7 yrs, Gone and Forgotten

Chapter 32: Tess

     Rest didn’t come easily, so I soon gave it up and decided to wonder around a little while. There were so many things on my mind I didn’t know which one to ponder on, and Jake’s warning sound in his voice on the phone had me on high alert. I knew he meant well, and I knew he wanted what was best for me, but there was something in his voice that was setting off all the bells and whistles.

    I silently roamed through the halls and down the stairs, while remembering all those steps I had made in those early mornings up and down, up, and down. The rest of the building hadn’t changed at all either and all those memories left me smiling; the cafeteria, the library, the media room, even that conference room I stepped in my first day.

     There were students everywhere and I didn’t miss the snooty looks they gave me as each one passed me by, I even laughed at the small voice deep down that called out what kind of supernatural creature they were as I laid eyes on them. The only difference I could tell in the building was instead of in my day where the building held laughter and happiness, now it only felt like a brewing steam pot that was ready to boil over at any point. The tension in the air would smother someone, the only thing I could figure the difference was, was the fact that humans no longer roamed the hall and equaled out the population.

     When I stepped out into the yard though, it was the most liberating feeling as I slowly took in my surroundings. Time didn’t look to have touched anything; the obstacle course which I took my time to roam through was the same, I even winced at the end of it when I remembered hitting the ground and breaking my arm just so I would fool Lumen and Luscious. The smile never left my face remembering all the time that Jake and I raced through each obstacle to see who was the fastest and who owed who a Dr. Pepper for the day.

     I stopped dead in my tracks as the breeze picked up just a bit and I could hear my name being called in the wind from the trees, every leaf was shaking for me, and the limbs looked like they were extending their arms my way. I dug my toes into the soft green grass as it licked the souls of my feet and took a deep breath, I knew what was next. My feet pulled my legs into a dead run without a second thought as I sprinted toward the trees, my haven. I leapt in the air in one solid movement grabbing the lowest limb and swinging my body upwards toward the next tallest. I let every ounce of memory take over my body while I jumped, flipped, and climbed through them. I finally made it to my limb that I had always found solitude on and took a seat with my feet dangling freely below me.

     Everything felt so surreal, the breeze blew through the leaves and washed away the doubt I had felt about it all being a dream. I wanted to stay there the rest of my life, I knew I couldn’t, not right then anyway, I knew I still had more left to my journey, but who knew, maybe I would return there someday.

     My thoughts were running away when something on the trunk of the tree caught my attention out of the corner of my eyes. I slowly turned around while swinging one leg over so that I was straddling the limb and facing the trunk. It looked as if something had been carved there once upon a time, but someone had scratched over leaving nothing but scratch marks. Before I realized what I was doing my fingers gently caressed the area. My breath caught at the flash that crossed my eyes; I saw a heart, with my initial in it, it was carved under those scratches. I pulled my hand back as quick as I could and instantly went to scratching the scar on the palm of my hand, the burning sensation was enough to pull my thoughts away from the flash.

     “I need to go,” I whispered as I didn’t think anymore about anything while climbing back to the ground.

      I soon found myself gathering around the rings like everyone else, looking around I couldn’t really even believe I was standing there; it was like I had blindly walked there. The people trying out looked strong and tough, and they all had that, I want to kill something look on their faces. They were full of anger, and I knew they would be easy pickings if their opponent had a level head on their shoulders. I wasn’t surprised that they were all boys, I couldn’t see a girl in sight in line to tryout.

      Shaun stood in front of everyone and just like Luca on that first day he explained everything, and then divided the group into the two rings. Evidently, they were battling for second in command, and future leader. The Alpha that was leading the group at that time was in his last semester and would be leaving soon, and the second in command which they gave no information about was leaving soon.

     I wiggled through the crowd until I found a clear place to lean against the end of one of the bleachers facing Ring A where the Alpha and his contenders were. The elimination rounds began and as much as I tried to pay attention my memories took over, I watched my time, when I was the one in that ring. Every punch, kick, throw, block, I felt and saw them all. I grabbed my shoulder when I felt the moment it had popped out of socket in that ring, and I watched as I continued that way.

    “Sin?” Shaun whispered as I blinked my eyes several times to bring myself back to reality and looking around, I realized everyone had roamed away.

    “What’s going on?” I asked confused. Had I really been out that long?

    He laughed and turned to stand beside me, “Elimination rounds are over, now they have to face the Alpha and Beta of the warriors, just like you did.” He patted my shoulder, “Wish I had been here to see that.” He pointed toward the ring, “So tell me what you think of the recruits?”

    Taking a deep breath and grounding myself back to my surroundings I turned to face him, “From here to a normal person, they look good, looks like a good team.”

    “Why do I hear a but in there somewhere?” He interrupted.

   “But they are fighting with anger, that never gets anyone anywhere, you know this as well as I do. I could literally taste the anger leaking from the pores all the way over here.”

    He placed his hand on my back and gently pushed me forward as he began to walk, “You are right, this place has become filled with so much anger I am fighting a daily battle here. Now come on, I want you to meet some people.”

     We walked silently to the other side of Ring A where a boy that looked to be eighteen stood. His skin was golden colored, and his honey-colored eyes complimented his sandy blond hair perfectly. Next to him stood a girl about four inches taller than me, she was lean and beautiful with her long straight auburn red hair, flawless skin, and mocha-colored eyes. I knew they were both wolf decent but neither one of them gave off an aura of any kind of authority, so I wasn’t sure how they were known as an Alpha or a Beta, had it not been for their training tanks that said who they were I would have never guessed it.

     We came to a stop and Shaun patted my back as he cleared his throat gaining their attention, “Guys I would like you to meet…”

     “Leona,” I piped in and just winked at Shaun as he stared down at me.

    “Alpha Jonas,” the boy grabbed my hand and shook it. I almost laughed at how weak his grip was, but I kept it to myself.

    “Nice to meet you Jonas,” I smiled back and pulled my hand from his while sticking it toward the girl. “And you too.”

    She gave me a fake smile and took my hand, and like Jonas’ her shake was weak, “Beta Tess.” She bluntly said before dropping my hand like I had burnt her.

    She rolled her eyes and turned around as she stomped off toward the ring with Jonas in close tow behind her. I looked up at Shaun and raised my brows, “Care to explain what the deal there is?”

    “Human but nothing gets past you huh?” I shook my head no and he laughed as he led us over to the podium. “Tess is one of my best students, and Jonas well let’s just say his family’s pockets are lined quite well. His brother is actually the Alpha and there is a question about him actually being his father’s child.” We stopped in front of the mic. “Time to start.”