Chapter 4: Air of Strangeness

Whilst they were still looking at the picture the door to the classroom opened again. They had no prior notice it just happened so abruptly as Mr. Trevor came strolling in. What he found was Ned, Connor and Alexia kneeling on the floor looking at Connor's phone.

"Boys, Alexia, what would you be doing?" asked Mr. Trevor looking at them curiously.

They looked up to see Mr. Trevor standing above them. Alexia quickly got up and cleared her throat then went to get her book leaving Ned and Connor to fend for themselves. Mr. Trevor watched Alexia get her book and then leave through the door.

"Told you she can't be trusted, the snake," whispered Connor whilst Mr. Trevor was looking away.

"Mr. Edward, it seems like you're feeling better," said Mr. Trevor.

"I am, actually, I'm feeling fine now, it was just a small problem that's all," said Ned smiling as he got up and went back to his desk and Connor followed suit.

"Mr. Edward, please button your shirt properly and tighten your tie," said Mr. Trevor again and Ned looked at his attire.

It was still in the loose fashion he had earlier placed it in. He had forgotten to button up and tighten up his tie again and he was slightly embarrassed.

"Yes sir," he said as he fixed up his attire.

Mr. Trevor went back out again but before he did, he gave one extremely strange look at Ned's back before he went out.

"She cannot be trusted, that witch, she just left us here," said Connor clearly seething in rage. "She was clearly interested in this just as much as us."

"Forget about it man, she might've just not wanted any trouble," said Ned as he packed up his books.

"No trouble, yeah right, she schemes like a proper villain," said Connor as he too stuffed his bag angrily.

"That symbol though Connor, do you know what that even means?" asked Ned as he hung his bag on one shoulder and waited for Connor.

He clearly saw Connor frowning, perhaps from deep thought.

"I meant to tell you this earlier but yeah I've seen that symbol somewhere before," said Connor. "Definitely somewhere before."

"Seriously, where, I mean how, when?" asked Ned getting excited. "Actually I meant, finally something actually works out."

"Well see Ned that's the thing with saying somewhere, I don't where I've seen it before," said Connor as he too pulled his bag up without noticing the look of annoyance that covered Ned's face. "But I can definitely say it's recently, fairly recently anyhow."

"Wonderful, great, so now what?" asked Ned clearly frustrated. "Am I just supposed to deal with the fact that my eyes turn gold and there's a weird symbol on my back because the symbol I can hide but the eyes, I can't hide the eyes."

"Have you ever thought of getting shades," said Connor. "Does wonders in the sun and also you can't see your eyes turning gold, perhaps we should consider something like that."

"I'm not going to wearing shades everywhere I go," said Ned mortified at the thought. "I'll look like an idiot."

"Well it's better than your eyes just randomly turning gold," said Connor and he chuckled to himself as he thought of Ned wearing a huge set of shades everywhere he travelled, even in classrooms.

"I'd just rather walk around with my eyes closed thank you very much, at least I won't look stupid," said Ned sighing.

"No, you'll still look like an idiot walking around with your eyes closed, but the more important thing is you'll feel like an idiot as well, not even able to see where you're going," said Connor earning a scowl from Ned.

Ned moved out of the classroom and Connor followed and then outside Ned waited for Connor to pull the doors shut and turn the lock.

"We completely missed the early break, I can't think of anything sadder," said Connor looking around as they saw students slowly walking back to their respective classes upon the ringing of bell drawing ever so near.

As they walked down the stairs they heard a crackle through the P.A system and they both stopped and so did the majority on the campus. With another crackle the P.A system burst to life and a voice resounded across the entire campus. A list of names was called out and they all were asked to report to the principal's office, the list of names concluded with Kevin Erickson and they knew instantly what this was about. They recognized the majority of the people called out and they were all in the Blastboarders gang. There was a high probability it was about the incident at the school gates and they were half expecting their names out there any second but the P.A announcement ended and the anxiety they felt ebbed away as no sound of their name came forth from it.

