Rise of Prime

Chapter 2: The Discovery

“Psychology is an academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors. Psychology has the immediate goal of understanding individuals and groups by both establishing general pri--“

“Mr. Warner, sorry to interrupt, but we need Jason Roth to come to the office, please,” the speaker said interrupting Mr. Warner’s riveting lecture

“Thank god” I thought starting to get up.

      “Wait a moment, Jason. May I ask what this is about?” He asked looking pretty annoyed that he was being interrupted, much to everyone's pleasure.

        “Nothing of importance, but you should now that he will miss a week of school so give him his assignments on his way out.”

        “But…….. fine” he said reluctantly then turned to me “Jason, your assignment is to write me a three page essay on Jack the Ripper, it’s do when you get back.”

        “Okay” I said gathering my stuff and headed for the door. But, before the door closed behind me I heard Michael say “We get a full week without that,the whore’s son? This is going to be one hell of a week!”

        “Son of a whore? My mom is not a fucking whore!” I thought angrily clenching my fist then started making my way to the other classroom’s to get my homework for the week.

        When I was done getting my homework I went to my locker and started to try and fit all my books into my backpack. After a few minutes I finally succeeded and was now heading to the principles door. On the way there I couldn’t stop thinking what was going on and why was I being called in?  It couldn’t be about what was happened in the parking lot, could it? Nah, Michael never gets into trouble for what he does to me. Was my mom in an accident? Then why would they say I would be gone for a week?

All these questions plagued my mind as I headed for the one place I hated going, the garbage bin excluded, but when I reached the door curiosity got the better of me, so I went in. There before me was a tiny old woman with her salt and pepper hair tied in a bun, sitting behind a desk that was far too big for her was staring at me sharply with her beady grey eyes, as she looked up from the paper she was writing.    

         “Well, don’t just stand there. Close the door and sit down!”

I closed the door and sat down as she asked and said with a smile “Hello, to you to, Grandma.”

          “I told you never to call me that!”

           I gave a sigh “Okay…….. Mom misses you.”

The anger on her face turned to sadness for a brief moment then went back to her normal scowl “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

I leaned back into my seat “Fine, is this about what happened in the school parking lot, today?”

“What happened in the parking lot?”

“I.….. never mind, so why am I here? I asked

        She glared at me, debating whether or not to push, and then resumed “we have received a phone call from the Hive Corporation, telling us that one of our student’s has been chosen to tour one of their facilities and will receive a full scholarship to any state college or university they wish.”

“That student is you.”

Shocked, best word that came to mind when I heard those words come from her lips. “Grand…. Mrs. Roth how could I have been chosen, I’m a nobody?”

“They didn’t share why you were chosen in the email,” she said. “If I had to guess, I would say they're trying to get some good press, after that scandal last year.”

The questioning look I had gave me away as she continued, “there was a rumor last year that the Hive corporation were performing illegal experimentation. Nothing was proven of course, but it put the company in a bad light. Still, I think you should accept the offer.”

“You expect me to accept their offer, from a company who was accused of performing illegal on god knows what, when they haven’t given a reason on why they are doing this or why they choose me of all people?”

I honestly don’t know what it was,  my dumbfounded expression or the fear, little as it may have been, in my eyes, but for the first time since ever my so called “grandma” didn’t look at me with resentment or annoyance. She wore a look of concern.

“Listen, I know all this is a little suspicious, but I honestly think this is your best option,” she said. “You don’t have the money to get into college on your own and  Tracy doesn’t have the money to pay for it herself. Knowing her she is trying, but there is only so much you can do on a waitress salary. You would be helping her a great deal if you take their offer.”

I was shocked to be honest. She has never mentioned my mother name before, at least not since I have been here. “You really think I would be helping her if I took this offer?”

She nodded her head, “yes, I do.”

“Shouldn't this be her decision whether I go or not,” I asked, hoping it wouldn’t ultimately be my decision.

“I called her,” she said, a fact that surprised me, since they haven’t spoken in about sixteen years. “She  was a little surprised at first, but said it was your desicion.”

I was silent for a long while trying to come with a answer for her. I know it was a shady deal, but the one thing that kept coming to mind was that it would help her, my mother. She gave up everything to have me and is now working herself to death trying to put me through college.

What would you do for your mother? That question ran through my mind again and again, until I finally had the answer. What wouldn’t I do for her?

“I’ll go.”

“Good, I will call them back with your answer,” she said. “Why don’t you go to your other classes and get your homework for the week. After that, you may go home and pack.”

“Okay, goodbye Mrs. Roth,” I said standing up from the chair and started slowly walking to the door. The only thought that went through my head as I exited her office was “what have I gotten myself into.”

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The door to her office closed when she finally let herself start and matabilize the situation she was in. Guilt weighed down on her heavily and grow worse when she reached down and pulled open the drawer on the side of my desk and pulled out a old picture of Tracy. It was taken a few weeks before she meet him, before everything fell apart.

“Oh Tracy, forgive me for what I’ve done,” she cried stroking the picture, to try and comfort herself.

After a few moments, she finally pulled herself together. She put the picture back into its drawer and picked up the phone. She started dialing the number for Mr. Daken.