The Black Bag (Part 1 of 2)

First Glimpse ~ 01

Late 2006, Age 10

Oh, how he hated sports. Especially when he was forced to participate in practice regardless of his medical condition. The laughter and cheer rang loud in his ears. But he knew very well that they were not for him. 

Still, they must have been what spurred him on to push further this week. By the time the race was over, he'd realized that he had come in third: a feat that he was usually sure he could not accomplish otherwise in his state.

A friendly hand rested itself on his thin shoulder. Physical Educations teacher Ms. Mary-Anne Pipher's voice reached him... although slightly garbled.

"My goodness! That was a good job, Richard! You really outdid yourself today!"

He left his head low for a while, waited for his mind to stop swimming and tossing around. As he started to lift his head up again... he noticed a figure a number of kilometres away. Unclear yet visible nonetheless...

He rubbed away the dripping sweat from his brow and squinted to get a better look. He wasn't imagining it after all. It was still there, a tiny silhouette of a person standing behind the black metal bars of the high fence surrounding the school courtyard, grounds and field. It was a child, he guessed, since it was definitely not on the tall side.

Northwest Elementary was very particular about high security; no strangers and intruders were allowed inside and children were no exception. 

So how did it even enter the vicinity without raising the alarm and why was it so close to the fence? Shouldn't the guards have noticed it right about now as he did?

"Richard?"

He looked up when Ms. Pipher shook his shoulder lightly, concern washed over her features.

"What's wrong? Is your chest hurting really bad?" "Um... mm... No, ma'am."

"You're quite sure? Then again, you do sound rather hoarse. Let's go to the cafeteria and get you something to drink, yeah?"

He rolled his eyes behind her back as she led him away while the new line prepared for the next race. He didn't really like being coddled like this. The others looked at him a bit off whenever this happens. But then, he had no right to decline not did he feel like he should. He didn't want his asthma to kick in again, especially when he doesn't want it to.

As they left, he chanced a look back over his shoulder, making sure that she didn't see.

Whoever that was there, it wasn't any more... For now, anyway.