"Guess we avoided that narrowly," said Connor. "I'm still half expecting them to call us, wonder if it really is about the gates."

"Probably not, they do other things that warrant the school's attention like last week I heard they broke into this family's house," said Ned shaking his head. "They're too destructive for it to be just about the gates of the school."

"Yeah but doesn't change the fact that they're still cool," said Connor as he still remembered when they rode in.

"Connor, I just need you to pay close attention to my eyes, we're in kind of public here and I don't want my eyes turning gold and then everyone seeing it as well," said Ned looking at Connor.

"Yeah, will do," said Connor. "But that tattoo of yours I still can't get it out of mind, it's tugging at the back of head, I've seen it somewhere before but I don't know where, it's frustrating."

"Well, I suppose if you've seen it once there's a high chance you'll see it again, or you might remember where you've seen it," said Ned.

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They walked out to the inner court yard and saw to their surprise Alexia waiting near their usual hangout spot and instantly Connor screwed up his face as the rage of it all washed over him.

"The nerve of her, that's our spot," said Connor as he prepared to rush forward but he was held back by Ned with a surprisingly strong grip.

"Don't be stupid, it's not our spot, we just usually sit there and right now she's the only one we know in the same boat as us, don't go angering her," said Ned which had a small calming effect on Connor but his face remained unchanged of the rage.

"Fine, but she just left us at that classroom, didn't even bother to help us with Mr. Trevor," said Connor. "She's an absolute snake."

"We didn't need help with Mr. Trevor and yeah I do agree with you her personality then was slightly snakey," said Ned and he walked up to Alexia.

Connor was just about to lay into her and Ned could tell and he was about to hold him back when Alexia said," Sorry."

That one word completely caught them off guard. Connor looked a little dazed with his mouth still left open and Ned looked at her with a frown.

"I'm sorry, I didn't stay behind, it's just that, I had enough troubles without being caught by the teacher, I didn't want to add more to it," said Alexia.

Connor once again layered in rage, "In case you haven't noticed, we all have troubles, just this morning I had trouble with my perception of time, uh that's another matter entirely but the fact is, you just left us there, what about the trouble we'd get ourselves into, it's no wonder you don't have any friends."

Alexia bit her bottom lip as it quivered and she seemed upset.

"Connor, how about a little tact here," whispered Ned into Connor's ears and then he said to Alexia. "It doesn't matter, seriously, there was no trouble from Mr. Trevor, though we're wondering if you'd seen or ever known about that mark on my back, you know the arrow, what is it about and all."

"I'm sorry, I've seen plenty of arrows before and I'm pretty sure they only have one meaning which is to point the direction, I honestly don't know why it showed up on your back," said Alexia and saying that she turned around and left.

"See that, you see that Ned, no proper courtesy, no manners whatsoever," said Connor pointing at her. "I don't understand, I really don't."

"Calm down, it's fine, she didn't want to be friends with us, she was just curious about our relatable incidents," said Ned. "Or maybe you're still hiding a crush for her Connor, what about it?"

"Me and her… seriously, an elephant might sprout wings sooner," said Connor gritting his teeth.

"Well then that's that," said Ned turning around to sit down on the bench next to them.

As he was about to sit, the bell rang, into the noisy courtyard and silencing for a moment all the people there. As soon as the bell finished its short burst and about two to three seconds later the familiar chatter that accompanied the courtyard started again.

"I didn't even get my early break," said Connor groaning. "You know this is your fault right Ned, if your eyes hadn't been bloody turning gold, I'd have enjoyed my golden early break, something that I was s'posed to enjoy by the way."

"Yeah but now you get the satisfaction of helping a friend," said Ned standing tall again and thumping Connor on the back making him cough several times.

"Well, I don't know about satisfaction but for the first time since I've been on this island, things are kind of getting interesting, this's like a whole juicy mystery of sorts we'd have figure out," said Connor feeling elation. "I'm not being an ass here but I'm kind of glad that this is happening."

"Well, I certainly am not," said Ned thinking again about what would happen if his eyes changed color in front of everyone. "I preferred my eyes at their normal color and as for this tattoo, I don't even know when it got there."

