“I’m afraid there’s nothing to be done about it, Nick. I’m sorry.”

For once, instead of staring longingly at the starry void beyond his office window, Mr. Johnson chose to address me directly.

”Oh come on, destiny? That’s bullshit!”

He raised an eyebrow. “Really? After everything you’ve seen out there? Is the concept of destiny really so implausible?”

”Look, I can deal with the vampires, I can deal with the werewolves and spirits and demons and everything else-“ I started to pace back and forth. The words came unbidden from my mouth. “-but you mean to tell me that everything I did, all of it, that none of it mattered in the end! Everything, decided for me? You want me to die for some random stranger?”

“Calm down, Nick. Have a look through our Archives, listen to the stories we tell our children. The records are clear; the existence of Chosen Ones aren’t exactly a secret, and neither is the fate that awaits you.

”Really, and what if...” I paused. “What if I just refused to teach her outright. What then? What would anyone do about it?”

”Nick, you can’t possibly be suggesting-“

I stopped and raised my hands. “-I’m just saying. I mean, if I never even teach her how could you call me her Mentor?”

”Nick, do you even understand the weight of the responsibility resting on your shoulders?”

”I don’t, actually!” I threw my hands in the air. “She’s going to fulfill the prophecy no matter what right? Then I don’t really see how anything I do matters in the end. She’ll learn, and she’ll fulfill the prophecy. So what is the point of me? Why even bother?”

”Because we don’t know what happens until that point. We know that she’ll change the Organization in some great way, we know that people like you never live to see that day she fulfills her prophecy. Everything else is up in the air.”

”But what does it matter-“

”Who cares! Whether it does or doesn’t matter isn’t important because we don’t know anything else for absolute certain. The things you teach her could be the difference between global peacekeepers and... I don’t know, Psychic Nazis!”

”Psychic Nazis? Really?”

“I assure you they were quite real, and you of all people should be more familiar with the darker side of our Organization. I know you’re still a relatively new Agent, and you’ve already come so far, but in times like these the weight of the world quite possibly rests on our shoulders. Maybe nothing really matters in the grand scheme of things, but what I do know, is that in the worst cases, generations of good people down the line will feel the consequences of your negligence. Is that what you want?”

I opened my mouth, and closed it. I wasn’t quite sure what to say.

I wasn’t dead yet, and I didn’t plan on it anytime soon. Even so, the words exchanged between Mr. Johnson and I bounced around in my head as I tried to sleep. I’d been trying to fall asleep for the last hour or so with no success, and I’ve been struggling to do so for the past week. I’ve been so exhausted recently, but I’ve still been struggling to get any decent sleep.

Why worry, Nick? You have no intention of dying yes? A voice from within rung out.

Trust me, I don’t. It just... sucks. That’s all.

Is that so? Then why aren’t you doing something about it? Go through the archives, consult a higher ranking Agent. Perhaps find out who she is...

Glory, I’m not going to kill her.

I didn’t say anything.

You were going to.

Fine, but you need to do something. The Nick I knew wasn’t one to give up. Are you that same Nick?

I am. I’m just tired, and I need to take my mind off things.

I felt a small vibration on my bedside table. Reluctantly, I picked my phone up.

Avery: Dude where the hell are you!

I decided to text back.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Nick: At home.

Avery: Well, are you your way? You’re like thirty minutes late

Nick: For what?

Avery: Homecoming dumbass

Nick: I’m good. I’ll just sleep.

Avery: OH HELL NO

Avery: I’m not letting you miss out on homecoming every single year of high school

Nick: I’ll Pass.

Avery: If you don’t show up soon

Avery: your dead to me

Nick: *you’re*

Avery: I am actually this close to dragging your ass over here

I set the phone down. Knowing Avery, she probably wasn’t joking about driving over and forcing me to go this time. Usually she lets it go, but she’s been weirdly insistent on dragging me along to homecoming recently.

I got up and walked over to my closet. I threw on the first pair of clothes I could get my hands on. A simple red shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and some slippers that were nearby. I closed my eyes and gazed into a realm somewhere between what was real and what was figurative.

I pictured a small well of violet water forming beneath my feet. Then, if one were to peer below its surface, they’d find sparks of light glittering beneath the surface and sending ripples out into the water. Mine was placed firmly in the center, and Avery’s was close.

Here, distance wasn’t a concern, only perceptions. If I looked into the disturbance created by her spark, and watched closely, I could feel things. I briefly wondered what the world around her was like.

Her ripple expanded outward. That well became a vast lake. There were other sparks surrounding her, some moving quickly about in circular patterns, others stayed on the sidelines A few moved through and across that lake of thoughts and ideas. Chaotic waves of emotions permeated the area, echoes of sadness, anger, joy, among other things, but I didn’t have the skills required to see the world around her in detail.

Hey, could you do me a favor and display the area for me Avery?

Fine, but you really need to figure out how to do that for yourself if you want to do this regularly.

