We can’t just leave you here! Not alone like this! There has got to be another way…’

Mr Johnson sighed.

‘Don’t be stubborn and just do as I say, there is no other way. I still have some loose ends to tie up here. Someone has to…’

The stinging begins to become more bothersome now.

‘All have been freed and are waiting by the elevator that I showed them to.’

Elliot spoke quickly, having just come back. Mr Johnson smiles.

‘Good. That is good. And how do they all appear?’

Elliot paused and then continued.

‘They seem fine, if they aren’t I can’t see anything there to suggest it; I’m guessing we managed to get to this group before anything was allowed to happen.’

Mr Johnson nodded.

‘That’s what I liked to hear. And now, Elliot, you know the rest of what we spoke about. What you must do now.’

Elliot wore a grim expression but nodded nonetheless and sighed.

‘Aye, sir; I remember explicitly what we talked about.’

Charlie knew not what they were going on about as Elliot had placed a light hand upon his shoulder, and then the teen felt his vision wavering now.

‘No…’

Charlie began to say in a weak voice, only for Mr Johnson to place a warm hand upon Charlie’s head and gave his hair a slight ruffle. Tears began spilling then.

‘Listen, you have to; I couldn’t live with myself if you never made it out of here. Could not live if I knew Liz had lost her only son… Our only son…’

That caught Charlie’s attention then.

‘What…?’

He asked in a much more weaker and broken sounding tone, as more tears began spilling forth.

‘Gods above… You really took after her so much, in both looks and personality; I’m glad for that.’

A smile came to Mr Johnson then.

‘Dad…’

Was all Charlie managed before feeling arms secure themselves around him and hoist him backward and away, as the teen just stared in a helpless manner at Mr Johnson who now had a hand plastered tightly to the side where the knife was, and the other gripping the console to help him stand. That was all Charlie had saw before Elliot led him down the hallway to where the other teenagers where and the elevator, the grip that was on Charlie was strong and unwavering.

As they neared the elevator, the older male began getting the rest of the teenagers to pile into the elevator. And that’s when Charlie’s mind finally caught up with all that was happening, as he began struggling.

‘Charlie listen…!’

Charlie just shook his head and tried struggling harder.

‘We can’t just leave him!’

Elliot growled low in his throat and grimaced, pulling Charlie closer and struggled toward the elevator with him.

‘I don’t like it either okay! Do you think I want to leave him behind as well!? No! I don’t, of course I don’t want to. But we can’t all just die down here for nothing. And besides…’

Elliot had successfully managed to get the struggling and stubborn teen into the elevator with him, as he instructed one of the other teenagers to hit the button he nodded his head toward and the doors slowly glided toward each other and closed. Then the elevator ascended.

‘I made him a promise should anything happen…’

Charlie slowly began to lose the will to struggle any further and sagged against the hold Elliot had on him and distantly listened to what was being said, as sobs wracked through him. Elliot drew the distraught and broken teen into his arms more and sighed. Tears were also on the edge of Elliot’s vision now.

‘I know… I know…’

That was all Charlie recalled before his vision began to darken and a headache took him, the crying and mental fatigue of all that had transpired taking its toll now.

Darkness welcomed Charlie then.

A month had passed quickly enough by for Charlie, as the teen had been taking things easy. His ankle was mostly all healed up now. And Elliot, donning secrecy about them, kept watch over Charlie closely and even engaged in open conversation with the teenager; happy enough to talk about Mr Johnson – or Adam as Charlie has begun to accept – when Charlie asked questions. Even Charlie’s mum was a bit more open about things and increased in her protectiveness of him, which, admittedly was nice at first, caused Charlie embarrassment.

Not that he was going to openly say that anytime soon.

The staff and teenagers at Charlie’s high school were seen to with help that was provided by the agency that Elliot worked for, as most had recovered by now but there were those few that needed much help still. As for Charlie’s best friend, Kes, he is so far recovering.

The Principal, Samuel Gully, had managed to flee from the high school in secrecy using one of the many secret passages when the standoff with Edward Moore happened and was currently on The Agency’s top priority to be found; that is what Elliot had told Charlie in a fleeting conversation once.

And that was all that Elliot was willing to discuss, as the rest was on a “need-to-know basis”.

The only thing that Charlie now wishes is he knew his father more than he does, more than what words and stories have to say and what little memories he has of the man currently.

Charlie was sitting facing the warm rays of the sun, it spreads a nice warmth through him, as he closes his eyes and feels his hair blow within the wind. Silence takes over then, his senses dulling, but Charlie jolts when feeling another sitting beside him. Opening his eyes, the teen slowly looks to the side, and time just seems to stop then.

He cannot believe who he sees.

It’s Mr Johnson– Adam. His father.

Charlie notices dark patches under Adam’s eyes and how pale his face looks, how unkempt the other’s hair is from how he had previously been, – it is now shaggy, stopping by his shoulders and blowing about freely within the air – the side where that knife had been has been addressed to as Charlie cannot see anything like dried blood which would indicate it still being a bother, and the hand which Charlie had stabbed with a scalpel seems to be mostly healed up as well with a small bandage there. The clothes that Charlie saw the other man wear was more informal, blue jeans, a white loose shirt, white sneakers and a black unzipped plain hoodie.

Slowly, as if just noticing where and who he is with, Adam looks toward Charlie. He does not say anything, not at first, just stares. An awkwardness begins to take hold.

‘Charlie listen I…’

Charlie does not allow for that sentence to continue, before throwing his arms around the other and embracing him. Tentatively, as if Charlie is made of glass, Adam returns.

