Tunnel Vision

Chapter 3- Gray

"Alright, everyone back to work!" Mr. Bram said above the murmuring crowd that had gathered by the window at the sounds of the police. He would most likely be hearing of it later. The students shuffled back to their lab desks to resume class. "Thank you for the reports, Dr. Simon," Mr. Bram waved the papers at his friend before exiting the classroom. He began walking down the hallway when Ms. Sloane's black heels came clicking quickly across the corridor to catch up with him.
"Mr. Bram, where are you off to?" she inquired. He looked down at the woman who was walking next to him. Everything about her was pointed, from her facial features to the collar of her black work suit. "I was just collecting reports from the Science Department," Mr. Bram responded, looking down at the stack of papers in his hands. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ms. Sloane grimace at them, probably because they were unorganized. "Let me handle those," she said. "The principal says he wants to see you anyway." He did as she said and handed the papers over, then turned to walk down the hallway towards Principal Brown's office.
*****
"Good afternoon, Principal Brown," Mr. Bram said as soon as he stepped into the office. The Principal looked up from his silver, touchscreen desk.
"Hello, Gray," he responded as Gray walked over to his desk.
"The reports look fine," Gray began to say. "Everything is in working condition. I don't think any Testers require replacement-"
"That is not why I asked you to come in here," Principal Brown interrupted. "I'm sure you heard the Hover Police Squad outside?" Gray nodded. "Well," the principal continued, "I got a message from the Police Station that one of our students was taken in. I asked them to come back here with her."
"Who was it? What was she doing?"
"I'm not quite sure, but I'd like you to sit in on this. You will be assuming my position one day, you know? Situations like this do not often occur, but they do exist."
"Yes, sir," Gray said as they heard a loud female voice coming from down the hall and outside the principal's office.
"Get your metal claws off me you mechanical menace!" the voice yelled in rage as the door flung open and a Po-1 entered the room, dragging the girl behind it.
"Police-Bot Rank One reporting with-"
"Po-1 dismissed," the principal said before the mechanical officer could continue. It turned and went out the door which closed automatically behind it. Gray looked down at the principal who in turn was looking at the girl. Gray looked up, now able to see her clearly.
"That stupid bucket of nuts and bolts..." the girl muttered as she brushed a strand of her long, fiery, copper hair out of her face and adjusted her damp sweatshirt, which was of the oddest color. The girl looked thoughtfully from the principal to Gray. Her face was stunning with rosy color in her cheeks and lips, but what really caught Gray's attention was her eyes. Light brown with green watery swirls, he felt they could see and understand the very inner depths of his soul. This girl was definitely the strangest yet most bright and beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"Hello," Principal Brown said. "I'm Principal Brown. This is my apprentice, Gray Bram. Who might you be?"
"Rowan Iris," the girl responded. An unusual yet appealing name for an unusual yet appealing girl. Arms folded over her chest, the girl continued the conversation. "Listen, I have no idea what I'm doing here. I was at the Platform In-Between with my class and I fell through this grey portal, well, it felt like I was falling but it didn't hurt when I landed in that field. Anyway, I was the only one who could see the portal, my sister couldn't and-"
"Slow down," the principal said as he turned to Gray. "Do you suppose Portal-Z has reopened?"
"What's Portal-Z?" Rowan asked.
"Several years ago, Tunol, this world, was established by an elite team of scientists. They wanted to form an intellectual society and to keep it 'pure,' they sealed the portal off. There are sometimes complications with it because of all of the other worldly connections."
Rowan considered what he had said for a moment. "So is there a way for me to get back to Earth? I attempted contacting my sister with this when I was at the police station," she said, pulling out a cell phone, "I didn't think it would work, but I thought it would be worth a try."
The principal extended his hand, and Rowan, confused, placed her phone and headphones in the palm of his hand. He placed it in the top drawer of his desk.
"Hey," Rowan said, "give that back!"
Ignoring this comment, the principal continued the conversation. "We'll get Dr. Simon to investigate to find a way back home for you. In the meantime, we'll get you a room-"
"All of the dormitories are full," Gray interrupted quietly.
"Well," the principal continued. "I'll consider you the responsibility of Mr. Bram, then."
"Him!?" Rowan said, her voice growing shrill with irritation. "And give me my phone back! You have no right to take it!" Gray was surprised by the tone of voice she possessed; it was very odd the way she talked and the way her brow and face twisted and changed shape with what she said.
"You two may go now." Rowan was the first to leave, storming out of the room and slamming the door behind her. Gray walked out of the room from a safe distance.