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The bell rang signalling the end of the day. I sighed and felt my head drop to the table.
Even though this day had been great and normal, I've come to the conclusion that my brain capacity was larger than it was when I was human. Everything worked at full speed. Chemistry was so easy it surprised both the teacher and me. He was asking the atomic numbers in specific elements from the periodic table without peeking and I came out with them without even realizing it.
The teacher then looked at me and said recite the whole periodic table in order and I did. I got about two wrong but that was good for me. I hate Chemistry. And I'm one of those who barely knew four elements on that table.
I finally stood up and made my way toward Mr. Williams' class. There was a note on the front of the window telling me to go to the gym. I rolled my eyes and started toward the gym. I didn't know what he was planning but I knew it was probably physical labor which I suppose I didn't mind. I didn't have anything better to do today.
I walked through the large gym doors and looked around. My eyes widened at the mess. There were large crash mats scattered all over the gym floor, there were basketballs gathered in the every far corner of the large hall and the equipment cupboard was wide open probably unorganized. But the bleachers were clean thank god!
I walked across the hall over to the bleachers dodging in and out of the mats. I shrugged my coat and bag off and sat on the side.
I wasn't with Jayden last period but he explained where the gym was... Technically it wasn't that hard to find anyways. Just look for the bigger half of the building. He also promised to drive me home after school since Gabriel was the one to drive me here and decided to abandon me to meet Axel.
I closed my eyes for a moment and smiled. It was nice to hear a little silence. There were only a few people left in the whole building but I couldn't exactly tell who was who.
I opened my eyes to look at the large clock on the wall and noticed it was ten minutes past three. Maybe he was late.
I mindlessly went into my bag and pulled out the lighter I now brought with me where ever I went. I couldn't always be too careful.
I flicked the top back and lit it. Whenever there's fire, I could sometimes feel the waves of heat being radiated even from a far distance. I could locate it if I needed to.
I put my finger through it and watched the small flame attach to it like a magnet. I was controlling it to make sure it stayed small and insignificant.
The doors opened.
I dropped the lighter and closed my hand.
"Alexis, how long have you been waiting?" Mr. Williams asked as he strolled in with three large boxes of paper work. I ran over to him and grabbed one of them easily.
"Not long, only about a lifetime." We walked side by side to the bleachers and placed them on the floor. I went back up to discreetly put the lighter in my pocket.
Mr. Williams sighed and flopped onto the side. "I had to carry them from my classroom."
"You told me to meet you here though."
"Yes, I know but I didn't think I had that much to carry."
I sat next to him. "How long are we here for?"
He shrugged. "Until I've sorted these papers out and we've cleared the gym. I thought you were bringing help?"
My eyes narrowed at the doors. "So did I."
"Right, so let's get started then. Start with the crash mats so we can get that out of the way."
I nodded and stood up. I was walking over to a different one to Williams when he stopped me. "Not by yourself; they're heavy."
I smirked. "I'm sure I can handle it."
"Highly doubt that," He scoffed.
I know I wasn't supposed to show off my strength but come on. This had to be an exception, right? I picked up the edge with one hand and started dragging it along to the mat cupboard. I caught sight of Williams' wide eyes and raised eyebrows.
I opened the large door with my spare hand and tossed it in as if it were a sheet of paper.
"I'm impressed." He said. "Those things are really heavy."
I shrugged. "Ah, well."
I ended up putting most of them away while he worked on the basketballs. The hall was empty within an hour. We kept up constant casual conversion about school and how everything was. Jayden still hadn't turned up which I will scold him for later.
"Throw me a basketball."
He threw me one and sat down to start grading his... Wait, what do gym teachers grade?
"What are you grading anyway, sir?"
He sighed. "P.E includes theory as well. I'm grading test papers. And call me Reece, no ones around."
I started dribbling the ball. "What like, naming bones and stuff? That's science not P.E."
"Its theory and it's for people who want to become physiotherapist or a trainer. You have to know the bones and muscles."
I nodded and threw the ball toward the hoop. It surprised me by bouncing off the backboard and going through the net.
"Nice." He complemented. "Bet you couldn't do that again from the free throw line."
I shrugged. "Probably couldn't. There's no point in me trying."
He stood up. "Get the ball."
"Bossy," I mumbled. I grabbed the ball from the sideline and threw it to him with a little too much pressure. He caught it easily unfortunately and stood at what I was guessing as the three-point line.
He gestured me over to him. "Come here so I can show you how it's done."
I scoffed. "Fine. Show off."
He threw the ball. I watched it swish through the net and bounce toward the bleachers. "See that? Nothing but net."
I walked to the ball and started bouncing it again. "I'm not giving you another chance to show off."
Before I could even read the thought, he came at me at full speed. Well, full speed for a human. I smiled. It was like slow motion. I jogged around him with the ball and arched my back forward. "I'm too tired to play but for you I'll make an exception."
He held his hand to his heart. "Oh thank you so much!"
I laughed and started running around the gym. He didn't tire easily which made the game drag on a little. He stole the ball all of twice which was good for me because I'm so bad at P.E. After a while he was sweating and panting while I felt even more energized than earlier.
