From Embers

E I G H T E E N

I took a few moments to contemplate what the message meant. I grabbed my phone and slid underneath my bed, anticipating anything to happen. It was eerily quiet in my room, and I couldn't hear any of my roomates in their rooms or downstairs. 

Just complete and utter silence. 

I continued to lie on my stomach, looking out into my room for anything that could happen. 

My phone vibrated again.

Don't move.

I sent a message back, wondering what was happening. 

Who are you?

A friend. 

That was the only response I could get out of it before, and it didn't seem too keen on letting me know who it really was. 

My door to my room popped open, and a pair of boots walked in. Black leather boots and dark washed jeans were all I could see. I didn't dare peek out and look to see who it was. They continued to the center of my room and moved to look around. They did a full circle of my room and then stopped. Finally, their pants moved slightly, signaling me that they were getting something out of their pockets. 

A deep husky voice spoke.

"He isn't here. Cross this place off the list. No sign of him anywhere at this school for nerds. You were wrong. Wasting my time at this place. He could be halfway across the world for all we know, send me somewhere worth my time, not on some wild goose chase for some kid."

He hung up the phone and put it back into his pocket. He walked back towards my door and I caught a glimpse of something in his back pocket. There was a cloth hanging out with a small design on it. It looked almost like a satanic circle, but instead of a star, there was two diamonds intersecting in the middle. I would have to ask Scott about it later, because it was obvious that this guy was after me. If my mystery texter didn't tell me to hide, he would have found me; but based on what he said on the phone, I think I'm safe here for a while. 

They had to have found out from the Wendigo incident, but how? How could they find out that there was a Wendigo here? I couldn't wrap my head around it, but there was a lot of things I still didn't know about. 

Then it hit me.

The security guard. There is probably a specific way that a Wendigo attacks, and it got out how this guy was killed by some 'animal'. That had to be how they found out. They were onto me and I didn't even see it coming. Scott would have protected me if my mysterious friend didn't let me know in time. I know he would have. 

I crawled out from under my bed and took the first breath I had taken in probably five minutes. I didn't dare make a sound while that person was in my room looking for me. 

"Good thing yer friend let you know to shelter in place when he did, right mate?" Scott stated.

I spun around and gasped hard. He was sitting on my desk.

"Stop doing that!" I yelled at him.

"I can't help myself mate, you'll get used to it." He chuckled.

"Who the hell was that?" I asked.

"A sentinel for the uglies. Strong ass humans. Been genetically modified to be able to combat against us. Shouldn't be an issue anymore though, since he didn't find you here I doubt they'll be back. They'll start looking around the world for you now. Must've caught wind of the Wendigo we let in." He answered.

"That's what I put together, but why did they connect that with me?" I asked.

"Well, not many of them get over here without their knowledge, cause they're the ones lettin' em over. When one gets out without them knowing, they look around for the person responsible. They just lost you, and yer mom knew about the school here, so they assumed it was you. They know that I'm a variable after they spotted me bookin' you outta the city in Georgia. I lost em somewhere in West Georgia after I dropped you off at the airport. After that, yer should be in the clear for a while, we just gotta keep our heads down and not let anymore of the uglies over if we can help it." He informed me.

"Easier said than done, the last one just snuck up on us. We won't let it happen again though." I said.

"Hell no we won't, mate. The Hierarchy was already all over my ass about letting that uglie over. It sure as hell won't happen a second time." He stated.

We were both silent for a moment.

"I meant to ask you about something the other day. I woke up from sleeping one night to someone standing in the corner of my room, they pulled out a small cube that lit up when he hit something on it. What was that about?" I asked.

"Couldn't tell yer mate. Nothing the Hierarchy has told me about at least." He answered.

"That's not even the weird part of it." I stated.

"What're ye on about, mate?" He pushed.

"It was my father. Clear as day." I stated firmly.

He didn't respond. Just sat on my desk and stared back at me. Like he was thinking on what to say.

"Cut the bullshit Scott, is he alive?" I said. 

He didn't respond again. Just stared back blankly as before. 

After what felt like minutes, he finally responded.

"I don't know the circumstances around that, but what ye saw could be possible." He said quietly.

"Is there any way for you to find out?" I asked.

"I don't believe so, mate. I don't have that type of power with the Hierarchy. " He answered.

I pondered what that could mean. I didn't know how I would react if my father stood in front of me today, after all of these years. If he's been alive, but hasn't shown himself. 

Somewhere inside myself I just knew that he was somewhere, that it was him in my room that night. I was waiting in anticipation for the next time he would show himself. 

I knew he would again soon. I don't know how, I just did.