Stage 7 - Knowledge = Questions

Footsteps were drowned out by playful yells as boys made their escape. They were taking the alarm in anyway but seriously.

Lucas decided to ignore it. Instead, he used the opportunity to continue unpacking while scanning the room for any obvious details he may have missed.

"You aren't worried about Brian?" he asked the boy still lying in the bunk above him.

"He'll be fine," it sounded like more than just a guess.

"What makes you so sure?" Lucas probed as he took out the last few items from the bag.

"The killer hasn't gotten caught so far, so..."

"He's smart," Lucas finished. The ECHO agent zipped the duffle bag closed.

"Exactly." Patch paused, most likely focusing on the game. He resumed a few moments later. "Then he probably is also very aware of the reason you're here. Which means–"

"–he's going to come for me if he has to, but not in such an obvious way." Lucas was the one to finish again.

"Glad to see we're on the same page," Patch spoke.

"It's probably still him though." Lucas stuffed the duffle bag in a drawer.

The bed creaked and a moment later Patch's one eye peered at him from where he tipped over the bed. "What makes you say that?"

Lucas closed the drawer. "It's what I would do," he explained. "Raise false alarms so much it puts everyone on edge and then." He looked up to meet Patch's eye, "when there's been enough to make that edge wear off and the guard let down, then I'd strike."

"Sounds like something coming from an experienced killer," Patch mused.

Lucas shrugged.

"There's only one problem with your theory," the agent continued.

"It would take too much time?"

Patch nodded.

"Only if he's on limit," Lucas shot back.

"Why wouldn't he be?"

"If he's hired, yes." The ECHO operative walked to the closet. Upon opening it, he found uniforms in his size.

"You think he's working alone?" Patch sat up, game forgotten and real curiosity brimming in his eye.

Lucas shot him a glance. The question confirmed that the government operative didn't know as much information as he'd hoped.

"Alone or hired. Each way changes whether he's solely doing it for money or personal reasons. However, regardless of which, one thing remains the same." The closet was snapped shut and Lucas turned.

Patch sat cross legged, giving Lucas his rapt attention.

The alarm finally stopped blaring as someone shut it off.

"Somewhere, somehow, your corporation did something he considers enough to give him reason to kill those he used to work alongside with...or she."

"Says who?" Patch's game now lay abandoned beside him.

Lucas' lips twitched. "Let me know if I'm wrong, but aren't you all the righteous type?"

"Righteous?" Patch raised his eyebrow above his good eye.

"Honor based." Lucas leaned against the closet.

Voices filled hallways again as complaining boys filed back.

"You believe there's such a thing. Punishing criminals and making the world a safer place and all that junk." Lucas' lips spread into a smile at the irony. "Only thing you don't think of is that out there," he jabbed his thumb to the window, "there is no honor. No heroes, no justice."

"Interesting." Patch leaned forward. "You don't believe in justice?"

Lucas shrugged. "I believe in doing what I'm told." He didn't dwell on the ping at the irony of how that wasn't true. No. At the very moment he was sneaking behind ECHO's back.

"Anything?" Patch probed.

Lucas met his eyes evenly, not needing to convey the answer his gaze gave for him. He'd gone personal enough. There's an ECHO operative somewhere here too, he noted. That meant absolute loyalty had to be displayed to his handlers. They had eyes and ears here too, after all.

"I guess the rumors are true then." Patch leaned back, but his eye remained on Lucas. "They stripped you apart and put you back together the way they wanted to, didn't they?"

Lucas' face remained emotionless.

"And then, they created a stone-cold killer." Patch didn't blink as he said the words. They were a statement and almost true – almost.

They didn't have to take me apart, the ECHO agent thought. They raised me. His memories from a life before were so vague and yet coming back piece by piece. A childhood. Happiness. All taken by death. From there, the picture changed from color to black and white, only now, he was adding color back to that painting. Now there were things he wanted to know.

"Some say you're too far gone to ever turn back," Patch's voice pulled Lucas from his thoughts. "But if you ask me," Patch continued. "No one's ever too far gone until they are."

It was Lucas' turn to raise his eyebrows. He thought the statement over.

"There is justice in the world," Patch continued. "But only if you choose to see it."

Lucas straightened. "I think you've got it wrong."

The voices outside increased as more students returned, many from club activities.

"Rather than justice, it's injustice."

"Intriguing," Patch leaned against the wall. "You're saying locking a criminal up is unjust?"

"Every action has a domino effect. When you take in a criminal, you take someone's son, daughter, father, mother, friend, associate, the list goes on. The criminal is locked up, sure. But does that make the world a better place?" Lucas cocked his head to the side. "Another will take his role, his family will suffer shame, poverty or something else. Hate grows, and the world continues to suffer."

