A Blessing or a Curse

Chapter Five: The Pretender

Lucas sat in the back of the classroom, staring out the window, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the edge of his desk. It had been a week since he'd transferred to Silverstone under his new alias, "Leo," and he was already growing tired of the charade. Blending in with the rest of these students, pretending to care about their mundane conversations and their stupid little social dynamics—it grated on his nerves. But he had no choice. Not yet, at least.

He had to be careful, strategic. At Crestwood, he'd been able to move freely, slipping through the cracks and picking off his targets without drawing too much attention. But Silverstone was different. It was bigger, more organized, and the students here weren't just ordinary—they were Blessed. If he made a wrong move, it could ruin everything.

Lucas turned his attention back to the front of the classroom as the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Students began to file out, chatting and laughing as they headed to lunch. He packed up his things slowly, letting the room empty out before he followed. He didn't like walking in the middle of a crowd; it made him feel exposed, vulnerable.

As he made his way down the hall, he heard a voice call out to him. "Hey, Leo!"

Lucas turned to see Amilia waving at him, with Jack standing beside her. For a moment, he considered ignoring them and just walking away. But he knew that wouldn't help him blend in. He forced a smile and walked over.

"Hey," he said, keeping his tone light. "What's up?"

Amilia grinned, adjusting the strap of her bag. "We were just about to head to lunch. Want to join us?"

Lucas hesitated. The last thing he wanted was to spend more time than necessary with these people. But he knew it would look strange if he kept turning down their invitations. Besides, staying close to them had its advantages. Jack and Amilia were well-connected, and being around them made it easier for Lucas to keep tabs on the rest of the school.

"Sure," he said, forcing his smile to widen. "Why not?"

They walked to the cafeteria together, with Amilia chatting animatedly about one of her latest projects. Lucas half-listened, nodding occasionally and pretending to be interested. He'd quickly realized that Amilia was the type who loved to talk, especially about her inventions. Jack, on the other hand, was quieter, but Lucas had caught him watching him a few times, as if trying to figure him out. It was almost amusing, in a way. Jack had no idea who he was dealing with.

As they reached the cafeteria and found a table, Lucas couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation. He watched as Amilia pulled out her homemade lunch, neatly packed and organized, and Jack bought a meal from one of the vendors, joking with the cashier as if they were old friends. They both seemed so... normal. So comfortable. They had their friends, their routines, their little lives all neatly arranged.

Lucas's smile faltered for a fraction of a second as he thought about how easy it all was for them. They had no idea what it was like to live a life where every move had to be calculated, where every word was a potential threat. They didn't have to hide who they were, didn't have to lie every time they opened their mouths.

"Are you okay, Leo?" Amilia asked, breaking into his thoughts. "You seem kind of... distant."

Lucas blinked, quickly rearranging his expression into one of mild surprise. "Oh, sorry. Just got lost in thought for a second." He took a bite of his food, forcing himself to focus. "What were you saying?"

Amilia laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "I was just telling Jack about this new gadget I'm working on. It's supposed to help with short-range teleportation, but I'm still figuring out the power source."

Lucas nodded along, pretending to be interested. But in his mind, he was already drifting back to his real thoughts. He was here, playing the role of the friendly new kid, but it was all just a facade. Deep down, he was itching to get back to his real work. The students at Silverstone were no different from those at Crestwood—arrogant, self-assured, thinking they were untouchable because of their gifts.

He wondered what they would think if they knew the truth. If they knew that "Leo" wasn't a quiet, unassuming transfer student, but someone who had already taken lives and wasn't planning to stop anytime soon. Would they still smile at him, invite him to lunch, treat him like a friend? Or would they look at him with fear, the way Kyle had when he realized what was happening?

Lucas's lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile at the thought. It was a cruel, fleeting smile, one that vanished as quickly as it appeared. He glanced at Jack and Amilia, who were now debating the best way to enhance a circuit board, completely unaware of the predator sitting across from them.

"Sounds like a cool project," Lucas said, his voice light and friendly. "Maybe you can show me how it works sometime."

Amilia beamed. "Definitely! I'll need all the help I can get."

Jack leaned back in his chair, giving Lucas a curious look. "So, Leo, what kind of stuff are you into? You don't talk much about yourself."

Lucas had been expecting this question, and he already had his answer prepared. "Oh, you know, just the usual stuff. I like reading, playing games, that sort of thing. I guess I'm still getting used to everything here." He kept his tone casual, almost shy, knowing it would make him seem more approachable.

Jack nodded, accepting the answer. "Well, if you ever need help with anything, just ask. We've got your back."

For a moment, Lucas felt a strange, almost unsettling warmth at the words. It was a simple gesture, one he had heard a thousand times from people who didn't mean it. But there was something about the way Jack said it, so genuine and straightforward, that caught Lucas off guard. It was almost... kind.

Lucas quickly pushed the feeling aside. Kindness was a weakness, a distraction. He didn't need friends; he needed to stay focused. Jack and Amilia were useful, nothing more.

As they finished their lunch, Lucas found himself studying Jack, noting the easy confidence in his posture, the way he interacted with everyone around him. Jack had the kind of life Lucas had never had—a life where he didn't have to hide, where he didn't have to pretend to be someone else. It was the kind of life Lucas would never have, no matter how many names he used, no matter how many lies he told.

But that was fine. Lucas didn't need a perfect life. He didn't need to be like Jack or Amilia. He just needed to finish what he started.

As they stood up to leave, Amilia turned to Lucas with a bright smile. "Hey, we're going to hang out at the library after school to work on the teleportation gadget. You should come!"

Lucas hesitated, his mind already calculating the pros and cons. On the one hand, it was another chance to blend in, to keep up the act. On the other, he was starting to grow impatient. But he knew he had to be patient a little longer. He couldn't afford to rush things, not when he was so close.

"Sure," he said, forcing a smile. "I'll be there."

As they left the cafeteria, Lucas let himself drift to the back, watching Jack and Amilia as they walked ahead, chatting and laughing. They were so absorbed in their own little world, so blissfully unaware of the storm that was brewing right under their noses.

One day, soon, Lucas thought. One day, they would see who he really was. And by then, it would be too late for them to do anything about it.