Dangerous Game

Chapter three: Trust Nobody

Stranger's POV

"Subject 017 was recently enrolled at Middletown High. She is currently going by the name Aislin Summers. We've been keeping tabs on her location and the people she has interacted with. We need someone on the inside. We need you to gain her trust and draw her out. I trust you will do as we say and not stray from the plan seeing as how your life isn't the only one on the line here?"

"Yes sir. I understand. I will do exactly as you say."

"Good," the man smiled diabolically, "It's time to meet the new girl"

*********

Aislin's POV

School. How in the world had it come to this? All I'd ever wanted was freedom. This was definitely not part of the plan. Okay. You can do this, I thought. All I have to do is go and learn stuff. I just need to lie low and not talk to anyone. If I can blend in as a normal person maybe things would be alright.

"Here we are," said Jenna, "Here is your schedule and your backpack. I already packed it with some basic school supplies. The teachers will give you your textbooks. Try to have a good day and tell me all about it when I pick you up." She smiled and I shot back a hopefully realistic grin. With that, I grabbed my bag and my schedule and Jenna drove off, leaving me staring at the big letters on the building that read, MIDDLETOWN HIGH.

I reluctantly walked through the double doors at the front and went into the first room on the right that said OFFICE on the door. The lady at the front desk looked up and smiled and said, "Can I help you, Hon?"

"Yes, I'm Aislin Summers." I said using Jenna's last name which is the one she enrolled me with. I didn't object since it would make a better cover for me. It's not like I actually remembered my last name anyway.

"Ah yes, the transfer student," she replied sweetly, "I'll get our class president to show you around your classes. She can also help you find your locker."

"Thanks." I said shyly. I was somewhat grateful that I didn't have to wander the halls alone. Even if I did tell myself not to talk to anyone. Just then, a girl that looked about my age with long, strawberry blond hair and light blue eyes walked in. 

"Here she is now." said the secretary gesturing towards the girl. She looked really pretty and clean. It made me look like I had just come in off the streets...oh wait...I had. Even though I had new clothes on and I had taken the first, most amazing real shower I had gotten- well, ever- I was still pretty plain. I hadn't put any make up on because I didn't know the first thing about it. My hair was black and messy whereas hers was wavy and put together and the color of a freaking sunset. I prepared myself for a preppy, uptight attitude as she walked up to meet me.

"Hi! My name is Ellie." she said holding out her hand, looking confused when I didn't take it.

"I'm Aislin," I said awkwardly.

"Oh, I already knew that," she said "Our principal, Mrs. Fremont, informed me that you were coming. I get to show you around today! Just one of the perks of student council!" she continued joyfully as she led me out into the hallway.

"You take this president thing pretty seriously don't you?" I said looking around the different classrooms.

"Of course! I have to know everyone to help everyone." she explained in a way too cheery voice. "What is your locker number?" she asked. I handed her my schedule hoping she could figure it out.

"Oh that's right up here!" she smiled leading me to a group of metal cabinet things. "Here is your combination." she said pointing to a series of numbers on the paper.

"What's a combination?" I hesitated, "Uhh..we didn't have lockers at our old school..." I said when she gave me a strange look.

"Oh, right! All you do is turn the dial three times and stop at the first number, then once and stop at the second, and finally go straight to the last number." she explained, demonstrating by opening my locker for me.

"Okay thanks," I said, not understanding why they had to make things so complicated.

"Okay, now let's see what classes you have. Ooh! We have first period study hall together! We also have the same lunch." she said with excitement in her voice. She was practically bouncing up and down. "Let's go ahead to study hall and I'll explain the rest of your schedule."

"Alright," I sighed, putting my stuff in the locker. I don't know what it was, but something seemed off about her. I decided to dip into her thoughts just to be safe. The only things I got back were plans for the homecoming dance and how she wanted to try to be friends with me. I suddenly felt bad about intruding on her thoughts. She truly was being nice even if it seemed like too much. I was being way too paranoid. It was a school after all. I wouldn't expect this to be the first place they would think to look for me.

"This is the Commons," Ellie said walking me into a big open space with a bunch of tables. "This is where study hall is held and it's also where we eat lunch." she said gesturing towards an area to the right that I assumed was the kitchen.

We sat down at one of the round tables as the bell rang. Everyone took their seats and started reading and catching up on homework. None of their thoughts pointed towards me though. Relax, I thought. My attention snapped back to Ellie when I finally realized she was still talking to me.

"Ooh looks like you've already got a hottie admirer!" she said gesturing a couple tables to my left. "Not bad for a new girl I'd say." She nudged me and I tensed.

I glanced in the direction of the person she was looking at. Sure enough a boy with wavy hair as black as mine that stopped just below his ears was staring right at me. At first I panicked and then I remembered that I had to relax. I studied him, trying to read his thoughts. He had hard, defined features. He looked like he could be my age. He also looked like he could take someone down if they messed with him. He was wearing a black fitted t-shirt with dark jeans. All in all, he was pretty dang attractive. But something was wrong. I wasn't getting anything from him. No thoughts, no pictures, nothing. It was as though there was a mental wall. Maybe I'm just too far away, I thought.

"What's his name?" I asked trying not to sound nervous.

"Umm, actually I'm not sure. He must have transferred here today too. I've never seen him before. He's pretty cute though isn't he? In that bad boy kind of way." she rambled on. I honestly didn't know how she kept up this cheery attitude at school.

