Close to the Covert Rains **Book One**

Chapter 1 (Monday)

Verspri trudged through the automatic doors, a faint ding announcing his entrance. He clenched his hands into fists, gritted his teeth, and approached the counter in the center of the lobby. A woman with a loose, gray bun sat there, face splitting into a bright smile at Verspri. "Hello, what can I get for you today?" she was already reaching across the marbled surface of the desk but hesitated when he didn't move.

"I need my class schedule. My name's Versprechen Friedens."

"Oh, of course! Do you have your student's identification yet?" she turned to her computer, typing quickly, glancing occasionally between him and the screen.

Verspri nodded tightly.

"Do you have it with you?"

Verspri didn't respond. Her fingers ticked across the keys. A sudden whirring from the printer behind her made Verspri clench his jaw shut, but she wheeled her chair over, pulled off a sheet of paper, then moved back and slid it towards him, smiling the whole time. He still didn't move.

"Could you put it in my backpack?" he asked tersely.

Her eyes grew wide, and she rose to move around the desk, chair spinning idly in her wake. "Sure, sure, I'm so sorry. I often forget. You new here? Still worried it'll go out of control, I bet. Lots of 'em are, that's for certain." She zipped open his nearly empty bag and gently placed the paper with his schedule inside. "You don't want it in your hands?" she asked, stepping back beside the desk.

Verspri shook his head. "I can get it out later. I have help."

The secretary nodded, clasping her hands in front of her. "Frien--oh, my apologies, I shouldn't be asking. Have a great day, Versprechen," she plastered a thick smile on her face.

Verspri turned wordlessly, the secretary's footsteps moving around the desk even before the automatic doors slid shut behind him.

***

Verspri stepped outside, sighing. It'll be different there, they said. You'll be treated like an equal! You'll be so glad you decided to come with us, they said. He snorted. So far, everyone here had treated him like the same ol' freak. "Oh, shut it," came a voice behind him. "You don't have it that bad." Verspri turned to find his twin standing on the edge of the lawn, arms folded. Verspri eyed him; he hadn't changed from the ragged T-shirt and ripped-up shorts after the car crash yesterday. "What are you doing out? I didn't let you--"

"You haven't let any of us out since Mom shipped you away a month ago, and I wanted a break," the clone grinned. "Can't I just enjoy a little sunshine?"

Verspri harrumphed and reached out a hand. "Go away."

The clone reluctantly reached out and touched his wrist, the only bare skin visible between gray long sleeve and black glove. A tiny pop and flash of orange and the clone vanished. Verspri took a long, deep breath and turned on his heel, marching up the sidewalk.

The tree to his left quivered. He froze, squinting at what seemed to be a shoe in the narrow branches. He blinked and it disappeared, but the tree shook again, dislodging a few leaves.

"Who's there?" Verspri demanded. The tree didn't move. "I know you're there," he shouted again. "I saw your shoe!" When the tree didn't respond, Verspri shook his head. "This is rotten," he muttered. First the too-smiley secretary, then his disobedient clone, and now a shoe hiding in a--something jabbed his shoulder and he whirled around, startled by a dismembered hand floating a few feet above the ground.

"Hi," came a quiet voice, and a mouth suddenly appeared. Verspri blinked. A person full-on appeared in front of him. He stared. Around the same age as him, she had shoulder length, light-brown hair. Her eyes were green in an olive-hued, roundish face, and she wore a simple green shirt with jeans. Verspri looked down at her shoes--the same white sneaker he saw in the tree. He gaped. "You...you were invisible!"