A sharpened pencil – while most would view it as a writing device, it could be as deadly as any knife on the market. With the right force behind it, the innocent tool could be a bringer of death. Lucas would know. Lucas had used it.

Despite the sharp object headed at him, the operative's eyes stayed on his approaching opponent's face. The eyes, unless mercilessly trained to hide all intention, they showed the direction of the attack. Unfortunately, for Brian, his eyes revealed a lot.

Two things happened as the distance was closed and graphite descended. First, a decision was reached, and second, Lucas let the football in his hands drop. Unlike his opponent, Lucas' eyes revealed not a hint of what was to come. Perhaps this was the reason his attacker couldn't redirect his intent.

Lucas moved smoothly. His feet shifted as the ball continued to fall. Though it happened lightning fast to anyone watching, for the boy it almost went by in slow motion. His hand brushed the palm holding the weapon to the side. At the same time, his other hand snaked around.

Use his force against him. The pictures flashed through his mind on how to take care of the situation. Twist his arm, make him impale himself. Use the surprise to cut his air supply off. Jerk the neck and deal with the second threat.

Lucas did none of it. As the ball bounced, the ECHO agent pulled his attacker into a giant bearhug. He felt the jolt of surprise ripple through the other boy's body as he froze, pencil still clutched in one hand.

"It's good to see you too," Lucas spoke as he tightened the hug.

A muffled grunt came from his roommate, who, upon recovering, tried to push himself free.

"You missed me, right?" Lucas patted the broad back before tightening his grip.

"Ooof," came out as Brian found the air squished from his lungs.

"Where is he?" a voice yelled as footsteps belonging to what sounded like an arm pounded down the hallway.

Brian tried to pull out of the hug, but Lucas held tight. His eyes darted to the bed where the occupant seemed to have decided to remain.

The pounding drew closer, as did the yells.

Behind Lucas, the door flew open.

"Lucaaaaaaas!" a voice yelled.

Witnesses had arrived, and thus Lucas released his grip. He turned from the neutralized threat. As his eyes landed on the scene, a grin spread across his face. In the doorway stood Peter, fellow football played and guilty of helping to turn an entire swim tea blue.

"Great your captain!" The boy from Angola spread his arms wide as he strode into the room.

He barely made it a step when the rest of the football team popped up behind him. They pushed the boy to the side, sending him stumbling as they flocked to Lucas.

"My man!"

The ECHO agent was lost in a sea of faces as high fives came from all around. Poor Brian found himself squished against the wall.

"You're back!" someone sang.

Another high five was exchanged.

"Dude, what took so long?"

Lucas' eyes darted from face to face as the questions popped unceasing all around.

Sam, another accomplice in pranking the swim team, Jordan, the team's goalie and Rick, his English accent as thick as ever. The three were right at the front of the crowd. Of Danny, the former captain, there was no sign.

Graduated, Lucas remembered.

There were some new faces too, freshmen most likely. Even though Lucas was sure he'd never met them, the boys joined their team, seeming to have great fun in the ensuing craziness.

"Move!" Pete pushed his way back through the crowd of rowdy boys.

"Where's our future player?" A voice boomed.

And then, hockey players poured into the already full room.

"Hey!" Brian yelled as he was squashed even more. His protests were ignored.

"My boy!"

High fives were followed by hugs as it seemed to turn into a competition to see who could smother the poor ECHO agent. Lucas let the crazy bunch do as they please, letting them fight amongst themselves rather than with him.

"Thieves!" Jordan yelled as he and a few football players tried to unsuccessfully push hockey players out the door.

A piercing whistle made the room lapse into silence.

Eyes turned to where Brian stood, danger radiating from him. He glared as best as one could when their face was squished against a wall.

"Unless you have official business here," he announced, "get out!"

Glances were exchanged.

Peter snapped his fingers. "Official business!" he announced. "Boys! It's dethroning time."

De what? Lucas couldn't help but wonder what craziness was about to follow.

"Bring him in!" the order was bellowed above cheers.

Hockey and football players were suddenly best buddies. Working together, they all but magically produced a large object. It was passed over heads until it came to Peter. The boy managed to clear a small space before Lucas. Clearing his throat, he turned the object to reveal a life size carboard cut out of none other than Lucas himself.

