Guardians: The Girl (The Guardians Series, Book 1)(9)

We are two blocks away from school when Rio goes over the plan. “Miku and I will be in your class along with Jay. When Reese is not on Runner duty, he’ll be a senior. For now, he’s following a few of them to see if they lead to Julian. Ameana will be coming in as a senior from Jefferson High.”

“What about Marcus?” I ask.

“He’ll be a senior also. That way he only has a few classes. He needs to be able to come in and out of the school if need be,” Jay says.

“Whatever. I don’t care.” No one’s buying it.

We park the car a block away from school and get out. The warm weather from yesterday is a distant memory. It’s twenty-something degrees, but the wind-chill is making it feel like the low teens. The air is so frigid, I can see my breath. The sun hanging high above us is purely decorative. The cold is unrelenting. Everyone is rushing to enter the building.

On the way to school Miku had told me that she cleaned up after the Runners by going back into the school when all the students had left for the fire drill. She called Reese on her cell and had him Blink the closet guy to the hospital. She quickly mopped up the blood, and removed the bullet holes in the wall. Since she had no way of fixing up the wall, she kicked it in so that it left one gaping hole. Everyone considered it a random act of vandalism. I ask her how she was able to kick a hole in the wall, and she pointed out that all of them had strength that far surpassed that of humans.

Still, I expected to hear some kind of discussion about what went on yesterday, but there was nothing. Everyone had either cut class and missed it or dismissed it as another fire drill come and gone. I did hear in homeroom that Ron Wexler, who works in the attendance office, had been mugged outside the school. The principal reminded us over the PA that it’s best to walk in groups and that we should all be very careful.

Miku has been close by me every minute of the day. She asks me a million questions ranging from what hospital I was born in to what my favorite color is. I feel bad that she has the task of playing reporter. My life is nothing to write about. I mean, aside from the past 24 hours.

I finally get a chance to sneak in a few questions of my own. “Guardians are not allowed to take a life except for the first Guardian, but he must ask the council’s permission, right?”

“Yeah, we can threaten humans, just to get them to tell us what we want to know but we can’t take their life. Or we go to…well, you know.”

“But you sang yesterday and the three Runners killed themselves. That was you, right?”

“Yes, but according to the council, humans are people with souls. Runners are humans who have sold their souls to Lucy in exchange for wealth, power and position.”

“So, rich people have all sold their souls?” I ask, recalling some old saying.

“No, but many Runners are rich.”

“Oh, for a second I thought Donald Trump was a Runner,” I say, laughing at my own stupidity. Miku raised her eyebrows but refuses to say anything. Could it be? Is Trump a Runner?

Miku doesn’t let me get in another question. She hits me with another one of her “Getting to know Emmy” questions. As much as I hate talking about myself, it does keep my mind off of Marcus. Well, kind of.

I haven’t seen him all day. I resist the urge to ask the others where he is. He is supposed to be in school, but I have yet to see him. Is he with Ameana? Maybe at the last minute he went with Reese to follow up on a lead they got last night. Maybe it’s none of my business where he is. After all, he’s just some guy; some hot angel guy who ignored me the whole time I was with him.

I feel a sharp pain of disappointment when I enter the cafeteria and he isn’t there. He has to blend in with the other students right? So how will he do that if he doesn’t come to eat like the rest of us? Ameana isn’t here either. They’re probably doing superhero couple things right now, saving the planet, fighting evil. Holding hands….

I can’t take it anymore, I need to get away. So far today, I’ve been asked by half the student body about Jay. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks he’s hot. He has yet to step out of class without a girl faithfully in tow. He’s enjoying every single moment of it. He also knows more about sports and cars than any one person on the planet, but that’s not an angel thing. That’s just Jay being Jay. Anyway, the guys like him. He’s cool, laid-back and easy-going.

While I’m happy for Jay, it’s getting a bit crowded at my table. The girls who never once talked to me before now find it nearly impossible not to. They see how Jay is with me and think that maybe if they become my friends, I’ll introduce them. I’m certain none of them thought for a second that Jay and I were together. He jokes about me like a big brother would. And he’s way out of my league. Well, then what does that say about Marcus? I ask myself miserably.

