Episode 2: A Way Out...
When I arrived at her floor, it was empty. There were two students running down the hallway. No idea who they were running from until I turned behind me. Some guards were chasing me down. I quickly turned my back against them and ran in the direction of the two students. I peeked over my shoulders to take a glimpse of my pursuers. Two had given up the chase already and had collapsed on the floor. One was still after me albeit, struggling to keep track of me. I, on the other hand, hadn't broken a sweat yet. It was weird and at the same time a good thing. I turned around and entered a classroom.
The class was in session already. I stood there in the doorway until the teacher addressed me.
"Jack! Stop staring at the class and grab a seat!", the teacher said as she looked at me angrily.
I didn't hesitate and took the only remaining seat beside a girl who had put her head down. Then I looked at the teacher. A lady in her late 50s who was wearing a turquoise green staff attire. I looked around me, there was Dan and a few others who were greeting me in silence. The rest were too focused on their books. I made a slight waving gesture to them and turned my attention to the girl beside me. It was Xavier, herself though looking a bit too tired.
"Hey, Xav! Look what I've got.", I whispered as I pulled the paper onto the desk.
"Jack?", Xavier responded in a tiring voice.
I was about to tell her about the suspension paper when suddenly my pursuer barged into the class.
"Excuse me, Ma'am bu...t I need to talk to someone.", he said as he gasped for air.
I quickly slided the paper below Xavier's book and turned around to face him. The guy's shirt was drenched in his own sweat.
"You! The one beside the girl!", he said as he laid eyes upon me and started approaching me.
Thinking that there is no way out of this I just stared back at him. The whole class focused their attention on me. Dan looked nervous as if he was guilty.
"Tell me. Why were you running away from me?", he said as he got closer to me.
"H-Huh?", I uttered since I wasn't expecting that.
Dan looked oddly relieved by that and passed a reassuring smile.
"Okay. Stop disturbing my class now. You could take Jake with you later.", the teacher said in a frustrated tone.
The guard ran out, closing the door behind him. The teacher sighed, sat down on her chair and opened her book.
"Okay, class. Go to Chapter 3 and read it silently. Once over, I would check on your home assignments.", she said as she grabbed her spectacles and started writing on a book.
I pulled out the page and showed it to Xavier. "Here's the page, Xavier.", I said as I slided it to her face.
Xavier raised her head a bit. "T-Thanks Jack. You truly saved my life today.", she said in an exhausted voice.
"Okay. Now I need a favor from you. Tell me, do you know anything about a person named Eugene Cortez.", I asked as I brought my head closer to her.
"Doesn't ring a bell", she replied after some time.
"Then… tell me about this place. This school, this world…",
"The country of Venty? Don't be stupid Jack. You were born here. We all were. How could you forget this wonderland where you can have abilities from your spirit monster? If you don't know what spirit monsters are, I would take you to the library myself.", Xavier answered back.
Thinking that I had gathered my information I accidentally snapped my fingers in front of Xavier's eyes causing her to blink and fall down on the desk.
"Uhh.. Xavier?", I asked as I looked at her.
Xavier raised her head eventually and scratched it. "W-Where am I?", she asked as she got a good look at her surroundings.
"Xavier? You okay?", I questioned as I looked at her all puzzled.
"Eugene? W-Why are you here? What's happening?", Xavier asked as she looked at her clothes.
"I was asking the same thing to you before I accidentally snapped my fingers in front of your face.", I replied.
"Ugh.. I only remember being sent with Louis to explore a rogue city. Guess we got captured and mind-changed or something.", Xavier said as she looked at the teacher.
"Louis is here too? I haven't found him yet though.", I asked
"So.. what is this place?", Xavier inquired
"Some big college complex. Just act like we're friends and call me by the name Jack.", I responded with a smile.
"Jack? Who's that and why are you smiling?", Xavier asked further.
"Some local savior of this place. For the smiling part… it's just good to see someone who I know of, in this weird world.", I replied.
"And it's good to see you two… now, onto finding Louis, if he's here.", Xavier said as she looked back into her book.
"Okay students. I have an emergency meeting to attend so behave. Class dismissed.", the teacher said as she walked out of the class.
The class's atmosphere became active again and some people left the room after the teacher. Dan and a few others approached me and Xavier.
"That was sick, dude.", Dan complimented as he went for a high-five.
"I know right. You should've seen me in the hallways.", I said as I got up and gave him a high-five.
"So, how's Xavier?", Dan asked as he looked at her.
"Tired.", I replied.
"That's understandable. She did save you from Miss. Francisca.", Dan continued as some students gathered around him.
"Mhm", I nodded unknowingly.
"We thought you were toast when the guard showed up. Thankfully, Hypo's hypnosis worked perfectly.", Dan said as he grabbed a student from the crowd and pulled him in.
"So that's what the shockwave was.", I remarked as I got a good look at the student.
He looked shy and was neatly dressed, not like the others. He also had an amulet wrapped around his neck. "Y-Yes. It took me a while to get the aura composition just right to work. Just don't show that paper to anyone else cause they might remember what actually happened.", he stuttered as he explained the shockwave.
