(the underlined sentences need revising)
Tetra Key-Book I
Prologue: Tetragon
His dark brow is set to a firm, unwavering scowl, and his piercing eyes glint in the last rays of pure sunlight being consumed by the ever blackening and cloudy sky. A black coat billows around his long figure as he leans forward, clenching and unclenching his hands on the railing of a stone balcony; which juts out from a massive building known as the Nexus. The corners of his mouth curve into a bitter smile as he examines the great city he helped create…and destroy.
--+--+--+--
Status: Negative
Reload. Search.
Status: Negative
Reload. Galaxy: Andromeda. Search.
Status: Negative
Reload. Galaxy: Milky Way.
Planet: Earth. Search.
Status: Searching…
Status: Searching…
Status: Affirmative. Target Located.
--+--+--+--
Chora's palms clam up with seat as he walks down the empty stone corridor, his footsteps echoing off the walls. His trembling hand once again runs through his brown disheveled hair. and adjusts the thick rimmed glasses ever inching down the bridge of his thin nose. He knocks on the tall wooden door at the end of the hallway after in taking one last breath of tense air. The large hinges creak from the unwelcome strain of his weight. A cold rush of wind easily slices through his white coat rudely pulling him further into the agonizing reality of his ever growing problems as he steps onto the outermost terrace of the Nexus.
"How dare you interrupt me in this untimely manner!" A loud voice shouts over the ever advancing wind.
"Forgive me master Zuradon, but..." Chora barely manages to stutter.
"You have ultimately failed me Chora." Zuradon says without turning from the railing. "I only saved your miserable life because you were said to be successful." Both their eyes meet in a flat stare; Chora's widen with overwhelming fear. Zuradon's ice-blue irises pierce Chora's mind with such intensity that his knees buckle and his limp body collapses on the cold stone floor.
Zuradon's strong hands roughly drag Chora to his feet, and shove him hard against the wall. Trembling, Chora gasps for breath as a forceful hand pins him firmly by his thin neck. "How could you let this happen?! " Zuradon's hot breath as it hits Chora's cheek might as well have been a snake bite compared to the frigid wind as it blew across the vast terrace. "It's been fourteen years! Do you hear me?! FOURTEEN YEARS!!"
"T-t-target located, s-s-sir." Chora manages to breath through the pressure of Zuradon's vice-like grip.
"It's been too long! We would have found her years ago if it weren't for your..." Zuradon's grip loosens slightly on Chora's neck and he takes the opportunity to suck in a breath of bitterly cold air. "What did you say?" Zuradon asks through clenched teeth.
"T-t-target located, sir. we found her." Chora replies in between panting breaths. Zuradon shoves Chora, who nearly looses his footing, towards the door.
"Why didn't you mention that in the first place?! Send out the Searchers immediately!! They'll not harm her or they'll answer directly to me! And do not dare come back to me until she is within the walls of the Nexus! We cannot jeopardize her safety! Now GO!"
--+--+--+--
Status: Affirmative. Target Located.
Location: Galaxy: Milky Way
Planet: Earth
Country: England
Address: Unknown
Name: Erin Spring
Age: 15
Chapter: One
Brrrrrrrring!!! The five minute warning bell resonated through my brain. I jump backwards cursing the blasted bell that sits just above my locker and fumble with the combination again. I swing it open and shove my backpack inside. Then begin unloading its contents. Geometry, biology, history, gym clothes... the list goes on. After gathering my books for first period, I stick a pencil behind my year. I reach to close my locker but a rough hand slams it open again, turning some eyes in my general direction. But they quickly look away.
I reluctantly turn around and look up into the eyes of Benjeman Collins.
Benjeman is a bully. He wears his uniform how he wants to wear it, and nobody can tell him otherwise. He walks around the school with such power that most everyone turns away in fear.
One day he walked into school with the brightest green shoes on. They looked ridiculous with his black uniform, but no one laughed. No one would dare. Not even the jocks; tough guys who could've flattened him in a second. Girls giggling in the corner would quiet and shrink under his glare. I once overheard some hippie-type go-green activists who claimed that he gave them bad vibes.
