The school was surrounded by black vehicles with authoritative prints in white paint that claimed it to be government property. More accurately—government facility. There were about five or six black containment vans which windows were screen blockades with thick glass before it. Men in black uniforms with special heavy guns crowded at specific locations surrounding the perimeters of the school—from inside the grounds to yards away outside the screen fence.

The school principal—a man in his late forties—along with the entire teaching staff stationed at the entrance of the main building where the government ‘authorities’ tried to infiltrate. The principal refused to permit entrance without the presentation of a search warrant or at the very least an explanation to why government agents dispatched themselves at such an untimely hour. Classes were going to be dismissed an hour later. Surely, they could have waited. Their presence could set the students into panic.

“For the nth time, officer,” the principal groaned. “I will not have you search my school without a warrant. You are not even policemen for all I could tell. And—”

“Our business is confidential and legal, that I can assure you.” There interjected a man in the background. He was in the same uniform as the man the principal talked with. He was fully vested in black with multiple pockets that the principal could only guess contained bullets or bombs. His thick, heavy boots stomped on the cement platform in the sound of a muffled pattern as he approached. And as he did, the agent the principal talked with stepped aside and saluted before walking out.

The principal gave out a curious glower to whom he guessed was the leader of the dispatched officials. Still, he wasn’t about to open his doors for the sake of the students.

“You being the head of authority, I expect you comply with legal procedures,” the principal said.

The vested man placed his arm around the principal, pulling him close as if they were old friends. “Principal—” he gestured a circling motion of the hand for the principal to give his name.

“Adler,”

“Principal Adler,” the man continued. He walked toward the entrance of the main building, pulling Principal Adler with him. And Adler, without knowing it, was walking with the man’s direction. “Just call me Rhodes. My men and I wouldn’t be here in an instant if there wasn’t a life-threatening situation.”

They entered the main building and turned at the first corner. The hall was empty. The students were obedient to stay inside their classrooms despite the panic-inducing situation. It pulled out a remark from Rhodes, praising Principal Adler’s discipline for the students. The doors however were cracked open and from that slit of an opening were curious eyes determined to find answers on the situation.

“Life-threatening situation?” the principal repeated. They kept on walking and stopped midway before arriving at the stairs. They were in the senior high school area.

Rhodes pulled out a complicated tool that was strapped on his holster and wore it around his eyes. Principal Adler was clueless to everything that was happening. Following Rhodes, he thought, would give him some answers on the situation but it just seemed like he was a leashed dog getting a walk.

Rhodes smiled as he wore the device around his head. It covered half of his face as if it was a sliced motorcycle helmet. He pointed at it and looked at Principal Adler with a mocking grin. “Neat goggles eh, Adler?” he chuckled and patted the principal on the back.

Principal Adler opened his mouth for questions he wanted to ask—statements he wanted to say but Rhodes had Adler on his palm. Before he could say anything, Rhodes had his arm around Adler’s shoulder and they were headed straight to the second floor.

“Now let’s begin the investigation, shall we, Adler?” Rhodes said as though he and the principal were actual partners. “Upstairs is the senior high school department, if I remember correctly. Ah, my Alma mater.”

Ivan stayed on his seat. While his classmates were all crowding on the windows, peeking and wondering what the cool men in black vests came for, he idly sat. His hands were tucked inside his underarms, in an attempt to warm it up. He was already covered in layers of clothes and a black hooded jacket but he wasn’t getting any warmer. He was cold but he wasn’t cold. His body was cold but he wasn’t bothered by it.

“Yo, Ice-van,” Jericho called. Ivan earned that nickname in middle school. Mostly, people called him Iceboy because of his cold hands. Jericho gave birth to the Ice-van nickname. As a child, Ivan was pale but not dead-pale. It was more of a blueish undertone and was emphasized by his dark chocolate hair. Everything about Ivan suggested his cold nature—even more so his eyes that were ocean blue in dim lights.

“Sup?” Ivan nodded to Jericho.

Jericho pulled out a nearby chair and seated beside Ivan. Jericho was a slim man no taller than Ivan. He stood about five foot nine. Close to Ivan’s six feet flat but somehow, he gets above Ivan through his clever puns. It was his compensation for their difference. Ivan and Jericho had been friends since the Ice-van nickname. Their friendship somehow worked because of Jericho’s enthusiastic humor and Ivan’s docility. No matter the joke, Ivan would always take it coolly and Jericho liked that about Ivan. Jericho was smug as if every conversation had a punchline. He kept this expectant smile as if he was going to reveal a big joke but that was just how he usually looked.

