Government Project X: Bolvangar chapter three
His skin was so pale; he had blonde hair that was almost white, he was tall and lean, and wearing a deep red crimson long sleeve shirt with blue jeans. His back was turned, while Stella and I just starred at him in amazement. Christine was right. he's not that bad looking at all. He finally turned around, and I think both our jaws dropped to the floor. He had soft lips, long bangs, bright green eyes and his smile was as bright as the moon. Stella found her words first and introduced us. "I'm Stella, this drooling girl is Courtney, her deamon is Nagataka and mine is Masashiro!" She said cheerfully. "Hello, my name is Seki Soholmas and this is Yoshiko." His voice was calm and smooth, just like his arctic fox. He looked over at me and gave a short laugh. "Is she always like that?" He asked smiling. "Oh? Her? No, not usually. But really, there's not excuse for her." Stella said, nudging me in the side. After I pulled together a few sentences, I held out my hand for him to shake it. "My pleasure to meet you Courtney. It's been a long time." Seki said, grasping my hand gently and kissing it politely. "H-How about we take you for a tour of the place before Mrs. Coulter get here." I said, stumbling with my words. "Oh, I believe I've already met her, she left in a hurry once she saw me." He said calmly. Stella and I exchanged looks of confusion and opened up the door. He waited for us to pass through, and then he followed us down the hallway. Seki was silent and watchful, nodding his head to each kid that passed by. Who is this guy? He is different. but not that strange. Maybe Nagataka had a false alarm this time.
The more we got to know him, the more pleasant he became. Nagataka and Masashiro seemed to have a watchful eye out for him, and almost could see something that Stella and I couldn't. "Nagataka, what's wrong with you?" I whispered to him. "Seki isn't human. He barely seems alive." He whispered in my ear, still starring at Seki. "WHAT?!" I yelled at him, unfortunately everyone else did as well. Stella have me a "What are you doing?!" type look and Seki just gave me a soft smile, like he was confirming what Nagataka said. I pulled Stella aside and looked down at Masashiro, then to Nagataka. He nodded and jumped down from my shoulder, landing in front of Masashiro and right away started a serious conversation. I looked at Stella, with a look of extreme seriousness on my face. "Courtney? What's going on with you?" She asked suspiciously. "Stella, Nagataka really thinks that Seki is different." I said. "How different?" She demanded. "Nagataka thinks he's not even human, not even alive." I told her. She gave me a look that could kill and walked back to Seki. "Fine. don't believe me" I grumbled, taking Nagataka back in my arms and walking back to Stella and Seki. "Masashiro believes that this boy isn't human either. He's talked to Stella as well, but she doesn't believe him." Nagataka told me quietly. I nodded and followed behind the two, watching Seki just as close as the deamons this time. He looked like every other 15-year-old guy, but he seemed to notice the little things. Like he's already seen death and he wants to make sure he knows what life has to offer this time around. "I don't know what to think of him Nagataka. He seems harmless, but there is something wrong with him." I whispered to him. "Just stay calm for now. I'm sure we'll figure out his secret later." He whispered back.
The day dragged on, and Seki still continued to hang out with us. I thought by now some group of guys would take him in, but we are the oldest, and the outcasts. So maybe it'd be better if we stick together, and it's not like I mind either. Seki is really nice, polite and very considerate. But Stella has been giving me these looks like "What are you waiting for? We both know you like him." If you ask me, Stella and Seki would be much better together.
Honestly though, Seki is cute, but I can't like him. I have a reputation to keep as being the total outcast of the whole place, and everyone knows it too. So, for me to get all soft and loveable, well, it wouldn't be right. "It wouldn't kill you to show a softer side to everyone since I'm the only one that gets to see it every night." Nagataka whispered into my ear. I completely ignored him. What did he know? So, we continued our endless walk through the hospital, telling Seki about each of us, and about what to do and what not to do. He seemed to understand well, but didn't talk anymore about himself.
The whole day passed rather quickly with Seki around. It was nice to see a new face and learn something more than Math, English and History. Which is all we get here, besides an art class, writing and an athletic class. It keeps us busy, but it's mostly a cover to keep us from getting suspicious and missing home. The older ones see through it, but the younger kids are blind by its cheap attempt to keep us happy. If I had a simple carefree mind like theirs, I would be too.
Dinner was good like always, we had mash potatoes and a puny little steak. The usual for Friday nights, but it's also movie night, and that means popcorn. It's our special treat for being good. But for the kids that misbehave in any way, they get put in a room by themselves for the weekend, or worse.