Before I can turn to Rio and tell him that I’m headed to the library, he turns to me and says goodbye. I guess I’m radiating whatever color means fed up and ready to bail. Miku was going to follow me, but luckily Scott, a guy in my math class, comes up to her. Scott has been in love with her since she first came to our school. He’s kind of a nerd but sweet and very polite. I know that Miku won’t risk hurting his feelings, so I slip out when he strikes up a conversation.

As long as I’m in a crowd I should be okay, so I’m not worried. I walk up two flights of stairs and head to the library.

Down the hallway from the library a crowd has gathered. A bunch of students are just standing around looking inside one of the classroom doors. I pass the library and go to take a look. I’m guessing its a couple arguing or making out, since I don’t hear any shouting. Everyone always stops to look at that kind of stuff.

I head to where I see 14 or 15 of my classmates, including Sara, peering into one of the classrooms. “What are you guys looking at?” I ask. Sara takes my hand and gushes excitedly, “Oh my gosh! There is the most amazing guy in the lab with this girl. She’s kind of cute, too, I guess. But he’s so….”

She can’t finish her words. She just makes a sound that vibrates down to the rest of her body. She’s positively giddy.

I peer inside the empty classroom and see Ameana and Marcus. A stream of light radiates from her. I think it was the sun, but I don’t see how it could have been that bright. Anyway, it seems to radiate from Ameana’s hair. Great. She’s so pretty, she glows.

They are evidently in the midst of a very serious and personal conversation. His face is close to hers. As he continues to talk, I hear some of the male students standing beside me, talking about asking her out. Some are bold and vow to get her to say yes. Other guys are just trying to figure out how they can rig the lotto so that they could stand a chance at getting a girl like that.

My face heats up and the sharp pain returns as I watch their close interaction. He says something to her and she breaks into a graceful smile. He smiles back and gently caresses her cheek with the palm of his hand. I run down the hallway in search of a place to be alone and lick my wounds.

I find a small empty classroom and go in. I sit on the floor in the corner, wrap my arms around my knees and put my head down. I cry softly. I feel like a loser. He is obviously in love with her; they’re a perfect couple.

I’m just the purple-eyed freak he has to tolerate in order to save the world. Then they’ll go back to their perfect lives in the sky. He’ll take her on walks around heaven, just the two of them. I feel like such an idiot. Who falls for an angel? Idiot.

Suddenly I feel a cold wind enter the room. I look up, and standing in front of me is a muscle-bound, dark-haired guy. He has a sly grin and black eyes.

“I’m sorry. I thought I was alone,” I say as I gather myself up.

“I know you did,” he says. “That’s why I’m here.”

Before I can even think about what I should do, he reaches out towards me with his hand. At once, my body goes stiff. My hands are at my side. It looks like I’m bound, but there is no visible rope.

I try to move but can no longer communicate with my body. It is as if the boy is the puppeteer and I’m the wooden puppet. I do exactly as he wishes. He laughs like an evil character in a B-movie. A chill goes down my spine, but I can’t move to warm myself up. I can only stand there and pray my favorite mood ring will register my terror and come get me.

“She’s been looking for you, all this time thinking you were a boy. But I knew the council would play tricks. So, you’re a girl. Not only that but a pretty plain one. So, how does it feel to be at the center of this whole thing?”

He waits as if I can actually answer his question. “Well, I’m sure it’s been a real pain. Speaking of which, I have not yet introduced myself, I’m Agony. I know it’s a little on the nose but I like for people to know what they should expect when they see me coming.”

Where are they? What’s taking so long? Then a thought occurs to me that rocks me with panic—maybe they’re all dead. Maybe Lucy figured out a way for Akons to appear in front of humans and now they’re all at her mercy.

Agony continues with his hateful speech. “She wants information from you so I can’t outright kill you. But I can try and convince you to tell me what you know. Are you going to cooperate?” He made me nod my head “yes.” I had no say-so in the matter.