The Library of Powers

Chapter 2 - Part 2

Sitting in the principal's office, Jackson watched the clock slowly tick. It was an old clock, round with big brass numbers and a pendulum jutting out of the bottom, rhythmically swinging. Jackson wondered if it had once been a grandfather clock, its wooden casing ripped out to be "modernized". This was Jackson's first time in the office, and he already hated the clock. How could anyone stand it? It must be an heirloom, albeit one massively mistreated.

The principal was starting at Jackson, with a look of both disappointment and curiosity. He had thin black hair, slicked back revealing a receding hairline. His eyes were dark and baggy, much like his suit. Those eyes had a twinkle in them, both threatening and jolly. Jackson continued to watch the clock move, avoiding Principal Gonner's glare.

"So... Jackson. Have anything you'd like to tell me?" Principal Gonners asked, his hands entwined upon the polished desk. Gonners was not a man who intimidated, he had come to terms with that years ago. With his short stature and sickly frame, he relied instead on being crafty when dealing with students. Respect is an important thing for a principal to have, yet Gonners did just fine without it.

Jackson didn't answer, so Principal Gonners continued. "We've heard a nasty rumor going around the school that you have powers, Jackson. While I'm sure this is all a huge misunderstanding, know that if it is not, you're not in trouble." This piqued Jackson's interests, raising an eyebrow. The facial tick did not go unnoticed by Gonners. "Oh, I see," He muttered.

"If I'm not in trouble, why am I here?" Jackson said, his eyes finally coming to meet Gonners. It was intense, so much so that his eyes quickly darted back to the clock. Jackson knew why he was here, he just didn't want the principal knowing he knew. Better to make it seem like he simply didn't know the rules then that he was actively breaking them.

Gonners opened a cabinet under his desk and pulled out a lengthy contract of some kind, already attached to a clipboard and pen. He handed it to Jackson. "All students with powers in the Vera City School District have to be registered as such." He paused for a moment, "With or without a secret identity. Don't worry, I couldn't reveal it if I wanted to. Please, sign below."

Jackson hesitated, weighing his options. Sign the paper and keep playing along with this charade, or refuse and see what happened. He decided to sign the paper, as at least he could manage that situation. Besides, even if it took some lying, maybe the school had resources for students with powers he could use. Gonners smiled, more of a toothy grin than anything genuine. He took the clipboard from Jackson. "Great!" He exclaimed, "Just a few questions before we're done here. What exactly is your power Jackson?"

Shit. Jackson had been hoping that would be later. He had to think of a cover story, and quick. Gonners couldn't learn about his connection to the library. Masking his apprehension as being uncomfortable with eye contact, he once again looked at the clock on the wall. And that clock just so happened to be his lucky break. Melanie had only seen him doing a soft transition out of the library, right? So from her perspective, he could have just been pretending to sleep and slowed down time to grab the falling books. "Time manipulation," Jackson answered, trying to act confident in his abilities. Gonners made an almost purring like noise, low and guttural.

"Impressive. Can you just slow down, or completely stop?" He followed up. This one Jackson had an immediate answer for.

"Slow down, but sometimes I can to the point where the distinction doesn't matter."

"And do you age while in this state?"

"No." Jackson answered, a little too quick and a little too confident. Gonners leaned over his desk, with a triumphant look on his face.

"And how would you know that, Jackson?"

Jackson hesitated. He couldn't tell Gonners he'd been living in slow motion for longer then he'd been alive, or it would bring up the question of why he would do that to himself. Jackson chose his words carefully. "I once spent a day in slow-mo, to test my endurance. I normally shave every day, but I didn't have to once I had re-entered reality."

Gonners looked downtrodden for a moment, then though over Jackson's words. "Reality? Are you saying you have not a Mind Palace, but a Planar power?" Jackson winced visibly at the principal's words, but Gonners finally decided to stay stoic, not revealing that he noticed. By now Jackson knew for certain. Gonners didn't believe him, he needed to make his cover story a little more sound.

Once again, Jackson's savior came in the form of the dumb old clock. "Yes, Mr.Gonners. I shift into a plane which is a watchmakers shop. There's not much there, and once I'm fully shifted, I can't interact with the world around me. While I may be able to stop time, I can't do anything in that state."

This visibly ruined Gonners' day, but he held through. Turns out this kid really is just timid, Gonners thought. Who, then, has the link to the library? "Interesting. Alright, I think I have enough information to complete this form, but there is one wrench in the works. After school Tuesdays and Thursdays, you're going to the superpower class. It's mandatory for powers that could be dangerous."

"What? If my power goes out of control, I'm the only one who suffers!"

"And that's not enough reason for you to take the course? It doesn't matter anyway because that's not why you're taking it. It's that you could be a danger to others. Time-related powers especially. You've heard of the timeout killer, right? You have to learn responsibility, and be watched to make sure you are fit to wield your powers."

"Mr.Gonners, this isn't necessary, I would never do something like that."

"Doesn't matter. School code. Have a good day Jackson, don't end up in my office again. Superpower class starts tomorrow in room 103." Mr. Gonners said as he pointed to the door behind Jackson. After a moment of staring in disbelief, Jackson grabbed his backpack and pushed his chair back, leaving the room and that awful clock in disgust.

As he exited, Jackson noticed a student running out of the office. She had short brown hair, which ruffled against her coat as she attempted to leave in a rush. Once she had left, Jackson glanced around the front office to see if someone else might know what would cause a hurry. It turned out Jackson was alone, a note on the secretary's desk reading "out to lunch". During his cursory glance, Jackson also noticed a red pen on one of the waiting chairs outside principal Gonner's office. Leaning down to pick it up, Jackson examined it further. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before. The pen was a translucent crimson, made completely of glass. The glass seemed to twist around itself, making a knotted pattern, not unlike those he had seen on decorative pillars. Despite its elegant nature the pen seemed to be ballpoint, although Jackson couldn't figure out how to change the ink inside.

Mr.Gonners peaked his head through the door, noticing that Jackson was still there. "What are you doing, get to class!" He yelled.

Jackson didn't need to be told twice.