"Hypo's new to this institution. Don't mind his "nerd-like" physique.", Dan said as he turned around to face the others.
"Meet me outside once you're done talking with Xavier. I think you have much left to discuss.", Dan left the room on that note.
I sat back and faced Xavier. "Don't worry about them.", I said as I comforted her.
"I'm not. I'm more perplexed than worried. Like, why are you here? And, how did you manage to come into my and Louis's dream?", Xavier asked as she looked at me.
"I thought it was mine to begin with. Okay, this doesn't make sense.", I replied as I got up from the bench.
"Where are you going?", Xavier asked again.
"To find answers and whereabouts of Louis.", I replied as I got up from the bench and went out of the classroom.
The hallways were bustling with laughter, chatter and other noises. I met up with Dan who was waiting for me at the entrance with a different batch of students.
"Ayy, man. Forgot to tell you that since you were gone. I took the incharge of our operations. You want it back, don't you?", Dan asked as he pulled out a wrinkled paper from one of his pockets.
"No. You can be in incharge with one condition. I want something from you.", I replied casually. Dan was taken by surprise and he put away the paper back into his pockets.
"What is it? If it's something related to my performance then don't worry. I'll take care of everything. I get why you would take a break from all this. You definitely deserve one too.", Dan continued with confidence as the students around him were motivated by his speech.
"No. I just want information about a person named Louis Pinedale. Ring a bell?", I asked.
"Louis.. umm.. yeah. He's a freshman amongst the seniors. You would find him in the A-block behind this building.", Dan replied.
"How to get there?", I followed up with another question.
"Umm.. There's a walkway just above us connecting this block to that. But why are you interested in him?", Dan asked curiously.
"It's… personal.", I responded casually
"Okay, dude. Just be careful, as far as I know he's a fighting type so you can easily get defeated if you somehow end up fighting with him.", Dan said as the others looked at each other, mumbling incoherently.
"Thanks man. I left the operation in good hands.", I complimented as I gave him a quick shoulder pat and started walking down the hallway.
"One more thing. The next class is about to begin so be quick.", Dan yelled as I began to run towards the walkway.
After some seconds, I reached the A-block. Everyone looked serious and were definitely in their 20s. I went over to a janitor who was mopping the floor.
"Hey, sir? Do you know where I could find Louis, Louis Pinedale?", I asked.
I wasn't expecting to get an answer but the janitor pointed at a window on the far end of the hallway.
"Thanks!" I said as I went over to the window.
There was the same concrete staircase which I had seen before. As I was thinking about my next move I heard someone yell my name from behind me. I turned around to find at least a dozen people, students and teachers looking at me. I quickly jumped across the window and onto the staircase. It's then when I noticed a tall, slim guy. It was Louis, one of my friends, ascending the stairs. I followed him without any hesitation, calling out his name from time to time. He didn't seem to hear my calls. As I ventured my way to him, I found the staircase to be an absolute mess. Some were leading to nowhere and some were just illogical. As I made my way to the top, I found Louis in a meditating stance overlooking some people in the park below. I took the chance. I side-stepped towards him and snapped my fingers in front of him, causing him to drop like a fly to the floor.
"W-Where is this? Oh no, Xavier is captured. I must- ugh…", Louis said as groaned in pain.
I grabbed him by his back. "Louis! You okay, bud?!", I asked.
"Eugene? Why the hell are you doing here? Doesn't matter. We must save Xavier. She's captured by those… people.", Louis said as he got up with much effort.
"She's safe, Louis. I saved her and you too", I comforted him.
"Was I too? Shit. They were smart this time around.", Louis said as he kicked the ground in anger.
"Hey! Why can't I change my form? What gives?", he continued with the same tone.
"Chill down for a second and tell me what happened.", I asked.
"Okay. So, we breached into an office but there was no one inside. Realizing that it was a trap I shoved Xavier to one of the sides. Sadly, we weren't prepared for sleeping gas. Xavier got knocked out first. I resisted for a while until I blinked. When I opened my eyes again, I was here with you. Now tell me, what is this place?", Louis shared his end of the story.
"In a college complex. Don't worry. Since I have you, we'll be escaping. Just have to notify Xavier. I have a plan. You see that gate over there?", I asked as I pointed at a reinforced steel gate lined by an electrical chain fence.
"You want me to break it with human hands? Ha, as if.", Louis satirized the situation.
"No, no. We may have human forms but we still have our abilities. Your punches could definitely rip that gate apart.", I said as I looked how high up we were.
"You sure?", Louis questioned my plan
"It's worth a shot and I am sure.", I answered back.
"Why are we escaping?", Louis asked.
"I don't prefer hanging out with my assailants. If you want to chill with them then sure. Be my guest and take my place.", I mocked.
"No, thanks.", Louis replied soon after.
"Okay. I'll wait for you two on the lower levels of this… staircase.", Louis continued briefly as he started to descend.
"Roger that. Be ready.", I waved him farewell and started to head over to the window from which I had entered from.