ELISE'S POV
"And what happened? Did you have a rough encounter with that guy?" I tried not to sound too pushy about knowing if Stan and Carter met. It looks like Carter is unscathed, I hope Stan is, too. I don't even know if he's capable of having some fighting skills. But this is Carter we are talking about and I don't think Stan is in par with his skills. I just hope he's not dead.
"No, we didn't. Hindi niya napansin na pumasok ako sa portal na ginamit niya. It's a good thing having an access to the portal that goes through the Falias City is privilege of power elites, I was able to get back here in Cross Institute through that means," ipinakita ni Carter ang pierce ng tenga niya na may bilog na plate at may parang kulay pulang bato doon. I noticed Jeanne also have the same type of jewelry and she's wearing it as one of a charm on her bracelets. I might have noticed Flare has a pendant like this too. So this is some sort of a key throught the Falias City which is another dimension.
I relief swept through my system when I found out Stan and Carter didn't meet. I hope neither of Carter and Jeanne noticed it.
"The second portal is more complex, I think neither of the two ladies have an access to it. And none of them appeared again during my stake out," ani Carter.
"What are you doing here?" All of us spun towards the voice behind us.
Fenrir got a curious look on his face, his eyes linger on Carter and I, we both didn't noticed we're standing too close beside each other that I can feel his arms and shoulders brush mine even if they're both dangling on my side.
That's the time that I got uncomfortable that I stepped a few inches enough for his personal space. Fenrir might've got confused too because Carter and I we're never seen this close.
"Anong ginagawa niyo dito?" tanong ulit ni Fenrir sa amin, his eyes were fixed on Jeanne like he's avoiding my gaze.
"Uh.." Jeanne side-glanced at me, and I can see her what-to-do-expression.
"Uh, wala naman nagkasalubungan lang kami dito." ako ang sumagot.
He touched my elbows, nang mapatingin si Carter sa pagkakahawak niya ay binitawan niya rin ito at tumingin sa faculty building. "Mrs. Perez needs you." Aniya.
Sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa faculty building.
Jeanne on the other hand went to the dorm building, while Carter went ahead to the boy's dorm. I looked back at him expecting him to do the same but he didn't.
"I'll be waiting outside." Tapos mahina niya akong tinulak. Nandito na pala kami sa office ni Mrs. Perez. "Pasok." he says without looking at me, his fingers touching the ajar door.
Mrs. Perez looked up, met my gaze and she give me a firm smile before instructing me to sit on the couch infront of her. She's holding an overflowing manila folder, flipping through all that paper, so I finally said, "Pinapatawag niyo daw po ako?"
Mrs. Perez looked up at me like she'd forgotten I was even in the room. "Marami nang mga neolution attack ang kumakalat sa mortal realm. This time they're not being discreet about hunting us, anymore. Even the civilians are being involved. When a person is suspected to be a hidden, they'd gather enough evidence to prove it, they would hang around that person and investigate. But now, they're getting past at it. " she answered in her velvety voice. And all I can think of is Stan. Knowing him, He would never succumb to do things beyond inhumane. Pero siguro, hindi ko talaga siya ganun kakilala.
"So.." I asked, still not getting the point of me being here in her office. "You need to go on a mission with Carter, Elizabeth, Fenrir and Lia. You have to hunt them down, stop them and get information where there main lab is,"
I stayed quiet, for a moment before digesting Mrs. Perez's words.
"Ako po? Eh hindi naman po ako kasali sa power rankings, at saka first year palang po ako."
"Yes, I know that." tumango tango siya bago niya tinanggal ang eyeglasses niya sa mata niya at nilapag sa mesa.
"But no one knows the mortal realm more than you." I don't know if I should be greatful because i got casted into a mission, or to feel terrible because they just wanted my experience with the mortal realm instead of my ability.
"Ask Fenrir to lend you the map tonight." tumango nalang ako, wala naman akong magagawa.
I stepped outside Mrs. Perez's door and Fenrir stares at me for a small second. "Kasama naman pala ako sa mission niyo." He rubs the back of his neck and says nothing. He starts walking.
Naglakad kami papuntang cafeteria, di kalayuan nakita ko si Jeanne, Zion at Khal sa usual table namin, lalapitan ko sana sila pero pinigilan ako ni Fenrir.
"This way. " We walk towards a corner table where Carter sat like he's waiting for someone impatiently.
Nang makalapit na kami, tumayo siya at napatingin sa akin. Naupo kami do'n sa round table, maliit ang mesang iyon at mukhang sinadyang dapat ay magkakalapit kami upang mahina lang ang aming pag uusap.
Carter sat beside me and I didn't know why I felt awkward being this close to him like we've never been like this close before. Ilang segundo rin na nakatayo si Fenrir sa gilid namin ni Carter bago nag decide na maupo sa harapan namin.
Fenrir across us. Carter talked first. "Both of you will be joining us according to Mrs. Perez, 6:00 AM, sa gate. Gumising kayo ng maaga at huwag niyo kaming paghintayin dahil mahalaga ang oras," napatango nalang kami sa kanya habang papalit palit siya ng tingin sa aming dalawa.
Wala naman akong issue sa paggising ng maaga. After our little conversation, Fenrir insists on accompanying me to the hospital wing since I'd be spending the night guarding Flare. He casually touched my elbow and for a second I caught Carter's eyes linger got distracted by that.
Carter just walked away after handing me a folded paper which I guess is the map Mrs. Perez wants me to get from them awhile ago without a word or glance in my direction and I don't have any idea what to anticipate.
"So, is Carter hitting on you now? He seems a little extra nicer to you these days, I'm just concerned." Fenrir asked out of the blue as we make our way towards the hallways. Geez.
"No. He's still a pain in the A, most of the time. Nagpapahinga lang yan kaya medyo mabait, bukas tignan mo masungit na naman," I replied, as a matter of fact. Hindi ko naman napapansin na may nagbabago kay Carter, o masyado lang akong pre occupied these days. Well, whatever it is, one thing is for sure he's not trying to hit on me.
"And besides, I wasn't his type," ani ko at bahagyang natawa kasi hindi ko maiisip na posibleng mangyari iyon. Si Elle nga hindi niya gusto ako pa kaya? She's basically a Goddess, I'm just a potato?
"You're not so sure about that," ani niya at napangisi, pagkarating namin sa pinto ni Flare ay tinalikuran niya na ako.
BINABASA MO ANG
Project X (published via Sanctum Press)
Science Fiction[TAG-LISH] "hiddens" are species who have an altered genome in their DNA and is considered a genetic failure that has evolved during conception and is considered higher than the average human in terms of intelligence and capabilities. Elise is an...
