Chapter 12
"This is Pogue, apparently I have better things to do at the moment then answer your call so leave a message and I'll get back to you when I feel like it."
Tyler cursed under his breath and waited for the line to beep. "Pogue, it's me. I was just calling to see if you're okay since you weren't at school today. Give me a call back when you get this. Bye."
He closed his phone and shoved it back into his pocket as he swung the strap of his backpack over his shoulder. The afternoon bell rang a few short seconds afterwards and he quietly joined the commotion of the rest of Spencer's students as they hurried off towards their next classes.
He entered his afternoon math class and took his normal seat in the last row, giving a nod to the smaller boy that sat in the seat next to him. Reid and Pogue both had their English class at this time so he was alone. He didn't mind; he normally used this hour to sort out his head if something was bothering him.
(Like right now...)
Tyler bit his lip and rested his chin on his fist. Pogue's absence was really starting to bother him. The small voice in the back of his head assured him that he was overreacting; Pogue was just staying home because his head was bothering him again or something. But the other part of him was starting to grow uneasy. He remembered the last time he had this feeling he found Pogue laying in the drainage ditch two hours later.
Tyler shook his head and tried to focus on his instructor as he started writing a few problems on the blackboard for the class to do. He quickly copied them down and started working intently on them. After finishing the first two he started working on the third when a loud knock grabbed his attention and he looked up in time to see an office aid hand his instructor a small slip.
"Mr. Sims, Provost Higgins wants to see you in his office."
Tyler gazed down at him in disbelief. The Provost wanted to see him? He gathered his stuff up quietly and climbed down the sections. The instructor handed him the note as he passed and the second the door closed behind him, Tyler unfolded the small green paper. Sure enough it was it was his name and it was even spelled correctly. That was unusual, he'd only be inside the Provost's office a few times and every time Higgins hardly ever remembered his name and never said it correctly.
Swallowing his nervousness, Tyler headed down the deserted hallway towards the fourth floor where the Provost's office was.
--
Reid sighed and crumpled the green note with his hand. The Provost's office...what the hell did he do now?
The secretary glared at him from her desk as he tossed the slip on the floor and he shot her a dark look. She rolled her eyes and ducked back down behind her computer and the small office was filled with the sounds of her thin fingers tipping away at the keyboard.
He sighed again, making sure he was loud enough to annoy the secretary and slumped back against the hard wooden bench. He tried counting the dots for a moment and then gave up when he realized he wasn't that bored. The office door cracked open a short moment later and thankful to have a small distraction he turned his head towards it. When he saw who it was that entered he nearly fell off the bench.
(Tyler!?)
Sure enough, the youngest Ipswich member shyly entered the office and shut the door behind him. His eyes locked on Reid for a short moment before he showed the secretary his slip. She squinted at it, her eyes moving back and forth as she read it.
"Ah yes. You may sit and wait with Mr. Garwin there." She said as she pointed at the wooden bench that Reid was sitting at.
Tyler nodded and slowly shuffled over towards Reid.
"Hey."
Reid gave him a half smile, his spirits lifting from the sight of the dark-haired boy. Tyler sat down in the spot next to him, looking around the room nervously.
"What are you doing here?"
"Hell if I know. I just got called out of class for no reason. You?"
"Same."
Tyler eyed the secretary nervously as he finished and Reid took the opportunity to let his eyes drift over the younger boy's form. Tyler looked nervous, almost anxious. His blue eyes where filled with worry as they jumped back and forth across the room.
Something painfully tugged at Reid's stomach as he watched. Why was Tyler that upset? Surly being sent to the Provost's office wouldn't do that to him? He waited until the secretary wasn't looking before he leaned closer to him.
"What's wrong?"
Tyler didn't even raise his head. "Nothing, just wondering why I got called down here. I haven't done anything."
"Me neither, for once." Reid replied.
Even though his head was still lowered, Reid heard Tyler chuckle softly at that. His heart skipped a beat at the sound.
"No talking!"
Both boys flinched from the secretary's voice and remained quiet. Tyler kept his head lowered and Reid glared at the secretary's head for a long moment before he dared to open his mouth again.