"Meet Lucas two-point O," Peter announced.

Applause sounded.

Lucas bit back the grin as he stared at the image. It was an image of him in his former team jersey. Someone had somehow snapped a picture somewhere, and while ECHO wouldn't take it too well that there were images around of him, what they didn't know wouldn't hurt.

"So..." Lucas cleared his throat. He eyed the traces of where a curly moustache had been drawn and a poor attempt to erase it left traces. "This is...my replacement?"

"Substitute," Jordan corrected as he stepped forward.

Lucas raised his eyebrows, noting the multiple muddied ball imprints that told tales of their own.

"Can't have an incomplete team," Peter informed. He snaked an arm around the cardboard, a lopsided grin on his face. "This guy is even in the team picture with our trophy," he announced proudly.

There were nods all around.

"He's featured in our team photo too!" a hockey player added only to be pushed out the door by football players.

"Ah." Lucas rubbed the nape of his neck. "I feel...honored?"

"Bunch of idiots," Brian muttered from where he was still squished. The comment made a few guys casually push harder, shoving him against the wall. Though the boy could have fought his way out, he seemed to have decided to put up with the craziness until it passed.

"But now that the real deal is back," Peter took over again. "It's time to reinstate the original version!"

Cheers erupted, and fists pumped in the air.

"Original, original!" boys chanted as one.

"Let me do the honors!" Jordan jumped in excitement. Before anyone could stop him, he reached and pulled hard.

A rip sounded through the air and the room went deathly quiet. All eyes were glued to the goalie's hand where he now held the head of Lucas two point 0. He stared down at it, the surprise on his face giving away that hadn't been the intention. However, the boy rolled with it and raised the severed head triumphantly above his head.

"Yeah!" the cheers resumed as the fans went crazy.

The headless body was dropped, as was the head, and the bouncing teams stomped it beneath their feet. The attention returned to welcoming Lucas.

"Welcome back!" Peter threw an arm around his shoulder, a big grin on his face.

"Jeeze," Lucas eyed his cutout that was getting trampled. "I feel so loved." He turned to shoot Peter a thumb up. "By the way, congrats, Captain."

Peter gave him a two-finger salute.

A moment later and he was shoved out of the way.

"Yo!" A hand clamped on Lucas' shoulder.

Banster. The ECHO agent recognized the boy instantly. The captain of the hockey team was now in his senior year, on course to graduate together with Lucas.

"Yo." A hand clamped on the other side.

Holt. The hockey player who was always right behind his captain.

"I heard something interesting," Banster spoke. He ignored the scuffle that broke out as the two teams broke into a fight trying to push each other from the room.

Several ended up squished on the bottom bunk where wrestled to claim a comfortable spot. One tried to climb to the stop bunk, but a leg rose from the current mysterious occupant and he was rudely shoved off. No one tried again.

"I heard you quit the team," Banster continued as he casually leaned on Lucas' shoulder, not budging when a football player tried to tug him off.

Peter, who had jostled his way back to the crowd to stand by Lucas, scowled.

"So, are you finally going to play a real sport?" Holt questioned. "We still have a spot saved specially for you." He winked.

"Wait..." one of the football players spoke. "You're not on the team?" He looked mortified.

Football players froze in mid battle and silence reigned for but a brief second.

"Retrieve Lucas two-point O!" someone screeched.

The silence snapped.

Boys parted left and right as several scrambled to pick up the fallen cutout.

A moment of silence was held as they stared at its headless body.

"Got it!" a hand popped up, clutching the severed head.

Cheers rose. The hockey players joined in.

"We need tape!" someone called.

"Tape!" the agreement was yelled.

"Make it snappy boys," Holt demanded as he pushed his way through the crowd and to the door. "We have a life to save!"

"Does someone have taaaaaaaaaape?" he yelled as he left the crowded room and began to run down the hallway much like a headless chicken. A few followed, joining in his desperate search.

"Why?" Lucas poised the question. "I thought since the original was back you didn't need that anymore."

The boy holding the head let out an offended gasp as another rushed to cover the cardboard ears.

"You'll hurt him," he hissed.

Lucas wanted to facepalm.