"Aren't you tired?" He panted and placed the ball on the rack along with the rest of them.
I shook my head. "Not really."
He flopped on the bleachers. "You're an odd kid."
The large lights flickered over head and we exchanged a look. "It's probably stormy out there." He said.
The double doors suddenly burst open. "Jay is here! Have no fear! I hear people shout and cheer! What do they cheer? They say, 'Jay is here!'"
"Oh dear lord," I mumbled. "What the hell was that?"
"It's my greeting. Like it?"
"No!"
He shrugged, walked over to Williams and slapped him on the knee. "Dude, you're all sweaty. What have you been doing, running laps?"
He sat up. "No I haven't, Jay, now come and help me grade these papers. Alex, could you get me my water bottle I left it in my classroom."
I rolled my eyes and walked out if the gyms doors. It was almost dark outside. Now that it was winter, it was going to get darker and colder earlier which sucked.
It was raining pretty hard which explained the flickering lights.
The voices in my head were silent as I walked through the dimly lit halls. My eyes narrowed slightly. Something wasn't right. Not being able to hear anything wasn't right. Jay and Mr. Williams was still here I should still be able to hear them.
I couldn't even hear whispers.
I started to slow as I made it to his office. But when I tried the door it was locked. I scowled and turned to walk down the hall when I stopped.
I could feel something.
It was cold. It was threatening. It made my blood boil. But I couldn't feel the energy. I couldn't hear its thoughts. But I could feel it.
I started to slowly walk down the halls and ignored the flickering lights above my head. It was a totally cliché moment to have the lights flickering in a storm but it didn't matter right now.
All that mattered was that someone was messing with me.
And then I heard it. The sinister laugh echoed through the school halls. And then his Enochian voice: "That's the thing with my manipulation, my pet. It's so... So... What's the word I'm looking for? Oh, it's unique."
I stopped. One reason is his voice wasn't one I could forget. The second was the fact that I was a little scared. Scratch that I was a bit terrified.
"You know what else I love about my kind of manipulation? I can manipulate what ever I want. Including your brain waves. I can hide my energy, hide my thoughts, I can make you think I'm real, or I could insert me into your head! But where's the fun in that? See," The lights flickered off completely but turned back on after a moment. He was at the end of the hall, hood up and wearing all black. "I'm right here..."
The lights turned off again and he disappeared.
"Now I'm here," He whispered in my ear. I stepped forward but his hands shot up and grabbed my upper arms to stop me. "Have you missed me?"
I didn't answer.
"Come on speak to me, Lonsa. I'm so happy that you've changed. You look beautiful." He moved my hair away from my neck. "Amazing."
I was getting angrier each second. I was still scared but the anger was replacing it all. I didn't know why I was still standing here. He wasn't controlling me. He wasn't telling me to stay in the same place, I was doing it voluntarily.
"Let go of me." I said through clenched teeth in English.
"She speaks." He said. "What else can she do?"
"There are a lot of things I can do that you wouldn't want to see."
He chuckled. "I'm sure. Why don't you come with me? Show me what you can do?"
"Not a chance."
"Come on Lonny. Come with me. We could have so much fun until the decision? Destroying towns, wrecking havoc on anyone or wherever we go. It'll be fun."
So, that's what he was doing.
He wanted me. He wanted to influence me before my decision. He wanted me to change my mind and probably choose the wrong thing.
"I'm not going with you."
His gloved hand tightened. "I'll make you come with me you ungrateful little brat."
A couple of thoughts entered my mind. I wasn't fully human anymore I could get out of this. But I had different options I was considering and I had to do it fast. I could somehow knock him down seeming that my lighter was in my pocket and was too obvious if I got it out, or I could scream bloody murder and wait for someone.
Or call someone.
I decided the former than the latter.
I wasn't much of a combat queen but I knew I had a mean punch and kick.
I could feel my muscles burning as I twisted in his arms and connected my fist with his chin. He grunted and stumbled back pretty far which gave me a fair enough advantage to run. But instead, I kicked him in the balls for good measure.
He went down and I started running toward the gym. And for the first time, I thanked my Nephilim self that I could run as fast as an angel. Well, almost as fast.
I got to the gym in seconds. But when I put my hand on the door the lights turned off completely and I was grabbed from behind and thrown to the wall.
The back of my head hit the wall and I suddenly felt dizzy but I shook it off and stood up. My eyes adjusted to the dark quite quickly which surprised me. I could suddenly see everything.
Even the fast fist that connected with my chin.
My head whipped to the side and the side of my face started burning. Not my usual burn but the painful throbbing burn.
I blinked away the black spots as tears sprung up in my eyes and a hand wrapped around my neck. It squeezed and lifted which made my throat feel completely constricted.
"You shouldn't have done that." He said fiercely.
I brought my hands up to his gloves and brought every ounce of energy I had into them.
I could practically see my hands turning red hot as he dropped me and stumbled back. Clapping his hands together to stop the smoke and burning.
I used his technique by grabbing his shirt and throwing him toward a wall. There was a loud crash and I heard the little pieces of concrete hit the floor. I took this as an advantage to run into the gym.