“Why do you think those men are out there?” Jericho asked.

Ivan shrugged and tilted his head to the window where most of his classmates were. Just recently, they were instructed to stay inside their classrooms when the principal called for every school personnel available or not. And it had been half an hour since then.

“Alright, let’s have a bet. Me first,” Jericho coughed to adjust his voice. He stroked his chin as if he had an invisible pointed beard dangling from there and his eyes were narrow slits as he tried to think of a possible explanation. His eyes widened as he thought he figured it out. “I bet they were dispatched by the government but got sent the wrong address. What’s yours?”

Ivan raised a brow. He stood to disagree with Jericho. “They look like Special Forces reserved for serious situations,” Ivan said, dismissing Jericho’s guess. “I doubt they’d make a mistake like that.”

“Boo,” Jericho inverted a thumbs-up. “Mistakes happen besides—” Jericho was cut short on his explanation. His mouth was open and his eyes were locked to something behind Ivan. Ivan expectantly waited for Jericho’s continuation but found that the smug teenager was looking at something behind him. He followed Jericho’s eyes and tilted his body to where his friend was looking.

“H-hi, Ivan…” an unfamiliar voice greeted.

Ivan turned behind him and he was surprised at the redheaded girl behind him. It was Melissa, the transferee. Not much was known about her except that she’s the quiet and antisocial one in the class. Many students tried to befriend her but all were repelled by her awkward vibe.

Melissa was beautiful. It was the only reason some boys tried to put up with her awkwardness. She had long red hair that reached her hips. She had a rosy complexion that was only revealed through her light freckled face and the rest of her was always covered by her light pink turtleneck sweater which sleeves overlapped her wrists. She had big round goggle-like glasses but despite that, had a beauty that was restrained by her introverted look. It was the first time she’s actually shown interaction with anyone out of school activities.

Ivan straightened his posture as he completely turned his body toward Melissa. He thought he might have done something wrong for Melissa to approach him and he was recalling what that certain thing he did was but nothing came to mind. Coughing, Ivan asked, “Can I help you?”

The timid Melissa adjusted her large glasses and swayed her body after Ivan’s question. She held her wrist with her other hand as her mouth mumbled words that weren’t accompanied by her voice. She went deep into her mannerisms before dismissing herself from Ivan without another word. Certainly, it was the most awkward interaction Ivan encountered. When he turned back to Jericho, there was a clowning grin on Jericho’s face.

“I think you and I both know what that means.” Jericho chortled.

Ivan’s eyes followed Melissa as she dashed swiftly back to her seat. Her hair flailed behind her rapid movement like a waving flag before she settled on the chair at the front right of the classroom—nearest to the door. And just like that, all Ivan could see of Melissa was her back facing him. The red curtain of her hair, concealing.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“You can’t assume the whole from a single piece,” Ivan replied to Jericho’s statement without taking his eyes off the girl. And when Jericho was about to reply back, the door of the classroom slammed open and there entered Principal Adler with an armored man in peculiar goggles. The students’ attention all turned to the principal and the man.

“Children,” the goggled man had his arms spread wide open as though to embrace. “Please, get back to your seats and we can begin with the briefing.”

“Briefing?” Principal Adler quietly whispered, “But I haven’t—”

“Alright, hurry up boys and girls, to your seats now,” the goggled man paid no mind to the principal. The students scrambled back to their places like confused but obedient ants, afraid to defy authority. Once every student was seated, the man introduced himself. “Boys and girls, you can all call me Rhodes,” he smiled widely. “Me and my team are just gonna be here for a while—”

Rhodes was interrupted when a student keenly raised her hand. It was Melissa. And Rhodes turned his head to the girl.

“Questions would be answered afterwards, my dear girl.” Rhodes smiled and walked closer to Melissa’s seat.

“I-I have to use the bathroom, sir…if I may,” Melissa said.

“You could go after—”

“I really have to use it, sir…” Melissa insisted, “You see…I have—” she went out of her seat and bent up to whisper her excuse to Rhodes.

All eyes were on her.

After stating her excuse, Rhodes pressed a button on his goggles and looked at Melissa from head to toe. Thereafter, he pressed the button again and allowed her to go out.

Ivan watched closely and he wasn’t aware that his heart was beating like crazy inside him. He didn’t like Rhodes’s vibe. Combined with the speculations on the sudden arrival of the government team, he wasn’t expecting any good news to come out of Rhodes.

