Chapter 03

People are rushing past me as if there is no tomorrow. I don’t see why though, in two hours we have dinner. Right now though, everyone is just doing what they please. It’s a Friday, so on weekends we have off. It’s a nice afternoon as well, so nearly everyone is outside enjoying the sun. I however am not that fond of the summer, so I stay indoors with Emma and a few other people. Any, the American boy, stays inside all the time, so he’s chatting away with me while I hug Emma at my side.

 

Andy is, by far, the most oblivious person I have ever met. Seriously, the last time when something was serious, he was all jolly and happy. It doesn’t make any sense in my opinion, but I won’t push my luck. He has the element of speed, which is how he never gets into trouble. He’s okay, but I seriously hate him. Also, he scares Emma quite a fair bit; I haven’t got a clue why though, he’s just an American idiot.

 

Weird.

 

Andy laughs, pushing a strand of hair out of his eyes, “Dude, are ya okay there? You seem to be stuck in some universe of your own…”

Oh, was I? “Sorry, just lost in my thoughts…”

“Nah, it’s alright!” He looked at Emma, who was reading some book, “How’ve ya been, Em?”

She looked up, pointing at herself, “Me?” Getting a nod, she shrugs, “Fine I guess…”

“Awesome. What ‘bout you, Danny?” He smirks.

Oh, I hate that name, “It’s Daniel for you information. Also, as for the answer to your question, I’m doing fine.”

Chuckling, the idiot ruffles my hair, “You gotta stop being such a stuck up guy all the time, ya know!”

“Yeah, and you should get more serious, mate.” Jett is the only one that is sane in this place to talk to. He sits himself next Emma, she instantly hugs him. He laughs, “So, what’s new with the lot of ya? Don’t ya like summer?”

“Ain’t allowed outside.”

“Why?”

He doesn’t say anything. I have my theories, but I can’t be bothered to put them down. So I sigh, “It’s too hot outside…”

“Oh, and it’s not hot in here? Mate, it’s actually cooler outside than inside, ya know…”

“True. But I can’t be bothered to do anything though, it’s Friday…” I slump into the couch, closing my eyes for a brief moment.

 

It’s peaceful, too peaceful. This isn’t right, there’s usually someone calling for help or crying their hearts out in pain and misfortune. This, this sense of peace and harmony in the air, it doesn’t make any sense at all. Something’s not right, and I tend to find out what. Now, normally I’ll just let this sort of thing slide, but I could tell that everyone was feeling the same thing.

 

I stood, strolling out of the room. Emma wasn’t far behind, so I just stood and waited until she caught up. She ran, hugging my side. As we walked around, I noticed hardly anyone was inside, which was strange. However, as I pass a room, I noticed two people in there, playing a board game of some kind. Its chess, I haven’t played that in such a long time.

 

Emma, for some odd reason, spots one of them. She gasps, and hugs her, “Shadow!”

 

Shadow laughs, stroking her hair. They say Shadow is one of the feared people in 21, but I don’t see how though. She is unbelievably nice, also very smart. She’s from Japan, so she follows some customs they have there, which includes tea ceremonies and stuff like that. Her ability is cat-like reflexes, which means that she can into cats.

 

I find that strange.

 

Actually, now that I think about it, everyone has their traditions, religions and customs they do. I find it really interesting, I’ve never been anywhere besides Ireland and Britain before, so I like to learn about the world.

 

It wasn’t long before the player lost, and her face went into a frown. She glared, “You’re cheating!”

Shadow laughed, hugging Emma, “How so?”

“Well…I just know you are!” With that, the girl storms out of the room, leaving her smiling.

I didn’t notice Emma tugging me towards Shadow until she yanked me to move. I have to stop getting lost in my thoughts all the time. She sits me next to her, and then smiles, “Shadow is my best friend when I can’t see you!”

“Is that so?” I had to question, Shadow is the same age as me, after all.

She nods, “Yes, we are!”

Shadow smiles, “Emma, you do know I have another best friend right?”

“Really? Who?”

“Black Rose…”

Wait, what? How is that even possible?! “You’re joking, right?!”

“Why would I?”

Okay, how is this possible? “When did you guys become friends?”

“When I actually came here. I was eight, and I saw her alone, so naturally I went up to her and said hello. From then, I’m best friends with the temperamental person she is…”

 

Just as I was about to say something, a loud bang was heard across the institution. Emma ran towards the noise, as sis I. Who could be so mad on a Friday afternoon? Seriously, who? My eyes were met with the person, Black Rose. She looked unbelievably pissed off, glaring at John in the middle of the hallway. Wait, I should’ve expected this, huh? John always knows how to get her pissed off by saying one word even.

 

Jett runs up beside me, and we began to watch. Black Rose glares, “Pazzo!”

John backs off, “Rosella, if you’ll just listen…”

“DON’T CALL ME THAT!” Oh, so that’s her name.

He gulps, “Fine! Black Rose, just listen. You’re extremely good at independent training, the top actually. However, you need to work on team skills…”

“And you put me with him?!” She noticed she was being watched by me, and hissed, “I have to work with him?!”

What? “Work with me?”

John, noticing I was there, clapped his hands, “Yes! It seems that the two of you never work in team work exercises, which is kind of annoying the trainers. So, as the head, you both are going to work together until the end of the term.” He mumbles, “Also, I’m kind of sick of all the calls I get about you two…”

Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me?! “So, what you’re saying is that I have to work with the most feared person in this whole bloody institution?!”

When he nodded, a gun was drawn at his head, which made his eyes grow huge. Black Rose moved it closer, hissing, “You’ll be a dead man one day, you know that?!”

 

The gun clicked.

 

The bullet flew in the air and was aimed at John. Now, I hate the idiot, but it doesn’t mean I want him dead. Clicking my fingers, blue flames come out, and I moved the bullet in a different direction. I shot a flame at her gun, making it land on the floor.

 

She didn’t like that one bit.

 

Black Rose glared, but said nothing. It was a hard long glare at that, which sent chills down my spine. What was she thinking? I hope it isn’t some plan to kill me; I just saved the idiot’s life. Oh wait, I see why she might want to kill me, I saved the idiot’s life.

 

That’s great…

 

Really great…

 

Black Rose kneels down in front of my face, glaring. She hisses, “S**t like the rest of them…Pazzo…” She walks off.

Okay? “Why am I the s**t?”

Jett sighs, looking at me, “I’ll say this, mate. Don’t get on her bad side, otherwise you could end up like that idiot.” He points at John, who was at a crossroad between scared and offended.

Emma tugs my side, whispering, “What are you going to do now?”

I sigh, scooping her up. Well, there is one thing, “Stay away from her guns, burn her if she ever tries to kill me and I guess…Work with her…”

 

Dinner is now, and I have a feeling tomorrow isn’t going to be a relaxing day for me.