SWNOVELS Chapter 11: The Initiated
"Psst... psst... Eary!" A familiar voice whispered from the emptiness on Eary's shoulder. Eary quietly responded, "What Mote?" The moteling's voice whispered once more."We need a plan to get outta this mess. And I've come up with a perfect one!" Their conversation was interrupted."What?" The voice of one of the guards drifted to the back seat with great unease. "I didn't say anything." Eary responded quickly. "Bull shit! So what's the plan?" The guard inquired, chuckling to the other. "Look, kid, we're not the bad guys. We have orders to apprehend anyone leaving that place on foot. You kids are the first." The guard explained. The other guard interjected. His British accent prominently stuck out. "We're taking you to our headquarters. You're not going to be hurt. I can promise you that."
Eary stared ahead at the back of the man's head. He was a bit more muscular, with sandy blonde hair. Neatly trimmed short, no doubt for his job. Eary smiled. "So... you're from England?" Eary perkily inquired. The guard giggled as he replied “Yes, I am. London." The guard replied bashfully. "Wow! That's so cool! I've always wanted to travel to Europe." Eary flirted. "It's nice there. Once this is all over, you should check it out." The guard responded awkwardly. Eary chimed in again. He couldn't tell why he was so interested in what this man said. "So... you must work out a lot for your job." Eary stated beaming. "Sure do! Gotta keep in shape." The guard answered proudly. Calvin flashed Eary a disapproving look. "Are you serious, man?" Calvin whispered in disbelief to Eary. "What do you mean?" Eary whispered back. Hearing this, the two men in the front erupted in laughter. Calvin shook his head and rolled his eyes. The British guard spoke again. "Name's Denby. I'll make sure you and your friends will get taken care of. You're all headed to the same place. Everyone like you, like us, go there. It's a safe place for everyone until this all blows over." Denby reassured Eary
"WHAT!?" Eary quickly protested. "Ah, sir. Mr. Denby." Calvin urgently stated. "I can't be gone any longer. I have hockey and a mom." Calvin begged as his voice cracked. "Please, my dad just died, and she's all alone." Calvin erupted, bursting into tears. Eary looking at Calvin broke down considered his situation. "Mom is destroyed right now, I know it! If we never come home, then she'll never know what happened to us." And then a darker thought trickled in his head. One of Ephraim and Josh bonding over this. Maybe even getting married. Eary gasped at the thought. The two argued with the guards, but it was pointless. As the car continued down the road, Eary grew uneasy, of the uncertainty of his situation. Slumping back in their seats and flashing each other a concerned look. Calvin and Eary submitted to their predicament, at least for now.
After several more hours, they arrived at their destination. Standing before them was a mid-sized office building, obviously recently built. Exiting the vehicle, they were quickly escorted inside. The two boys were greeted by a tall, dark, complexion woman, holding a cache of papers. Denby escorted the two boys to her, and with a smile, she guided them back to a small room with several seats. "You two will remain here until processing." The tall, darker-skinned woman informed them. "Wait!" Eary protested. "My brother Luke. He was with me." Eary stated. "You were with your brother?" The woman asked, perplexed. "Yes! I mean, if you don't believe me, test our D.N.A.!" Eary said coyly. "That will be part of processing. We will be doing D.N.A. and fingerprints on all of you for identification. You will be reunited with your brother after that." The woman coldly turned and exited, leaving the two boys alone.
Sitting down on chairs opposing each other, Eary and Calvin waited. "I'm sorry about your dad," Eary spoke with compassion. "Yeah. Me too." Calvin replied, looking away. "When I was younger, my best friend in the world had cancer." Eary blurted out. "I sat with him every day, so he wouldn't be alone." As Eary finished, Calvin calmly added, "Sounds like he was a lucky kid." Eary smiled and nodded."Yeah, He lived. And then, a few years back, he slowly started to ghost me." Eary lamented. "That's terrible," Calvin exclaimed. "Yeah, it was. He was the first person I ever had feelings for. The night I got taken, I found out he was dating my brother." Eary said, staring blankly ahead. "Ouch! That sucks. He doesn't deserve you." Calvin said, smiling back at Eary. Eary sighed and quickly changed the subject. "How did your dad die?" Eary asked shyly. "Traffic stop." Calvin quickly replied. He paused for a moment. "He was a cop. The man pulled a gun and shot him. Never found the guy." Calvin shrugged, holding back tears. "That sucks, too. I hope they find the creep!” Eary said, smiling softly. "Me too. And I hope you end up with someone who deserves you." Calvin replied, gently smiling back at Eary.
Eary felt a sense of comradery with the young man. Calvin and Eary continued their casual conversation until the sound of the door opening ushered in the woman from before. She wore tan dress pants and a black top with a golden necklace for flair. "Young man! Will you please come with me?" She said as she gestured towards Earhart. Eary turned back to Calvin and quietly stated, "In case I don't see you again. I enjoyed your company." Eary sat up and moved towards the woman. "Same," Calvin replied. Eary flashed him a quick smile and followed the woman out.
