Chapter 2
Emma watched Brennan running toward the main building his books under his arm. The sight made her smile. It was his second day and he was already late. She would never understand how people could forget to check their schedule.
"Miss Micheals!"
Without hesitation Emma turned on her heels and found herself in front of a smiling Miss Wuong. She tightened her grip on her books slightly apprehensive. The Wuongs were their direct neighbours and despite their friendly attitude Emma had the feeling something was off with them.
"Can I call you Emma?"
"Yes sure. Oh thanks for the apple pie. My husband and I really appreciated it."
The couple had been the firsts to welcome them and had given them their proper greeting with an apple pie as a welcome-present. The middle aged Asian woman smiled warmly and put her hand on Emma's forearm. Instantly an uneasy feeling washed through the young psionic. Hatred, pain and in the middle of those feelings, she caught a glimpse of a dark shadow like some repressed personality. But the contact was too short to see anything more clearly.
"I'm glad you loved it. But call me Helena. I'm sure no one informed you about our monthly picnic at the end of this week. We would really be happy to see you and your husband."
Emma silently nodded. Being friendly and sociable was a part of their mission, even if she hated the part were she had to lie about her and Brennan.
"I saw you yesterday night when you came back from your last course. You seemed pretty much off."
The young woman breathed deeply. She hated being under the scrutiny of someone. She knew that the littlest mistake could ruin their mission and with the Wuong constantly observing them, it left not much freedom of movement.
"The move from New York was a bit tiring. I didn't have the time to adjust. And when we were still in our old school, I used to work shorter hours. The changes are quite huge for me."
Emma was spared another question when they entered the main building and heard the bell ringing. Quickly the two women parted, going to their respective classes.
XXX
"What do you think of the new teachers?"
Sam wearily sat with his two friends in the canteen for the midday lunch. The arrival of two younger teachers was the event of the week if not of the year. The disappearance of Sarah and Melie a few weeks ago had shaken them. New teachers coming just after those events only added to the mystery and wild rumours had quickly spread around the school.
Nina just watched the frown on Sam's face wondering what he was hiding so carefully this time. She sometimes wished she were like Patty, able to read mind.
"Well, Nina. You had a chemistry course this morning. Tell us; how is she, did you make anything explode?"
She sighed and shook her head. Her two best friends were like children. She didn't want people to learn the truth about her. Not that she was ashamed of her gift, but uncommon things were always frightening, especially when you couldn't understand them.
"You can shout if you want. I bet the whole school didn't hear you. No nothing happened. It was nice. She asked us to call her Emma. She's really patient, but her course is… a nightmare. I haven't understood a single thing."
"What were you expecting, Nina? You've never understood anything about chemistry."
Sam poked at Rory and both chuckled. The two friends just loved teasing her about her poor results when it came to science. Their playful outburst was rewarded by a slap at the back of their heads and a quiet chuckle. It was good to see them laughing again, especially Rory. The last two weeks had been a nightmare for the elemental. He was able to hide his pain well, but she knew him better than that.
"Stop teasing her. You have some weak points too. Do I have to remember you how it went with your last literature test?"
The two guys looked up and met the mossy green eyes of Patti; instantly their laughter died. She sat with them and started eating silently. Her meeting with the two new teachers had been a little unsettling. Something was definitely wrong with those two. When she had tried to read the woman's thoughts, she had hit a wall and it had been no better with the man. Either they both were like her and knew how to block her; either they were used to live with a telepath and had learned how to block him or her.
Seeing the young telepath so silent, lost in deep thoughts made the three friends uncomfortable. Patti always had a way to feel troubles.
"Patti are you worried about something?"
She pushed her plate aside with a sigh. A headache was threatening to blow and all she wanted was to find a place where she would be able to relax a little. The doubts, the fears and the pain swimming around in the heads of her friends were not helping at all.
"Yeah, I felt something unusual coming from them. They're not like the others. I think they are here for us and because of Sarah and Melie."
The arrival of Patti and Nina's boyfriends interrupted them, effectively putting an end to their conversation. The four mutants looked at each other knowing that if they wanted to talk, they would have to wait till the end of the classes.
XXX
Brennan watched his students with dread. Their lack of interest was more than evident and he knew nothing would capture their attention.
"So can anyone tell me what Frost wanted to say with his poem 'Desert places'?"
Silence, elusive stares. A few of them were looking through the windows, some were drawing but no one ready to answer his question. It was worse than what he had thought. Quickly he checked the class plan and spotted a name he had read previously in a police report.
"Rory, what do you think?"
The teenager looked up from his book dumbfounded and straightened lightly on his chair. Every teacher knew he was unable to talk about poetry. Of course the poem meant something to him, but he could not say it aloud, not in front of 24 people. It would be like showing his bare soul. So he hid it carefully beneath scorn.
"Poetry sucks."
Cheerful cries and laughter welcomed his outburst. The elemental had to smile at that one. What was he awaiting, they were still children with so much to learn.
"Ok. This poem is about solitude. It not only explains the loneliness you feel when you're alone lost in the middle of nowhere. It also talks about your inner loneliness. And as far as you don't want to talk about the subject, hopefully you'll be more inspired in front of a sheet of paper. I want you to write a few pages about what it makes you think about. I want it tomorrow on my desk. Rory you stay here."