"...What was that?" I heard Jay before I saw him.
"Don't be a pussy, Jayden." Mr. Williams said.
I ran toward them. The lights turned on and Jay fell off the bleachers and shouted in surprise, "What the hell, Alex--"
"Get the hell out of here! Both of you!" I yelled at them.
Williams stood up. "What happened to your face?"
I shook my head but it tightened in pain. "Shut up and leave before I make you leave." I was shaking with fear and anger.
"You need to calm down and breathe." Williams went to put his hand on my cheek but he jumped back and shook his hand. "Jesus! You're boiling hot!"
I brought my lighter out. The lights were turning off and on and again meaning this demon probably didn't give a shit about showing off in front of humans.
"What's going on Alex?" Jay asked as he stood up.
I hushed him and walked forward. "Don't move to the other doors. Not until I say." I said shakily.
The door quietly opened on cue and I saw him running for me. My hands clenched and I met him half way. This had to end. This asshole couldn't control me. He couldn't make me go with him.
He punched before I could do anything. The face and then the stomach. I grunted and moaned out. I clenched the lighter in my hand as I dropped to the floor. I heard Jay shout behind me but I couldn't reply.
The demon lifted me off the floor and slammed me back down. I twisted to kick his feet out underneath him and he fell with a bang. I started to slowly get up but his hand was on my ankle. The heat I was struggling to control travelled down there and he dropped his hand.
"Go! Now!" I groaned.
I started running despite the pain in my ribs and ran after them through the doors.
I needed to call someone now. I couldn't do this by myself.
"What the hell?" Jay yelled as they ran and I jogged. "That didn't sound normal, what the hell?" He repeated.
"Shut up Jay!" I grabbed their shirts and pulled them into an open classroom. Williams sat on the table casually but I could see the fear in his face.
"I didn't mean to get you involved." I said truthfully.
"In what?" Jay insisted.
I scoffed and sighed at the same time. If I remember correctly I could manipulate brain waves too but not as well as the demon out there. So, I quickly calmed myself down and put my hand on Mr. Williams' head.
I didn't know what I wanted him to do but the word sleep came into my mind and he dropped like a brick.
Cool.
Jay stared at us both. "What the f-f-f-"
I put my hand on his head and told him to sleep too. I threw my jacket off before I walked out and closed the door quietly. I could come back for them if I didn't die.
The lights were still off as I slowly walked closer to the gym. I opened my lighter, lit it and let it spread up my arms. The bandage burnt to the ground and I glanced at my mark.
I heard a noise at the end of the hall and didn't think twice about shooting a ball of fire that way. It hit the wall and disappeared into smoke.
"You're scared, Lonny. I can feel it." He said from a different spot. I threw another toward his voice but it hit the lockers.
"Pick-a-boo!" His arm rounded my neck. "Flames out please," Before I could process what he said the flames on my arms disintegrated into nothing. "God, I love my power."
I had to do it. I had to call someone. I didn't think or even consider who I called. I just thought of a name. Any name it didn't matter. I just needed help.
I mumbled his name.
"What was that, Lonny?" His arm tightened.
I started to feel light headed as my body started to become a little limp. I gathered every ounce of consciousness I had left and shouted his name:
"Cameron!"
I felt his energy before I saw him. It was coming at full speed. It came faster than I was expecting. It surprised me.
"Ah hell," The demon muttered.
I was knocked out of the demon's hands onto the floor.
I gasped for breath, coughed and lifted my head toward them. Cameron had the demon up against the lockers. The demon laughed. "And who's this?"
Cam growled as his fist painfully connected with the demon's face. I flinched at the sound. Cam brought him away from the locker and smashed him against it. He did it once more but the demon suddenly twisted out of his hold and threw him across the hall. I watched Cam roll to a stop in a defensive crouch.
I turned my attention back to the demon. I could hear the smile in his voice as he said, "Well, this was fun. But I gotta run." He was still speaking in Enochian. "Ciao!"
The lights all the way down the hall burst and glass flew everywhere. I covered my face and head with my arms while they continued to scatter across the ground. The tiny pieces of glass nipped at my skin and stung as the continued to hit the ground. The glass clinked on the ground for ten seconds before it stopped.
I lifted my head out of my arms and sighed. I was relieved and yet I was even more frightened than ever. I had a feeling that this wasn't the demon's worker. It couldn't be. From memory, the guy that attacked me the first and second time had a deep voice. But this time it wasn't as deep. Then again, the guy could manipulate whatever he wanted he could have made his voice deeper.
I turned my head toward Cameron. He was already standing up straightening his worn out faded blue t-shirt and running his hands down his dark blue jean cut offs. He walked toward me nonchalantly with a straight face and held his hand out.
Taking his hand would mean I trust him.
The thing was, I didn't know. I didn't know whether I should. I didn't know him.
But I wouldn't have called him if I didn't know him. It wouldn't have been one of the first names that popped into my head.
I stared at his hand for a moment then looked at him. He was waiting patiently without any emotion in his face. But his eyes said everything. He wanted me to take it. He wanted me to trust him.
I sighed heavily and lifted my hand to place it in his...
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(Edited: 2023)