The fact of the matter is that everyone is scared of him. Literally everyone. Except me. I could kick his butt from here to tomorrow and back without blinking an eye. I could actually stand up to him. But I don't, and here's why. I'm not like other girls my age. I can't let him know my secret. Because then, everything would go down the drain. My life, who I am, my history I have yet to discover. They'd lock me up in a cage or send me to a zoo where people would stare at me for the rest of my life.
The only one who knows is Loeisa, caretaker at the den, and she doesn't even know half of it!
"What do you want Benjeman?" I ask him. I would have seemed a little more threatening if I didn't have too look up to meet his eyes. His dark, ominous figure leaned closer to me, if possible, and a wicked smile curved up on the corners of his lips.
"You know what I want Narau." By the way my name's Narau. And this guy was getting on my nerves. I'd been giving him my lunch money (I know, typical) for about 2 weeks now to keep him away from Nathan, my ally from day one. But it wasn't working as well any longer. I had to stop this somehow. I stood up as straight as I could from down there and looked him right in the eye.
"Make me." I said. For a split second confusion clouded his eyes, but then it was gone. In that moment I realized my mistake. Then the thought crossed my mind.
Maybe I should have stuck with the lunch money.
He grabbed the collar of my school uniform with one hand and twisted so it cinched around my neck. I pulled at his wrist trying to get away, but he shoved me hard up against the panel of lockers.
"Think you're gonna try and be tough do ya?" he snarled.
"Look, I just..." I stuttered, trying to come up with something.
"We got a deal here." He said. Frankly I had know idea what "deal" that actually was other than, he's bigger than I am and I have lunch money. "Now you gonna pay up or do I have to teach you who's in charge around here?!" Behind his head I could see that we were drawing a bit of attention from students walking by. Of course we'd had fights and scuffles in the halls of Fortwalk High School. But never had guy or girl provoked a member of the opposite gender into a fight. It just didn't happen. But here I was, in that very situation.
WHAM!!!
I hit him square on in the stomach with my knee. I guess he didn't expect that because his eyes kind of bugged out and he fell to the floor gasping for the air I knocked out of him. More students gathered around and we were soon enclosed in a tight circle. I had to teach this guy a lesson, I wouldn't let him bother Nathan or anyone again.
Chapter: One
Brrrrrrrring!!! The five minute warning bell resonated through my brain. I jump backwards cursing the blasted bell that sits just above my locker and fumble with the combination again. I swing it open and shove my backpack inside. Then begin unloading its contents. Geometry, biology, history, gym clothes... the list goes on. After gathering my books for first period, I stick a pencil behind my year. I reach to close my locker but a rough hand slams it open again, turning some eyes in my general direction. But they quickly look away.
I reluctantly turn around and look up into the eyes of Benjeman Collins.
Benjeman is a bully. He wears his uniform how he wants to wear it, and nobody can tell him otherwise. He walks around the school with such power that most everyone turns away in fear.
One day he walked into school with the brightest green shoes on. They looked ridiculous with his black uniform, but no one laughed. No one would dare. Not even the jocks; tough guys who could've flattened him in a second. Girls giggling in the corner would quiet and shrink under his glare. I once overheard some hippie-type go-green activists who claimed that he gave them bad vibes.
The fact of the matter is that everyone is scared of him. Literally everyone. Except me. I could kick his butt from here to tomorrow and back without blinking an eye. I could actually stand up to him. But I don't, and here's why. I'm not like other girls my age. I can't let him know my secret. Because then, everything would go down the drain. My life, who I am, my history I have yet to discover. They'd lock me up in a cage or send me to a zoo where people would stare at me for the rest of my life.
The only one who knows is Loeisa, caretaker at the den, and she doesn't even know half of it!
"What do you want Benjeman?" I ask him. I would have seemed a little more threatening if I didn't have too look up to meet his eyes. His dark, ominous figure leaned closer to me, if possible, and a wicked smile curved up on the corners of his lips.
"You know what I want Narau." By the way my name's Narau. And this guy was getting on my nerves. I'd been giving him my lunch money (I know, typical) for about 2 weeks now to keep him away from Nathan, my ally from day one. But it wasn't working as well any longer. I had to stop this somehow. I stood up as straight as I could from down there and looked him right in the eye.