‘Please don’t finish that! Please… I do not… I don’t want to hear an apology…’

Adam sighs softly and closes his eyes.

‘I’m glad you're alive, you have no idea.’

Charlie just smiles at that, glad that the feeling is mutual between them then. After a few minutes, Charlie and Adam pulled away and looked at each other. Charlie was the first to speak now, questions on his mind.

‘What happened?’

Adam looked toward the ground then, an unreadable expression seen on his face.

‘I blew that place to sky high is “what happened”, Charlie. I could not allow for such a place to be left as it was. Of course, I managed to download what was needed from the console of the records in that place and uploaded them for those I work for, who gratefully took the info provided. I then bugged out of there. Not without pain and much difficulty though, as it was excruciating; but I managed fine enough.’

Charlie nodded, but could not help but feel something was being left unsaid.

‘I didn’t catch him , Charlie. That damn principal. He managed to bug out at an earlier date and got away; allowed for the whole blame to fall on Edward, as he vanished into the shadows. The Agency are hard at work tracking him down, but nothing solid has come up yet.’

Charlie was speechless for a few moments, then responded in a quiet voice.

‘Does that mean you’ll be going away again?’

Adam turned his gaze toward Charlie, a small smile being seen. Slowly, Adam raised a hand and outstretched it in Charlie’s direction as he placed it on the teen’s shoulder.

‘No. No it does not, Charlie; I have been given pardon and leave from my job for a while to “gather strength” and “recuperate”, as they had put it.’

Charlie was glad and relaxed.

‘I’m happy then in that case.’

Adam’s smile slowly faded then, his hold on Charlie’s shoulder tightening the slightest then.

‘Charlie, I must thank you, my boy.’

Charlie, startled at this development, looked confused.

‘Thank me? But… I… What entirely are you thanking me for?’

Adam laughed.

‘You don’t know? Truly?’

Charlie shook his head.

‘I guess it wouldn’t have been that easy to see back then or remember now, as it did happen long ago, and we didn’t fully know one and other... You, Charlie, saved me.’

Charlie’s expression took on an intrigued one.

‘I… I did?’

Adam nodded promptly.

‘Aye. That you did indeed. You helped me see that I had spiralled way too much down the rabbit hole which I had started down on and went undercover for and helped me to see I was no murderer which helped me regain some semblance of myself again; allowed for me to get my honour back.’

Charlie was rendered speechless. He was happy if he was able to do that for his father. However, something came niggling into Charlie’s brain then, and he just had to ask and know.

‘If you do not mind me asking, just how did all this start? Really?’

Adam relaxed on the seat he was on and stared ahead of himself, toward the sun that was in front of them.

‘I suppose it is only fair that I let you in on what happened all those years ago…

When I met your mother, it had been in 1997, along with her sister; they both were eighteen years of age and were attending university together, but were kidnapped by that Edward and Samuel guy, and so when word of that came to my ears from The Agency, I just had to act and managed to get them out. They were questioned and placed into a witness protection of sorts for a week. But when that ended, I did not feel it right to leave them alone in case anything happened and so stayed with them for a few months.

I was called a fool for doing so and became too involved with them both than I should have, which I laughed at and denied, said I was only doing that as a protective measure in case anything did indeed happen. Heh… Me being the young adult I was – twenty-five if I remember – me and Liz had grown close. Nothing happened at first, but after a few years of getting to really know each other me and her decided to get, well, more physical in our relationship.

Heh, which I will spare you the details of.

By the time 2004 had come around we decided to move to the next stage in our physical relationship, and so tried for a child. I was planning to retire that year. However, Liz’s sister had managed to get kidnapped again by the same guys as before and when I set out to get her, when we had that information, well, let us just say this; there is only so much that a person can come back from and recover from when being broken.

I did not have the heart to return to Liz and say what happened, not without taking revenge for what had happened. And so that is what I set out to do. I, of course, had sent Liz a note in secret to say something about what I was doing and that I wanted her to change her name and where she stayed. I also had sent quite a lot of money her way to get started and help with raising you.

I had no idea how long I would be away doing what I was, but not long as I had been.

I always expected her to move on and marry someone, many times I thought this; someone more worthy for her.

I’m sorry I never tried to reach out to either of you two sooner. I would have, I really would have, I was just…’

Charlie nods, already knowing what was going to be said.

‘After so long of being away and such you were afraid; in case she or I hated you or said anything to you. I get it… I don’t like it, but I get it.’

Adam does not say anything, shame being seen on his face, but he nods anyway.

‘I don’t care.’

Adam looks at Charlie perplexed when hearing that.

‘What?’

Charlie’s expression is determined and set.

‘I don’t care what your reasons are, were, or anything. I… I just want to know my dad, okay? So… Can we possibly start over?’

Adam just laughs shakily.

‘You really are something, you know that? But yes, I want to do that as well. I have a son and a woman I once made a promise with that I want to know. I have much to catch up on. Too much.’

Charlie laughed.

‘Well, my birthday is coming up in a few days, how about starting there?’

Adam, smiling brightly and with tears building in his eyes that were threatening to slip free, nods his head.

‘Yes. I would like that very much.’

Notes - First off, thank you to all that read this.

This was something that I wrote for fun and nothing more.

And to experiment with writing.

Hope this was fun to read!

#story #self written story #action/adventure #thriller #own story #experimental writing #first person pov #first person pov in first part #second person pov #second person pov in second part

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