"If you aren't on the team, the place stays with Lucas two-point 0," Peter spoke as though it made sense. He turned to the overcrowded room. "Anyone against this motion."

Silence, broken only by a snicker.

"For?" Peter raised his hand as he asked.

Everyone else threw their own up, some even two.

"Get out of my room!" Brian had somehow freed himself of his position.

"For?" Peter simply asked again.

All hands dropped.

"Who votes to stay?"

They all shot up again.

"That wasn't up for vote," Brian protested. In response, he was simply squished against the wall once more.

"Taaaape!" the yells continued in the hallway.

"What's going on?" a voice demanded.

Boys parted as Nathan pushed his way through. The twinkle in his eyes was replaced by a hard glint.

Banster raised a hand in greeting.

"Why are members from dorm one and two in here?" Nathan questioned. His eyes darted to where the carboard cutout was propped up, still headless as the hunt for tape ensued. "And who decapitated Lucas two-point O?"

Fingers immediately pointed to the culprit who began to back to the door.

Nathan let out a dramatic sigh. "It pains me to see so many of my fellow teammates and..." he paused, eyeing Banster, "friends, breaking so many rules in one go."

"What ru–" a boy began.

He was cut off by Nathan's finger pointing in the air. "One." He nodded to the overcrowded room. "Having way over the capacity in a room. Two." He lifted the second finger, nodding to where Brian was still squished. "Bullying an innocent child."

Brian looked like he had simply given up trying to deal with the whole situation.

"Three." Nathan's third finger popped up, "way above the acceptable noise level."

"Taaaaaape!" came the yell from the hallway.

One of the boys by the door promptly stuck his head out. "Dudes, the dorm head says you need to shut up!" he yelled in the loudest voice possible. He turned, giving Nathan the okay sign while looking quite proud of conveying the message.

Nathan simply shook his head. "Four," his tone dropped as the fourth finger popped up. "The most heinous crime of all." He paused.

All around, boys held their breath, waiting for what atrocity the judge had deemed they were guilty of. Nathan dropped all fingers so that only one remained. He used it to point to the headless cutout.

"You killed our closest friend," he whispered.

Gasps escaped from all around.

He looks like he's enjoying this way too much, Lucas thought. The playful glint that had entered Nathan's eyes didn't escape him.

The ECHO operative crossed his arms and leaned his weight on one leg as he watched, not bothering to try and understand the strange situation.

"However." Nathan jutted his chin out and placed a hand over his heart. "I am a merciful ruler."

"Sometimes," someone agreed.

A few snickers.

"Understanding," Nathan continued.

There were shrugs and many shaking of heads.

"I do not easily punish my subjects," Nathan continued in the new-found role he was performing.

"How gracious," Banster commented sarcastically.

"And so instead." Nathan reached a hand into his pocket. "I've brought a gift."

All eyes were on him.

Slowly he removed his hand, something clutched in his grip. "Life!" He held the tape triumphantly into the air.

His subjects went wild with joy. Not even fan girls at a concert could compete with the reaction.

Holding the tape high, Nathan laughed very much the laugh one would expect from a triumphant hero...or villain. It was hard to tell which. The laugh cut off and he tossed the tape to Peter who easily caught it.

"Get them out of here, captain," Nathan told him.

Nodding, peter raised the tape above his own head. "Let's revive Lucas two-point O!"

Just like children once followed the pied piper, football and hockey players filed out after the captain, eyes on the tape and cardboard cutout and head in their presence. It almost looked like a cult filing out after their much-admired leader.

"Don't forget the sports festival!" Nathan yelled after the retreating backs.

He got only a few replies of confirmation that his message was heard.

The room emptied in moments, leaving only four boys behind.

"I swear," Brian muttered as he stomped to his desk. "One day I'm going to completely lose my mind in this place."

A chuckle sounded from the top bunk.

Lucas shot a glance to it, surprised to hear sound from the occupant that had so far stayed silent and removed from the whole situation. However, other than the laugh, the boy didn't move.

"I leave you for five minutes and this happens." Nathan scolded Lucas. "How did you get so popular?"

Lucas grinned. "Sports festival?" he questioned instead of answering. There was nothing in the reports.

"Yeah. School festival. The dorms will compete," Nathan began. "Bel might be coming. If we don't cause too much trouble beforehand."

