Leap Before You Think

Chapter 2

We follow the boy to the "forbidden hall." In other words, the staff hall. This boy, who by the way is definitely new, has hair the color of honey and nervous-looking chocolate-brown eyes. I'm sure that he must have joined the staff recently because I don't see a speck of denim or the leadership quality that all the other staff members at Fortitudo & Cordis have on him. We turn down a hall and I see two figures whispering to each other. One is tall, younger, and a little round. The other is short, old, and thin. The tall one is also male and the short one is female. Judah taps my arm. "Who are they?" he mouths. I shrug "No clue." I mouth back. When we are only about ten feet away the boy turns back to us and puts a finger to his mouth, we aren't even talking, not really anyway, then he turns forward again. When we are three feet away the boy clears his throat and the two whispering people stop whispering and look at the boy.

"Ah, if it isn't the new recruit. This is what, your fifth transfer?" the tall one says,

"Yes sir." the boy looks straight, his cheeks reddening.

"And why then are you bringing two students into this hall?"

"The Chief, sir."

"And—" The short woman elbows the tall man and he shuts up. Still, she gives him a look that makes the phrase If looks could kill come to my mind.

"Young man, what room are you searching for?" her tone is soft and kind.

"What gives away the fact that he is searching for a room, Willow?" the tall man questions.

"It is not for you to know, James." the woman replies with a slightly bitter tone.

"I'm looking for the office ma'am."

"Well, you are not far off. Just a few more doors down, you'll know them when you see them, Mr—"

"Dylan Knightly," the boy fills in the gap.

The lady smiles, "That is a fine name boy. Well, be on your way before my rude colleague gets to you again."

As we walk away, I steal a quick glance back at James and Willow. Though I feel like I've seen them before, I can't quite place where. I have a vague recollection of them whispering the last time I saw them. Judah taps my shoulder just then, and as I turn around, Dylan looks back at us. Fortunately, he doesn't say anything, but he seems doubtful. Once he looks away, Judah leans in and whispers in my ear.

"You've seen them."

"Maybe. I don't know." I whisper back still looking straight

"Well, I think that I have. I just can't remember where. It's like . . . Nevermind."

Dylan looks back and motions for us to be quiet. We comply, but not before Judah whispers a final comment in my ear.

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I'm seated in an uncomfortable chair, drumming my fingers on my lap. Despite my aversion to this place, I find myself here quite often for the oddest reasons. As I sit Judah, who is seated to my left, taps his foot on the ground in the rhythmic pattern of a song. He keeps glancing at me, then shifting his gaze back to the Chief. The silence in the room is uncomfortable and I find myself growing impatient. Why won't the Chief just tell us the reason for our presence here? Or why can't we just leave? I mean I have a life and it's lunchtime. I look at the Chief and he stares me in the eyes with a stony glare. Okay? What did I do to deserve that look? He releases a puff of smoke from the side of his mouth then he sets his cigar down in a small rectangle tray and continues to stare at us his glare going from Judah to Me and back again. This goes on for five more minutes then I hear the bell ring signaling the end of lunch. Great. Judah slams his hand on the desk in frustration.