"We need to go Ned," said Connor. "Class's about to start."

"Hmmm, yeah." Ned had a deep look on his face. "Let's go, as I said Connor, keep a close eye on me, in case something happens."

"Yeah sure, but y'know I can't do anything if your eyes turn gold in the middle of class or something, the best way still would be to wear shades," said Connor.

"Do you have a set?" asked Connor as he turned to walk to his next class.

"No," said Connor as he too followed Ned.

"Then let's not talk about this," said Ned.

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As they entered the class that resembled a museum, the Modern History teacher, an old woman stood at the front. She was like a mindless drone, just blathering like it was lecture throughout the lesson and the student were supposed to listen and take notes. Of course most students weren't too keen on that, they had their minds set much more on sleeping through it and Ned too was one of those people unwillingly. Just then next to him he heard Connor groaning. Ned turned to look at his friend in visible distress.

"What is it?" he asked waking from his sleep and looking at the paling Connor.

"I…I feel really uhhh…" groaned out Connor but could not complete his sentence.

"Connor, what's happening?" asked Ned. "You're going very, very pale."

"I think I'm about to vomit, I feel something in my stomach, the entire world's spinning," said Connor and he couldn't stay upright any longer and his head slammed down onto the desk for which they were spared a glance by the old history teacher.

"Connor…" said Ned trying to support him from sliding of his chair.

"I'm going to vomit, seriously urghhh!" groaned Connor softly.

Connor opened his eyes and Ned saw it, the strangeness that had happened to him, it was happening a little differently to Connor, notable the color. It was a bright shining silver blending in with the whites of his eyes and for a moment Ned thought Connor had passed out.

"Connor, it's happening to you too," said Ned shocked.

"What's…happeni…ng?" asked Connor in a wide groan. "Wha…t…a…rre aarrghhh!"

Connor and Ned were spared another glance by the history teacher and Ned noticed another person looking intently at them. It was Alexia, she looked quite interested in the happenings that were currently occurring.

"We need to get out of here," said Ned deciding and he stood up.

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Again he was spared a glance this time an irritated one by the history teacher.

"Ms... Connor's not feeling very well," said Ned. "I was wondering whether I could take him to the sick bay."

She sighed and came over and was taken aback to find a groaning, collapsed, clammy Connor barely hanging on the chair.

"What's happened to him?" she asked her disinterest turning into surprise then shock.

"I don't, he just started feeling sick a couple of moments ago," said Ned.

"Well then, what are you waiting for, quickly taking him to the sick bay," said Mrs. Newen snappily.

"Thanks," said Ned and he grabbed Connor, who was feeling very light to the physically fit Ned.

When he raised Connor up he found that his friend couldn't even put one foot in front of the other.

"You need some help Edward," said Mrs. Newen recognizing the fact that Connor couldn't even walk properly and Ned nodded appreciatively.

"I volunteer," said a voice from near the front of the classroom. "I'll help Edward take him to the sick bay."

It was of course none other Alexia Hailing again, she seemed to be popping in and out of Ned and Connor's life today that right now even Ned felt slightly annoyed.

"Alexia…?" said Mrs. Newen, she seemed slightly surprised but then regained her control after a short while. "Very well, help him, go quickly now."

Alexia nodded and got up off her seat and moved to Connor's other side.

"Snake…" whispered Connor barely hanging on and Ned found it kind of funny that even in the condition Connor felt some sort of anger towards Alexia.

They carried him together out of the classroom but Ned changed direction halfway through and instead of going to the sick bay they went to the boys' toilets.

"What are you doing?" asked Alexia. "Aren't we going to the sick bay."

"We would…" said Ned. "…but I don't want to show them something that's happening to him."

"What?" asked Alexia slightly confused.

"Connor, will you please look up and open your eyes for a moment," said Ned shaking him lightly as they still carried him to Ned's intended destination.

"Wh…y?" muttered Connor as he looked up at Ned with his eyes open and what Alexia saw then made her gasp.