Doors slammed in the hallway.

"If you don't want that to happen," Brian spoke as he stood, tapping the pencil in his fingers against a thigh. "You need to do your job properly." gave Nathan a meaningful stare. "Dorm head."

Nathan grinned. He pointed two fingers and pretended to shoot. "If I did my job too well, there wouldn't be any more sneaking out for you," he revealed.

Brian scowled.

"Oh, I see all things." Nathan nodded, looking mighty pleased with himself.

Crash.

Nathan's grin dropped. "I'd better go make sure they don't get me in trouble." He headed for the door. "Don't have too much fun without me!" With that, he was gone.

Chuckling, Lucas turned to his two roommates. He found Brian watching him.

"That was crazy," Lucas rubbed the back of his neck, "Right?"

Brian didn't reply, simply holding his gaze.

"You think they'd really show any of that affection if they knew what you really were?" The voice came from the top bunk.

"I believe I heard a sound," Lucas replied a calmly, eyes going to the bunk.

Slowly, the figure sat up. "No offense intended," the apology came.

"None taken." Lucas found himself looking at his second roommate.

Black hair stood up in tuffs from the boy who'd just sat up. He was younger than Lucas. Perhaps 16? Freshman most likely. However, if he was the year didn't matter. He was rooming with Brian and Lucas for a reason – the kid was an agent.

"You get your name from that?" Lucas pointed to his own left eye.

Patch didn't react, his one green eye sizing Lucas up. The other was hidden by a simple black Patch.

"Did the truth serum hurt?" Patch asked calmly, real curiosity in his eyes.

Lucas's eyebrows rose. The boy before him hadn't been in any files, which meant ECHO didn't know about him yet. More work my end, Lucas thought. "If you really want to know, why not try it?" he asked.

Patch's lips twitched. "No thanks."

Lucas shrugged. "Your loss."

He saw the movement out of the corner of his eyes.

Here we go again, he thought as he dodged the blow. His own hand shot down, grabbing the wrist of the hand with the pencil in it. With his other hand, he grabbed the weapon from the side, jerking it in the direction of Brian's finger tips. A small shove and the boy was forced to let go as he stumbled back.

Pencil in hand, Lucas twirled it. He cocked his head as he turned his attention the to roommate who had no attacked him twice. The other boy watched, eyes on his face as he tried to read the next move. Lucas' expression would give him nothing.

Bang!

A door was thrown open somewhere.

The sound was enough to make Brian's eyes flicker.

Bingo. Lucas moved. He closed the gap to the other boy who raised his hands in defense, ready for whatever attack would come.

The pencil in Lucas fingers moved. He didn't slash it but instead stabbed straight out.

The eye. There was no way he could miss the kill if he aimed right. At the same moment, he was aware of movement in the bunk. He heard the click. A bullet was fast, but it wouldn't stop the momentum from his arm.

Too late. Sloppy, Lucas thought, barely shooting Patch and the gun a glance.

However, he ceased his attack. Relaxing every muscle, he let all killing intent flee. Instead, he leaned forward, cocky grin appearing on his face.

"Boop," he said as he tapped a stunned Brian on the tip of his nose with the pencil.

Silence.

Still grinning at Brian, Lucas tapped the side of his head. "if it was a real gun, you'd want to aim here." His arm moved to his heart as he addressed the roommate on the bed. "Not here." He tapped again. "You'll have a smaller chance of messing up."

Patch didn't change his aim. Where he'd magically conjured the gun from was a mystery. However, with two agents in a room to watch him, Lucas wouldn't be surprised if they had weapons stashed all around.

Lifting the pencil, he twirled it between his fingers before offering it to Brian.

The boy slowly lowered his arms. A satisfied grunt escaped him as he took the peace offering. "You're not bad," he spoke.

"You need more practice," Lucas shot back.

Brian raised his eyebrows. "Patch." He said the name and the weapon was lowered.

A closer look revealed it wasn't filled with bullets but tranquilizers.

Soft as always, Lucas thought as he walked to his bunk. It's no wonder they're getting killed off so easily. He straightened the sheets that were all wrinkled thanks to the earlier party. He felt the eyes on him but ignored them.

