The Last Stranger (On hiatus/Rewriting)

When a friendship is broken another one is made

The next morning I got up and did my usual routine. I checked myself in the mirror and noticed the ends of my hair were white and red. Not too long ago it was stripes. I brushed the thought of and opened my door to leave. The image of Felix taking me to my first roll call came into my head. I could see him smiling at me.

“First day of school without you Felix. I don’t think it’s going to be the same” I said to the imaginary Felix in front of me. I smiled before walking through it and going to the big hall. Once I lined up I looked for Angelo but didn’t see him. I’m feeling really guilty now. He’s probably not here because of me. Okay I promise myself to apologise today. Come to think of it I didn’t see Tyson either. The headmaster started calling out names and when he finished, made a statement.

“Okay I hope you all didn’t cry too much yesterday. It’s not what they would have wanted” I got annoyed because he has no right to say what they want. “Today lessons will resume as normal. All dismissed” And with that we all went to our classes. I walked into my first math class of this school. I’m kind of excited because maths is one of my favourite subjects. I honestly don’t know why everyone hates it. I looked around and spotted a seat at the back so went over there and sat down. I like sitting in corners at the back of the room. Something about it is peaceful. Some guy walked over to me and stood there. Didn’t say one word, he just glared at me so I spoke.

“Is there a problem?”

“Yeah you’re in my seat twerp. Get out” He said rudely. I didn’t like his attitude. 

“Oh I’m sorry, give me a sec” I said and looked around the seat.

“What are you doing i***t?” He asked

“I’m looking for where I gave a f**k” He darkened his gaze “And it so happens I don’t see a name on it either so take your crusty non intimidating ass out my face and over to a different seat” I heard the whole class go ooooooooooooooooooo. When the teacher walked in he asked the guy to sit down.

“Watch your back b***h. This ain’t over” Then he walked away. What the hell is wrong with people in this school. I’m not feeling very welcomed here. 

It’s mid way through the lesson and Sir asked a question saying it was hard so he wasn’t expecting anyone to answer it. Me and someone else put our hand up.

“Valarie and Namjoon?” I turned to look at this Namjoon guy and he just looked very intellectual. Unlike most of the people on this room.

“Yep that’s me” I answered.

“You can both come up and answer the question” We walked up and the teacher gave us a whiteboard pen each. “I’ll time you both so on 3” We nodded. “1 2 and 3” I immediately started to work it out in my head meanwhile the other guy was jotting things down. After 30 seconds I finished.

“Sir the answers 36.49228393” Namjoon stopped and the whole class looked shocked.

“Well I can’t check if there’s no working out Valarie”

“Just use a calculator” After a long minute the teacher looked back up at me and spoke.

“She’s right” He turned the calculator round so the whole class could see. “B- but how? It should take 3 minutes minimum without a calculator” I just shrugged my shoulder. I never really had to think about math. It always came naturally to me. I turned to look at the other guys working out and it was exactly what I did but he had written it down.

“That’s some impressive work there. What’s your IQ?”

“148” 

“148? That’s high. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with an IQ over over 140” I said. He smiled and I almost squealed. He has the most adorable dimples I’ve ever seen.

“Thank you but what’s yours? I couldn’t have gotten it as fast as you”

“Nah it wasn’t that fast because I messed up like twice” He raised his eyebrow.

“Twice? And you still got it in under a minute?” I moved a strand of hair out my face.

“Yeah but really it isn’t that big of a deal. And to answer your question my IQ is 168” His mouth opened and he raised both of his eyebrows. The whole looked shocked too.

“168? And I thought mine was high”

“No it is. I hope to see more of your work in the future” I bowed but stopped half way because I know they don’t do that here. I picked that up when I lived in Korea for a whole year. He chuckled before bowing aswell.

“Are you-“

“Yes I’m Korean” 

“Well then annyeonghaseyo” He returned my greeting before we went back to our seats and continuing with the rest of math. There was nothing that I didn’t already know so it was a bit boring but I had fun watching Namjoon answer a lot of hard questions. I didn’t answer any because I thought it would be unfair and I wanted to the others, including him, a chance. When the lesson was over i walked to Namjoon, who was packing his bags, to ask him a question.

“Namjoon” He grabbe dhis bag and put it on his back before turning to me.

“Yeah?”