"Make me." I said. For a split second confusion clouded his eyes, but then it was gone. In that moment I realized my mistake. Then the thought crossed my mind.
Maybe I should have stuck with the lunch money.
He grabbed the collar of my school uniform with one hand and twisted so it cinched around my neck. I pulled at his wrist trying to get away, but he shoved me hard up against the panel of lockers.
"Think you're gonna try and be tough do ya?" he snarled.
"Look, I just..." I stuttered, trying to come up with something.
"We got a deal here." He said. Frankly I had know idea what "deal" that actually was other than, he's bigger than I am and I have lunch money. "Now you gonna pay up or do I have to teach you who's in charge around here?!" Behind his head I could see that we were drawing a bit of attention from students walking by. Of course we'd had fights and scuffles in the halls of Fortwalk High School. But never had guy or girl provoked a member of the opposite gender into a fight. It just didn't happen. But here I was, in that very situation.
WHAM!!!
I hit him square on in the stomach with my knee. I guess he didn't expect that because his eyes kind of bugged out and he fell to the floor gasping for the air I knocked out of him. More students gathered around and we were soon enclosed in a tight circle. I had to teach this guy a lesson, I wouldn't let him bother Nathan or anyone again.
--+--+--+--
Principal Whitelock's sharp eyes unblinkingly stared at Benjeman and I at the far end of a conference table. His fingers clasped beneath his chin, leaning his elbows on the hard oak. His grey eyes grasped my green ones and studied them. My hands tightened against each other as they sat on my green uniform skirt. I'd never really interacted with Principal Whitelock before, except when I met him the first day of my transfer to Fortwalk. He quickly moved to Benjeman who had been casually glancing around the room with a practiced air of authority. His tall figure leaned back in the chair, arms crossed. The skin around his eye becoming more purple and more swollen than it had a few minutes ago. He didn't bother meeting the principal's eyes. They probably had many times before. But they simply wandered now awaiting punishment.
The shuffle of shoes on carpet turned my attention back to Principal Whitelock. He'd come halfway down the table towards us and stopped, leaning against the wall arms folded, his eyes never wavering.
"Do either of you want to tell me what happened?" he asked. I opened my mouth and then shut it again, quickly looking at Benjamen.
"Narau?" His gaze softened.
"No, sir." I replied, hoping Benjamen would get the hint and decide to leave Nathan alone. He turned his head towards Benjamen, the light glinting off the streak of white in his greying hair, which fell down the back of his collar in a thinning ponytail.
"Benjamen," he sighed, "Would you like to say anything?" Unexpectedly something snapped and the facade he had created was no longer fixed on his face. Benjamen stood up and his chair scooted back and precariously balanced on it's back feet for a moment before resting on the carpeted floor.
"I was attacked by a girl! My whole reputation is ruined! How am I..." He shouted, but was cut off by Principal Whitelock.
"I'm sorry for your misfortune, and hope the bruise on your eye will heal quickly. But I cannot overlook your erratic behavior any longer Mr. Collins." he cooly replied.
"But she..." Benjamen started but Principal Whitelock held up his hand standing up straight.
"The matter is closed Benjamen. Unless the young lady has anything to say, I would like to get on with my day." He then looked at me. Here was my chance. To protect Nathan and get Benjamen off my back forever. But if I ratted him out, what rumors would be spread? Would I have to transfer, again?
"Sir, I only tried to protect my friend." Benjamen moved to make a retort but was stopped again by Principal Whitelock's hand.
"Go on." he said.
"There's not much to say sir. I shouldn't have reacted violently, but Nathan is my friend and..."
"Nathan Clarke?" He asked.
"Yes sir." All of us at the Den have taken on Loeisa Clarke's name. None of us ever knew our own last name.