"So, we should just let everyone walk free? That's kind of ironic coming from someone who kills on command."

"Walk free?" Lucas shook his head. "That's not the point." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm saying locking them up, killing, innocent, guilty, no matter what or who the case. There is no justice. It's always unjust to someone."

Patch fiddled with his game. "So, by your logic we should help the world burn?"

Lucas shrugged.

"That's kind of depressing." Patch chewed his bottom lip. "Then when would there ever be justice? Peace? Who would protect those that can't protect themselves?"

"Peace?" Lucas chuckled. "The only time you'll ever feel that is when you're dead."

A long sigh escaped the other boy. He tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. "There's not much left of you to break, huh?" he murmured.

"There was nothing to break in the first place," Lucas shot back.

Their conversation was cut short when the door burst open. Brian stomped in, face as gloomy as the air radiating from him.

"Told you he wouldn't come," Patch informed him.

He got a grunt in response. The other agent sank into the chair by his desk. Without a word, he went right back to studying as if nothing had happened.

Lucas felt his stomach grumble. A quick glance at the clock on the wall confirmed dinner time was here.

"Anyone want to eat?" he offered.

"Going later," Brian spoke without turning.

"Same here," Patch added.

Lucas nodded. He just reached the door when Patch's voice made him pause.

"Everyone's too far is different."

Lucas shot a glance back to see the boy watching him.

"In fact, we're the ones who decide where our own is."

Brian turned, question written on his face.

Both Patch and Lucas ignored him.

The ECHO agent gave a devilish grin. "I'll be sure to remember that." He nodded at the boy with the eyepatch before slipping from the room.

Time had gone by, but not much had changed at Ellison High. Lucas found his way to the cafeteria with ease. He was somewhat early, and so the hall only had a few boys.

Heading to the food counter, Lucas picked a gourmet prepared plate. It was filled with a white fish covered in a cream sauce. A variety of vegetables decorated the area around, giving a colorful splash and making the meal look almost too good to eat.

Still have their five-star chefs, Lucas noted as he grabbed cutlery and went for an empty table. He barely sat down when it was as though the floodgates opened.

Boys poured in from the door, filling the room with instant chatter. It took only moments for several football players to grab food and sit at Lucas' table. He smiled and exchanged conversation with them, however, his attention was far away. As his eyes wandered the room he couldn't help but be aware of two things.

One, the killer could be there at this very moment. Two, somewhere, among all these boys was anther ECHO agent. Lucas would be lying if he didn't admit that he was curious who had been sent to catch the killer. Perhaps it was someone he knew.

"Yo!" the word uttered in anger pulled Lucas' attention.

The ECHO agent turned to look at a table several ways down. A quick glance gave him the concept of what was going on.

One of the swim team members, his varsity jacket giving him away, glared down at a seated boy.

"Keep your feet under the table, man!" he gestured wildly at the dropped plate and food splattered all over the floor.

The figure being addressed at the table didn't even shoot him a glance. The swim member didn't seem to take that well.

He reached out to shove the kid. "I'm talking to you!"

Lucas watched in curiosity as the boy who'd been shoved simply turned to the other sitting next to him. He murmured something only to receive a shoulder shrug. With a visible sigh, he dug into a pocket and pulled out what looked suspiciously like a chocolate bar.

"I'm talking to you," the swim member was losing his patience at lack of concern being given to his grievances.

The chocolate was exchanged. Cutlery banged on the table as the boy who received the candy stood. His chair scraped back, and eyes everywhere turned to the commotion as the volume died somewhat.

Lucas watched, taking in the details of the newcomer as he turned to face the accuser. The boy's black hair was spiked with a surprising strip of red at the front. Though Elision High was strict with most of it's rules, it seemed to have been slacking on hair lately.

The swim member turned to the standing boy.

"You got something to say?" he challenged.

"Oh, now he's in for it," Lucas heard someone nearby murmur. At the same time, several guys from the team made their way over to back up their friend.

"If you don't want to fall, get a new pair of eyes," the black-haired boy spoke. His whole table paid little attention as they continued to eat and chat, including the culprit over whom the whole argument was a result.

The swim team reached their friend. The lone boy facing them looked far from backing down.

"Hey, hey."

Lucas recognized the buff swimmer as Brad.

Brad placed an arm on his shouting team members shoulder and pushed his way ahead. He puffed out his chest, looming before the spiked hair kid as he surveyed the damage done. His eyes returned to the boy facing off with him.

"The least you could do is apologize," Brad spoke.

