The New Kid
Chapter 11
Yuja: Wow. This story's really coming along! Maybe I should think of bringing back Felix. But I'm not sure where he is…
(Meanwhile, in a still unknown location, in a back alley...)
Felix: (wearing long brown coat, glasses, fake mustache, and a brown hat) This disguise should help me get back to Yuja's place without all those crazy people chasing me.
Picard: (happens to walk by for no apparent reason) Hey Felix.
Felix: Wha! Picard! How'd you see past my perfect disguise?
Picard: (shrugs) Lemurian sixth sense.
Felix: Can you do me a favor? Go get the Teleport Lapis from Isaac and bring it to me.
Picard: Why don't you just Retreat?
Felix: Does this look like a dungeon to you?
Picard: (seeing mass of girls run past alleyway in search of Felix) Is that a trick question?
(Back with Yuja and co.)
Yuja: Well, it's his own problem if he misses all the excitement. It's probably real boring wherever he's at.
The next day was Sunday, and Isaac found his friends in the usual park area as planned before leaving Ivan's house the day before. But he was late. While the others had been there since around noon, he didn't arrive until almost one.
"Isaac! There you are!" called Mia, running up to him. "We were starting to get worried."
"Um, I just got tied up at home. Sorry," he said, taking a hand from his pockets to run it through his hair. He looked like he hadn't had any sleep since the last time she had seen him.
Mia lowered her voice. "Is everything all ri-"
"Hey Mia! Isaac! Hurry up and get over here!" called Felix.
"Look Felix. One more person to watch you get beat," said Jenna beside her brother. She laughed and moved away when he glared down at her.
"Sorry I'm late. What did I miss?" asked Isaac as he reached them all at the benches.
Jenna started laughing again. "Felix just got whooped by Garet in an arm wrestling match."
"Jennnaaaa."
"Eep!" Jenna hurried to hide behind Garet, still giggling.
Garet looked nervously from Jenna to the approaching Felix. "Wha- Hey, don't drag me into this!" he said, waving his hands in front of him.
"C'mon, guys. How about a game of soccer instead?" suggested Mia.
Felix raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Now we're talking!" He bent to pick up his soccer ball from the ground. "You may be able to beat me at arm wrestling, Garet, but I can cream you at soccer any day."
The group divided into two teams: Garet, Isaac, and Mia on one, Felix, Jenna, and Ivan on the other. Again, Sheba sat out. Soccer just wasn't her cup of tea. It only took five minutes for Felix to score the first goal past Mia. Jenna almost didn't have to move at all unless to get the ball back to Felix for him to score again. After only half an hour, the score was 5-1. The 1 had been the result of Garet passing to Isaac before Felix could take back the ball. Even then, it had been a lucky shot.
"Give it up already, Garet. You just can't beat me at this game," teased Felix after scoring another goal.
Garet growled in his throat. "Maybe, but I can still beat you anytime when it comes to strength."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. But at least I have skill."
"Can we have a break now?" whined Jenna before Garet could think of a comeback. Everyone agreed and they made their way back to the benches.
"So, is everyone ready to go back to school tomorrow?" asked Ivan with a knowing smile.
Garet and Felix both groaned. They had another English project due that week. Isaac squirmed at the thought of the math work he had waiting for him at home. He figured Mrs. Maris had had a bad week or something, judging from the 50 some question assignment she had given the class.
"What momentary insanity compelled you to ask that kind of question, Ivan? I still have an English essay to write for tomorrow!" said Jenna.
Isaac laughed. "Speaking of assignments, have you finished your math work yet Garet?" Garet seemed to pale at the thought, which Isaac took to be a no.
"I hate to say this, but thanks for the reminder, Ivan," said Felix. "Should we all just go to Garet's house or something and work on our homework again?"
"Why is it always my house?"
"'Cause your house is the biggest."
"So? Why don't we go to someone else's place for once?"
Garet didn't have to say it. Isaac already knew Garet like a brother, and he also knew that Garet didn't want everyone at his house while his parents were in town. As far as they knew, Garet was part of one big happy rich family.
"How about your house for once, Felix? Then I can eat all of your snacks."
"That's what you think," said Felix, but he agreed none the less. The group started moving away from the benches and towards the gap in the bushes that led to the parking lot.
