The Joining: The Cycle of the Shards Book One

34: All is lost, Woe to the Earth

The first bell for the next period had rung, and the students who were scheduled to work in the office were beginning to file in, expecting the day to be like any other. Working in the office was seen as a privilege by the staff, but it was mainly seen as a easy way to get out of class by the students. Today, however, they were met at the door by the secretary with an even sterner look on her face than usual. She simply shook her head at them and gave each one a separate pass to join the Study Hall for the period.

Daniel was one of these students, and was far more curious than most of the others. He was met the same way as the others, with an upraised hand and a small piece of paper directing him to the library to sit in there. He glanced at the paper and shook his head. "What's going on? Why is the office closed?"

She fixed her gaze on him. "Nothing you need to worry about. Please report to the library." Daniel took a step back, but tried to peer around her, hoping to catch a glimpse of something going on. Frowning, and seeing that there were no more students trying to get in, the secretary closed the door in his face.

Not to be deterred from something as petty as a office secretary who he thought should have retired years ago, Daniel crept slowly to the left, and peeked in the window, careful not to expose his entire face lest he be caught and sent away, this time with a chaperone. He saw a figure being moved, the principal following with his hand on the body's shoulder, or was he pushing? He couldn't make out exactly who it was, but it appeared to be a boy, and he was struggling. Still being cautious, he put an ear to the window, hoping to make out something.

He could hear the boy yelling loudly, and almost didn't need to have his ear pressed against the glass to hear anything. He couldn't make out every word, but it was enough to get the gist across.

"HAVE TO.....ME GO.. ...DEPENDS ON IT! EVERYTHING....END!" The boy was clearly worked up about something, and Daniel listened closely to make out the principal's reply.

"Calm down, Kyle! We have to...." The group moved out of eyesight and earshot, and Daniel backed up away from the window. Kyle? What was he doing in there? He shook his head, unbelieving the changes that were happening to his friend. He was normal just a couple days ago! It was almost as if...

His thoughts were interrupted by the last warning bell. Thinking for a second, he turned down the hallway and started walking fast. He would have time to think on this shortly, for now if he didn't hurry he was going to be late!

Critock was unceremoniously pushed into the small room the Nurse used to house patients that were overly sick, but as it was empty today it would be used as a cell. Critock turned as Principal Tompkins looked at him, and the short balding man cut him off before he could yell another entreaty.

"Kyle, please! You're lucky we don't have a resource officer here, otherwise you would be on your way to spend the night in jail. And I'm thinking that might be the place for you! You destroyed my office, broke a window...Do you know how much that window cost? How much taxpayer dollars you just ruined in your tantrum?"

Critock stared at the Principal, fighting the urge to grab him and choke him out. But even if he did that, he knew he'd never get out of the office. Tompkins was flanked by two larger teachers, one Critock could tell was fresh from the gymnasium. With his current strength sapped from his fight with the pirate, he didn't know for sure if he could take all three of them, let alone be able to get out of the office and to his locker where he had placed the Sword of Kon. He tried one last time. "Please, if you just listen to me..."

Tompkins cut him off again sternly, not quite yelling but very close to it. "No more, Kyle. I gave you one chance already, and you repay me by using a poor innocent girl to break into my office and destroy everything you can get your hands on! And we have no idea where she went to! Do you understand how badly you must have scared her?"