The high school front office that I found myself waiting in was a quiet and oppressive place. The air was stale, the only light in here was artificial, and the secretaries working the front desk were a quiet and somber group. None of them even made eye contact when I initially came in. All they did was point to an empty seat and tell me to wait to be called in by the principal.

So there I was sitting by myself in a slightly uncomfortable chair, backpack between my legs, twiddling my thumbs. I stopped short of humming, knowing the salvo of glares that would come my way from the cadre of possible robotic secretaries.

The reasons for my being called down to the front office to speak with the principal were few. But to be honest, there was only one plausible reason why the principal would want to speak with me today on the first day back to school.

I frowned and looked down at my lap as I thought about what she might say or ask me about.

During my entire time attending North Shasta High School, I had never been called down to speak with the principal for disciplinary reasons. In prior school years, I sometimes talked with her outside of her office about what classes were available to take next year. This year I did briefly speak with her about some possible scholarship opportunities for college, but most of those discussions were handled by the guidance counselor.

From experience, and observations, there was only really one reason you were called down to speak with the principal and that was because you were in trouble. Maybe the other kids in class were right. From their perspective, and from what they heard, I did fire a gun at a party filled with other teenagers. If I was the principal, I would certainly want a word with him or her.

The police did question me at the scene, back during the incident, but they let me go after taking my statement and corroborating it with the others present. Obviously, I told the police exactly what everyone else had thought they saw. I didn’t confess to being some kind of weird shadow wizard who received messages and instructions from floating blue boxes nobody else could see. It seemed like that option would go poorly if they could even understand what I was telling them.

No, Mrs. Temple likely wanted to hear for herself my version of events and act based on whatever I told her. Would she punish me? A different scenario was she might be giving me some kind of reward. A lot of the gossip did seem to focus on me being the one who drove the ‘wolf’ off. She’s no doubt heard the rumors, but whether or not she believes is hard to say. Especially given the weirdness that these…paranormal events have on people’s minds.

The veil, or whatever it is, could very well compel her to believe the rumors are true, even if they sound implausible and are full of inconsistencies.

If I could just explain my…

“Ms. Morrow, Principal Temple will see you now.” One of the silent secretaries said to me, finally looking up and making eye contact.

“Ah alright, thank you for telling me.” I replied. She wasn’t even looking at me anymore. She broke eye contact with me and returned to her paperwork as soon as I started to stand up.

Ignoring the brief feeling of awkwardness the conversation had on me, I walked around the crowded front desk to where the door to the principal’s office was.

Considering for a moment, I stopped and knocked on the door and stood there uncomfortably, waiting for a reply.

“Come in.” Said the loud and commanding voice of our principal.

Opening the door and heading inside I saw that she was sitting at her desk. I also saw that she wasn’t alone.

Sitting across from her, in one of the available chairs was a middle-aged man with a big bushy mustache and wearing a well-tailored black suit and red tie.

They both stood up and turned around to greet me as I stepped into the room.

“Ms. Morrow it’s good to see you this morning, please close the door behind you when you step inside.” Mrs. Temple asked with a polite smile and tone of voice.

I did as she asked, and when I turned around to speak with them again they had both made their way across the room to stand quite close to me. Uncomfortably close.

“U-umm…” I started to get out before being interrupted.

“Ms. Morrow let me introduce you to Special Agent Gunderson, with the FBI.” She said while indicating the man standing beside her.

He gave me a big bright smile and offered me his hand.

“It's truly a pleasure to meet you Ms. Morrow, but I hope I can just call you Jennifer if that’s alright.” He asked with what sounded like genuine eagerness “Or would you prefer some kind of nickname like Jen maybe?”

“I-uh usually go by Jenni, actually. You said you’re f-from t-the FBI?” I asked, my nervousness peaking midway through my sentence.

“That’s correct.” Agent Gunderson said while looking downward and digging something out of his coat pocket.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He eventually produced and showed me a black leather ID holder that he flipped open and presented to me for inspection.

Except, the ID that he showed me didn’t say FBI anywhere on it, what it did say though was IDPA.

“IDPA?” I questioned out loud.

At my response, a wry knowing smirk appeared on Gunderson’s face.

His name and picture were on the ID though, Special Agent Herbert Gunderson. But what the frick was the IDPA? I’ve never even heard of it. Was it some secret government alphabet agency that dealt with this stuff?

“Hmm? What was that you just said, Ms. Morrow?” The principal asked me with a perplexed expression.

“Ah, she was just asking about some of the fine print on my ID.” Gunderson told Mrs. Temple with a smile.

That wasn't true, they weren’t in small teeny tiny fine print. The letters IDPA were big and bold, and took up the entire top half of the ID he showed me. He was lying to her.