The woman led him down a long hallway to an even smaller room. Upon entry, Eary was instructed to sit. Once again, the woman departed, and Eary was left to his own devices.
"Hey, Mote!" Eary whispered. "Do you suppose this is a safe place? With everything that's happened, I'm not too sure." Eary retorted."Neither am I, kid. And them guards hearing me?! I mean what the fuck was that? This place gives me the creeps!" Mote vented his numerous concerns just as the door opened once more.
A shorter man in a long white coat walked in. Although he looked to be in his late 20s, his hairline had already receded. "Hello! My name is Dr. Stephens. I'm one of the medical doctors here at our headquarters." He cheerily informed Eary. "What kind of headquarters?" Eary asked timidly. "Well, I work for a branch of NATO that deals with people like yourself." Dr. Stephens replied candidly. He continued. "People who were affected by a mysterious event that occurred worldwide. Where people started emitting lights and unusual abilities." He paused looking at Eary in the know. Eary looked away anxiously. The doctor gave a warm smile and said "It's alright young man." The doctor consoled.
"Earhart. It's Eary." Eary replied shyly. "Eary, I'm going to need to do a few tests. Ok?" The doctor asked calmly. "What kind of tests?" Eary responded cautiously. "No need to worry. I need to do an oral swab and take a blood sample. We're also going to take some fingerprints. It is for identification and so we can get a better idea about what's happening with your powers." The doctor informed Eary matter of fact. "Why do you need to know that?" Eary, still cautious, asked firmly. "Because Eary, we don't know what’s going on yet. The more data we collect, the more we can figure out how to help you all." The doctor explained, "Why do we need help?" Eary asked continuing his inquisition. "Bad people are looking to harm people like you, Eary. Not to mention we don't know the long-term effects of these powers." As the doctor finished, chills ran down Eary's spine. He had never considered if he could fall ill due to his abilities. "Ok." Eary consented. After the doctor was finished the tall, dark-skinned woman entered the small exam room. She gestured for him to follow, then, escorted Eary to his next destination.
Walking down the hall, the two stopped at an elevator. "I'm sorry to hear about the night you and your friends had. I'm Victoria Price." Victoria warmly introduced himself. "I'm Eary Olson," Eary said introducing himself to Victoria.
The elevator doors opened and the two boarded. "Well Eary, are you ready to be reunited with your brother?" Victoria coyly inquired. Eary looked at Victoria in suspense. I have already spoken with Luke. Both when he arrived and just a bit ago." She smiled smugly. "He informed me that you were not, in fact, brother's. And to dismiss your claims that you were. But we have access to technology here that is a bit more advanced than what you might find available to the public. And I was a bit curious about your claim." Victoria smiled strongly at Eary. "Imagine his surprise to find out you were right." As Victoria finished speaking, the elevator doors opened.
They emerge into a large room. Standing in a group were Alice, Sakile, Mei, and Luke. At the sight of his brother Eary flew into full sprint. Slowing down to embrace his sibling he cried "I knew it. I knew it." He said between the sobs. Luke embraced Eary back "Look like I should remember not to argue with you when you say you're certain of something." Luke joked patting Eary on the back. Shortly after, Calvin rejoined the group.
"Hey!" Calvin said nervously as he approached. "Did you hear?" Calvin asked gesturing to Sakile. “Yeah, I did." Sakile responded coldly. Calvin's expression shifted from hopeful to equally cold.
Victoria walked back into the room. "Alice, Luke, Sakile. Could you three please come with me?" "Yeah," Alice responded walking to Victoria. Sakile followed without a word. "Hey buddy, I gotta go for a bit. Stay here with Calvin and Mei, ok?" Luke stated gesturing for the two to relieve him of Eary's grip. As the two teens, pried Luke free, he followed the others out of the room.
Standing there, watching his brother leave once again had Eary feeling uneasy and elated. Luke was alive and they were together. Now keeping it that way might be tough.
"How are you holding up?" Calvin inquired of Mei. "Not great." She replied holding back the tears. "They said we won't be able to go home until some psycho named Johnathan is apprehended," Mei said annoyed. Eary's ears raised at the name. "That's the guy who snatched me! He told me his name. It's Johnathan Tiddle." Mei looked at Eary and asked, "Did he tell you what to do and you couldn't stop him?" "YES! YOU TOO?" Eary shouted in excitement. The feeling of gaining more information made the helpless situation feel less helpless for Eary. Calvin calmly interjected, "Me too!" The three of them looked at each other sheepishly. None wanted to see that man again. Let alone have to deal with his unsettling power.
Luke and the others returned. Luke stood next to Eary. While Alice went to Mei respectively. And Sakile to Calvin. "Attention!" Victoria announced. "Soon we will be departing to your new homes. Since there are six of you, and half are minors, we have paired you up. The older of the two will be responsible for the other, while you are in placement. You have been given new last names and backstories. Your mentor will inform you on the bus ride. It will be a long one. Alright, move out."
Victoria finished her lecture. Eary pulled on Luke's arm "What's going on?" He whispered. "We'll talk about it on the bus. Come on." Luke said throwing his arm around Eary and escorting the young man along.