At last movie time rolled around and the smell of butter, cheese and caramel clogged our noses, danced upon our tongues and lifted everyone's spirit a few notches, except Seki's. He still seemed quiet and was now off in a serious daydream. He sat in the corner or the cafeteria, gazing out the window with his arctic fox daemon, Yoshiko in his lap. His eyes were glassy and dazing up at the full moon, he seemed lost and out of touch with reality. "Stella, look over at Seki, what's up with him?" I asked nudging her side. She looked over at him, and then slowly walked up to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. She started talking to him, but he didn't move. His lips didn't move, nor his head and not even his body. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he died, but I could see his chest move in and out, which was the only indication that he was alive. Stella walked back over to me and shook her head. "I don't know what's wrong with him, he's not responding." She told me, sounding very worried. "You think he cracked from all the insanity here after one day?" I asked half joking. She just shrugged, not finding it funny. The movie was only an hour long, and it was a documentary on frozen tundras. It seemed like it would never end, but I noticed everyone's daemons seemed to get chatty and playful, while Seki was away in his own thoughts. Nagataka himself became hyper active and jumpy at the same time, which became hard to control him. Stella got a kick out of it, and couldn't stop laughing. Luckily, we were being watched by Christine, so she enjoyed the laughter, just like the rest of us.
After the movie, everyone started to head back to his or her rooms, but Seki was still seated by the window and refused to move. Stella and I eventually left him in the cafeteria to make the night rounds. Stella helps me out with the night rounds, she takes the bottom floors while I take the top and we meet on the fifth floor, and then go to bed. Night rounds are the best, you get to yell at the kids after 11:30, and get to stay up past 12:30 doing absolutely nothing.
Walking down the hallway I noticed that the kids were unusually quiet and well behaved. It was like that on every floor, the girls were reading old magazines with much interest and the boys were playing with their action figurines. All the daemons seemed to take an interest in their partner's hobbies at the moment as well. "Nagataka, this is really weird. Why is everyone behaving?" I asked. "I don't know Courtney, maybe the movie killed their ambitious ways for tonight." He said joyfully. "Yeah, it's a nice change." I replied happily. Before I knew it, I'm saying good night to Stella and walking back to my room on the tenth floor. As I approached my door, I looked down the hallway to see another one wide open, so I left my door and walked towards it. I stopped right out front to see "Seki Soholmas" printed on a green plastic sign, and right away I thought that Mrs. Coulter had taken him away from us already. "NO!" I screamed out desperately and ran inside his empty room. But once I stopped and looked around, everything told me he was still here. His deep red shirt was laid neatly on his bed along with his faded jeans and a dresser drawer was open showing his blue pajama's folded nicely in a pile. "Well Seki's stuff is here, but there's no Seki." I thought out loud. I slowly walked out of the room, and took the stairs at the end of the hallway up to the roof. The door that blocked the roof from us was old and heavy, with a large silver lock hooked over the handle. Luckily, the cold weather froze the lock, causing it to crumble and crack. So with a hard shove, placing all my weigh behind my hands, I stumbled on the icy roof. I looked down at the thin layer of snow to see footprints, not boot prints, actual foot prints. "What the.?" I said as I looked up to be stunned.
His skin was so pale; he had blonde hair that was almost white, he was tall and lean, and wearing a deep red crimson long sleeve shirt with blue jeans. His back was turned, while Stella and I just starred at him in amazement. Christine was right. he's not that bad looking at all. He finally turned around, and I think both our jaws dropped to the floor. He had soft lips, long bangs, bright green eyes and his smile was as bright as the moon. Stella found her words first and introduced us. "I'm Stella, this drooling girl is Courtney, her deamon is Nagataka and mine is Masashiro!" She said cheerfully. "Hello, my name is Seki Soholmas and this is Yoshiko." His voice was calm and smooth, just like his arctic fox. He looked over at me and gave a short laugh. "Is she always like that?" He asked smiling. "Oh? Her? No, not usually. But really, there's not excuse for her." Stella said, nudging me in the side. After I pulled together a few sentences, I held out my hand for him to shake it. "My pleasure to meet you Courtney. It's been a long time." Seki said, grasping my hand gently and kissing it politely. "H-How about we take you for a tour of the place before Mrs. Coulter get here." I said, stumbling with my words. "Oh, I believe I've already met her, she left in a hurry once she saw me." He said calmly. Stella and I exchanged looks of confusion and opened up the door. He waited for us to pass through, and then he followed us down the hallway. Seki was silent and watchful, nodding his head to each kid that passed by. Who is this guy? He is different. but not that strange. Maybe Nagataka had a false alarm this time.
The more we got to know him, the more pleasant he became. Nagataka and Masashiro seemed to have a watchful eye out for him, and almost could see something that Stella and I couldn't. "Nagataka, what's wrong with you?" I whispered to him. "Seki isn't human. He barely seems alive." He whispered in my ear, still starring at Seki. "WHAT?!" I yelled at him, unfortunately everyone else did as well. Stella have me a "What are you doing?!" type look and Seki just gave me a soft smile, like he was confirming what Nagataka said. I pulled Stella aside and looked down at Masashiro, then to Nagataka. He nodded and jumped down from my shoulder, landing in front of Masashiro and right away started a serious conversation. I looked at Stella, with a look of extreme seriousness on my face. "Courtney? What's going on with you?" She asked suspiciously. "Stella, Nagataka really thinks that Seki is different." I said. "How different?" She demanded. "Nagataka thinks he's not even human, not even alive." I told her. She gave me a look that could kill and walked back to Seki. "Fine. don't believe me" I grumbled, taking Nagataka back in my arms and walking back to Stella and Seki. "Masashiro believes that this boy isn't human either. He's talked to Stella as well, but she doesn't believe him." Nagataka told me quietly. I nodded and followed behind the two, watching Seki just as close as the deamons this time. He looked like every other 15-year-old guy, but he seemed to notice the little things. Like he's already seen death and he wants to make sure he knows what life has to offer this time around. "I don't know what to think of him Nagataka. He seems harmless, but there is something wrong with him." I whispered to him. "Just stay calm for now. I'm sure we'll figure out his secret later." He whispered back.