"He's got it too, his eyes changing color?" said Alexia. "Why…and he's feeling sick as well, similar to you."

"No, it's not similar to me, mine was more of a burning feeling, he feels like he's about to throw up," said Ned and they stopped as they came to their destination.

"Why're we here?" asked Alexia looking at the lavatories.

"We're going to the boys'," said Ned turning to go in but was stopped.

"Perhaps you haven't noticed but I'm not going in there," said Alexia frowning as she looked at the entrance and then at Ned.

"Why…oh…oh I see," said Ned realization dawning. "But we need to go in, he can't stay out here in the open and besides its third period and the chances that people will be coming here are short."

"I am not entering the boys' toilets," said Alexia putting her foot down. "Forget about it."

"For god's sake, we can't be arguing here all day, the third period will end soon, now come on," said Ned with obvious rage stemming from frustration.

"Fine then, let's go into the girls' toilets," said Alexia pointing at that one.

"Are you crazy, no!" exclaimed Ned. "Absolutely not, I've already got enough rep. without being branded a pervert."

"What about me then," said Alexia looking with the same obvious frustration at Ned.

They were both oblivious to Connor's groans.

"We can do one thing, there's a sports locker, it's unused and it's a fair distance away from the commotion here, we can go there how about that," said Ned trying to compromise.

"Well if there was such a place then why didn't you just take us there in the first place," said Alexia shaking her head.

"You are frustrating, so very frustrating," said Ned gritting his teeth as he dragged Connor around to go to his new destination.

"I'm not the one being impossible here, it's you," said Alexia. "Honestly leading us into the boys' toilets, couldn't you have thought of this better place then."

"Well if I did, that's where we'd be, I thought this was enough," said Ned as he picked up pace. "The toilets were enough; it's just you being so damn determined to make this even longer than it possibly has to be."

"Yeah right, let's move faster already, seriously I'm tired of arguing with you," said Alexia.

"Same here," said Ned huffing as he picked up pace again.

They literally dragged Connor along on a speed walk as they moved to the abandoned sports locker. As they walked along to the sports locker, the felt a strange vibration occurring. At first it was considered nothing but then the intensity increased linearly and all of the stopped.

"What's happening?" asked Ned frowning as he felt his jolt lightly in the vibration.

"I don't know," said Alexia and just then Connor groaned and with an almighty burp he unloaded the contents starting from last night's dinner to this morning breakfast right in front of him and Alexia screamed and stepped back letting go Connor.

Reeling from the sudden shock Ned alone was left to hold onto Connor and keep himself and Connor from falling into the disgusting, white and yellow puddle of sick that had been the contents of Connor's bowel while at the same time he had to stop himself from throwing up.

"I…feel slightly better," said Connor as he looked and he still had that bright silver eyes, they weren't disappearing like Ned's.

"Connor, your eyes, they're still silver," said Ned leaving Connor to groan again.

"I said I was slightly better, but I feel it happening agaaaiiinnn!" exclaimed Connor and in between that he did a double take and threw up again, this time what came out was a little less than the last time and this time Ned truly and completely dropped Connor and he fell to his knees clutching his stomach.

"I think I'm about to vomit as well," said Ned as he felt his stomach in an upheaval.

"Well… that's plainly disgusting," said Alexia taking several more steps back.

Connor turned to look at Ned and Alexia who were both a fair few meters back from him and in front of their very own eyes Connor's silver colored eyes vanished to be replaced with his own normal ones.

"It's back now," said Ned. "Your eyes, they're completely normal."

"Thank god," said Connor as he collapsed backwards onto his bottom a few feet away from the puddle of sick. "Oh… that feels better already."

"Are you listening to me, I said your eyes it had turned silver and now it's disappeared again," said Ned repeating what he said in case Connor hadn't heard.

"Yeah, I heard you, still that felt really satisfactory, honestly you wouldn't really care about silver eyes when you feel like you need to unload through your mouth," said Connor and just then the light vibrations they had felt moments ago had gotten further intense.