"I trust you Narau. You're free to go." I stood up and pushed my chair back under the desk. "But this will never happen again. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." I nodded and left the room. I could feel Benjamen's eyes penetrating my back as I shut the heavy office door. The muffle of voices receded as I found my way back to my locker as classes were ending. I caught some odd glances from a few students as I made my way down the hall. One of Benjamen's friends hit my shoulder with a not-so-sincere apology and hurried off. As I turned around the corner I almost ran into Drake Cadieux. He hadn't been at Fortwalk very long, only a few months, and he was very secretive. No one really knew anything about him. He stood almost half a head taller than me in a crisp green uniform jacket with the school crest. His dirty blonde hair attractively fell over his forehead. There was something hidden behind his deep blue eyes that I couldn't pinpoint.
"Narau, is it?" I nodded unable to find my voice.
"Um..." He quickly glanced behind my head. I looked back but could see nothing out of the ordinary. A folded piece of paper was shoved in my hand.
"Don't open this until you're far away from here." He said. And then he was gone. Lost in the sea of students. I stared after him dumbfounded. What was he talking about, and what behind me could have made him so skittish? I looked around once more and met the eyes of Benjamen from across the hallway. He'd seen the exchange, I'd bet money on it, and looked slightly amused. I pretended I didn't notice his confident smug and started down the stairs to my locker. I quickly grabbed my books, slung my bag over my shoulder and pushed open the front doors taking in a refreshing breath of late summer air. I claimed the bench just outside the front doors of the school building and took out a text book to study as I waited for other kids from the Den.
I hadn't read much of my biology assignment when a shadow fell over me. Once again I found my self looking into the eyes of Benjamen Collins. I closed my book as he sat on the bench. Luckily for me my book bag separated us a little. He draped his arm over the back of the wooden slats of the bench. His coy smile unnerved me a little. What trick was he up to now?
"Looks like we've had a lot of excitement today." He said, with a smile that didn't nearly reach his eyes. "Little Miss Perfect getting in trouble with the Principal, and now would you imagine that, she gets a love note from Cadee-oh." He jeered, purposefully mispronouncing Drake's name. I briefly looked at the note I had mistakenly left on the top of my book bag. I reached for it, but he managed to get it first.
"Benjamen you give that back!" I commanded and stood over him.
"Oooh, it is a love letter." he laughed. I could feel my cheeks turning red at the humiliation he was causing. Of course it wasn't a love letter.
"No it's not..." I stopped realizing that I didn't really know what it was.
"Don't tell me you haven't read it yet." Drake said. The mocking smile on his face growing larger. "Hmm, why not save you the trouble." With that he crumpled the paper in his hand and tossed it behind his back into the trash can that sat next to the bench. I gaped at him. He just smiled and roughly patted my back as he walked away. I ran over to the trash can and looked over the edge. I stared down the small opening in the top. An unwelcome odor hit my nose and I backed away from the canister. I had to get that paper back.
"Benjamen," he sighed, "Would you like to say anything?" Unexpectedly something snapped and the facade he had created was no longer fixed on his face. Benjamen stood up and his chair scooted back and precariously balanced on it's back feet for a moment before resting on the carpeted floor.
"I was attacked by a girl! My whole reputation is ruined! How am I..." He shouted, but was cut off by Principal Whitelock.
"I'm sorry for your misfortune, and hope the bruise on your eye will heal quickly. But I cannot overlook your erratic behavior any longer Mr. Collins." he cooly replied.
"But she..." Benjamen started but Principal Whitelock held up his hand standing up straight.
"The matter is closed Benjamen. Unless the young lady has anything to say, I would like to get on with my day." He then looked at me. Here was my chance. To protect Nathan and get Benjamen off my back forever. But if I ratted him out, what rumors would be spread? Would I have to transfer, again?
"Sir, I only tried to protect my friend." Benjamen moved to make a retort but was stopped again by Principal Whitelock's hand.
"Go on." he said.
"There's not much to say sir. I shouldn't have reacted violently, but Nathan is my friend and..."
"Nathan Clarke?" He asked.
"Yes sir." All of us at the Den have taken on Loeisa Clarke's name. None of us ever knew our own last name.
