Defining Factors

Chapter 8: Course Relations

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Okay! So this is a theories section right here. There are a few theories going around. Feel free to comment here with theories of your own. (Please I love reading them)

Current theories: King George Fredericks is the Necromancer. James' touch can kill. Washingdad is the Necromancer. Mulligan is the time traveler and pregnant. That I, the author, am the Necromancer. James has no hands, literally. King has no powers. And I think that's all of them so far. What others are there?

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Warnings: Competition, Jealousy, Flirting, Poor Jefferson

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"Oh hello. My name is Francis Kinloch. What's your name?"

"John. John Laurens."

"Are you hurt, John Laurens? Why are you crying?"

"I'm not."

"Oh. Well, then how did you find yourself so deep into the forest?"

"What do you care?"

"Hey, it's okay. I'm only here to help."

John opened his eyes to the pitch black of his room. Well, maybe it was pitch black for normal people, but John could see just fine.

It's been two days since James showed up and took everyone on a trip to the Alps. John still didn't trust him. James was a naturally manipulative person, he could easily make you love him. Simple, give everyone a reason to trust you. First, you start with someone who knows you and could easily trust you again, then you use them to convince everyone to give you a chance, finally, do them a favor or give them something they'll love. That'll make people love and trust you fast.

James did each of those steps. How everyone was so blind, John didn't know. Especially Kinloch. John thought he was smarter than that. Trusting a stranger so easily. Not only a stranger, but a stranger that ditched him in the Sahara for no good reason. Then there was the fact that James covered himself from head to toe. Didn't even let his fingers show. What was with that? No one covered up unless they were keeping secrets. What was James' story? And why was he really here? And then there was the smell that clung to him.

At least Hamilton agreed with him. Hamilton and pretty much everyone else in the entire complex. Just Burr, Thomas, and Kinloch were accepting of his presence. Thomas, Laurens understood, the poor guy couldn't help it, he grew up with James. John didn't really know what Burr thought of him. He just kinda kept quiet. But Kinloch, that's what really got to Laurens. How every time James appeared, Kinloch would smile like he just heard a joke that no one else did. How come James could make him smile just by standing there and Laurens had to work for it?

John closed his eyes again and pictured the two of them falling through the air, Kinloch laughing at him and Laurens clinging to Kinloch's body as if he was going to die. That had been John's favorite part. Being with Kinloch and hearing his laugh, despite the harrowing experience.

Speaking of which, John had to meet up with him to do their daily training. Kinloch was officially part of the team now that he was registered, that meant he really had to train with the team.

Sad part was, James had to be there too. Fredericks put Burr's team in charge of James' safety since they were a powerful squad, while Washington's squad would be the main force against the necro. So that meant James had to train with them. Worse part, James didn't have any powers besides teleporting. It was cool and all, but useless in a fight. So if James was forced to fight one day, he'd be utterly useless and lose.