[Fall] Chapter 1: Re-Placement

After Myra, Minsoo and Wren, Jonathan was next, then Kyle and Joe. Torrance had wandered off, and nearly raised suspicion by coming back just as his turn was about to be called.

Myra's scepticism was warranted. The counselling session seemed pointless from her perspective. While Myra, Minsoo and Wren didn't glean anything from Veritas so far, neither did it seem that the Veritas nor Nixon got them to change their minds either. Unless they were to suspect some other agenda, for they all felt Nixon's unwavering eyes focussed on all of them. Was the new guidance counsellor trying to get something out of them that needed their attendance? The seven of them already began to conclude how they were different, even if they did not fully admit to each other the incompleteness of their understanding of their newfound abilities.

Lunch might be a good time to make further plans, away from the prying of this venue. Minsoo was now much more certain that the place needed investigating (with Torrance already off doing that). She knew in general that the school premises were open from 6am to 6pm, supervised by the caretaker Mordecai and his small team. Some of the offices were locked earlier than that, once work ended in those places. Sometimes hours were extended, especially if the school were hosting certain large events or planning for something at scale. Students and teachers recently staying back late to prepare the school for orientation was a prime example of that.

There were places one could hide to hang back after school hours, if one knew where to stash oneself. The gates could be scaled, and so could the token walls that kept the enclosure from the surrounding landscape. Security was focussed on the buildings rather than places like the fields or carparks or outside areas; classrooms were generally locked in a standard manner; offices were necessarily the most secure.

As the group lingered in the waiting room just a little longer, they could see another batch of students enter the main door to report to Young. Clearly there were more of them lined up for this 'counselling'.

Wren took her seat again, as they had to wait for the others.

Seeing more students arriving at the front desk, Wren realized that they might be checking more broadly. Daniela. I should make sure she tells Veritas the same.

She took out her phone.


hey, you doing okay? 💙

was worried after yesterday. told Dr Veritas you seemed better by the time we left — hope that's alright, didn't want her stressing about you more than necessary.

free this afternoon?


She read it once. Sent it. Hopefully Daniela would know what to do.

Torrance made it back from 'the toilet' on time for his session; the other six were done, and their free period was quickly coming to an end. The session made all of them feel more unsettled than assured. Teenagers intuitively understood adult cover-ups: the more compliant would believe that adults did so for their own good, the more cynical were convinced that adults lied all the time.

But it was undeniable that all of them left the session unreconciled. They knew what they saw yesterday, and even if they questioned themselves as to whether they saw what they saw correctly, and even though they only had a fraction of the picture, they knew it was inconsistent with whatever the official stance was.

And yet most of them chose the less confrontational option when interviewed, preferring to say what they thought the authorities wanted to hear rather than the actual truth. Somehow that felt inconsistent, as if they had betrayed the truth. And reality did not like how they were unable to reconcile things.

For those who did push back, they found themselves powerless at this point to change or affect the narrative. They had the sense that their newfound abilities ought to let them influence things, but it was not so easy, nor were things so simple. They needed to understand themselves more first.

Collectively, after comparing notes, they felt that this place held some answers, or at least would provide some clues or enlighten them further. Enough for them to consider exploring it more, at extreme risk of seriously breaking school rules! This would have to be done in the most covert way possible. Lunch break was considered and dismissively ruled out. That meant they'd have to cook up some reason to stay back after school to hang around, and then find a way to gain access to this Redevelopment Wing.

The new arrivals at the foyer were familiar faces. Sabrina was one of them, smiling at the rest knowingly as if she understood perfectly what this was all about, phone recording pointing at everyone as she walked in for her to post on her socials later. "You'll have to put that away Ms Collins," came the disapproving tut-tut from Young, "This place is a safe and private space for everyone. Hmm, I don't see Ms Flores." That was Wren's cue to perk up; Daniela hadn't replied her message yet, even though she was in class with the rest of them earlier. Did Daniela choose to absent herself from this appointment? They were all sent here, there was no option to opt out. Maybe Wren really ought to check up on her, or ask some of the newly-arrived if they knew why Daniela didn't come.

"Coach wants to see you," Kirk was there too, and brushed up against Jonathan to pass the message quietly. What did coach Corbin want? Jonathan had expressed very little interest in matters of sport. Jonathan did catch Corbin's attention yesteday though, for his quick thinking when he helped Joe. And it was the way Kirk conveyed the message, with a private tone.

Zane was present, scowling at Kyle as they walked past each other, "Not cool, dude," he seemed to still be harbouring his grudge from yesterday. Did he think that somehow Kyle snitched on him, thereby getting him here for counselling? They were all long-time classmates, perhaps Kyle ought to try to resolve the matter somehow. Besides, Kyle knew that Zane saw something too.

