Today I decided to leave my hair down. I brewed some coffee and did some morning reading before school. It was only Tuesday so there was still another day to go before I would go with Adram to do some scary cult thing.

I read about geists and Ouija boards but found nothing even remotely similar to how he described them. I had no clue where he got his information, but I suppose it wouldn’t be occult if it was public knowledge.

I closed my laptop and changed into my uniform. On the way to school I wondered how Adram spends his mornings. Stooped over some old book scribbling shapes into a piece of parchment no doubt.

I greeted anyone that greeted me on my way to my locker. I tended to stay out of any cliques or groups as I considered them childish. I see so many people struggling for identity and inclusion. Last year a girl named Hannah copied everything I did for months before she moved onto someone else after I refused to be friends with her.

A boy who sits next to me in history tried to strike up a conversation.

“Jienne, did you do the homework?”

The classic high school ice breaker.

“Yes.”

His name was Roy. A decent kid who has never talked to me beyond this classroom. Everyday he asks the same question and then doesn’t know how to proceed. He recognizes my disinterest but I reply just out of politeness.

“I finished in class last Friday.” I told him.

“You did?” He was shocked because it was an entire chapter of reading and questions.

“Every class is a new chapter so the homework is always the following chapter. I will start the next one in class today.”

“You’re smart.” he complimented.

History was easy for me because I’ve seen most of it in person. My father would explain the battles and the conflicts and all the major characters. History is often abstract so actually being able to visit the places they teach in school makes it easy.

Roy stopped asking questions after that as class went underway. We were learning about Napoleonic history. I visited Waterloo when I was five.

I kept myself busy all class and left without a word to anyone when class was dismissed. As with most things in my life, school was easy and boring. Even a private school like this offered little in the way of a challenge. It was mostly busy work and I kept my grades at an A but I put no further effort to excel.

Transitioning to my next class I saw Adram in the hall. He only just arrived, having missed the entire first period. He looked haggard and probably did most of his sleeping in the late morning.

I approached him. “Spent all night scribbling shapes?” I asked, it was more of a personal joke.

He shook his head. “Catching up on last week's homework.”

Now I am suddenly interested in talking about homework.

“School just started a week ago.” I pointed out. We were walking to his locker.

“And now I’m caught up.” He opened his locker. “Is that your history textbook? I’m going to that now.”

“The great napoleon.” I said.

“You know he visited the pyramids of Egypt?”

“Yes, the battle of Embabeh is when he took control of Egypt.”

“You know your history, I don’t believe we’ve got to that bit yet.” Adram said.

“I’ve been to Egypt several times.”

“Most of the greatest people in history visited the Pyramids and went inside to the Chamber of Kings.” Adram spoke as he unloaded his bookbag.

“Allegedly.” I corrected him.

“Yes, always allegedly.” Adram admitted with some exacerbation.

“You think the Chamber of Kings has some occult power?”

Adram turned to me, thinking. “Yeah. I would imagine so. Behind every war is an underlying superstition in the occult that motivates the war in the first place.”

“Oh? You will have to tell me this version of history.”

I looked into his locker. Save for a single page with what I assume was a sigil or something, his locker was without adornments or clutter.

“Some other time. I’ve got to talk my way out of a bad grade.” Adram said humorously.

“Are we still on for tomorrow?” I checked.

“Sure. Meet me here after the last class.”

I went back to my locker and grabbed what I needed for business class. Lou showed up, full of energy.

“It seems to be going well.” she noted.

“He’s odd, but very sure of himself. I imagine he hangs in the balance between flunking school and barely passing.”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Lou nodded. “Well he did do summer prep. It’s basically a glorified summer school.”

“I wonder why he comes to this school at all.” I pondered.

“Ask him when you go on your date.” Lou teased.

“I think it’s less of a date and more of a paranormal experience,” I answered seriously.

We walked to business class together, another one of our shared classes.

“Don’t get too comfortable.” Lou warned. “He’s got a ‘date’ today.”

I raised a brow.

“Two girls, Vera and Skyler, asked him to do some Tarot cards after school today. Apparently they asked him last Friday.”

“What does he have a schedule for this?”

“He’s getting popular, mainly with the emo and goth kids.” Lou looked at me for a reaction. She was implying I fit into that category now.

“Very funny. I think it is just entertaining to him. People come up to him asking for a scare, he delivers and word spreads.”

“He could be genuinely showing people his hobby. He strikes me as a loner.” Lou sometimes had some good insights. Well, she always has good insights but it's usually veiled behind jokes.

“In any case, we need to find you a new hobby. If you want to be a spy you should join the CIA.”

“Oh hush, you love my intel.”

“Tell me this, Lou,” I started. “How many noir films did you watch as a kid?”

“Honestly? All of them.” She grinned.

I shook my head and smiled.

“I can afford a blemish on my character, but not on my clothes.” Lou quoted in the classic hollywood voice.