Jenna looked over her shoulder as they walked. "Isaac, are you coming?"
The Adept had trailed behind at first, but then came to a stop, looking back the other direction. At Jenna's words, he looked forward again. "Um, yeah, I'm coming." He started to follow again, but slowed as the others exited their area and turned to the left. "Um, I'll just catch up later, ok? I have some things to take care of." Before anyone could argue, he had gone right, rounded the corner, and was gone.
He didn't know where he was going, but the whispers were too loud in his mind to ignore this time. They lured him on, drawing him to an area littered with old trees and benches with flaking paint. He had never been in this area of the park before. As Isaac passed near an old oak, one whisper seemed to stand out from the rest. Isaac stopped and faced the tree, which looked far older than most of the others around it. As he stared up at the ancient tree, the single whisper gained in volume. Isaac reached out and rested a hand against the coarse brown bark.
Isaac'sfroze as a rush of emotions flooded his mind. Only that one voice could be heard, drowning out the others. A booming voice that he couldn't make out, but still somehow understood. The view of the surrounding grass and trees vanished. Isaac instead found himself standing alone among the trees, the ancient oak looming in front of him, waves of heat making the image swirl and bend. Flames shot up around him, the heat almost unbearable as the fire spread, turning everything red and orange. As the burning element danced around him and jumped up some of the other trees, screams of pain erupted in Isaac's head. Isaac pushed his hands against his ears, but the horrifying sound was in his head, and he couldn't block it out.
To the right, the fire devoured the base of another tree, bringing it crashing to the ground and sending red embers into the air. Isaac could only watch on as the tree was finished off by the flames, its voice fading away as it died. Isaac spun back around to face the old oak. It seemed almost to be watching him, staring him down and sizing him up. A soft rain began to fall, weakening the fire and making thin streams of smoke waft into the air as the rain gradually strengthened into a steady downpour.
And then it was gone. Isaac was back in the green park he knew with the sun shining in the blue sky overhead. Glancing around, everything seemed perfectly normal, though he noticed that many of the present trees were different and younger than the ones in his vision.
He quickly pulled his hand away from the tree, breathing heavy as though he had just run in a marathon. Again, he stared up towards the top of the oak, and again felt as though it was staring back down at him. The whispers he was always hearing really did come from the trees and plants around him, and each one seemed to have its own voice, its own emotions, its own memories. Was this really what it meant to be a Venus Adept?
The realization that he wasn't alone cut off his thoughts. The trees weren't the only things watching him. Isaac looked to his right just in time to see a glimpse of sea green hair and a black jacket vanish behind a row of hedges.
It's him!
Isaac took off after the person, but when he rounded the corner the person had vanished. Isaac hurried to the next corner, not being at all careful as he turned and came face-to-face with…
…A younger girl with short blonde hair. Isaac jumped back, then let out a sigh of relief as he realized who it was. "Oh, sorry Sheba. I didn't see you there."
Sheba raised an eyebrow. "Judging from how fast you came around that hedge, I'd say you didn't see much. Why the rush? Where's the fire?"
"Huh?" Fire? "Oh, yeah. Listen, did a guy with blue hair and a black jacket come this way?"
"What? Alex isn't here, is he?" She crossed her arms. "You could've just said the name instead of trying to describe him. The image I get from just hearing his name is annoying enough."
Isaac ran a hand through his hair again, trying to calm back down. This just wasn't his week. "No, not Alex. This is another guy. An older one. He was probably wearing black sunglasses, too."
"Sorry, but I haven't seen anyone come this way. Actually, I was looking for you."
"Why? And how'd you know I was this way?"
Sheba looked at him like it was the dumbest question she had ever heard. "I'm a Jupiter Adept, Isaac. I can track down almost anyone, but other Adepts are easiest because of their Psynergy levels and types."
"But why were you looking for me?"
"You didn't get much sleep last night."
"How'd you," another glare. "Jupiter Adept. Right. Sorry. You read my mind, didn't you?"
"In a way."
"Then why didn't I notice? I did when Ivan read my mind."
"Ivan used Mind Read on you while you were off in La-La Land. You'd have to be denser than Garet not to notice."
"Garet's not that bad."
"I'm not here to discuss Garet's intelligence or lack there of, Isaac." She turned and started to walk slowly away. "Come on."
