Imogene, Catherine, and Malcolm lounged around the girl's dorm. It was lonely and quiet without Caleb's snarky remarks. Malcolm of course, filled the silence with his crazy outbursts.
"And then-" Malcolm said loudly.
"Hush! I hear someone coming!" Catherine said pressing her ear to the door.
Imogene rushed to join her. Even Malcolm stopped talking longing enough to bounce to the door. It was flung open with such an energy, the three were knocked down to the floor. Caleb stood, eagerly, in the doorway. A grin was stretch across his face.
"You didn't have to Magik the door open, it was unlocked." Mable stepped out from behind him.
"Pack your bags kids!" Caleb clapped his hands, "we're going to join the Resistance!"
******
After hurriedly trying to pack their bags, Caleb and Mable led them to the roof of the main building. A cold, crisp fall wind swept pass them. Caleb was being uncharacteristically peppy.
He jumped around like a child, pointing ay the hover craft excitedly. It was parked on the roof, hidden behind a large projector. A familiar face loomed from the front seat, and the figure grinned.
"Max!" Imogene cried. She jumped in the front seat, shoved her suitcase under the seat and shouted like a madman.
The front seat had room for three, Caleb hopped into the seat next to her. Mable, Malcolm, and Catherine took their seats in the back. Max put the hover craft in drive, and it zoomed into the air.
Max pressed a button on the control panel. "Autopilot on," said a computerized voice. "Destination: Resistance Headquarters."
"Oh my god! I haven't seem you in forever." Imogene said grinning.
******
Before going to the Prosper Academy, all girls and boys were required to help out in an orphanage or hospital. The year they were twelve, the girls got assigned the Washington Hospital in the Fifth District. It was a rundown place, with rude nurses, sad patients, and poor medical equipments.
Imogene was told to handle a incredibly depressed patient in room 304. Max was the only Pre-Prosper Academy friend she been able to make.
Everyday after grade school, Imogene would get a visitor's badge and start the journey to the Children's Ward. It was a dark place, with flickering lights and pealing black, yellow, and white paint. The smell of mildew hung in the sour and humid air.
And inside room 304, was a bed. In that bed was a boy. Over that boy was a quilt. On that quilt was a hand. And holding that hand was a girl. A girl who hoped that her happy energy would spread to that boy.
******
"Why did you never write?" Max's eyes were round and sad-like at the hospital.
"I've kept a journal full of letters to send to you." Imogen rumaged through her bag. Triumphantly, she pulled the small, leather-bound book from her bag. She set it gently in Max's hands.
"The Academy told me you were too sick too get letters," Imogene explained.
"its leather-bound. Max's eyebrows raised as he stroked the smooth spine of the book.
Catherine, Malcolm and Mable sat quietly in the back While Caleb leaned, eyes squinting in concentration, against the side door.
"Wait, you've been writing to him letters in a book for three years? Why not use your laptop?" He asked, suddenly breaking the tho8ughtful silence.
"Max doesn't-" Imogene started.
"No. she shouldn't have to explain herself, Cullen."
Imogene stared in surprise between Max and Caleb. No one ever called him by his last night. Ever. Not even Madeline with hes condescending stone of voice.
"Well, Harthridge, you shouldn't feel as though she still owes you after three years!" Caleb said, hotly.
"What is going on here?" asked Mable, irritably from the backseat.
"Whats that?" Malcolm and Catherine had their faces pressed against the window. Imogene peaked out.
A stone grey building was perched between the tall mountain peaks. Even Caleb let curiosity take hold of him long enough to glance out of the window.
"Your destination is four kilometers below you," said the computer's voice that sounded oddly human.
Max lowered the aircraft on the roof of the Headquarters. Military officers lined up on either side of the vehicle. They hefted suitcases out, opening and closing doors.
Getting into the hovercraft had been easy. Getting out was another story. Imogene scrambled from her seat, until someone lifted her down onto the roof. Turning around, Imogene saw Caleb standing passively with his arms crossed and staring at the officers.
"Have you grown at all?" Max asked, coming around the other side of the hovercraft. He reached down to pat Imogene's head.
"She's grown a full four inches since year one!" Malcolm shouted from where he was standing, poking the medals on a nearby officer's jacket.
"its like she Magiked herself," Catherine said jokingly.
At the word 'Magicked,' Max stiffened. The hand patting Imogen's head swung to his side. Max's fingers curled into a tight fist. Imogene was the only one who knew. The only one who knew why Max was in the old run down hospital at all. The answer was there in everyone who volunteered at Washington Hospital. But, Imogene was the only one who admitted it to herself. The Fifth Disrict was among one of the poorer areas. That was where the Nation's leaders housed the non-Magiks.
The Irrelevants.
YOU ARE READING
Monster
Teen FictionImogene Daugherty's past is like a puzzle, slowly solving itself. But when the migraines come, along with visions of the past and colorful monsters, her whole world has been turned upside down. A/N: This was a book I was writing last year. So, my...