"The least you can do is look where you're going," came the response given in a tone that implied the boy couldn't care less.

Brad scowled and his team members behind him pushed forward threateningly.

Lucas was intrigued that no one seemed bothered to step in. He'd not witnessed many fights at Ellison, other than the constant pranking. The lack of interference could only make him guess that the face down was a usual occurrence for at least one of the members currently involved. And a sneaking suspicion made him guess the kid that had taken the candy bar.

His thoughts made him miss whatever insult was uttered between the guys. However, a yell and Brad grabbing the other kid by his collar brought him back.

"Hold it!" a voice boomed.

A tall boy strode over, scowl on his face. The armband around his upper arm identified him as the dorm head of dorm 2. Lucas recognized him from his previous stay.

Jayce. Lacrosse player, the information flashed through his mind.

"We got a problem here?" Jayce asked as he approached the boys.

Brad's grip loosened. The other boy immediately took the moment to tear himself loose. He calmly pretended to wipe dirt from his collar before giving Brad a provoking grin.

"Do we?" he asked.

Brad's fists curled.

"Throw one punch, Landon, and you'll regret it," Jayce used the boy's last name for emphasis. He turned to the other swim members. "Go eat," he ordered.

Though there was grumbling, the boys obeyed. Dorm heads were almost on par with teachers when it came to authority, and disobeying or pissing one off was not something many wanted to try.

Satisfied that the others were leaving, Jayce turned to the two boys who stared each other down.

"Ah, so much for seeing a glorious fight," someone muttered as boys all around lost interest.

Lucas, however, kept watching.

"Whatever the issue, leave it be," Jayce warned the two boys.

"There was no issue to begin with," the black-haired kid told him.

"I somehow doubt that, Ash," Jayce replied, revealing the guy's name.

Ash shrugged.

"Brad, you're already on warning," Jayce turned to lecture the other guy. "Another strike and you don't get to go to the Bel High visit in two weeks."

Bel High visit? Lucas had a feeling that was arranged by the government agents. Perhaps to expose me to the killer if he's indeed a she from Bel? It was fine by him. It'll be a good opportunity to look around and see what I can find there.

Brad's demeaner changed by the threat. His eyes widened, and he seemed to be tong tied. His mouth opened and closed several times in an attempt to argue. Ash, however, snickered.

Jayce scowled at him. "That can be arranged for you too."

Ash immediately stopped.

"Psh," the boy who sat next to him spoke for the first time. "It's not like he'd be missing much. He can't even talk to chicks."

All around the table there were chuckles of agreement.

Ash responded by giving the boy who spoke a solid slap across the head.

"Hey!" came the protest.

"Alright, back to your table." Jayce told Brad. He nodded to the boys at Ash's table. "Someone get this cleaned up." He motioned to the food on the floor.

Protests erupted all around.

"Wow, do you hear that?" a familiar voice spoke as Nathan strode over. He paused beside Jayce and leaned on his shoulder. "It sounds like no one here wants to go to Bel."

The table instantly sprang into action as boys fell over each other trying to get to the mess to clean. All but Ash, who watched.

Jayce and Nathan sprang out of the way.

"My, my, aren't they eager?" Jayce commented.

"It makes my heart swell," Nathan added. He gave Jayce a pat on the shoulder and scanned the room. Upon seeing Lucas, he raised a hand. "My man!" he yelled with little composure as he bounded over.

Ash turned to follow the dorm head with his eyes. As a result, blue eyes met green ones. Lucas held the gaze, impressed by the fearlessness in them.

Those are the eyes of a potential operative, Lucas noted. Agent? He stowed the name and face in memory to look over at a later point.

The gaze was broken as a certain Korean kid stepped right into its path.

"You went to eat without me!" he accused before shooing the boy sitting across from Lucas away. Nathan plopped into the vacated seat.

"Was hungry," Lucas replied as he filled his fork.

"Hunger makes us do strange things," Nathan agreed. He nodded to a passing freshman and motioned to the plate. In response, the kid handed it over before turning to get another.

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "Power getting to your head?" he asked.

"Hunger," came the reply as Nathan dug in.

"I heard there's a Bel visit coming up," Lucas probed as the two ate.

"That and the sports festival," Nathan replied with his mouth full. He was shoveling food in like there was no tomorrow, taking only a moment to breathe.

"Bel girls, it's been too long," a guy from nearby sighed.

"The time to get a girlfriend is here!" another announced in a loud voice.

There whoops of agreement all around as cups were raised to toast the statement.

"Poor girlfriend less suckers," Nathan got out between bites.

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "You hitched?"

