Afterschoolers: Glory

Chapter 2: Welcome Wagon

Surrounded by trees and sitting before long winding roads was a private academy that stretched for acres. A small white van rolled up to the campus, parking itself in the drop off circle.

"Have a good day at summer school, children!" Cain said as he sat comfy in the driver seat. Maya, Geoff, and Natalia stepped out of the van, feeling odd that they were in civilian clothing rather than their custom white attire.

"Where do we meet with our new friends?" Geoff asked.

"They should be here soon. Right now, I gotta head back home. Good luck, everyone." Cain drove off, leaving the campus without delay.

"I take it you are my newest students?" The group looked towards the stranger's voice to find a man in a suit approaching them. His spiky hair was short, but black as charcoal. The man had a confident smile, which went oddly well with his tall and skinny body.

"Your new students?" Natalia asked.

"Indeed. I am the headmaster here. Mr. Cord, at your service."

"Oh! You're Mr. Cord," Geoff said without any restraint.

"Yes. I am. Is something wrong?" Mr. Cord asked.

"It's nothing," Maya said quickly.

"Yeah," Natalia said. "We're just excited to be here. Our friends told us so much about this place."

"Ah, so you have friends that are already attending summer school here?"

"Yes, we do," Maya said.

"What are their names? Maybe I know them."

The three grew nervous expressions, realizing the corner they just backed into. Mr. Cord looked at the new students with a confused look on his own face.

"There you guys are!" Running down the street came a blonde young woman, happy to see the new arrivals.

"Sasha," said Mr. Cord. "Are these your friends?"

"Yes, Mr. Cord. Geoff, Natalia, and Maya. I hope you guys didn't wait too long for me."

"No, we weren't waiting for long," Geoff said. "We just got dropped off."

"That's good," said Sasha. "Mr. Cord, is it okay if I take them to the office and give them the tour?"

"That sounds like a great idea. Just make sure they stop by the dorms at some point so they can drop off their belongings."

"Alright. Thank you!"

"You're welcome." Satisfied by the events that unfolded, Mr. Cord walked away to the office building where he would wait for their inevitable arrival. The three watched the headmaster leave before dropping the formalities.

"You guys almost got yourselves caught after being on the campus for no less than five minutes," Sasha whispered, her tone carrying her anger.

"Sorry," Maya said.

"I take it you're one of the two working undercover?" Geoff asked.

"Yes. My name is Sasha if you didn't catch that. My partner is Rebecca. Mr. Cain told us you all would be coming today. He tell you why we're all here?"

"To steal the missing Aura Crystals and find Alana," Geoff said.

"That's right. So you're not as foolish as you look."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing. You guys come with me. We need to get your dorm room assignments." Without giving the newbies a second glance, Sasha began leading them across the campus. The three did not have much time to take in the sights, for Sasha walked at such a fast pace. All they could manage was passing glimpses of tall buildings and a massive fountain in the center of it all.