"Tyler what's wrong? I know something other then this is bothering you."
There was a long period of silence from the other boy and Reid was about to open his mouth again when Tyler finally spoke.
"I don't know, I just have a weird feeling all of a sudden."
"About what?" Reid asked as he leaned closer.
Tyler sighed deeply before he replied. "About Pogue."
(Pogue?)
Reid growled quietly but managed to cover it by clearing his throat. Tyler didn't seem to notice, something that he was thankful for because he really didn't feel like explaining himself. Was he actually jealous?
"Why are you worried about Pogue?" He asked, barley managing to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
It was a long time before Tyler raised his head and answered him.
"He hasn't been in any of our classes today and I called his cell but it's off. I don't know I just have this weird feeling."
Reid rolled his eyes. Sure, if he skived off a day of school Tyler wouldn't care but the second their new fearless leader got one little headache and stayed home the younger boy was always wringing his hands nervously. If he disappeared for a week would Tyler even notice?
"I'm sure he's fine Tyler. We went through this the last time you couldn't get a hold of him, remember."
Tyler finally raised his head and stared at him. "Reid, the last time I had this feeling I found Pogue on the side of the road almost dead, remember."
Even though Tyler kept his voice even, Reid couldn't help but flinch. The younger boy's eyes were gazing intently at him, forcing him to swallow his pride and back down. The two of them endeared a long, painful silence before the large, polished wooden door of the Provost's office slowly swung open. Higgins strolled into the lobby a moment later, his eyes slowly looking over the two boys as he stood in front of them.
"Mr. Garwin, Mr. Sims, there's someone in my office who hastily requests your presence. Do not keep him waiting."
Both boys gazed fearfully at the headmaster before slowly getting to their feet and walking hesitantly into the Provost's office. Tyler entered first and halted after taking a few steps into the office.
"Gorman?"
Reid bumped into him, before he could stop himself and glanced over Tyler's shoulder. Gorman stood by the window near Higgins's desk, his old body leaning against his wooden cane.
"Boys." He nodded his head politely and motioned for them to come closer. "Close the door Reid."
Reid raised an eyebrow before compiling and shutting the office door. Tyler was still gazing at the elder in shock.
"Please sit down."
Tyler immediately sank down in one of the chairs by the desk but Reid simply crossed his arms and stayed where he was.
Why the hell was Gorman here?
"I sent for Pogue as well, but it appears that he's not on the grounds."
Before he could stop himself, Reid lowered his eyes towards Tyler and grumbled inwardly when he younger boy stared at Gorman nervously.
"Do you know where he is?"
Gorman blinked. "He's not with you two?"
Tyler and Reid shook their heads.
"I see..." Gorman lowered his ancient eyes, his fingers twisting around the handle of his cane. "This is a problem then."
Once again, Reid felt himself roll his eyes.
"So what? Can't you just locate him with your mind like you always do?" He asked impatiently.
Gorman gave him a stern look before he spoke. "Don't you think I tried boy. I haven't been able to locate him anywhere, hence why I'm here."
Reid snorted and looked down at the floor.
"You don't know where he is then?" Tyler asked nervously.
Gorman shook his head.
"No, I haven't been able to locate him since this morning. I fear something has happened."
Tyler shot to his feet in an instant. "Like what? Is he hurt or something?"
"I don't know Tyler." Gorman sighed. "That's why I came here, I'm afraid I'm going to need your assistance to help find him."
Tyler turned his head and gave Reid a knowing look as the realization of why they were called out of class dawned on the both of them. The younger boy then turned back towards the elder and nodded.
"Of course we'll help you find him."
"We?" Reid spoke before he could stop himself.
Tyler turned his head around and glared at him.
"What?"
Reid was quiet for a long time, trying to think of an answer that wouldn't upset Tyler even more.
"Why the hell are both of you making a big deal out of this? He's fine, he's probably at his place and blocking you out like he normally does."
Tyler's jaw dropped in shock as he stared at the blond. Gorman, however, was looking at him with a blank expression and Reid just knew the elder was using his powers to pry around inside of his head. He tried to keep his mind blank and held his ground as Tyler rounded on him.