“I’ve somehow managed to make more enemy’s than friends here so is it okay if after 3rd Period I join you for lunch?” He laughed before replying.

“That would be a pleasure. See you at lunch then?”

“Yes you will” He smiled before leaving the room. I actually made a friend today. That’s something to tell fel- oh yeah he’s not here. I sighed before quickly walking to Art because I didn’t want to be late. 

There was no teacher when I walked in but it looked like all the students were here. I just stood in the corner waiting for the teacher. When she came in she instructed us to paint our ideal Galaxy. Did I forget to mention I’m literally married to art? Well now you know. The wedding actually took place a few years ago but we won’t get into the specifics. I enthusiastically walked to the nearest canvas and started mixing colours in the pallet next to it. 

While I was painting I felt a cold liquid touch and drip from my head. I looked up and some girl had poured the water I use to wash my brush over me. Now what sent me on edge was it had ruined my masterpiece. I grabbed my paint brush, smothered it in paint, and swiped it across her face before saying:

“Much better don’t you think?” The girl then pulled my hair and I fell on the floor. Everyone in the room started laughing so I got up and punched the b***h in the face but of course that was the only thing the teacher.

“Um what’s going on here?” She asked looking at us. The girl smiled at me before holding her nose, which was now bleeding, and started to cry. It was obviously fake but the teacher bought it.

“Valarie to the headmaster’s office”

“What? Bu-“

“NOW” I just sighed and walked off but not before tripping the girl over but the teacher saw me do it.

“Uh what was that Valarie?”

“Payback” I answered.

“That’s it I’m calling your parents” I scoffed.

“If you can contact the dead” The teacher then kept quiet. I walked out the room and instead of going to the headmasters office I went to Angelo’s room. I knocked and knocked and knocked but no answer so I tried to mind link him.

‘Angelo. Angelo where are you?’ I got nothing back so decided to lean on his door but it slightly opened. 

“The hell” I said before opening and closing it behind me. The whole place was in shambles. Books and paper everywhere. His clothes all on the floor. It was a mess. I started to get worried for him because there was no way he did this himself. He told me during the movie we watched together he’s a clean freak. I saw something sharp pointing out of a shirt. I removed the shirt to get a better look and it was a syringe. So I picked it up and carefully put it in a backpack I found lying around here. Did someone really inject and kidn*pped him? But how the f**k did they get pass the triple security? I heard footsteps coming close to his room so I put the bag on my back and hid under his bed. More than one person came in and looked around.

“Clean this up morons. How could you be so careless? No one must know of his disappearance” I heard the voice of the administrator say. No one must know? Does he have a part in all this?

“But sir won’t someone know he’s gone?” A boy said. He’s right. How where they expecting no one to question the disappearance of a student.

“Don’t worry about that. You do your job and I’ll do mine” He then left the man to clean. I matched my breath pattern with his so I wouldn’t get noticed. Before he left I turned myself invisible and quietly crawled out from underneath the bed. I went behind him and when he opened the door to leave I slipped past him. He wore a blue jumper which said ‘The Dragon Tenish’ So he belongs to the dragons does he? I very swiftly removed the device I saw him open the door with, after the head master had closed it, from his back pocket. He was sweating and shaking. The poor kid has probably never done anything like this in his life and was clearly doing this against his will. I heard the 3rd bell ring meaning it was lunch. I’ve been in that room for an hour and a half? 

I went to the toilets so the camera’s in the hall way wouldn’t see me go back to normal. I noticed I still had the backpack so placed the device in it and made my way to the diner. It didn’t take me any longer than 10 seconds to find Namjoons table and sit next him.

“How did you find me so quickly?” He asked.

“Your absolutely adorable dimples make you stand out” I said making his face heat up. I put my hand on his forehead and it only got worse. “Oh my gosh are you okay? You’re heads burning” 

“He’s fine just blu-“

“Be quite Mark” Namjoon stopped his friend form saying anything else. “I’m fine. Just a bit hot” He gently removed my hand. When the food came I wasn’t even hungry because the fact Angelo is missing was messing with my head. I can’t sit here and eat like I don’t know anything. My hands were in fists now. I felt someone place their hand in mine I looked up and it was Namjoon.

“Yah what’s wrong? You haven’t touched your food” I just shook my head.

“Nothi- actually could you help me with something?”

