Blue Monday

Chapter 11 - The Weapon

***GIDEON***

"I dunno," Fionna says. "You didn't puke, did you?"

"I did, actually," I groan. "I mean, did you see that dark shit they covered me with? It got everywhere inside and out of me. God." I unzip my hoodie and take a deep breath.

"That doesn't count, though," Fionna says. "Does it?" She looks up expectantly at the old man who came in with her.

"No," the old man says - I notice he has a deep, English-accented voice, like an old-timey movie star. Maybe he was James Bond in his past life or something. In fact, I decide I'm going to call him "Bond" until I learn his real name. I'm sure the nickname will stick even after that. "That's simply the dark energy being purged from your system, Mr. Cabrera," Bond adds. "Your first body has yet to die, so worry not."

I nod weakly. "Uh-huh."

"Well, in that case, I'll leave you to talk with Mr. Cabrera, then," Bond says to Fionna and Kyle. "I need to attend to some other matters with our young Agents Troy."

"Will do, Thompson," Kyle says.

So that's his name, I think as the old man leaves. Whatever. Bond fits him better.

"Okay," Kyle drawls. "I'm gonna, um, head back upstairs, cover you with the kids. You know how to get back home from here, right?"

"Uh...I think so," Fionna says. "But those tunnels are a total rat's nest, you know?"

"Wait, you're just gonna leave us?" I ask, glaring at Kyle. "I still have a load of questions for you! And I'm sure Fionna's got a shit-ton of them too. Pardon my French."

"Not now," Kyle says, holding up his hands. "Not in a public place. I promise, tonight I'll come to you and answer every question you have. If I can," he adds hastily.

Fionna sighs. "No chance of changing your mind?"

"I have to keep an eye on those kids until the lockdown is over," Kyle says. "I'm sorry."

"Lockdown?" I repeat. "What the hell's happening here?"

"Just go," Kyle says, gesturing to a door to my left. Fionna opens it, revealing a long, narrow, dimly-lit passageway. It reminds me of the one that begins in the basement at Balthazar and leads to a hidden door in the woods behind the school.

We venture into the passageway. Kyle says goodbye, but doesn't look at us as he does so. Feeling increasingly paranoid, I follow Fionna, who's got her hands full of fire. The passageway does have some light, but I'm grateful for Fionna providing some more. I take advantage of her light to look under my shirt.

"What's up?" she asks.

"Nothing," I say. "I just...that dark cocoon thing? It was so tight, I was wondering if it shrank my breasts all the way." I shake my head. "Nope. Shit."

"So...it's true?" she asks. "You're trans?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"A little birdie told me," she says. I figure her "little birdie" is Old Man Thompson. "You look good, though. Really. Being a boy suits you."

"Uh...thanks?" I catch sight of the flush creeping over her face, so I decide to change the subject for now. "You're saying this is supposed to lead to...wherever you live?"

"Uh-huh," Fionna says. "I, uh, went down here my first day on the job. It's a shortcut between my apartment building and the library."

For some reason, I sense she's hiding something. Probably her knowledge of these tunnels isn't as great as she'd have me believe. Oh well - it's not like mine would be any better anyway. "Is that where we are? A library?"