The day dragged on, and Seki still continued to hang out with us. I thought by now some group of guys would take him in, but we are the oldest, and the outcasts. So maybe it'd be better if we stick together, and it's not like I mind either. Seki is really nice, polite and very considerate. But Stella has been giving me these looks like "What are you waiting for? We both know you like him." If you ask me, Stella and Seki would be much better together.
Honestly though, Seki is cute, but I can't like him. I have a reputation to keep as being the total outcast of the whole place, and everyone knows it too. So, for me to get all soft and loveable, well, it wouldn't be right. "It wouldn't kill you to show a softer side to everyone since I'm the only one that gets to see it every night." Nagataka whispered into my ear. I completely ignored him. What did he know? So, we continued our endless walk through the hospital, telling Seki about each of us, and about what to do and what not to do. He seemed to understand well, but didn't talk anymore about himself.
The whole day passed rather quickly with Seki around. It was nice to see a new face and learn something more than Math, English and History. Which is all we get here, besides an art class, writing and an athletic class. It keeps us busy, but it's mostly a cover to keep us from getting suspicious and missing home. The older ones see through it, but the younger kids are blind by its cheap attempt to keep us happy. If I had a simple carefree mind like theirs, I would be too.
Dinner was good like always, we had mash potatoes and a puny little steak. The usual for Friday nights, but it's also movie night, and that means popcorn. It's our special treat for being good. But for the kids that misbehave in any way, they get put in a room by themselves for the weekend, or worse.
At last movie time rolled around and the smell of butter, cheese and caramel clogged our noses, danced upon our tongues and lifted everyone's spirit a few notches, except Seki's. He still seemed quiet and was now off in a serious daydream. He sat in the corner or the cafeteria, gazing out the window with his arctic fox daemon, Yoshiko in his lap. His eyes were glassy and dazing up at the full moon, he seemed lost and out of touch with reality. "Stella, look over at Seki, what's up with him?" I asked nudging her side. She looked over at him, and then slowly walked up to him, resting a hand on his shoulder. She started talking to him, but he didn't move. His lips didn't move, nor his head and not even his body. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he died, but I could see his chest move in and out, which was the only indication that he was alive. Stella walked back over to me and shook her head. "I don't know what's wrong with him, he's not responding." She told me, sounding very worried. "You think he cracked from all the insanity here after one day?" I asked half joking. She just shrugged, not finding it funny. The movie was only an hour long, and it was a documentary on frozen tundras. It seemed like it would never end, but I noticed everyone's daemons seemed to get chatty and playful, while Seki was away in his own thoughts. Nagataka himself became hyper active and jumpy at the same time, which became hard to control him. Stella got a kick out of it, and couldn't stop laughing. Luckily, we were being watched by Christine, so she enjoyed the laughter, just like the rest of us.
After the movie, everyone started to head back to his or her rooms, but Seki was still seated by the window and refused to move. Stella and I eventually left him in the cafeteria to make the night rounds. Stella helps me out with the night rounds, she takes the bottom floors while I take the top and we meet on the fifth floor, and then go to bed. Night rounds are the best, you get to yell at the kids after 11:30, and get to stay up past 12:30 doing absolutely nothing.
Walking down the hallway I noticed that the kids were unusually quiet and well behaved. It was like that on every floor, the girls were reading old magazines with much interest and the boys were playing with their action figurines. All the daemons seemed to take an interest in their partner's hobbies at the moment as well. "Nagataka, this is really weird. Why is everyone behaving?" I asked. "I don't know Courtney, maybe the movie killed their ambitious ways for tonight." He said joyfully. "Yeah, it's a nice change." I replied happily. Before I knew it, I'm saying good night to Stella and walking back to my room on the tenth floor. As I approached my door, I looked down the hallway to see another one wide open, so I left my door and walked towards it. I stopped right out front to see "Seki Soholmas" printed on a green plastic sign, and right away I thought that Mrs. Coulter had taken him away from us already. "NO!" I screamed out desperately and ran inside his empty room. But once I stopped and looked around, everything told me he was still here. His deep red shirt was laid neatly on his bed along with his faded jeans and a dresser drawer was open showing his blue pajama's folded nicely in a pile. "Well Seki's stuff is here, but there's no Seki." I thought out loud. I slowly walked out of the room, and took the stairs at the end of the hallway up to the roof. The door that blocked the roof from us was old and heavy, with a large silver lock hooked over the handle. Luckily, the cold weather froze the lock, causing it to crumble and crack. So with a hard shove, placing all my weigh behind my hands, I stumbled on the icy roof. I looked down at the thin layer of snow to see footprints, not boot prints, actual foot prints. "What the.?" I said as I looked up to be stunned.