Isaac glanced around again, but the man was nowhere to be seen. "Uh, okay." He followed Sheba. "So what did you want to talk about?"
"You haven't been sleeping well for the past three nights."
"So?"
"You need rest, Isaac. The strength of your Psynergy is counting on you getting enough rest, and your very life may as well."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm sorry, Isaac, but I can only see so much."
"You mean, you can see into the future? Didn't you say only really strong Jupiter Adepts could do that?"
"Yes, or really unfortunate ones." She sighed sadly as she walked. "I can see both into the future and the past, but only a little bit."
"You're that strong?"
"No. I'm no stronger than Ivan. Some Adepts just have different kinds of Psynergy strengths."
There was a pause before Isaac spoke again. "Is that why you hate normal people so much? You saw into the past?"
"What I've seen is of no importance to you," she replied shortly.
"Fair enough. But if you ever want to talk or anything…"
"That's one thing we have in common, Isaac. We both know the meaning of secrecy. Many people will call us devils and demons, when they are the ones that abandon us in the streets with absolutely nothing."
"Is that what happened?"
Sheba hesitated, then finally nodded. "But like I said, it isn't important. You need to go home, Isaac. Finish your school assignments, then try to get some rest."
"You've seen into the future, haven't you? That's why you're telling me this. Is there something I should know, Sheba?"
"Just get some rest." She tried to move away, but Isaac got in front of her.
"Sheba, what's going on?"
Sheba glared up at him. "You could never understand it. Even I'm not sure what all of it means."
"Try me. I'll decide if I understand it or not. Maybe I could even help you understand whatever you saw even better-"
"It's not a game, Isaac!" Isaac jumped at Sheba's outburst. She never seemed the type to raise her voice. Sheba looked down and took a steadying breath before looking back up. "Some things just have to be handled alone. That's just how things have to be." And with that, she shoved past him and didn't look back.
Isaac watched her go. What could she have seen for the near future that could make her so upset? It had something to do with him, he was certain of that. But she was probably right. He wasn't a Jupiter Adept, so maybe he couldn't ever understand. But he could think of one person who probably could.
"Hi, is Ivan there?" There was a pause as he listened to the woman at the other end of the line. "This is Isaac, a friend from school."
"Oh, of course! Hold on for just a moment. Ivan! Telephone!"
"Who is it?" The younger voice could barely be heard in the background.
"He says he's a school friend of yours. Isaac, I think."
"Okay. Hold on." There was a pause and then, "Hi Isaac. Is everything okay? You left so quickly, we weren't sure if everything was alright."
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"I think Sheba tried to follow you. Did she find you?"
"Actually, that's why I was calling."
Isaac put his math textbook back in his school bag. It had taken almost two hours, but his math homework was finally done. Isaac carried his bag down the stairs to set it next to the front door before returning to his room and stretching out on his bed. Sheba had told him to get some rest, and he was pretty tired. Looking to the side, he once again saw the picture of him on a swing and his parents on either side of him.
"Isaac? Isaac, sweetie, wake up. Please wake up."
"Mom?"
"What happened, Isaac? Where's your father?"
"Mom, I-I'm sorry."
"Isaac?"
"I couldn't do it. I-I couldn't stop it."
"What?"
"I-I-I couldn't-"
"Mrs. Wood? Could we have a word with you?"
"Of course. I'll be right back, sweetie."
The voices moved away. "Wha-What are you saying? That my husband is-" More voices, and then Isaac heard something that he could never forget.
His mother yelling and crying in the hall.
Isaac looked away from the picture. It was because of him. Maybe it wasn't exactly his fault, but he was still responsible for everything.
"Iiivvaaannn." Oh boy. Now she was mad. "Just what did you tell him?"
"I swear, Sheba, I didn't tell him a thing about your vision."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
Now he had done it. The truth would make her get mad at him, and not telling her up front would result in her possibly reading his mind and getting even madder. It was time to pick the lesser of the two evils. Now, just which was the lesser again?
"Uh, I just, um, well, er -"
"You told him."
Ivan's head dropped. "I'm sorry Sheba. I didn't tell him much though, if that helps at all."
Sheba stood silently for a moment in front of Ivan, her arms crossed. Ivan shifted uncomfortably on the couch. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I just thought it would help him understand what was happening better-"
"You're right."
