The Joining: The Cycle of the Shards Book One

28: Plans set

     The tendrils of night still held on as the sun slowly rose in the sky, and the effect on the school made it appear even more ominous than it typically would. Critock supposed, and didn't care to verify, that almost every day the school would appear to be a place that Kyle wouldn't want to enter into for various reasons. Today it was Critock's turn to have trepidation. As he crossed the street, Tomkari beside him invisible to onlookers, he made a point to glance to every other student that was crossing with him or standing outside. Any of them at all could be Pt'ron, he realized, and while he was unable to hold them down and peer into their eyes, he satisfied his nervous curiosity by looking for other clues. Were they nervous? Sweating? Looking paranoid? Making claims that this was the last day on Earth for everyone and that he would rule forever? The last was unlikely, but it sure would make things easier.

Tom tried to help in his own way by rushing around and trying again unfruitfully to look for the strip of black in the students' iris. Critock didn't stop him, although he knew that it wasn't likely to lead to a revelation. The wisp returned to his side as they reached the front doors, Critock also now looking around for the third conspirator, Shanna. She was nowhere to be found, but to his great relief, neither was Brian Boyd, which was potential trouble he did not need right now.

There was an announcement over the intercom as they entered about an upcoming all-student assembly, but it cut off before Critock could hear when it was, not that he was paying that close of attention. The lobby, stairs, and halls all seemed overwhelmingly full with other kids, and Critock almost had to fight to push through. Strangely, when they realized who it was that was trying to get through, most of the crowd was only too happy to let him through, and a couple clapped him on the back as he passed, giving a hearty "Good job!" Critock started to get a little nervous from the added attention. He didn't need to scan Kyle's mind to know that this was out of the ordinary, and he started to get uncomfortable flashbacks of Kyle's dream the night before.

In the distance, but too far away to reach without crossing the veritable sea of people that separated them, he saw Mr. Phelps, who had a sad look on his face but, as promised, was at his post, currently talking with a student who appeared to be offering her condolences for the loss of his home. Even with the people in his way, he felt an urge to give a personal apology to him, even if he couldn't say exactly what he had to apologize for. It was for the best that they were separated, considering the sweat that was gathering on his brow and the anxiety growing inside him.

Just as Critock was starting to expect everyone to turn around and begin laughing at him, he heard Kyle's name being called. The call came with a distinctive drawl so it wasn't the person he hoped it would be, but at least it wasn't mocking. He turned to see Jim, today wearing a cowboy hat to complete the persona he had developed, moving towards him. He heard Tom whisper, "What happened to blending in?"

Due to the ambient noise caused by a thousand students simultaneously in no particular hurry and needing to rush to get to their respective homerooms, Critock felt safe in speaking back out of the corner of his mouth. "By ear." Just as he had finished that line, Jim reached him, accompanied by Claire, looking slightly friendlier than usual but still maintaining her cold expression.

"You did it! I'm proud of you!" Jim exclaimed loudly, and Critock looked around quickly to make sure nobody else had heard. Anything that would make him stand out right now was not welcomed. At the very least, though, he could use it to gather some information.

"Keep it down, okay? What'd I do? I'm being treated like everyone's friend since I got here."

Claire rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. "'What'd you do?' Hooked up with Ewing. I'm telling you, you're not exactly going to live happily ever after with that..."