"With his angel," someone pitched in sarcastically as he clutched his chest.

"With the most perfect eyes," another added while fluttering his eyelashes. He got to close for Nathan's liking as so was immediately poked with a fork. The same fork was used to shovel the next food after the first.

"Eshcol?" Lucas asked, memories of the sassy petit girl surfacing in his mind. She'd both saved them and threatened them when they'd snuck into the Bel High dorm in some less than convincing costumes.

Nathan nodded enthusiastically.

"Congrats," Lucas told him with a grin.

Nathan wiped his mouth, taking a break. "You still single?" he asked.

Lucas shook his head only to immediately regret the action.

Boys all around leaned forward.

"Lucas has a girl!" someone yelled for the whole cafeteria to hear.

"What?"

Lucas found breathing a lot harder to do with guys pressing closer from all around. Other tables were left vacated as boys rushed over to listen.

"Dude, where did you meet her?" the questions began to fly.

"Is she hot?"

"Does she have a sister?"

"Cousin?"

"Single friends?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Nathan got to his feet, knife and fork raised in the air. "Back off people!" he warned. Clearing his throat and looking very much like the mature dorm head he was, he turned back to Lucas. "Dude, since when?"

And the questions flew once more.

Nathan was squished to the side as boys pushed by.

"How long?"

"How'd you do it?" someone asked.

"Did you give her chocolates?"

"Not fair," someone complained. "He wasn't even at Ellison for a whole semester."

"Wait? You found her on the outside?"

Audible gasps could be heard all around at the realization.

"You mean there's hope in the real world for us too?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"Have you seen her nake–"

"–alright!" Lucas cut in.

The boys lapsed into silence, listening intently for whatever he was about to say.

"She's extremely beautiful," Lucas shared.

"She's hot!" someone boomed the interpretation, so the rest of the cafeteria could hear.

"Strong willed," Lucas continued.

"Hard to handle," the boy's translation was yelled again.

"She also broke up with me."

"She dumped–" the yell cut off as silence took over. Excitement in the room deflated like a punctured balloon.

"Well that sucks," someone murmured.

"Sorry, bro." A comforting hand was laid on Lucas' shoulder. Boys began to slink back to their seats in a somber mood.

"It happens to the best of us," another consoled as flowers that had decorated the table were torn from their vase and shoved toward Lucas.

"Stay strong," Nathan encouraged as others nodded.

"But," Lucas spoke.

All around, boys froze.

A lopsided grin made it the ECHO agent's face. "I'm going to win her back. I always do."

The room erupted.

The flowers were thrown in the air and tissue followed, acting very much like confetti. Someone stood on an empty table, joined by two others. The boys threw their arms around each other's shoulders and began to bellow "We are the Champions," at the top of their lungs.

"You're the man!" someone yelled before running by and screeching, "Lucas is the man!"

Lucas simply watched the chaos in amusement. Understanding the mentality of the boys at Ellison High was something he doubted even the best psychologist could pull off. He'd given up trying. But that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy that absolute ridiculous chaos that he was sure was not available anywhere else but here.

As his eyes wandered across the room, he took the opportunity to search – search for the boy who looked out of place. Someone who didn't know what to do in the unfolding zoo.

Bingo. Lucas' eyes landed on the far corner. Amidst the chaos, a boy sat, watching with the most confused expression on his face. His body language said he was ready for an attack, but had no idea if it was coming or not.

Thick curly brown hair covered his head..

A moment was all it took for Lucas to run his face through his mind. His memory came up blank. He'd never seen the boy at Ellison before, nor in any ECHO files.

He's too old to be a freshman so transfer. Lucas propped his chin on a hand as he studied the boy. There was nothing that stood out, he was perfect for blending in. Hello, fellow operative.

As though hearing his thoughts, the boy turned. His eyes met Lucas and he froze.

He'll know my face, Lucas was well aware. He needs to know the bait if he's to be the hunter after all. He cocked his head, shooting the boy a smile.

He got a blank stare in response as every muscle in the boy's face became unreadable. However, the very action did the opposite as it only further validated Lucas' suspicions.

Eighty percent certain, always leave room for error. Lucas drummed his fingers on the table. Let's see how good you are, he thought. Because, we're about to have a race to find us a killer. His fingers stopped, and his grin widened.

A tissue fell, briefly obscuring his view of the other boy. When it dropped, his target was gone.

"Welcome back!" Nathan yelled over the noise as he gestured to the room filled with craziness. It was slowly calming down as the kitchen staff began to chase boys from tables with brooms and cooking ladles. "Did you miss us?"

Lucas returned the grin. "Oh, most definitely."

