The Hidden Past

Chapter Eight:

Arriving home, Christopher decided to lock himself in his room, not too sure of what to `think' about his meeting in the shopping mall. Although he did feel bad about how he treated the two boys. He knew they were just trying to help him, as he helped them in past, but alas, he didn't want "this" secret out just yet, even though he knew Jeremy had some info about that, but not all.

Thinking and deliberating for about an hour on the actions he would take the next days, after apologizing to the boys the next morning, he fell asleep in a deep sleep... something that had not had for quite some time.

* * * * *

***Back at Jeremy's house***

When I woke up the next morning I was still cuddled up to Jeremy, his arm draped over me, holding me to him. I could feel his breath tickling the back of my neck, this feeling of security and comfort was almost overwhelming. I needed to go to the bathroom badly though, so I dislodged myself from him without waking him up. I made my way to the bathroom and relieved my bladder. I sat at the end of the bed for maybe a few minutes thinking about that feeling I got at the mall, something wasn't right and I needed to find out what. The smell of breakfast hit my noise at that moment. Slowly making my way to the kitchen, after dressing in PJs, I was greeted by Jeremy's mom.

"Hello, Adrian, how did you sleep?" she asked.

"Good, ma'am, and you?"

"Very good, thank you," she turned and smiled at me. "Would you please go and wake up my lazy son."

I nodded giggling and ran to Jeremy's room softly opening the door, I walked to the bed silently, only to scream in surprise, as Jeremy grabbed me in a hug dragging me to the bed, lying over him.

"Morning!" he said, grinning madly.

"Good morning to you too," I giggled, kissing him softly. "Your mom says that breakfast should be ready soon."

"Um, yeah, but this is nice."

I pushed on his lower belly, making his eyes grow big, he ran to the bathroom to relieve his bladder, I guess that worked to make him move. He came out a few minutes later frowning.

"That was mean, you know," he said, trying to suppress a grin, but failing miserably.

"Come on, I'm getting hungry." I said, grabbing his hand to drag him into the room and kissing him softly on the lips.

After having breakfast we decided to lie on Jer's bed and watch some movies, most of the morning anyway, and talk about everything and nothing. Come one o'clock I needed to get back home, I packed my things. Kissing Jeremy goodbye for the hundredth time, I made my way back home. All the way I thought about the strange feeling I felt at the mall that day when we saw Christopher, and no matter how I tried to convince myself that my mind was simply playing tricks on me, something more seemed to make the scene start over again. Before I even realized it, I had arrived and was actually passing by my house, which made me chuckle as I back tracked my steps. Closing the door, I peeked outside and saw a black car slowing down in from of my house and as I looked, there seemed to be two men inside looking directly at me. When they noticed me looking at them, the car accelerated from the curb, screeching its tires.

"Adrian? What wrong?" my mom asked me, making me jump.

"I don't know, just being weird I think," I replied, falsely grinning to her.

"Ok, well did you have lunch?"

"Um, no, I didn't."

"Well, do you want me to prepare you a light lunch?" she asked.

"Sure, thanks Mom, you're the best," I replied, hugging her.

The rest of the day was spent watching TV, reading and going on my computer. I decided to write about the weird stuff that seemed to happen the last few days, and the weird feeling I was getting. Trying to sort all this in my head seemed impossible. The evening passed calmly enough, I went to bed and decided to keep an eye open for the next few days. The next day of school was coming fast. My bed felt empty without Jeremy beside me.

* * * * *

The next morning the weather was grey it seemed as if the night never left, hopefully there wouldn't be rain. I grabbed an umbrella just in case I needed it. I hugged my mom, wishing her a good day as we both left, her to work and me to school. I joined Jeremy at our now single usual bus stop, haven't talked to the bus driver that since we both lived about the same distance from this stop we both would get on and off here. Jeremy looked tired and grim this morning. I hugged him and was rewarded with that cute smile of his. Whispering my I love yous, to which he replied the same.

The bus pulled to a halt in front of us. As I was climbing in, I caught a glimpse of last night's black car out of the corner of my eye, I mentally noted the fact. We rode the bus mostly in silence, occasionally hearing others yawning, every student in it seemed overly tired. When we arrived and got off the bus I looked around, trying to see if I could find the Black Car.

"What are you looking for?" Jeremy questioned me.

"A Black Car that I keep seeing everywhere I go." When I turned to answer Jeremy I saw the car parked on the corner of the street, "There!" I pointed in the direction for Jeremy to see it.

"It's an everyday car, babe," he replied softly, almost trying to calm me.

"No it's not and I'm going to find out for sure," I said, making my way to the car, I didn't make three steps before someone grabbed my shoulder, I turned to see it was Christopher.

"Don't," he said looking straight at the car, no signs of emotions on his face.

The car left rapidly making a U-turn at high speed. Most of the students were looking at the car, shaking their heads, possibly, thinking it was someone trying to impress them.

"Can you please explain why I'm being followed by that car?" I asked angrily.