"Reid what the hell's going on with you today? Pogue might be hurt– or worse!"
"I'm telling you he's fine–"
"What if he's not? What something happened to him–"
"Boys!" Gorman banged his cane on the wooden floor a few times to end the argument.
Both teens quieted and Tyler gave Reid an enraged look before turning his head back in Gorman's direction.
"I'll help you find him."
Gorman gazed at his youngest covenant member silently before nodding.
"Thank you Tyler."
Tyler nodded back and gave Reid one more angry look as Gorman dug through his pockets and pulled out a pen.
"Now, I'm considered a legal guardian so I can legally sign you out...both of you, should you chose to help us Reid."
Gorman's sharp eyes once again turned towards Reid and the blond could practically feel the elder's powers combing through his mind, looking for an explanation for his behavior. Deciding he was much better off without the elder knowing the confusing battle ragging inside of his own mind, Reid sighed and nodded.
"Fine, whatever. If it gets me out of English."
--
(So many memories, so little time...)
Chase hummed quietly to himself as he stared at the still body lying crumpled on the floor a few short feet away from him. Pogue was curled on his left side, his eyes closed but moving rapidly under their lids.
He leaned down next to the unconscious boy and slowly raised his hand towards the other's forehead. Pogue groaned and thrashed back and forth as Chase used his limitless power to tear down the other boy's mental barriers as he dove deeper and deeper into the other boy's subconscious.
(Now be a good boy and show me what I'm looking for...)
He probed deeper, shifting through countless memories of Pogue's youth, until small memory fragments of the boy's parents came to view. His power moved across them, viewing images of Pogue's past; a four year old Pogue sitting on the porch steps with his father, five year old Pogue sitting in his grandfather's study as the elder Parry read books to him.
(Ah-ha)
He stopped as one memory came to the surface. Pogue was sitting in the small children's area of a bank while his parents sat at the desk a few feet away from him. Pogue's father was signing something while his mother nervously placed something inside one of the deposit boxes. He used his powers to focus on the small item. It was small and round, like a pendent. He enhanced the image, yes it was a pendent. It was the same rich gold color he was looking for and its cover was adored in gems like the other one; expect they were a bright green color.
(There it is.)
Chase smiled and used his powers to rewind the memory to the point where the Parry family first entered the bank, looking for a sign.
Ipswich City Bank.
(Well, well, well, you were useful after all... now what to do with you.)
Satisfied, he let go of the memory and started shifting through Pogue's other memories. There had to be one that he could use to his advantage...
(Oh, what have we here?)
He pulled a small memory forwards and watched it with much interest. Pogue and Caleb where sitting in a secluded park talking. Caleb confessed his fears about ascending and Pogue listened with a heavy weight in his heart. Even from just viewing it, Chase could feel the uneasy feelings brewing inside of Pogue's body.
(Interesting...)
He let go of it and pulled another one forwards. Caleb and Pogue were sitting on the bed in Caleb's bedroom doing what looked like homework. Pogue blindly reached for a beverage on the night stand near Caleb when he accidently knocked it over, spilling its contents over Caleb's shirt. The younger boy apologized rapidly but Caleb shrugged it off and hopped off his bed towards his dresser.
From the memory Chase could feel the nervousness radiating from Pogue's body as Caleb slowly pealed off his shirt and dug through his dresser for a new one. Pogue watched, entranced as the muscles of Caleb's back and shoulders pulled and contrasted from his movements, the pale skin looking so tempting. Pogue's face soon reddened and he hastily turned away.
Chase watched the memory for a moment longer before completely withdrawing his powers from the other boy's mind. Pogue slumped back against the floor his eyes still moving under their closed lids. Chase stood up and shook his head. So that was it, the whole time he spent living among the four of them he always thought Pogue's jealousy and hostile behavior towards him was because of Kate. Oh, how wrong he was...
"So, all it takes to get you off my ass is Caleb." He chuckled as he leaned down again, lightly stroking a finger down Pogue's cheek. "I think I can arrange that for you..."