"I trust you Narau. You're free to go." I stood up and pushed my chair back under the desk. "But this will never happen again. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." I nodded and left the room. I could feel Benjamen's eyes penetrating my back as I shut the heavy office door. The muffle of voices receded as I found my way back to my locker as classes were ending. I caught some odd glances from a few students as I made my way down the hall. One of Benjamen's friends hit my shoulder with a not-so-sincere apology and hurried off. As I turned around the corner I almost ran into Drake Cadieux. He hadn't been at Fortwalk very long, only a few months, and he was very secretive. No one really knew anything about him. He stood almost half a head taller than me in a crisp green uniform jacket with the school crest. His dirty blonde hair attractively fell over his forehead. There was something hidden behind his deep blue eyes that I couldn't pinpoint.
"Narau, is it?" I nodded unable to find my voice.
"Um..." He quickly glanced behind my head. I looked back but could see nothing out of the ordinary. A folded piece of paper was shoved in my hand.
"Don't open this until you're far away from here." He said. And then he was gone. Lost in the sea of students. I stared after him dumbfounded. What was he talking about, and what behind me could have made him so skittish? I looked around once more and met the eyes of Benjamen from across the hallway. He'd seen the exchange, I'd bet money on it, and looked slightly amused. I pretended I didn't notice his confident smug and started down the stairs to my locker. I quickly grabbed my books, slung my bag over my shoulder and pushed open the front doors taking in a refreshing breath of late summer air. I claimed the bench just outside the front doors of the school building and took out a text book to study as I waited for other kids from the Den.
I hadn't read much of my biology assignment when a shadow fell over me. Once again I found my self looking into the eyes of Benjamen Collins. I closed my book as he sat on the bench. Luckily for me my book bag separated us a little. He draped his arm over the back of the wooden slats of the bench. His coy smile unnerved me a little. What trick was he up to now?
"Looks like we've had a lot of excitement today." He said, with a smile that didn't nearly reach his eyes. "Little Miss Perfect getting in trouble with the Principal, and now would you imagine that, she gets a love note from Cadee-oh." He jeered, purposefully mispronouncing Drake's name. I briefly looked at the note I had mistakenly left on the top of my book bag. I reached for it, but he managed to get it first.
"Benjamen you give that back!" I commanded and stood over him.
"Oooh, it is a love letter." he laughed. I could feel my cheeks turning red at the humiliation he was causing. Of course it wasn't a love letter.
"No it's not..." I stopped realizing that I didn't really know what it was.
"Don't tell me you haven't read it yet." Drake said. The mocking smile on his face growing larger. "Hmm, why not save you the trouble." With that he crumpled the paper in his hand and tossed it behind his back into the trash can that sat next to the bench. I gaped at him. He just smiled and roughly patted my back as he walked away. I ran over to the trash can and looked over the edge. I stared down the small opening in the top. An unwelcome odor hit my nose and I backed away from the canister. I had to get that paper back.
--+--+--+--
I slowly trudged along the sidewalk reeking of high school refuse. I safely tucked the still folded paper in my skirt pocket. I promised myself that I would only read it when I was completely alone, and smelled better. As I made my way up the front walk of the old Victorian home I couldn't help but admire Loeisa's flower gardens that decorated the yard. Azaleas lined the walk and snowball bushes sat comfortably under the front windows. I walked up the front steps and tried to sneak past the kitchen where Loeisa was making her signature cocoanut oatmeal cookies. But the wood floors of our old house gave me away.
"Narau what do you think you're doing, back from school and not giving me a hug or even a hello?" Loeisa's arms wrapped around me in a big bear hug, but she quickly pulled back and held my shoulders a full arms length away. "What have you been doing my dear? You smell awful!
"It's a long story Loeisa, but it'd be better shared after I have a shower." I hinted.
"I see, now you run along and come back when you smell a bit fresher." She smiled and her eyes wrinkled at the corners.
"Narau what do you think you're doing, back from school and not giving me a hug or even a hello?" Loeisa's arms wrapped around me in a big bear hug, but she quickly pulled back and held my shoulders a full arms length away. "What have you been doing my dear? You smell awful!
"It's a long story Loeisa, but it'd be better shared after I have a shower." I hinted.
"I see, now you run along and come back when you smell a bit fresher." She smiled and her eyes wrinkled at the corners.
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