I laughed. “Laura?”

Lou nodded once.

Class started after that. When it finished me and Lou went to our lockers and got in line for lunch.

Adram was in the cafeteria this time. I noticed him sitting at a table by himself. He already had a tray of food.

“I think I’ll sit there!” Lou pointed to where Adram was sitting.

“No, let's not bother him.”

“Too late.” Lou had her tray and waltzed over to Adram’s table. Before she got there, however, a fuming kid slammed his tray on Adram’s table.

“What do you think you’re doing? Skyler is my girlfriend. I heard what happened to Maria and Anthony.”

Lou whispered to me, “oh this should be good.” She picked a seat at a nearby table. I sat with her and watched what happened next.

Adram just sighed heavily. “Who is Skyler?”

The angry kid, I recognized as Niko, Skyler's boyfriend, just blinked a couple times. “What is wrong with you man? Don’t play dumb!”

“I’m bad with names. Who is Kylee?” Adram asked innocently.

“Skyler.” Niko corrected. “She and Vera are doing some demonic shit after school today with you. Now do you remember?”

A few other people were listening in to the conversation as well.

Adram finally realized who Skyler was as his eyes lit up. He genuinely didn’t know her name. I chuckled. Adram possesses not even the most basic social etiquette, like learning people’s names.

“So what are you asking?” Adram answered with a question.

Niko’s initial anger had been defused. It’s hard to come at someone in a flurry if they don’t even respond with awareness. Niko was sitting and trying hard to keep his edge. I was curious if that was intentional on Adram’s part.

“I don’t want Skyler getting haunted by a ghost.” Niko said seriously.

“Ghost?” Adram was surprised. “We’re reading Tarot cards.”

I think Niko misinterpreted. It was just like the Ouija board. I was trying to hold in laughter. Lou picked up on it too and was rolling her eyes.

To Adram, I presumed, a ghost had nothing to do with his version of Tarot cards because the entities he would encounter were far more terrifying than a ghost. Niko took it the other way to mean there was no chance of anything showing up.

“You can join us if you want.” Adram offered.

“I’m not going anywhere near that shit. If anything happens to Skyler I’m going to beat your ass.” Niko threatened and left with the last word.

Adram had hardly been listening to the last bit as he was already returning to his lunch.

I exchanged a glance with Lou.

She got up first and I followed. We sat at Adram’s table.

“This is Lou, my best friend.” Lou put her hand out to shake.

Adram just looked at it, then looked at me. “Very nice hands.”

“You’re supposed to shake hands when you meet someone new.” Lou explained.

“I’m eating.” Adram answered.

I realized this may be a mistake. Not that I had a say in Lou coming here to sit, but she was going to do her best to mess with him. That’s just the way she is.

“So Niko is going to beat you up huh?” I asked.

Adram finished chewing. “Why do you think that?”

“What kind of Tarot cards are you using?”

“You know what Tarot cards are?” He looked surprised.

I looked to Lou in disbelief. “I don’t live under a rock. Of course I know what they are. But I’m sure you have your own understanding.”

“Cartomancy. It goes back to the 14th century. Depending on your deck of cards, you can reveal certain things unique to that deck. I have a deck from the sixteen hundreds. It’s got old renaissance magic.”

“Renaissance magic?” Lou asked this time.

“Alchemy and mysticism. Might be able to get some visions.”

“He might be the real deal.” Lou said to me.

I looked at him quizzically. “Visions of what?”

“Most call it hell. But it's just the dwelling place of demons.”

“Isn’t that what hell is?” I said, confused.

“Not quite. Hell has a certain connotation to it. Perhaps I should say underworld.”

“Ah.” I wasn’t quite sure what the difference was.

“So Niko is going to kill you.” Lou stated matter-of-factly.

“I’m not showing them ghosts.” Adram said in his defense.

“Oh you’re right. Big difference.” Lou teased.

Adram furrowed his brows and looked at me.

“She’s joking.” I told him. “Of course she knows the difference between demons and ghosts.” Lou scowled at me.

Poor Adram has no idea what is going on.

I got up to leave. “Well, save some demons for me.” I smiled before leaving.

Adram lifted a hand in farewell. Lou was behind me.

“I want to know first thing in the morning how it goes with Skyler and Vera.” I told Lou.

“Putting me to work are you?” She feigned complaint.

“As if you weren’t already going to find out. I just want you to come to me with the information you’re already going to gather.”

“So who do you think would win in a fight?”

“Lou! What is wrong with you?”

“It’s inevitable.”

Probably true.

“Well Niko is on the soccer team so he is at least athletic. I’ve never seen Adram move with more effort than necessary.” Adram might end up with a black eye tomorrow.

“He’s so oblivious he probably wouldn’t even know why Niko was punching him.” Lou laughed at her own observation. I laughed too.

You’re interesting, Adram, I thought to myself.

Tomorrow will be one hell of a day.