"Right now I can't," he said shaking his head, still looking at the spot where the car was parked. "I will try to explain a little, but not now..."

"Christopher!" Jeremy exclaimed.

"Yes... Jeremy, maybe..."

"Will someone explain to ME what is going on?" I asked, becoming quite annoyed. I was getting ready to shout.

"Later," Christopher said forcefully, looking directly at me now, putting a hand on my shoulder squeezing lightly.

The bell rang at that moment, stopping me from complaining. Jeremy grabbed my arm, pulling me away from Christopher and toward the school. Chris was standing there looking back at the street. Then he turned around and started walking toward the school, seemingly keeping a distance between us, when inside the school, he turned in the other direction.

"Meet me at lunch," he yelled over the buzzing of students in the hallways.

In my first class I was totally unable to concentrate, all of what was happening was mind shattering. Why was it happening; for what reason? I was trying to think about this morning's event and the reaction of Jeremy to Christopher's statement. My first two classes seemed to drag in length. I couldn't even find Christopher or Jeremy at the break; I found it quite strange for both of them to disappear. I finally saw Jeremy in our third class of the day, but before I could ask anything, he looked at me and whispered, "Later." This was getting annoying, not knowing about anything. When the bell rang to announce lunch time, Jeremy came to my desk before I could get up from it.

"We need to go see Christopher, come with me," he said, as he started to walk out of the room.

"Jeremy, what the hell is going on?" I asked.

"Not here and it's not for me to say, sorry," he said apologizing.

We walked to Christopher's Journal edition room and through a door at the back of the room. Christopher was there, talking on the phone with someone. That's when Jeremy told me to wait a moment before going in. Keeping me out of earshot, we both waited for Christopher. After a few minutes he finished with the phone call and he slammed the receiver down, looking furious. He looked up and saw us at the door waiting; he motioned to us to come in and to sit.

"I take it it's not good?" Jeremy said softly.

"No... Well, not yet anyway," Christopher replied sighing, passing a hand through his hair.

"Will you now explain to me?" I asked exasperated.

"Yes I will," he said looking straight at me.

Just before he could start with his explanations there was a loud BANG and the whole building shook, making me fall off my chair. The last thing I saw was Christopher pulling something out of his desk and running out of the room at full speed. Jeremy picked me up off the floor. He looked upset.

"Come on, let's see what happened," I said.

We both ran after Christopher dodging students in the hallway and teachers trying to make them all go back in their classes. I caught a glimpse of Christopher running out of the school, with one swift motion he opened the door with a flying kick. I ran in that direction, looking to see if Jeremy was still behind me. When we got to the door and opened it to go outside, we both where faced with a scene so incredible that I looked at Jeremy and could see the look of disbelief on his face... clearly the events just became more intense.

"WHAT THE HELL," I shouted, pulling Jeremy down to a corner.

In the middle of the parking lot there was a huge ball of energy, or what looked like plasma, swirling around. Christopher was walking around it, looking at a small device in his hand. He kept walking around, alternately looking at the device and the energy ball. Streams of energy where constantly shooting away from it like great electric arcs. Strangely, none seemed to touch or hit Chris as he almost danced around it. Loud banging noises could be heard coming from the arcs it was generating.

"What is that?" Jeremy yelled pointing at the thing.

"I have no Idea," I yelled back.

Christopher looked in our direction; upon seeing us, he made his way toward us, and pocketed the device he was holding. He kept moving in a zigzaging path, trying to evade the bolts of energy still crackling around us. Suddenly there was a louder bang and flash, then silence. It was like there was no sound. Once I was able to see again after the blinding flash of light, I looked around and saw that the ball of energy was gone, I looked at Jeremy; he was shaking his head, trying to stop the buzzing noise. Then I noticed something else...

Christopher was gone... and there was silence... total silence... no sound or noise.

***Christopher's POV***Five minutes ago***

There was a loud "bang" making the whole school shake, I grabbed my equipment and ran outside, dodging the body of student in a state of panic in the hallways. I ran fast till I reach the door, and, in a flying kick to the door, opened it with a thundering crash. Outside I stood and looked at the cause of all the commotion.

This could not be happening again, I ran to it, activating my counter device and scanning the area with my E.M.P. reader. That is when I noticed the same variance in the magnetic distortion from two years ago. This was bad! I was about to call in for re-enforcements when I heard someone shout. I looked towards the school and saw Jeremy and Adrian looking at me. I started making my way to them in the manner I was trained to prevent any lingering distortion in my direction. I needed to act fast or else something bad could happen. I watched as Adrian got up to try to join me.

Just then, what I feared happened.

He got struck by an energy burst and vanished; at least I hope he vanished and it didn't fry him. Jeremy looked on in shock as the love of his life disappeared in front of us. He got up and charged at me. I braced myself, expecting him to hit me, but he simply slammed into me crying and asking where Adrian was and pleading to me to bring him back.