Just outside the door, Myra heard the familiar voice of Cass, who didn't seem to be one of those scheduled for this appointment. Perhaps the student council president was simply escorting this group here, or came to check on something. But it would be very interesting if somehow Cass was exempted from this. Myra knew that Cass knew something, understanding the situation more than Myra herself did. Cass had opened an opportunity for Myra to approach her, but it was also something Cass couldn't do overtly.

And Torrance now had a bunch of information on all his classmates, who would be very upset if they found out. But foremost on his list was Alex; perhaps he needed to talk to others about his long-time classmate, now absent.

Joe on the other hand now had a chance to follow up on the route he memorised yesterday, where Emily Walsh last appeared. Did such aura residues grow cold over time?

>>>He was surprised at Kirk's sorta-subtle shoulder bump as the wrestler passed by Jonathan as he stood by the door and was equally surprised by the message to go see the Coach... "Yeah. I'll get right to that." was Jonathan's flat toned response. Whether he really meant it or it was just sarcasm remained a mystery.
>>>The big goth shrugged noncommittally at Kirk as the new batch of students filtered in and his filtered out. "Somebody say something about lunch period?" he asked, the implication that they all gather together for an impromptu debrief left unsaid. "Anybody else hungry?"

The receptionist's words landed before Wren had fully put her phone away.
"I don't see Ms Flores."

She didn't come.

Wren glanced at her phone again. Still nothing. Daniela had been in class with them this morning — she knew about the appointment, she had to. Which meant she'd chosen not to be here, or couldn't be. Either way Wren didn't like it.

She stood when Jonathan suggested lunch, bag over one shoulder, skateboard in hand.

"Yeah. Let's go."

She walked past Ms. Young and through the door, breathing in the fresh air. She'd kept herself together in there, said the right amount of nothing, and walked out. But this shouldn't have worked. There was quite an amount of something that she didn't say and got away with. She didn't know what to call it yet, only that it hadn't been nothing, and that it had probably cost something. Did Nixon notice?

With the group outside, leaving the Redevelopment Wing behind them, she brushed it off and fell in with the group, kept her voice low.

"Daniela wasn't in there."
"She saw what happened yesterday and she's also different - I think. I'm worried about how she'd do in front of Veritas and Nixon — but I'm even more worried about why she didn't show."

She turned slightly and dialed.

Pick up.

Even though the seven of them managed to talk with some privacy in the waiting room of the guidance and counselling centre, (which could be a strange phenomenon on hindsight, given that the rest of the building felt odd and unsafe to them), they were glad for the comparative comfort of the noisy canteen, with its crowded tables and energetic cacophony. They were a little late to the queues, but had decided to sit together rather than with their usual cliques, for those who had cliques. Sure there was a chance that they might be overheard, but nothing could beat the sensation of Nixon's stare as if she had been reading their minds. (Or perhaps she was. Now that their eyes were open to a larger vista they could not rule out the possibility. Torrance might even have an inkling of it.)

There was time now to decide if they wanted to work together or separately, especially since they were pulled in too many directions for sixteen year olds to wisely choose from. They needed the time to talk and compare notes again. More importantly, even though most of them knew each other for years, could they trust each other enough to keep this secret?

The Burned Wing compelled them, that much was certain. Kyle, Minsoo and Myra individually picked up on the fact that there was more than meets the eye. Breaking in though would constitute a serious contravention of school rules, something that Torrance had done already. Torrance himself also wanted help to dig out more information from the archives. Joe had another lead, he wanted to trace Emily's last known path, for that could reveal where she came from or left to go to; no one could simply vanish from existence just like that. But he wasn't sure the others would want to follow this lead. Wren had an inkling of a different path which she was trying to establish: Daniela wasn't picking up her phone either, and Wren, scanning the canteen, saw the rest of her classmates but not her. First Alex, and now Daniela?

Class would be resuming in an hour. And lessons generally wrapped up today around 3 to 4 for most of them, depending on what subjects they offered. What did they intend, and how much time did they have today to accomplish it?

Over lunch Kyle shares a bit with the others, a big excited and nervous about the new world opening up to them
"I think Zane is awake as well. But I got off on the wrong foot with him so someone else who is familiar with him may want to keep an eye on him. I'll try and patch things up but I'm not sure how much to share and kind of suck as talking...."