"-and we need him to understand so he can - what?"
"I said you're right. He does need to understand. But we have to be careful. Just because we know what's happening doesn't mean it's safe to share it. By trying to prepare and protect him, we could easily be setting him up for even more danger."
Ivan bit his lip. "I know it was a risk, but I couldn't help it. I just had to tell him. Those jerks could come for him at any time."
Sheba lowered her arms. "I know. But we don't know when it will happen. It could be as soon as tomorrow, or as far away as a month." She turned her back to Ivan and took a few steps away.
"It's the uncertainty that worries me. Some Jupiter Adept I'm turning out to be. You're the one with all the real powers."
"Don't say that, Ivan." Sheba came back to sit next to her friend. "If it weren't for you, I never would've left the orphanage." She rested her chin on her clasped hands, staring blankly ahead of her. "No normal person wants to adopt a freak."
Yuja: OK! So, how was that one?
Isaac: I think I need to go on strike as a muse for you.
Yuja: Are you sure about that? (holds up her new weapon, the Everlasting Roll of Duct Tape)
Isaac: o.O; Not anymore…
Yuja: And now, for some review responses. I felt I just had to answer these ones.
libby - Oops. Sorry about that. I knew I would get in trouble for promising quicker updates. But the would-be chapters 11 and 12 are no longer chapters 11 and 12, and I've found that the final year of high school is the most time consuming of all. I've been thinking through this story more than I originally had been when I started it, so I've been adding and deleting several upcoming things, including an extra chapter… or two…
Dekra Dentao - Thanks for the review and the offer, but I'm pretty sure on how I want this story and who is going to be introduced in it. Whether Feizhi is in it or not, well, I won't say just yet. Everyone will just have to keep reading to find out. But thanks anyway.
Sorceress Sakura - Ah! A fellow anime freak! I practically live off anime and manga. Yep, the song I kept listening to was "Dance of Curse" from Escaflowne. You were right. It's just one word. I used to watch it when it was airing on Fox Kids every Saturday morning, but then they suddenly stopped showing it. Something about it being too violent for the younger viewers…
Isaac: No wonder you're so crazy over anime stuff. You were exposed at an early age.
Yuja: Four words Isaac. Toonami on Cartoon Network. Four more words: Adult Swim on CN. And now I'm hooked on this song "Inner Universe" from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, even though I've never had a chance to watch an entire episode.
Daidairo - Gee. Thanks! I never thought people would really like this story. Guess I was wrong, which is apparently a very good thing.
Min the Demon- Yay! I posted a good update! I was worried someone would complain about how I explained the decline of the Adepts throughout history. Thankies for all the reviews!
Last Sheikah - Even though you didn't review for the last chapter, I figured your chapter 9 review at least deserved a reply since I forgot review responses last time. You actually glomped your computer because I updated? For some odd reason, that little fact really boosts my… well, I guess it's my morale.
Jenna: How many times in the past week have you're friends ended up flying-tackle-glomping you online?
Yuja: I'm not sure anymore. I lost count.
Isaac: And then Yuja almost glomped the TV when KidsWB started playing new episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh again.
Yuja: . Whee! I finally get to see new eppies of Yami kicking himself for what he did to poor Yugi! (even if it was an accident...)
Spirit Seer - Thanks for the reviews. I was actually online when you were submitting them, and the sound effects on my messenger window almost gave me a heart attack as I got the review notices from (I hadn't turned down the volume on the computer).
Meneil - Yay! A new reviewer! Congratulations. Your review was the one that reminded me last weekthat I needed to get my butt moving and transfer this chapter from my laptop and onto the web. ; I actually forgot that I hadn't uploaded it yet.
Yuja: And I now come to the point of extreme writer's block. I know where I want this story to go (considering how I already have 3 future chapters written), but I'm not sure how to get there. And don't forget that I'm trying tosurvive to the end ofhigh school right now, I'm basically taking the highest level courses in the school (college level stuff), and I'm now stuck in an English class that requires me to write an analysis of our reading assignments every night. So, to make a long story short, I now only have the weekends to work on pretty much anything not related to classwork, and even then my teachers are piling up the homework. So, um, if the next update takes a while, um, you now know why... Gomen nasai.