It broke my heart, but there was nothing I could do; when Adrian was hit by the burst, it disrupted the energy field within the singularity, hence dissipating it. `If I only had all my equipment and team...' That thought hurt me the most, bringing back bad memories.

***Flash Back (two years ago)***

I was in my room thinking it was all my fault, if only I hadn't been so smug and over confident. I sat on my bed, replaying the scene in my head. Everything went wrong from the beginning. I was supposed to be there for them, to lead them, not get them killed. I kept rethinking the events. Something didn't seem to fit, but I couldn't figure out what. Frustration got the better of me as I hit the wall full force with my fist, punching my hand right through it, breaking three fingers in the process.

"FUCK!!!" I wailed, out of frustration and pain.

My mom came charging to my room, having heard the noise and my swearing. She turned and looked at the hole in the wall; she shook her head and sat on my bed. I stayed standing up, nursing my hand and looking at the floor. I heard her sigh and looked at her; she was tapping the bed beside her, inviting me to join her.

"You know, what happened was not your fault," she stated.

"Yes it was," I sighed. "It should have been me."

She looked shocked, "How can you say that? And to me on top of it."

"I... I'm sorry, Mom, but it is how I feel. I was supposed to protect them; lead them to-"

"Yes, and you did all you could," she cut in.

"I... I suppose, but something is not right... I need to find the truth about what happened."

She looked at me and sighed, telling me to stay here, that she'll get the first aid kit to take care of my hand. The door bell rang and I reacted on instinct, moving fast to my closet, my mom just looked at me sternly for me to put what I took back in its place. I obliged, but not without a frown of my own. She went to answer the door, and get the first aid kit. I sat back on my bed listening intently, though all I heard was my mom telling someone "thank you" and the front door closing. I let out my breath; I didn't realize that I was holding it.

"I have a letter for you," she said. Coming back in the room, she gave me the letter.

The only thing written on the envelope was my code name. I opened it and removed the letter from inside, while my mom took my hand to start dressing it. I started reading the letter out loud for my mom to hear while she worked on my hand.

"Following the recent events, and the unfortunate death of your teammates, it was decided to give you an extended leave of absence for a period that is to be determined. Also due to the recent aforementioned events, you will be required to attend counseling. This is not negotiable and is mandatory before we revise your status. Please take care and we hope to see you soon. Sincerely, the Director of Operation."

"I can't believe this! He's suspending me!" I said, throwing the letter away.

"No, he's giving you time to get well," she said.

"It's a polite suspension, Mom, and I don't need to get well. I... OWWWW!"

"Oh sorry sweetie... you'll need to bear with me, I need to set this one," she said, holding my hand in her left hand and one of my fingers in her right.

I braced myself and groaned as she set my finger straight, then begin to dress it properly. She looked at me shaking her head and pointed to the hole in the wall. I looked at it and nodded to her. I broke it, now I need to fix it. At least it might get my mind off the problem.

***Back to the Present***

"WHERE IS ADRIAN?" Jeremy yelled at me, waking me from my daydream.

I got my cell phone out and called out for After Event Control. I took Jeremy away to talk to him as the team quickly arrived on the scene and started taking control of the situation. I called my mom so that she could come get us, since I doubted seriously Jeremy or I could go back to school. I kept holding him as he cried on my shoulder, constantly asking me to bring Adrian back.

My mom arrived shortly after the AEC team-leader came to me asking for info about the event. I provided him with all the intel I gathered in the short time I scanned it. Then I helped Jeremy into the back seat of my mom's car, always talking to him to try to comfort him, but I seemed to be unable to get to him.

"JEREMY LOOK AT ME," I said sternly, finally getting his attention. "I promise you on my life that everything will be ok. Adrian is SAFE and I'll find him. Ok?"

He simply nodded, I guess that'll have to do for now. I called the director of operations, asking him to re-instate me after the events of today. After a short while he gave me the green light.

"Be careful, Christopher," he said in a short silent breath.

"I will, Sir," I replied softly. My mom looked at me sternly, communicating her disapprobation silently. I sighed and replied to the phone. "Sir... I mean... Thanks... I will, Dad, I will..."

***Adrian's POV***

I looked around, but I couldn't see Chris anywhere, it was like he just vanished. I Looked back at Jeremy and he wasn't there anymore, where did they go? I heard the bell and looked at the school as the students were exiting and going to the school buses.

"Wait... what? It was lunch time... What the hell happened?" I said to no one.

Suddenly I heard a shout behind me; I turned to see Jeremy running toward me. To me it made no sense. A few seconds ago he was beside me along the wall of the school, but now he's running toward me from the school bus parking lot; I was really confused. Then I felt my legs give way and everything became black. The last thing I remember hearing was Jeremy calling my name and someone catching me in my fall...

To be Continued...

Author's note

I decided to Create a new webpage for my Story
Yes I'll still post on nifty, but now you can visit my new website

Shinichi Home

So check it out, there is a new story out now

Cheers

Shinichi

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