No Strings Attached

Chapter 19: Super Training

I can't believe I am actually going along with James's plan.

We should be at home, doing normal teenage stuff. But instead, we are in Martin Luther King Boulevard at 97° heat, finding ourselves standing in front of a three-story dilapidated science building.

Observing the slanted brown roof, numerous broken glass windows, and scratched doors. Spreading across the deserted dark gray parking space, are cracks, cigarette butts, and empty beer bottles.

"So, what do you guys think?" asked James proudly.

Aria gives him an annoyed stare. "Well, I know where Stephen King gets his inspiration from."

James raised his eyebrow. "You think it looks like a Stephen King movie?"

"Yeah, " Aria nodded. "Or the house of a serial killer."

Marco cracked a laugh, whereas James rolled his eyes.

"Look, I know it's terrible-" he began sheepishly.

"Terrible?" Marco shrieked. "The projects are terrible. This-he gestures the building with his right hand-looks as if someone had an orgy in there."

Cringing at the image of the abandoned lab, I had to agree with Marco.

It does look like something out of a Stephen King novel.

There is hardly any fresh green vegetation; not only that, but I can see vulgar graffiti smearing all over the concrete gray surface.

"Geez," I think shuddering. "What if someone actually took a shit in there?"

I wanted to convince James that we should go home, but he had other plans. Scampering into the deserted lab building, James trained his cheerful eyes on us.

"Well, what are you guys waiting for?" he beamed. "Let's go!"

Throwing his excited fist in the air, James rushed into the abandoned structure, leaving us to question his sanity.

"Why does he want us to use our powers in there?" Aria prompted.

"Maybe he prefers some space?" I replied in an unsure tone.

Crossing his arms, Marco muttered, "I question my friendship with that boy sometimes."

Even though I wasn't sure about James' objective, I told Marco and Aria to go inside.

"What?" Aria cringed. "Why should we go in there? It's creepy."

"Because James said so, okay?" I respond with exhaustion.

My friends gave me puzzled looks, not convinced by my answer.

"Look, I am confused as you two are, " I began calmly. "but in order to cope with whatever the fuck happened to us, we gotta be prepared."

Marco crossed his arms and raised his right eyebrow at me.

"Are you just saying this because you love James?" he grunted.

My cheeks became the color of hot pink.

"Are you kidding?" I roll my eyes. "This has nothing to do with that. What's wrong with helping James out, huh?"

Aria's adorable smirk stretched into a smile.

"I think I know what's wrong, " she teased.

Rolling my eyes again, I said to Aria and Marco: "Come on guys, we have to do this for James."

Reluctant, Marco tags along with me while Aria lingered behind. Feet squished against the broken glass shards, as Marco, Aria, and I entered inside the lab, feeling the cold wind arousing our goosebumps.