“Why don’t we move on to why I drove all the way down here to your fine school, and why your principal called you down to her office.” Gunderson said to both of us.

“Yes, why don’t we all take a seat before we go into any details.” Mrs. Temple added before going back around to sit at her desk.

Agent Gunderson also returned to where he was sitting, leaving me the one open chair to sit in for what felt like my upcoming interrogation.

Once everyone had settled down into their seats, both adults turned to look at me expectantly.

“So Jennifer, why don’t you start from the beginning.” Principal Temple told me in a calm, coaxing voice.

“Ah alright, the beginning…” Was I supposed to tell them about the big under-aged drinking party a large portion of the school had gone to? That felt like asking for more trouble, but on the other hand, they probably already knew about that already so…

“So I went to this party at…” I started trying to explain before Agent Gunderson stopped me.

“Why don’t we skip ahead to the actual ‘incident’, some underage drinking and loud noise complaints are not things I’m concerned about.” Gunderson made a point to look at me and emphasize the word ‘incident’ when he said it.

“R-right okay uhh…” I felt at a loss for words again. This man knew something, lying to him would likely just get me into trouble, real actually dangerous kinds of trouble. The worst the principal could do was expel or suspend me. This man though, I had no idea what kind of authority or powers he had.

I’ll just give the most accurate version of events that other people are telling. Hopefully, that won’t trigger any weird censorship of what I’m saying and it will satisfy this ‘Special Agent’ Gunderson.

“Right, so my friends and I heard and loud screams in the house, and we went to see what it was.” I started to explain.

“You went toward the source of the screaming?” Gunderson asked, but in a calm, curious tone.

“Y-yes, um our friend wasn’t with us when we heard it, and we were both afraid something had happened to her.”

“I see, go on.” Gunderson urged.

“We ran quickly and eventually arrived in the living room where a large wolf was attacking the few people still there.”

Gunderson’s expression changed at what I had just said. He didn’t look upset or angry, but he looked slightly disappointed I guess.

“Scott, my friend, tried to help some of the people there leave, but the uh animal attacked him once he got close enough.”

“The ‘animal’?” Gunderson asked, and he again emphasized a specific word while making eye contact with me.

“Y-yes uh that's right.” I nervously told him while looking back and forth between the two intimidating figures I was sharing this small room with.

Gunderson let out a big sigh while he closed his eyes. He then turned his attention off of me and onto Principal Temple.

“Principal Temple, would it be alright if I asked a big favor from you? Would it all be possible for us to borrow this room so Jennifer and I can talk privately for a bit?” Gunderson asked her with a heartfelt and pleading tone in his voice.

“Oh!” Mrs. Temple seemed a bit taken aback by his request. “Hm….”

“I know it might seem like a bit much, kicking you out of your own office, but I swear it will only be for a little while so I can get the information that I need. I hope you understand.”

“You are right. If an agent from the FBI needs to borrow my office for a few minutes, who am I to refuse such a small thing.” Principal Temple told him while offering a congenial smile. Following that, she stood up and made her way toward the door.

“Thank you so much, Mrs. Temple, you're an angel, a star.” Gunderson told her with flattery and schmooze dripping from every word that left his mouth.

“Please, take whatever time you need. Better to do things right the first time than make a mistake and have to do them again later.”

“Words of wisdom ma’am, words of wisdom.” Gunderson responded with a ready smile as he watched her close the door behind her when she exited the room.

Once the door had fully closed he turned back around to look at me. His expression when he did so was one full of contrition and discomfort.

“First of all, I would like to apologize to you Jenni, for deceiving you and saying I was an agent from the FBI.” He told me with grave concern. “Based on your reaction, it was clear you could see that I was not.”

He tapped the pocket where his ID was as he said this.

“W-what exactly is going on here? Who are you?” I asked him anxiety clear in my voice.

“The ID and the name it had on it are genuine. Your confusion is based on the fact that what you saw and what your principal saw were two different things.”

“So you were lying to her also then?” I asked somewhat accusatorily.

“I was, but in her case, that’s just part of my job. Really, I couldn’t even tell her the truth if I wanted to, but I’m assuming you already figured that part out.” Gunderson was now giving me another knowing smirk.

“S-so are you like me then?” I asked hesitantly. Could he see those blue boxes too? Did he also have magic powers?

“No. At least, I don’t believe so. I won’t be able to answer that question with full accuracy until you’re able to answer some more questions for me, with as much honesty as you are willing.”

That was a weird way to put it.

“As much as I’m willing? Meaning I don’t have to answer your questions?”

“That’s true, you’re right.” He told me happily. “If you are what I think you are, and I am about 90% sure you are, then you are welcome to keep whatever information to yourself that you like.”

“And what exactly is it that you think I am?”

My question only caused Gunderson to grow an even bigger and wider smile than he already had.