Protesting screams were heard despite the ring of the bell. Rory looked at the teacher, waiting for his friends to get out. On his way out, Sam patted his shoulder in a supporting gesture. Rory was going to get third degree for his remark. But he was used to it especially since Sarah's disappearance. The older man was sitting on his desk watching him, seemingly awaiting an explanation but he had none.
"Am I going in detention for what I said?"
Brennan smiled and shook his head. How many times had he gone in detention for one of his remarks?
"No. You're not. Two words are not worth detention; even if I'm not ok with what you said."
Brennan paused unsure how to broach the subject. He knew that kind of kid. He had been like that even if he wasn't about to acknowledge it in front of someone else. They needed his help if they wanted to understand the disappearance of Sarah. Besides he genuinely wanted to help him.
"Is it Sarah's favorite poem?"
Pain gripped at Rory's heart and he faltered a little. Patti had been right, there was something about those two teachers. They were definitely too nice and they knew too much about him.
"With all the respect I owe you sir, that's none of your business."
"Rory, if you want to talk you know where to find me"
Brennan watched the younger elemental as he quickly left the room without another word. They were in for troubles. This kid was a slightly altered version of him when he was younger, and it wasn't good news.
XXX
"Can you hand me the pepper"
Silently Brennan gave her the container and resumed cutting the meat for their evening meal. They hadn't exchanged more than a few words since the morning and it was unnerving. Usually he was the one denying the truth. If they didn't solve the problem, whatever it was, they would have trouble dealing with the mission. The more he thought about the whole situation, the more it appeared like a mess. If he was honest, he had to admit that he was already having problems.
The elemental let out a frustrated sigh and went on cutting the meat.
"Ouch."
Emma looked up from her task only to see Brennan abruptly letting the knife down. He had cut his finger and it was bleeding. Quickly she took a clean cloth and wrapped his hand in it. The two moved to the sink and she opened the water to rinse the wound.
Reluctantly he let her unwrap his hand and put it under the cool flow. The liquid stung at his finger and he had to fight the urge to pull back.
"Emma, it's not a deadly wound. A band aid and I will be as good as new."
The young woman worriedly looked at him. Always trust him to minimize the problems and play the hero.
"Bren, let me take a look and judge by myself."
The cut was deep and nasty; but fortunately it wouldn't need any stitches. What was on his mind to distract him enough from his task?
"Let your hand under the water. I'll get the first aid kit."
The young woman ruffled through a few drawers before finding the small box. With precise moves she cleaned his finger, disinfected and bandaged it.
She was too absorbed to notice how close they were standing, how his other hand was resting on her hip squeezing it. All along the elemental watched her wondering what was happening to him. The memory of their morning dance was still fresh in his mind. It had bothered him all day, keeping his attention off his students. Emma seemed to have some strange power over him. His hand was still resting in hers and she was softly caressing his palm with her thumb. The silky touch on his calloused palm sent warmth through his arm and the fluttering feeling came back in the pit of his stomach.
Sensing his emotional shift, the psionic looked up only to find her stare trapped in earthy depths. Caught in a spell that had the intensity of a stormy sky, he took a step toward her and his hand came to rest on her neck. Slowly, as if awaiting her permission, he leaned closer his eyes never leaving hers.
His breath felt warm, spicy like a summer night wind and she wanted nothing more than to feel his lips on hers. Granting her wish the elemental closed the distance between them. Their first kiss was hesitant, nearly shy but it held a tenderness that had built with their friendship. The incredible heat radiating from her lips, the loud beating of his heart in his ears, the feeling of her pressed against him everything perfect, meant to be.
"Emma, Brennan, are you there?"
Adam's voice interrupted them abruptly. Quickly like two guilty teenagers, they parted; but he didn't let go of her. Emma rested her forehead on his chest with a sigh. His timing was as bad as could be. Brennan seemed to be even more annoyed than her. He brought his comlink close to his mouth and answered to the question slightly out of breath.
"We're here. You got any news for us?"
Adam watched the pictures displayed on his computer screen with disgust. Even if he was a doctor some things were still disturbing him.
"Yeah, the police found Sarah Walters a few hours ago. She is dead. And trust me, you don't want to see the pictures the police sent me. Have you found anything yet?"
Brennan tightened his grip on Emma. Even if it was their work, dealing with death was not something he wanted her to be exposed to. They were no more working on a disappearance; it was a murder now.
"I have some doubts about two teachers, the Wuongs Charlie and Helena. Could you do some research on them?"
Adam watched as Jesse silently typed the names and started his research.
"Sure. Do you have any lead on who might be the next victim?"
Brennan sighed.
"I don't know."
"Ok. Keep your eyes opened and socialise as much as possible."
The two mutants said goodbye to their leader and cut the connection. The young woman wearily rested her head back on his shoulder. She didn't want to think too much about the young girl they had failed to save or what had happened earlier between her and her best friend.
"What will happen Brennan if we fail? How many children will die?"
He kissed her hair gently not knowing what to say. Her arms wrapped around his neck trying to get closer to him. She needed him, his presence and when his embrace tightened around her, she knew he needed her as well. They could have stayed like that forever if the smell of burnt food hadn't called them back to reality.
"I guess we'll order pizza"
Emma shook her head slightly annoyed. She didn't want to leave the safety of his arms. It felt so natural to be like that. However she left his warmth and went to the stove, switching it off. She threw the remains in the dustbin while he called for the pizza.
"Tell me about that kid Bren."
TBC