Stacked Deck - Chapter 2: Angel's First Power

Stacked Deck - Chapter 2: Angel's First Power

"TK?"

I turned around to see Kari. There was an odd look on her face, almost like she knew something I didn't. "Yeah, Kari?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"Not really. Why do you ask?"

"You're not wearing your hat." She was really troubled. She knew something, but didn't really seem to believe it. Something about me. My sense of unease returned.

"I decided not to wear it. What's wrong with that?" I was probably going to have to drag this out of her she seemed to reluctant to tell me. I didn't have time; I'd be late for class if I didn't leave soon.

She seemed to sense my urgency. "TK... Takeru. You are the Angel of Hope." There was reverence in her voice when she said that.

"What?" I couldn't believe it. This was some practical joke she was playing. It had to be. "Kari..."

The bell for classes rang and I turned to walk down the hallway, late. She followed and placed her hand on my arm to stop me. I can't really describe what happened next, but it felt like waking up.

When I did wake up, I was in the nurse's office. I was told Kari had brought me here after I fainted in the hallway. I hadn't fainted. I know that for sure. Kari knew that, too. Now I had all the time in the world to think about what Kari had said before my parents got there to take me home.

:Takeru...:

I looked around the room in bafflement. There was no one there, and yet I had heard that voice as if the speaker were standing right next to me. I my scan of the room I had seen my backpack. The mysterious package, that I hadn't opened yet, was still inside. I reached for it...

:Takeru, listen... The hope will come from you...:

I was frowning in puzzlement when my parents walked through the door. When they saw me the look on their faces changed. It seemed as if they didn't recognize me.

"He doesn't look sick. Are you sure?" That was from my mom. Her voice was angry, and she was yelling at the nurse.

I couldn't understand what was going on. Why didn't they care now? What happened when Kari touched me to make things change like this? How had I changed?

I caught my reflection in the window, and understood. The face I saw wasn't mine. I wasn't boring old TK anymore. But what was I?