Ivan pulled a breath through his mouth and when he exhaled, it came out as a frosty mist. Rhodes’s eyes turned to Ivan.

“Did you just smoke, boy?” Rhodes’s trademark smile suddenly vanished. The smile didn’t look good on Rhodes in the first place. It was too forced that it just looked disturbing. Seeing Rhodes’s face now, anyone could tell that it wasn’t his nature to smile. He was an authoritarian—a tyrannical one at the worst.

Ivan leaned back as if Rhodes’s concealed stare was enough to push him back. He looked behind him, hoping that Rhodes wasn’t referring to him. He’s seen his foggy breath though and he was just as surprised as Rhodes. It never happened before.

“No, sir…” Ivan swallowed.

Rhodes approached in ominous steps. The thud of his heavy boots instilled silence and attracted attention to Ivan. When Rhodes arrived, he leaned down on Ivan, placing his hand on Ivan’s desk.

“You could smoke if you want to, boy,” Rhodes’s voice was raspy, “Just not within school premises.” He smiled again and patted Ivan on the shoulder.

Ivan held his breath the whole time and when Rhodes went back in front, he was able to breathe. His breath didn’t come out as an icy fog this time. Perhaps it was just the trick of the eye but somehow it wasn’t seeing as Rhodes witnessed it as well.

Jericho threw a crumpled paper at Ivan and when Ivan turned, Jericho mouthed the word ‘What’ which Ivan replied with a shrug.

Rhodes explained their business. “Alright, kids. Our purpose here is to search for potential helpers.” Rhodes explained as if he was talking to children. Either he belittled the students or he tried too hard to keep his matter confidential. “This goggles I have here could immediately scan a person to see if he’s healthy enough for the task or not. Students that will pass the scan get to skip school and ride a government vehicle, isn’t that wonderful?”

“You’re taking the children without their consent?” Principal Adler interjected which Rhodes barely paid attention to.

“You will be taken back to your homes so that we may ask your parents for permission,” Rhodes said, “and of course, after we ask your parents, we will also ask you if you would want to be part of this big secret plan. Isn’t that exciting?”

Ivan grimaced at the way Rhodes spoke. It was insulting and terrifying at the same time. He wasn’t buying that excuse. If their purpose is solely to search, they wouldn’t bring arms to the school. There was definitely something more than what he just said. Heck, his entire statement could be a lie.

“Well, then, shall we begin?” Rhodes pressed the button on his goggles again. He started at the first row of students. The scanning process wasn’t very long. Rhodes would just focus on one student for about five seconds and proceed to another when he didn’t have what he was looking for.

Closer and closer, Rhodes approached Ivan and for some reason, Ivan felt terribly guilty—as if he did something wrong he couldn’t recall. He was afraid that Rhodes would stop at him and he would be a potential ‘helper’. No, from the students’ faces, they’re all thinking that Rhodes would stop at them. Ivan couldn’t be any different. He was just like everybody else.

After scanning the student beside Ivan, it was Ivan’s turn. Rhodes stood in front of Ivan’s desk, focusing on him for five seconds.

Thereafter, he spoke, “Stand up, boy. What’s your name?” he asked.

Ivan swallowed. “Ivan.”

“Ivan.” Rhodes kept his smile but his voice was disturbingly solemn. “Line up in front, please.”

Reluctantly, Ivan followed and he stood in front of the class beside Principal Adler as Rhodes scanned the remaining students. After finishing on Jericho, Rhodes returned to the front.

“Ivan,” Rhodes said as if he was a clown that found a volunteer for a magic trick, “Let’s get you a ride home.”

Before Ivan could do or say anything else, Rhodes had his hands behind Ivan’s back, pushing him with enough force to make him walk. Ivan looked at his classmates as he went out. They were clueless and so was he. He looked at Jericho who, for the first time, wasn’t smiling.

The hall was swarming with vested men wearing the same goggles Rhodes wore. They entered one classroom after another and proceeded from floor to floor.

Rhodes talked in the radio, “Found one. Taking him down. Over.”

Ivan wanted to ask but he didn’t have the guts. He just followed whatever Rhodes told him just to stay on the safe side. They passed the hall and down the stairs. They came by the curve of the wall that turned to the Boys and Girls bathroom across each other.