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They had forgotten all about it in the event of things happening but they now clearly felt the vibrations growing stronger. It felt like everything was shaking.

"What is happening?" asked Ned. "It feels like an earthquake or something."

"No, that can't be right," said Alexia frowning as she came forward after she felt safe enough to do so.

"What do you mean, we're on an island right, so why can't there be earthquakes?" asked Connor as he got up amidst the great vibration of the floor.

"This is an artificial island, it's not connected to the tectonic plates, therefore we cannot experience earthquakes of this magnitude," said Alexia. "You did read the brochure for this island before you came here right?"

"Yeah absolutely, my brochure knowledge is A ok," said Connor nodding his head and then as a side note he added to Ned. "You've read this brochure thing she's talking about right."

"Yes Connor, I have read it," said Ned and just then it stopped from being vibration and transformed into an intense shake out.

Above them they heard several windows shattering.

"Well if this isn't an earthquake something is shaking this island like mixer," said Connor. "It feels great and all y'know but are we going to die."

"This can't be right, this shouldn't be happening on this island," said Alexia shaking her head.

"Well unless we're all having a very massive hallucination, which I'm not ruling out here, then this island is really shaking like a bull," said Connor.

More windows shattered from upstairs and Ned looked to the side and to his absolute horror he found the support beams that held the building above them in place creaking and bending, they also found the poles to the side bending as well as the world shook like there was no tomorrow.

"We need to get out from under here," exclaimed Ned with deep panic. "It's not going to crumble on top of us."

Ned was warily watching the support beams as one by one several of them gave away and just then the P.A system with a sudden burst and crackle tuned to life and out of it quickly came a very urgent message.

"Would all students and staff please report to Oval 2 on the eastside of the school in a calm and orderly but quick manner, repeating, would all students and staff please report to Oval 2 on the eastside of the school in a calm and orderly but quick manner."

"Seems like it really is a disaster," said Ned and just then he saw a beam crumbling and the bit above him came down on top of him and he with fright stood there still.

Connor dived for him and Alexia screamed and the next thing he knew was he was out from under the shaded area, laying sprawled in the courtyard and Connor knelt next to him, his eyes silver and with one hand on his chest. Ned was shocked, not just shocked but flabbergasted. He had no idea what had happened but just then he saw another part of the holdings crumble and Alexia was still inside.

"Shit, get out of there, now!" screamed Ned getting up and running towards her.

Just then something passed by him with lightning speed quickness and he saw Alexia thrown away from the holdings as the thing now crumbled on apparently Connor who had suddenly appeared there in place of Alexia. He slowed his run to a stop as he was confused again. Connor then quickly moved out of the way of the collapsing holdings, by quickly it was more like disappearing from one place and appearing in another, it was simply non-believable almost like magic.

"What in the hell's happening?" he asked to himself and then he shouted to Connor. "Connor, what did you do!"

Connor turned to look at him with those bright silver eyes, "I don't know, but I… just when everything was about to happen… I felt everything slow down like what happened this morning in my hallucination y'know and well I just ran over that's all."

"That was not just running over, it was more like teleportation or something unless I'm dreaming," said Ned and just then he saw another holding collapse.

"Watch out…!" shouted Ned but he knew it was too late, Connor noticed it too late.

He ran over with all his might and jumped at Connor and tackled him and as he did so he raised one arm unconsciously to stop the falling holdings. Just then he felt something creeping into his eyes and his back burned ever so slightly and he gritted his teeth preparing to be squished beneath the holdings like a bug but it did not happen. He instead found himself blocking the holdings from falling with one hand whilst the other had pinned Connor to the ground and he saw Alexia on the floor some meters away looking at him in disbelief.

"Ned, your eyes, they're gold," said Connor looking up at him.

Ned was comparably more shocked as he looked up and saw himself keeping a large piece of metal holding that probably required several men to hold and it wasn't even costing him any effort.

"How are you doing that?" asked Alexia disbelievingly as she stared at the mass held by Ned.

"I don't know..."