Blood Is Thicker

Chapter 3: KJ Maior

Chapter 3: KJ Maior

            KJ and Jack walked back to the dorm in complete silence, Jack’s mouth pursed shut in an effort to keep his stomach from inverting itself.  KJ was lost in thoughts much deeper than those about his stomach, though the buds of nausea were beginning to bloom within him as well.  This isn’t fair, this isn’t right…He glanced at his best friend – who was pouring sweat and hugging his abdomen – and could feel nothing but sympathetic rage for what Jack was now experiencing. 

            Well, that wasn’t completely true.  He felt other things, but primarily among them was anger.  Jack doesn’t deserve this, no one does.  None of us deserve the hole the past has dug for us.  But KJ knew his indignation was pointless – who was there to blame?  It’s not as if Sharon and Rose wanted this to happen, and I’m sure they had their reasons, whatever they may be…  No, anger would not fix this – if there was any solution for this – on the contrary, it would probably only make matters worse.  It was better to stay as he had been for years; he should just mind his own business.  What Rose and Sharon do is up to them.  Yes, indifference was the best way – he could not complicate matters if he simply allowed events to play out.

            But at the same time… Jack is completely clueless as to what’s happening to him… He has a right to know what he’s been born into.  It was obvious the twins weren’t going to tell him, so maybe he should…

            Indifference is all you know.  What right do you have to tell Jack anything? 

            Perhaps anger wasn’t the most influential emotion in his system this morning.  He had to admit, as he led KJ into an elevator and pushed the button for floor number five, seeing Jack physically ill with anxiety had terrified him.  And as KJ realized that, once again, he had almost no control over the events surrounding him, fear began to melt away any ire he had held towards Sharon and Rose.  You’re trapped again, KJ.  What should you do?  You can’t not tell him, but…

            He reached for his wallet to pull out his student ID card, which worked as an electronic door key.  His hand rested against his back pocket – not there.  He reached for his left side pocket – nope… right side pocket?  Nothing.  I know I didn’t put it in my backpack… “Did I leave it in the room?”  He wondered.

            Jack shook his head.  “I saw you grab it this morning.”  He muttered through the hand over his mouth.  “Take mine.”  He groaned and pulled his wallet out, practically throwing it at KJ.  “Quickly, please.”  KJ swiped Jack’s card and the door clicked open.  Jack ran to their shared bathroom, but KJ had other things to consider besides the horrendous puking noises coming from underneath the closed bathroom door. 

            Someone stole my wallet…?

***

            There they are…  Sarah spotted Sharon and her friend leaving Aver Hall together.  Alice had decided that this mysterious Gifted was simply too close to Jack to be left anonymous.  She’s right.  We need to know who this guy is.  How did he avoid our records?  Alice’s father was a dean at Alron University, and it had been an easy task to gain the files of every Gifted student enrolled… but they had no information on this tall, skinny boy with the glasses.  So Sarah sat, hiding in plain sight, commanding an excellent view of the busiest part of campus from the top of a long-dry fountain.  The fountain, which was shaped like a giant staircase made of colored marble, had been inactive for years.  Why they never pour water through this thing is beyond me, Sarah thought, but whatever the reason, it’s dead useful to spy from.  She was at least five feet above everyone else’s heads, and it wasn’t like anyone could see her. 

            As focused as she was on her targets, Sarah failed to notice Jack as he stood directly across from her, standing at the base of a staircase that lead up to the Student Commons.  She did, however, notice the same girl that had caught his attention.  Sharon and Jack had to walk right past the tall girl in the ballet dress, and as Sarah watched them, her eyes were naturally drawn to the dancer in black.  She recognized the ballerina’s face from the records.  EJ Thomas - Gifted, nothing special about her family… Sarah mentally scanned for useful information, then suddenly remembered: considered unstable and dangerous.  Proceed with caution. 

            So what is the psychopath staring at so intently?  Sarah followed her gaze and found Jack.  Of course.  Always at the center…  This was definitely something to tell Alice about.  Other Gifted were starting to take notice of Jack.  You managed your first year in peace, but as time grows shorter… 

            Sharon and the unknown Gifted reached Jack, startling him out of his EJ-inspired trance.  Sarah watched as the group made their way to a bench, then as the target and Jack headed back to their dorms, leaving Sharon behind.  Jack didn’t look too good, and Sarah wondered what exactly Sharon and Rose had done to him last night.  But that wasn’t her concern.  Now, it was time to go to work.  She picked her way carefully down from the top of the fountain.  Sure, she couldn’t be seen, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be heard or felt, if she were to land too loudly or run into someone. 

            She followed them as closely as she could manage, tip toeing directly behind her intended prey.  Fortunately, both boys were walking slowly to accommodate Jack, who looked like he was about to lose his breakfast.  They reached the door to the Honors Dorms, and as the mysterious one held the door for his sick friend, Sarah made her move.  Holding her breath, she reached into his right pocket and gently lifted his wallet out.  Still not daring to breathe, she tiptoed backwards a few steps, half-certain he would notice the missing weight instantaneously.  Apparently, though, he was too lost in thought or concern for his nauseous companion, and walked into the dorm building without checking his pockets.  She pumped her fist in celebration, then flicked open the wallet.  There – his student ID card.

KJ Maior

            Suddenly, it all made sense.  An absence from the records, absolutely no trace of his existence at Alron University… Of course.  He’s a Maior… why didn’t it occur to us before?

Alice would most definitely be interested in this.