I know, I know. I’ve been meaning to for a while now, just never found the time.

Fair enough, I’m surprised you’re not putting up much of a fight this time.

I felt a slight pressure in the back of my head. I accepted, and the pressure faded.

Beneath the surface of the lake were images. People dancing, a few people off skulking by themselves, and others making their way to and from the dance floor. At the end of the room was a set of double doors. From there, down the hall, was an empty corner that no was looking at.

The waters of the lake arose and took the form of Glory; half-demonic, armored, and

burning. It pulled me down into the lake, and the feeling was one similar to suffocation and burning. Then I was dragged up slowly, and emerged from the water. I opened my eyes in that empty corner.

I stepped into the gymnasium where the dance was held and made my way to the table where the drinks were. There were more than a few people who glanced in my direction, and admittedly I was a bit uncomfortable. It was hard to discern what they were thinking when there were so many bodies crowding the gymnasium and so many powerful emotions in the air, but it was probably the clothes I wore to homecoming. I took comfort in knowing their attention wouldn’t linger for very long. At least, not on me.

I leaned against the table with a cup full of punch. I tried to pick out Avery from within the crowd, but there were just way too many people. I felt another small pressure in the back of my head. When I accepted it a small violet outline appeared around Avery. At the moment she was dancing with one of the more prominent members of the basketball team. Avery parted ways with him while he continued to dance with what appeared to be thin air. Of course, nobody noticed, and she made her way toward the table where I was.

“The one year you come to homecoming and you show up dressed like that?” Her face scrunched up in disapproval.

“Yeah, I didn’t really plan on going so I didn’t have anything ready to wear.”

She sighed and crossed her arms. “I’m glad you showed up at least.”

“Thanks.” We stood in silence for a bit before I decided to break the silence. “So, are you going to release him from that trance?”

“In a few moments he’ll think I needed to go to the bathroom and he’ll go off to talk with his friends.”

“Is that really a good way to use your abilities?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Since when did you care? Not like it’s a big deal.”

“I don’t know, fair enough I guess. So, awkward dance, huh? Wouldn’t have expected that from either of you.” I took a sip.

“It’s always hard when you can tell exactly what they’re thinking.” Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Yikes, that bad?”

Her eyes widened. “What? No, actually he’s a really cool guy. All around good person, smart too. The looks don’t hurt either. He’s just a little too predictable you know?

“I mean, in all fairness, you can read his thoughts like an open book.”

“I know. I know, but sometimes it gets to the point where I feel like I’m just using him.”

I looked over. He was waving at the door now, before turning to go talk with his friends. “Well, I mean right now-.”

“Look, it’s different this time okay?” She said exasperatedly.

I wasn’t so sure about that. “Maybe just don’t read his mind then?”

”Really? Hadn’t thought of it before. What a great idea, Nick.” She leaned on the table beside me. “It’s just... really hard not knowing. When I’m not reading his mind I just feel so… I don’t know.”

“It’s an invasion of his privacy, Avery.”

“I know, I know. It’s just hard... I gotta ask though, are you okay? No offense, but I didn’t think you really gave a shit about this kind of stuff.”

I winced. “I’ve sort’ve had a lot on my mind recently.”

“You too? Well, since we’re both struggling, and it’s your first homecoming, why don’t we dance? It’ll be nice to have someone I can’t read as easily.”

“What about him?” I nodded toward the basketball player.

“Oh he won’t notice. I don’t think anyone will.”

“That’s kind’ve cruel, you know that?.”

“I’m trying to spare his feelings.”

“...Alright. I guess.”

The deluge of conflicting emotions running through my mind were halted by alarm. A sudden warp of emotions. There were things emerging from the shroud. A great Envy that yearned for something more to fill the endless void at its core. Spirits of spite, sorrow, and pride followed in its wake. The spirits were then lost to me in the flood of emotions surrounding.

“Uh, Avery?” I looked over. “ You felt that right?”

“Yeah, and more clearly than you did. One of those was a great spirit, I can tell. What should we do? It’s right here at the school!”

“We minimize collateral damage. Stay here and manage the emotions of the students. Keep them calm, and try to contain them within in the gym.

She closed her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows. “Alright, I think the spirit of Envy is pursuing one person in particular. If that’s the case then maybe it has a source. I look for them in here.”

“Right. I’ll go fight off the physical manifestations of those spirits.”

“Think you can manage?”

“I think I can hold them off with Glory’s help. Will you be fine right here?”

“Yeah, definitely. I’ll send for backup as soon as possible and direct you to the targets.”

“Right. Good luck then.”

I closed my eyes and vanished into ashes on the wind as Glory took me away. I would have liked to take solace in the certainty that it wasn’t yet my time to die, but I knew that didn’t guarantee success. We were stretched thin, and I was more than pushing our limits. I had no idea if and when backup would arrive. All I could do, all I could ever do, was my best.