Whispers [complete and non-edited]

Chapter 19

As soon as Deeliah returned the pencil crayons to Teriaj's desk, the bell went off. Ms. Fowler jumped nearly three feet, and then excused them, searching for her glasses with a confused look on her face. Laehal smirked. He had put them in one of her desk drawers.

The three of them walked out of the room right behind each other, Teriaj with his pencil crayons, and Deeliah with her paper and pencils, smiling all the way. Laehal had his hands free.

They walked at the back of the group. The other kids were just as eager, if not more, to get out of the school. As they neared the front door, Laehal remembered his Pythagorean Theorem homework.

"I'll meet you guys, I have to get my...something from Mr. Dominic's office. I'll be quick," he said, and then he ran down the hall towards the principle's office.

As he got closer, he realized that the doors would have to be locked once all of the students left. But if the teachers didn't know he was still in the school, then they would lock him inside. Laehal became determined to get out. He couldn't be locked in the school on a Friday! The cafeteria wouldn't be open, so he wouldn't be able to eat. He couldn't live without food!

Laehal sped up his pace. He found Mr. Dominic's office and ran to the door. No one was inside. He tried the knob, only to find that it was locked.

"No!"

He tried the knob again, but it didn't open.

"No, no!"

The lights flickered, and then shut off. Laehal froze in his place, one hand on the knob, the other by his side. His eyes widened, and he panicked when he heard the front door close.

"No no no! Wait! I'm still here!" Laehal screamed as he ran to the door. He banged on the door and tried the handle, but it wouldn't open. "No! Please!"

Don't waste your energy, said a female voice inside Laehal's head.

Laehal spin around, his eyes darting around to see where the voice came from. "Who's there?" he called.

The voice laughed softly. I'm not in the school.

"What? Then how can I hear you?"

You have a psychological connection to me.

Laehal laughed once. "Okay, this is really weird. Are you saying that I can talk to you, whoever you are, telepathically?"

Yes. Once you become familiar with your unique abilities, you will not believe this is strange at all.

Laehal raised an eyebrow. "Who are you?"

Before I answer that question, I need you to look out the nearest window.

"Uh, why?"

One question at a time now, Laehal.

"How do you know my...would the door count as a window?"

Yes.

"Okay...," Laehal said uncertainly. He turned around and gazed through the glass of the door. "Now what?"

Look closely. Tell me what you see.

He looked at the park across from the school. "I see a park. There aren't any people in it. The trees are pretty thick. There's a bush right beside the door. Uh...there's a leaf hitting the door."

Put a hand on the door.

Laehal did as he was told. The orange leaf hovered across from his hand, on the other side of the glass.

Now move it.

"The leaf or my hand?"

We'll see.

Laehal moved his hand to the right side of the glass. The leaf followed his hand and attached itself to the glass where Laehal's hand was resting.

"Cool," he whispered.

The voice laughed softly again. Good job Laehal. I can answer your questions now.

"Who are you? How do you know my name? How can I hear you?"

I am who you think I am. I know your name because we are connected. You can hear me because I am all around you. We are connected in a way that no one else is.

"That doesn't answer the first question."

Well, who do you think I am?

"A voice. I think I've gone crazy. How long have I been stuck in this school? Maybe this is all a dream."

I am a voice, yes, but I am also much more. You have not gone crazy. You are more sane than most of the people in your town. You have been locked in the school for nearly twenty minutes. This is no dream, Laehal. This is the reality that is invisible to most people. It is the reason why the human race is not my favourite.

"Who are you?"

I am who you think I am.

"Who do I think you are?"

Ask yourself. You will find the answer if you look deep in your memory.

Laehal became sad. "I lost my memory from when I was born to when I was six. I don't remember what happened, just that I can't remember."

That is a problem. I can help you remember. I remember. It was very tragic. Your whole life changed. I will unlock the door. Follow the leaves. They will take you where you need to go quicker than your mind can. Do not think, just follow.

A hoard of leaves piled up at the door. A small stick floated into the lock, and with a small twist, the door became unlocked.

"Sweet. You need to teach me how to do that."

The voice laughed. Maybe some day. Now follow the leaves.

Laehal opened the door and breathed in the fresh air deeply. He was free. And hungry. And tired. The leaves stirred, and an unseen wind blew them down the sidewalk. The wind seemed to only affect the leaves.

But they were going the wrong way. Laehal's house way the other way.

Follow the leaves. This is the first step to remembering.

Laehal looked back once more, and then he took a step towards the scuttling leaves.