Ash

Chapter Four

Chapter Four-

                I grumbled and dropped my bag on the couch, disgusted by how much sweat was on my body. That was the worst P.E. class I had ever been to. Coach had made me run almost two miles and then do like fifty of each conditioning exercise. It was TERRIBLE! I went into the bathroom and showered, replacing the navy and white P.E. uniform with a pair of denim short shorts and a plain ocean blue tank top. When I was finished becoming clean I grabbed my iPhone and laptop and settled on the couch. I plugged in the headphones that came with the phone and listened to Pandora while I messed around on my computer.

                Around six pm the T.V. flashed on and Dr. Marner’s excited face popped up on the screen. I calmly closed my laptop, took out my earphones, and straightened up to listen.

                “Hello, Asher, I hope you’ve had a good day in classes. You have an early start tomorrow as your first mission is waiting for you. You’re picking up a suspected….. person like you. We really need to think of something to call you guys. Anyways, be waiting outside the front door by seven tomorrow morning. You’ve got a flight to Arkansas to catch. The girl’s file will be in the limo when it picks you up. Pack for a couple days. You can do anything you need to, just get that girl to this school. She lives in this tiny town called Greenwood.” And with a final smile, the screen went black.

                “Ummm, okay.” I mumbled.

                I placed all of my textbooks on the little table behind the couch and packed two days’ worth of clothes in my backpack as well as a toothbrush, hairbrush, makeup, and other bathroom essentials. I then packed my iPad and its charger, leaving the zipper open so I remembered to pack my phone’s charger the next morning. I went down and ate then hung around for another two hours after that and then went to bed.

                I’m going to Arkansas. I’m going back to that place. Back to Greenwood. Back home.

                I rolled and looked at the picture of my Mom, Dad and I all together. The lush Arkansas landscape stared at me from behind us. I began to wonder if Elizabeth was still there.

                I eventually fell into a dark, dreamless sleep.

--

                My alarm clock awoke me at six. I took a quick shower and quickly dried off, dressing in a black denim skirt that went to mid-thigh, a red undershirt, white, black and red throw top that said “LOVE” on it, and red converse. After brushing through my hair I used a black slip of ribbon as a headband, then chose a zebra striped (black and white diamond) heart shaped necklace. For makeup I simply applied foundation, mascara, and the smoky eye look, as well as red gloss on my lips. My protective ring completed the look. I stuffed my iPhone in my pocket and the charger in my bag, then zipped the final zipper and left my room.

                I quickly gobbled down an omelet down at the Dining Hall and stepped out the school’s front doors at five till seven. I sat on the top step of the school and watched all of the early morning wanderers around me. There was a woman in her mid-twenties who jogged bye, humming as she passed. A few teens were coming out of a shop down the street, smiling and laughing. I envied how they were so oblivious to the Monster. Suddenly my view was blocked by a short and sleek limo. The driver climbed out and opened the door for me as I grabbed my backpack. With a simple ‘Thanks.’ I climbed in and got comfortable. My phone buzzed and I grabbed it, seeing the unknown number that had texted me.

                -Folder’s in the manila envelope (Linda Marner)-

                I quickly entered the number to my contacts then found the envelope and opened it. A small stack of papers fell out and I picked them up randomly, then set to work learning about the girl I was supposed to bring into the school.