Unzipping his bag, he was filled with a pleasant surprise. Bright yellow football shoes sat on top of everything. Barely used, but his most prized possession. They were taken along with everything else from his last trip to Ellison. He was sure ECHO had destroyed them.

M16...Zack. He couldn't think of anyone else who would have found a way to save them.

"Did you enjoy it?" Brian's voice made him shoot a glance back. "Gaining our trust only to stab us in the back?"

Lucas pulled the shoes out. "The way I see it." He opened a drawer below the bed and carefully placed the shoes in. "Is that you should have done a better job in stopping me." He closed the drawer and turned. "Don't they teach you?" He stood. "To not trust anyone?"

Brian's eyes flashed.

"Sounds lonely if you ask me," Patch spoke from where he still sat, watching the exchange.

Lucas gave him a glance. "It keeps you from getting killed, especially by your own," he shot back.

For the first time, Patch flinched, his eye darkening. "It's none of your business."

"But it is." Lucas turned his head to see Brian scowling. "It's the reason I'm here after all." The ECHO agent turned back to his bag and continued to unpack. "I'll be the bait, you two make sure I don't get knocked off too soon, right?"

He didn't need to turn to know he'd hit the nail on the head.

"That and you're here to keep an eye on me." Lucas took out the clothes. There weren't many, but he knew his uniform was most likely in the closet waiting for him. He pulled out another pair of shoes, sure that these ones had items hidden in compartments.

"But don't worry." He paused, hand trailing along the laptop at the bottom of the bag. He hoped it was encrypted well, because he was sure Patch and Brian would both be taking a look at it when he wasn't around. "Because." A lopsided grin made it to his face. Turning, he rested a hand against the top of the bunk, leaning against it as he met Brian's eyes. "I'll try be good."

Before a reply could be given, a shrill screech filled the air.

Fire alarm?

Yells erupted, and footsteps pounded as boys ran for the exits. However, they sounded far from terrified.

"Wonder who it was this time," Patch muttered. Instead of making a move to leave, he simply snatched up his game and lay back down. He returned to his own world, ignoring the obvious warning blaring over and over again.

Brian whirled and ran for his desk. "It's him," he spoke.

"Him?"

"He thinks every incident is the killer," Patch spoke from the bed.

More footsteps pounded.

"Because every incident so far has been," Brian shot back. He threw open a drawer and grabbed out a gun. This one, like Patch's, was also a tranquilizer.

Go up against a killer with that? Lucas eyed the weapon of choice as Brian hurried for the door.

"Don't go," Patch warned.

Brian paused.

"If it really is him, isolating yourself will make you a target. Besides," Patch raised a hand and pointed a finger toward Lucas, "the bait is right here, so let him come to us."

Brian shook his head as more footsteps thundered by. "He won't come if three of us are together."

"Jeff, get your butt out of bed and go outside!" Nathan's voice yelled from somewhere down the hall. "I don't care if it's a drill! Move your lazy bones or I'll confiscate your mattress."

"If I go out, he'll come for whoever is alone," Brian continued, ignoring the fuss going on outside.

Lucas watched, not saying a word. He could be right. Or it could just be a false alarm. Setting one off when everyone knows he's around is just like announcing his presence and intention to move. It seems too amateur.

Brian tucked the weapon out of sight and ventured into the hallway.

Lucas watched him go. "If it is the killer?" he asked.

"Doubt it," Patch replied. "Brian's been on the edge about everything lately. It's gotten personal."

Personal?  Lucas recalled the faces of the deceased, trying to link one to Brian. He couldn't.

The alarm continued to blare.

"And you're not leaving because?" Lucas asked.

"I want to pass this level," Patch replied calmly.

Lucas shrugged. "Well." He made his way to the door, getting ready to join the flow of boys. However, on the way, he hesitated.

Brian was off on his own. If Lucas left the room, that would leave Patch alone as well. If the killer really was making a move, then both boys could be in danger. But if it was just an ordinary alarm, then there was no reason to stick around and taint the image of a model student.

The next chapter has been posted and so options are now invalid.    

Options:

a) Stay in the room with Patch and continue to unpack.

b) Go find Brian.

c) Leave the dorm with everyone else. It's too flashy and amateur-like to be the killer.