Animi Motus

7: Ira

Chaz had looked like he was going to start crying! I couldn't stop thinking about the pathetic look on his face as I held him by the collar. If the others were worried about Chaz telling anyone about what he saw, (and I'm not entirely sure what that is) they shouldn't be. Everyone thinks Chaz is some big tough jock, and boy does he act like it. But in reality, Chaz is a wimp, and he's only looking out for himself. With the threat of face-melting in the air, something tells me he won't squeak. And on the off chance that he does, no one would believe him. Would they?

My sixth hour current events class is going to be the death of me. Not because I hate current events either. I actually like them. But seriously, the guy who teaches it, Mr. Beller, is the most boring man in the world. He should honestly win some kind of an award. Between the flat, drawling voice, the sweater vest collection, and the dreary eyes, he's even worse than my math teacher, Mr. Frowne. Mr. Beller is currently droning on about how current events connect us to the world we live in, and the rest of his usual spiel. I decide to tune out until we get to the good stuff.

"Today's topic, class, is the island nation of Grenada. Can anyone tell me something about Grenada?" Mr. Beller aks. I certainly can't. I've never even heard of Grenada. I look off into space, pretending to search my mind for the file labeled "random facts about Grenada." No luck.

"Grenada is a chocolate producing country, sometimes referred to as the 'Island of Spice.'" Some kid named Xavier chimes in.

"Very good, Xavier!" Mr. Beller gushes. "But what we'll be talking about today is a bit more morbid than chocolate and spices." I sit up in anticipation. Morbid? Now we're talking. "The island has a population of just over 100,000. In the past few days, 1500 have dropped dead." He continues. "But here's the peculiar thing. The authorities have no idea what killed them. All of the deceased natives have strange black, splotchy rings around the skin on their necks, and their bodies are greyed, but other than that, there's no clues as to what happened. There's a growing concern amongst nearby island nations that this virus will spread into their home, so they are refusing to go into Grenada to provide aid, or take in anyone trying to leave." I feel the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. That's some scary stuff. I have to say, I'm intrigued. I raise my hand.

"So, Mr. Beller, what are the authorities doing to stop this exactly?" I ask.

"Well, there isn't much anyone can do until they figure out what the source is. Possibly some sort of virus, or a contaminated water or air supply. Some Grenadians even believe that the deaths are a message from god!" He explains with a chuckle. "Now, everyone take a look at the study guides on your desk. You'll all be coming up with your own, logical theory for the Grenadian phenomenon. You may use the rest of this class as a research period." Mr. Beller says, then retreats back into his office in the corner of the room.

I'm not sure what to do. What if this Grenada thing is an imbalance, or something?! What if we're already too late and the world is gonna end because I wasn't looking out for it?! Or what if I'm totally paranoid and insane? I wish Luctus had been a little more clear on what an imbalance is before he opted out. Is people dying an imbalance? Is people dying in strange mysterious ways an imbalance? Is a bank robbery and imbalance?! No. I need to calm down. People die all the time, and there's nothing I or anyone else can do about it. But just to be safe, I decide to tell Asher and Nessa after class.

When the bell finally rings, I grab my things and rush off to seventh hour bio, before Mr. Beller can get to my desk to see what I accomplished in the work time. I doubt he would've been impressed by my notebook full of doodles of fireballs and force fields. When I step into biology, asher is already waiting for me in the back. I stride over and sit down at the desk next to him. He smiles warmly at me.