I pushed open the double-doors of the school and strolled down the long walkway leading to the busy road. My backpack hung low on my shoulders and the heavy textbooks slammed into my back relentlessly. In my head, my plans were all set. I would walk home and pack a bag for the class trip tomorrow and then take that bag to Krista's house and spend the night there. That way, when we left in the morning we could sit next to each other on the bus.
Of course, plans can always change.
When I got to the end of the cement walkway, I froze dead in my tracks. Directly in front of me was a sleek black car that was all too familiar. But why was he here? His pale fingers slid through the crack in the tinted window and beckoned to me.
"Hello, Uncle," I said uncertainly. If he was here, no doubt something bad was bound to happen.
My uncle ran a large business, though he never said what it was exactly, and he was always hungry for power and for money. Any time he came to visit my family; it was for some horrible deed. He was a ghastly man with stone-like eyes and caterpillar eyebrows. He constantly wore a stiff black suit and forced me to call him "Uncle", never by his real name or anything else.
He peeked out at me. His eyebrows furrowed threateningly. "I'm not here to beat around the bush, Christine. I'm going to cut straight to the point; do as I say or prepare to face the consequences."
I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes. Every time he wanted something, this is how he began. I yearned to ask what consequences but after a few…uh…consequences I've learned to hold my tongue.
"There is a C.E.O. of a rivaling business coming into town. I know he is planning to come and withdraw money from his account yet I am not certain for what purpose. I discovered this." He handed me a slip of paper. "It is a code that, when solved, is the password for the account. Solve this and withdraw the money from account 756. Then give it to me."
I glanced at the paper in my fist. I could feel my anger rising and my face reddening. "And if I don't?"
His cold fist collided with my jaw. I stumbled backwards, falling into the soft grass. Warm, metallic blood filled my mouth from where I had bit my lip and my face throbbed. Uncle was glaring daggers at me, his jaw clenched tight.
"And there will be more consequences if you screw this up for me," Uncle growled.
"Fine," I huffed, spitting a wad of blood and saliva on the concrete. "I'll do it."
I brushed myself off as he sped off without a 'goodbye'. Whatever, I wouldn't have said 'goodbye' back to him anyway.
The code given to me consisted of random letters written in Uncle's slanted writing:
10,1,3,11,19,15,14…9,19…6,18,15,13…£
What an interesting code, I thought. But what was the little scribble near the end? I knew who I could ask to help but I didn't have much time because I had to get home soon.
I sprinted the three blocks to the library and found Sarah at the desk with Chap Stique. He was dressed in an Iron Maiden t-shirt and had his blond- brown hair hanging in his eyes. He was deeply engrossed in the book perched before him. Sarah was next to him on a stool stamping due dates into people's books, her blond ponytail dangling across her shoulders.
"Hey you guys," I greeted, walking up to the counter. "Can you help me with something?"
Chap Stique moved to pick up the phone buzzing in his back pocket and began talking to someone on the other end about the Family Force 5 concert they had to play tonight. I guessed he was speaking with Soul Glow Acitivatur. He shot a guilty look in my direction and mouthed 'sorry'.
Sarah cleared her throat. "I wish I could but we're a little swamped at the moment. Lots of kids are coming in today to get books to read on the school trip and Chap Stique has a show to play tonight. I'm sorry."
"Wonderful…Okay, I'll see you tomorrow on the bus." I waved bye to the two and rushed out the door. Now time was getting close. Krista would be mad if I was late to her house.
I guessed I'd have to do this on my own. Another block or so away was a small strip mall that was usually not crowded and had was littered with benches.
But today, I was wrong.
Time was running out. What was I going to do?