The road leading to Arrow's estate was quiet as Yesu rode it once again.
Gray clouds darkened the sky. The wind blew strongly.
Sleek cars zood past occasionally, taking Echelon students ho for the weekend.
Earlier the school gates had been flooded with vehicles, and tight security. While excited students waved goodbye to friends, quickly getting into cars, eager to start heading to their respective hos.
Ava had slipped a lollipop into Yesu's hand, waved and went with her chauffeur.
Yesu could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.
It will rain soon. She would have to go faster if she didn't want to get caught in it.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Yesu looked up, just in ti to catch sight of a human figure flying in the gray clouds.
She stopped and stared.
The figure dodged the lightning cleanly then disappeared higher into the sky.
"Cool."
***
The rain was pouring heavily by the ti Yesu reached the estate.
The gate was wide open. There were no guards.
Yesu rode in, not bothering to hurry. The trees along the path swayed violently in the strong winds.
She dropped the bicycle right in front of the house and ran up the porch steps.
The door opened before she rang the doorbell.
The maid looked at Yesu from head to toe. She was completely drenched. Her skin was pale and her uniform clung to her.
The maid stepped aside and Yesu went in.
"Wait here." The maid said before disappearing down the hall. She returned shortly after with a large towel.
"You must be freezing." She remarked, handing the towel to Yesu.
"It's not that bad," Yesu said but wrapped the towel around herself anyway. "Thank you."
The maid stared at her, bewildered, then looked outside at the raging storm. The door was still open and the wind that blew in was cold as ice.
The maid quickly shut the door, shivering a little.
Yesu glanced around. The house was silent, not the kind of silence that existed during classes at Echelon, a calm silence.
Her shoulders relaxed.
"A room has been prepared for you." The maid was already leading the way.
Yesu followed her up the stairs. Like the rest of the house, the railing was made of polished wood and the steps were covered in lush carpet.
There was nothing extravagant about the place, but it still felt superior. Though not at all oppressive.
It was more like an elite hideout.
"Is Arrow ho?"
The maid was thrown off guard by the question.
"Yes… Mr Arrow is in his office."
They were now in the hallway.
Yesu walked to the door of Arrow's office and raised a hand to knock.
"Wait." The maid said, taking hold of Yesu's hand before she realized.
Yesu looked puzzled.
The maid let go of her hand with a nervous laugh.
"You should probably get cleaned up first. Mr Arrow doesn't like a ss."
Yesu thought about it for a second, then nodded and followed her to the last door on the right.
"Your room." The maid said.
Yesu opened the door.
The first thing that caught her attention was the bed. It was king-sized, with bright sheets and a duvet.
Yesu went over to it. She slowly ran her fingers along the edges of the coverings.
She set herself on the bed, carefully. It was as fluffy as it looked.
The room was fairly large. The windows ensured enough light got in. The carpet was furrier than the one in the rest of the house.
The wardrobe was open, clothes hung from hangers. There was a desk, a mini bookshelf, and a long mirror.
Yesu stood from the bed and drifted to the window closest to her.
She could see the swaying trees shielding the path outside. She could see beyond the gates, the once tranquil forest now resembled a dark entity in the raging storm.
Yesu thought of the Housing Unit, of her tiny room with four roommates. She thought of the storage at the back of Gerry's Pizza where she used to crash often.
Used to.
The maid had been watching quietly. A satisfied smile spread across her face.
"You should take a bath." She gestured to the bathroom door at the corner. "Dinner will be ready soon."
And she left, shutting the door softly.
Yesu stared out the window for a long ti.
Then smiled.
***
Professor Wakefield was tidying up his large desk. He threw a few sheets of paper into a bin near his chair.
Then he adjusted his jacket, picked up his bag, took one last look around and made his way to the doors.
The mont his hand touched the knob—
Heat surged behind him.
Wakefield reacted instantly.
A transparent force field expanded around him just as flas exploded across the office.
FWOOOSH!
The fire crashed against the barrier violently, bending around its surface before dispersing into sparks.
Professor Wakefield turned sharply.
A man stood lazily near the windows, one hand still raised from the attack.
Dark green coat.
ssy hair.
A grin too casual for soone who had just launched fire inside academy property.
Mr Wallace laughed loudly.
"Well damn," he said. "You still got it."
Professor Wakefield stared at the scorched edges of his office carpet.
Then at Wallace.
"You attacked from behind."
"And you survived beautifully."
Professor Wakefield looked exhausted already.
"What are you doing in my office, Wallace?"
Wallace ignored the irritation completely and strolled further into the room as if he owned it.
"Your students are getting better at politics," he said humorously.
He produced a long official envelope from inside his coat and handed it over.
Professor Wakefield frowned slightly before taking it.
The academy seal was stamped across the front.
He opened the envelope carefully and unfolded the docunt inside.
As his eyes moved across the contents, his expression darkened faintly.
"A petition?" he muttered.
"In representation of the Echelon student body." Wallace corrected dramatically.
Professor Wakefield continued reading.
The student council formally requested that the school board publicly review the transfer and placent of Yesu Kaelitha.
Failure to address the issue would result in the council escalating the matter directly to the Dominion Assembly.
Deadline: Monday morning.
A long silence followed.
Rain battered against the windows.
Then Wallace burst into laughter again.
"Ackerman really is crafty as a fox." He said. "Threatening the board with public exposure? That boy's already halfway into politics."
Professor Wakefield folded the letter slowly.
"A dangerous move."
"Oh definitely." Wallace grinned. "Which is why it's fun."
Professor Wakefield didn't share his humour.
"Alert the Assembly." He said. "Let them know state property is being compromised."
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