Melissa peeked from the wall. Rhodes was busy on his radio so he didn’t notice Melissa in his peripheral vision but Ivan did. It was impossible to dismiss her orangey red hair even if just by the corner of the eye. Or perhaps Melissa wanted Ivan to see her.

She was mouthing a word to Ivan—a message she wanted Ivan to know. Her lips curled inward and opened, stretching the corner of her mouth side to side. It curled the letter ‘P’. Ivan scrunched his brows and kept repeating the letter in his mind and the silent repetition on his mouth. P, p, p and then it hit him.

“Ugh, sir, Rhodes, I have to pee,” Ivan said.

Rhodes withdrew from the radio. “Can’t it wait?” he asked.

Ivan nodded to disagree and with a curt nod, Rhodes allowed him to the bathroom with his accompaniment. Rhodes didn’t enter the bathroom though. He stayed outside and continued to talk in the radio.

Once Ivan entered the boys’ bathroom, Melissa was there waiting for him. She locked the door behind Ivan and it was just the two of them in the foul stench of dried urine.

“Why did you call? Do you know what’s happening?” Ivan asked but Melissa only made a hush signal with a finger on her mouth.

“Everything’s going to be alright if you follow me,” Melissa whispered.

She headed towards a stepping pile. She had prepared it since she left the classroom as if she knew exactly what was going to happen. To Ivan’s future surprise, he was just about to find out. The pile led to the high window of the boys’ bathroom. Melissa stepped up and climbed out on one of the shattered windows.

Ivan was idle. He didn’t know what was happening and why the antisocial girl just climbed out of the window in the boys’ bathroom. He was startled when Melissa called him.

“Ivan, climb out, now!” she yelled in a whisper. She peeked outside the window, stepping on a platform outside while waving her hand for Ivan to follow.

Ivan was reluctant. He wasn’t sure of following Rhodes or Melissa. Both were strangers to him. Rhodes has authority while Melissa hasn’t. If Ivan defies Rhodes, he’s going to get in a lot of trouble. Ivan thought of turning back and his stiff body started to move toward the door but he was stopped when Rhodes called.

“You done there, boy? What the—why is the door locked?” Rhodes didn’t sound very pleased and his gruff voice and forced twisting on the knob struck a memory Ivan didn’t want to recall. Ivan was scared. He back tracked in little steps until his back reached the wall. There, Melissa’s hand hit him on the head.

“Hurry!” Melissa reached out her hand to Ivan.

Out of panic in Rhodes’s sudden outburst, Ivan jumped on the pile and grabbed Melissa’s hand. The redheaded girl grimaced upon Ivan’s contact but used all of her strength to pull him up. Surprisingly, it was an easy task for her. The only challenge was bearing Ivan’s ice-cold hand clasping her wrist.

They stand on stacks of wooden boxes at the top of the school’s garbage pile. Melissa jumped down and crouched to scan the surroundings. Dark clouds loomed from the mountains, already enveloping the school as flashes of lightning and faint thunder hurdled by.

“Melissa, what’s going on?” Ivan asked which the girl dismissed with a hush signal.

They were at the back of the school where beyond the fence was a forest. Ivan looked around and there was a trail of unconscious bodies lying on the grass. Those were Rhodes’s men, Ivan thought. He recognized the vests and uniforms. Did Melissa kill them?

“Ivan,” Melissa snapped Ivan out of his thoughts. “We’re gonna climb the fence and head straight for the woods.”

“Hold on,” Ivan said. “I am not moving here without getting an explanation.” His mind was an outburst of confusion. The transition was so fast he wasn’t able to keep up. Just minutes ago, he was walking down the hall and now he’s at the school’s backyard with multiple bodies he didn’t even know were dead or not. He started doubting if ditching Rhodes really was the right choice.

Melissa straightened her posture and walked toward Ivan. She pulled Ivan on the collar and levelled him down so she could look him in the eye. “There’s no time,” Melissa whispered, “If I explain it to you here, we’ll get captured and you don’t want to end up with them.”

Ivan swallowed. Just moments ago, Melissa seemed so timid. She wasn’t the shy girl now. It was a completely different person.

“There!” an armored man shouted.

“Run!” Melissa sprinted toward the fence.

Out of reflex, Ivan followed. They skipped over the unconscious bodies and climbed the fence as fast as they could. Rhodes’s men were catching up.

“How well could you control your powers?” Melissa asked as they climbed.

Ivan was racing like crazy. “I have powers?!”

Melissa groaned. Once they reached the top, they jumped down and didn’t stop running toward the curtain of trees.