Kyle definitely want to work with that others and sharing information may be key to getting a good grasp on things

Joe eats hesitantly, something clearly on his mind. Eventually, he lifts his head. "Guys, I need to tell you; just after the lights came back on yesterday, in the gym, I stepped onto the spot where Emily - well one of her - was standing right before the blackout; it was an impulse, I wondered if I’d imagined her ever being there. Well, I don’t understand exactly how, but... I. Could. Feel. Her. Life. I’m totally convinced she was - or had been - really there, but I have no idea what to do about it. I carefully memorised the exact position- marks on the floor, lines of sight, - as best I could. Maybe if I could get back there, with a bit more time and quiet, I could sense something more? Maybe someone else could notice something I didn’t? I suppose I’m asking for help, if anyone’s got an idea how to do that."

Kyle ponders what he knows if the school schedule and the best time to get Joe back to that for for some uninterrupted investigation.

Tracks, traces and trails?
Myra have been doodling in her book.
I'll go with you Jove - I also want to check out the walls where I saw the symbol again.

Symbology was starting to take up a lot of her mind. She used a lot of symbols in math. They had meaning and uses to hold complex idear, and tying them up in a simple way for her brain to handle.She looked down at her doodle, seeing a snake biting its tail with a compass in the middle. Snakes that connected, compasses that showed the way... was she discovering a way to track Emily?
I might have an idear...

Wren tried to reach Daniela, once, twice and a third time. By the time they reached the cantine, she gave up and pocketed the phone. She briefly scanned the canteen, no Daniela there either.

"She's not here either."

She sat with that for a moment, picking at her food and listening to the plans of her peers.

"Alex is gone. Daniela saw what happened to him and now she's not showing up." She kept her voice low. "I guess I will be trying to find her."

Wren looks on her watch - Not much time until classes resume - and starts eyeing the exit while still not having finished either lunch or the plan.

"Joe — if you're going back after school, I might join you. Maybe I can sense Emily's, ..., 'resonance'." Wren struggled a bit before she settled with "resonance" - not really knowing yet what she should call this.

Had orientation run without a hitch yesterday, the seniors would have responsibly stayed back after everything was over to close the stalls and booths. Their sports equipment, musical instruments, art supplies, laboratory demos, would have been carted back to their respective departments and properly put away. Today after school, in lieu of their regularly scheduled co-curricular activities, they would resume the clean up to strike and dismantle the booths. Only after that would the caretaking crew from admin office do their scheduled cleaning.

But all that didn't happen, because the hall and gym were closed abruptly. This meant that everything would still be left as it was from yesterday, assuming that no one had done anything with the two venues. This also meant that today, as part of their responsibilty to their clubs and teams, the seniors would be required to do what they didn't manage to start on yesterday, which was to pack up their things. Those who ended lessons earlier could get a headstart; the majority of whom would finish by either 3 or 4pm, leaving two hours to do the needful before the school premises generally began to wind down at 6pm.

They could avail themselves to pick up the trail after all, under the cover of fulfilling their duties!

"Something is going on with Alex. They saw Veritas six times this last year, and the last one was a week ago.
I think there is more to find out, so if we're staying after I think there are plenty of answers to find."
We can snoop around some right after tear down, but there will still be some staff around. Maybe we want to try in the evening?"

Minsoo scoots into the end seat at the lunch table, as she flicks away the last drops of water off of her hands.

"Sorry, guys! Needed a…"

… whizz…

"… the little girl’s room." she says, face reddening and then covered by a cough. Moving on…

She had just heard the tail end of the conversation, and adds:

"We can totally get into the gym! I’ve to pack away the track stuff from yesterday. I don’t mind hanging around to see if something turns up." she says, talking more than she had done previously to cover her absence.

"We won’t get a second look being there after school. Unless things take too long." she says, and knows in her heart that it’s a distinct possibility.

>>>"Might as well use the opportunity to see if what Joe sensed is real...or not." Jonathan poked at the the remains of the school lunch in the tray before him. "We've got to clean up the gym and pack stuff away so some of us could run cover while Joe and anyone else that can be discreet can help him. I don't mind running cover." He had a bone to pick with the Robotics Club and their drone antics, regardless of Emily's disappearance, and that might make a good cover to distract attention away from Joe while he does... whatever.
>>>"While we're making confessions about what happened during the Blackout..." the capital letter stood out the way Jonathan placed emphasis on it. "...I had a kind of vision or sensation or glimpse of something while the lights were out. It's hard to explain exactly what it was but it was like a countdown clock for everyone in the student body. There were three that were at Zero... Emily's, Alex's and mine."

"I also had an... I don't think it was a vision. I had an expierence. As if I could feel that moment stretching on forever, the school locked into an ever preserved slice of time as all else passed us by." Torrance paused a moment.
"I'm used to being able to put together information in a way that makes sense, but I feel like the rules changed and noone let me know."