"Hey! I'm gonna go up and get breakfast. Do you want to come up there with me?" Ellie asked politely.

"Sure" I said standing up with her. I was hungry but that wasn't the reason I wanted to go up there. That boy's table was on the way and I wanted to see if I could get anything from him if I got closer.

As we passed his table, I tried with all the mental power I had to get something, anything from him. As hard as I tried, though, I still came up with nothing. This scared me. I had never not been able to pick anything up from someone. I tapped into a few minds across the room to see if the problem was me. Every thought was loud and clear. Some of them I'd rather not repeat. This only made things worse. If it wasn't me, it had to be him. He glanced in my direction and smirked as he caught me studying him. I quickly averted my eyes and followed Ellie to the kitchen.

As we sat back down to eat our food, I discretely looked him over. A thought then hit me. What if he had a silencer? Silencers were invented in the same lab I escaped from. After I had first attempted to escape by listening and seeing the thoughts of the scientists, they created a device that shielded their minds from me completely. It stunted my escape attempts for a while. These devices were dangerous for me because if I couldn't see what was going to happen, there was a chance I'd end up back in the lab.

I searched his body for a silencer. Well I searched as well as I could from a distance. He had nothing on his arms or around his head. The only silencers I had seen were either earpieces or some type of metallic bracelet. I let out a small breath but I wasn't totally relieved yet because it left the question, why couldn't I read his mind?

I drew my attention back to Ellie and asked, "Are you gonna eat that?" I pointed to her bagel that she left half eaten on the table.

"No, go ahead!" she smiled handing it over.

"Thanks." I said as I started devouring the bagel. It was better to act like nothing was wrong. I tried distracting myself from my swirling thoughts.

"That's a nice necklace." I smiled sincerely at Ellie as I was starting to warm up to her presence.

"Oh! This? Yeah my grandma gave it to me before she passed away." she said shakily, a grim expression forming on her face.

"Oh I'm sorry! It must be really special then." I said sympathetically. I don't really remember my real family much but I know it's hard to see someone you love die. Heck, sometimes it's hard to see someone you don't even know die.

"Yeah..." she trailed off. I could tell she didn't really want to talk about it. I tried changing the subject.

"So...the new guy..." I started.

"Ooh we should definitely meet him!" she said, and just like that she was back to her normal, perky self.

I thought about this. I kind of wanted to avoid him since I had never come across anyone, without a silencer, I couldn't get a thought from. On the other hand, my curiosity was killing me.

"Yeah we should." I said, curiosity winning the battle.

"Wait, what are y-"

"Come on! We should introduce ourselves!" she cut me off. She was already standing up and pulling me along with her.

"Wait, I didn't mean-"

"Better sooner than later." she cut me off again. I strongly disagreed. Later was definitely better. We suddenly stopped at his table and Ellie was the first to speak.

"Hi!" she started in her usual cheery voice, "I'm Ellie and this is my friend, Aislin."

"Hi" I muttered awkwardly.

He looked up at us with an amused expression.

"You must be new here 'cause I haven't seen you around, and I know just about everyone here." she continued, "Aislin here is new too." She sat down pulling me down to the chair next to her.

Ellie glanced at the big clock on the wall and said, "Oh shoot! I forgot about the student council meeting what with all the excitement this morning." she said, standing up. I stood up too.

"Oh no! Stay Aislin. It won't take long. I'll be back at the end of study hall to show you to your next class." she said gesturing for me to sit back down. She rushed off and I slowly sat back down, not ready to face this guy on my own.

"Hi" I started, "as Ellie pointed out, I'm Aislin." The corners of his mouth tilted up ever so slightly.

"So..uh.. you're new too?" I asked cursing myself for letting some of my anxiety invade my voice.

"Yeah. I just transferred." his voice was low and mysterious. And kind of...hot. Shut up! I told myself. He could be dangerous.

"Umm, what's your schedule look like?" I said attempting and failing to make small talk. He passed me a slightly wrinkled piece of paper. I compared it to mine and silence struck me. All of our classes were the same. Well that's just perfect! How was I supposed to avoid him if he was in all of my classes? I mean, technically I was doing a pretty lame job of doing it now, but still.

"What's it look like?" he asked casually, but something in his voice made me uneasy. It was like he knew.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and said, "It seems we have the exact same schedule." My voice was tight. He smirked and it was all it took to make me feel uncomfortable.

"You don't look like you're from around here." he said with an amused glint in his eye and a hint of something I couldn't identify in his voice.

"What makes you say that?" I said hoping he didn't catch the nervous edge in my voice.

"You're too..." he trailed off looking for the right word.

"Too? Too what?" I said anxious to hear what he was trying to say.

"Too unbelievably beautiful," he replied a smirk creeping on his face.

Just then, the bell rang and he got up to leave, still smiling. He started walking away, leaving me completely and utterly speechless. He did that on purpose, the jerk.

I suddenly was aware that he was leaving, so I quickly turned towards him and said, "Wait! I never got your-"

"Seth" was all he said before disappearing into the crowd.

***********

Yay! Longer chapter! I planned on updating even sooner but my internet kept crashing. :( There's still loads of stuff to come! What do you think of the new characters? I'll try to update again soon but I'm pretty busy. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! ;D Please vote or comment! I'm interested to know what you think!