"Don't worry, it's not about to get any more normal than this." Nathan winked. "Let's make our senior year one we'll never forget!"

Lucas nodded in agreement.

Nathan lifted his glass in a toast.

The ECHO agent raised his own.

The moment their glasses clinked, the room was plunged into darkness.

"What the–?"

"Who cut the lights?"

Complaints rose from all around.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. It was dark, too dark. He slid his chair back as his eyes attempted to adjust to the change. However, other than a few outlines, it was hard to see.

Lights in the whole building are gone...perhaps... Though his eyes were useless, Lucas' memory served him well. He made his way around chairs and tables, sidestepping boys as soon as he felt his fingers brush against them.

He made it to the windows pretty easily. Once there, he was able to confirm his suspicions. The lights weren't just off in the cafeteria, but across all of campus. The fact that the backup lights weren't on was more of a warning than a mystery. There was an attack happening somewhere.

The ECHO agent stood as he debated on what to do. All of campus is down...that means the attacker could be anywhere. Scenarios flashed through his mind. If it was me, where would I go?

Boys continued to complain while the dorm heads tried to tell them to sit.

"They'll be back on soon!" Nathan's voice boomed.

Lucas felt the presence a moment later. He twisted as something swished by where his chest had been moments before. Reaching out, he grasped in the dark at where he was sure the arm would be. His fingers brushed against something before it was gone.

He dodged to the other side as he sensed the next attempt. This time, he caught it. A sharp pain exploded across his palm.

Knife. The sacrifice had gotten him the knowledge on weapon. A good choice for going undetected in a room full of people.

"Who touched my butt!" someone yelled.

Snickers erupted at the accusation. The room full of boys had no idea what was going on by the windows.

Lucas dodged his unseen attacker again. At the same time, he reached out with his bloody palm. It connected with a face and the operative immediately wipe his palm down, making sure to spread his sticky blood.

Try hide once the lights come back on now, he couldn't help but think in satisfaction.

However, in the process, an arm snaked around his neck. The ECHO agent responded immediately, throbbing hand flying out to stop the hand with the weapon from stabbing him.

He held on while the arm around his neck tightened.

Strong grip.

His airway tightened.

"Leave while you can," a raspy voice whispered in his ear.

Voice distortion, the operative noted.

The arm tightened again, but Lucas was too busy concentrating on keeping the knife away than to focus on air. All around, he kept his calm. Panic wouldn't help. Panic would get him killed.

"You're not part of this. I don't want to kill you," the voice added as the grip tightened so that Lucas rasped when breathing air.

Interesting, the operative thought. "That makes one of us," he said. The ECHO agent spun while releasing his grip on the hand with the knife.

The force behind it plunged down, but Lucas was no longer in its path. He whirled, reaching for the outline he saw in the dark. His hand connected with an arm. It was all he needed.

He shifted stances, throwing the figure to the ground and twisting an arm behind his back. At the same time, he pressed his knee on the back to prevent him from getting up.

"Know who you try to threaten," Lucas told the attacker as he forced the knife from his grip.

A chuckle came in response. "Know when you're in over your head."

The warning made Lucas glance up. He saw the red laser and immediately knew he was the target. His body reacted instinctively.

Letting his attacker go, he rolled to the side.

A small zing was followed by the sound of a window shattering as a bullet meant for his head zipped through.

All around, boys yelled in surprise.

"Alright, whoever broke that is facing some serious punishment!" Jayce yelled.

Lucas rolled back to where his target had been. He was gone, along with the knife. Though there was a sniper somewhere, something told Lucas the shot had been a warning one.

The backup lights flickered to life, a soft glow at first.

Hiding his injured hand behind his back, Lucas stepped far from the window, eyes scanning the room.

Cheers erupted from boys as little by little the lights brought more brightness.

While Lucas searched for a face stained with his blood, he was frustrated with none. As he turned, he saw someone slip from the room, black clothes the only thing visible.

Though he'd received an injury and not seen the face of his attacker, Lucas had learned something just as valuable. There's more than one. And that information itself opened up a whole set of new scenarios. If the government was aware of this, then something big was being kept from him.

He scowled at the thought.

His feet moved for him, heading towards where the figure had disappeared.

"Lucas!" Nathan called, as he hurried over, his face revealing he seemed to know something was up.

Lucas hesitated, eyes darting to where the figure had disappeared.


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

Options:

a) Follow the figure. It could be the attacker.

b) Wait for Nathan and assure him things are fine. Going after the attacker is dangerous if there's another with a gun in the area.

c) Take care of his hand and find out if the government is aware of this new information before taking any further steps.

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top