“Sure what is it?” 

‘Not here. What’s your room number?’ I mind linked him

‘275 but boys and girls can’t be in the same room’

‘It’s not like we’re doing anything. Just wait by your door and when you feel something tap your shoulder go go in’

‘Alright. I’ll leave first’ I nodded. After 3 minutes I once again went to the toilets and turned invisible. As I searched for Namjoons room I read the door number in my head.

‘272,273,274’ when I turned the corner I saw him waiting so tapped his shoulder and followed him into the room. Once the room was closed and I checked to see if any cameras were hidden I revealed myself.

‘You can turn invisible?’ He asked 

‘Pretty neat huh?’ I replied still in the mind link.

‘Yeah’

‘Enough small talk. I need your help with something very dangerous’ He raises his eyebrow.

‘Dangerous?’

‘Yes so I don’t want to get you involved if you’re not ready to most likely put your life on the line. And I’m not being dramatic. I know we only just met but I would trust you with my life if the time came’ I watched his confused face fade as it was replaced with a huge smile. I once again had to stop my self from pinching his cheeks.

‘Thank you Valarie. I place all my trust in you then. I’m ready to help whatever the situation’ I thanked him.

“You look like an academic person so I don’t want you missing any classes’

‘It’s fine. What’s my IQ of 148 for then?’ I laughed before continuing.

“Thank you. I’ll make this as short as I can. When the Elite 7 passed away and we were granted a day off I had a chat with the twins in our group. They knew things my brother knew so in a letter he told me to talk with them. We mind linked the first 10 minutes to be cautious but it was getting breached so we sign languages the rest. Someone knocked and as you know boys can’t be in the same room so I panicked and turned the twins invisible. The administrator walked in without my permission and looked around. We exchanged a few words and before he left he placed a camera in my room. So much for privacy’

‘Shouldn’t we check if there are cameras in here?’

‘Done it first thin I walked in here’

‘You’re fast’

‘I have to be when I being watched. Skip fast forward I met my brothers best friend and he told me all the dark secrets about this school............’ I went on to tell him all Angelo had told me and he was speechless.

‘Oh wow. This really is dangerous’

‘It is. Another skip and I’m now following my brothers x who trash talked him in the toilet. Turns out there’s secret passages around these hallways. They went in but I couldn’t because of a 3 power security’

‘What’s a 3 power security?’

‘It’s a security system placed on a door. It takes your finger print, eye scan and power detect for your door to open. And you don’t have one because only the Elite 7 had them. Anyway all I managed to over heard was that there was 9 people in the room and who ever “they” are killed the Elite 7’ Namjoon covered his mouth from gasping.

‘Valarie this is some serious stuff. I thought they passed away on a mission’

‘That they very much did,so the only possible explanation is they orchestrated the mission. Those 7 warriors had no chance to make it out alive in the first place’

‘Wait Valarie didn’t you say the headmaster said 9 people?’

‘Yeah what about it?’

‘Valarie your IQ’s 168 for crying out loud’

‘No need to mock me just out with it’

‘Well this Angelo guy told you there’s nine people who are actually the strongest’ When Namjoon said that It all clicked.

‘So what you’re trying to say is those 9 people he referred to are the same ones I overheard?’

‘Exactly. Did you happen to over heard any names?’

‘No but from the toilet I heard the three girls names. Cassandra, Tyna and Mia’

‘Nice work detective’

‘I wish. But here’s what I really called you for’ I took the syringe and device out my bag and showed it to him. I was about to touch the tip of the syringe but Namjoon slapped my hand away.

‘Don’t touch it, are you dumb? That’s a sleeping drug’ I rubbed my hand because the slap hurt. ‘Sorry’

‘it’s fine, you saved me but how do you know?’

‘Look at the side of it. AX34 is written there and that’s what is used to sedate people in operations’

‘Well someone knows their drugs’

‘Haha I guess but where did you find this?’

‘Okay so I got into a fight with Angelo yesterday and went to check on him today evacuate he wasn’t at roll call. When I got there his door was opened. He has a 3 power security so why would he leave it opened. When I walked in the place was a mess and he wasn’t anywhere. The syringe was in the floor and I hid under the bed because I heard footsteps. The administrator walked in sand said something about cleaning the mess up and not leaving any evidence. I think they kidn*pped him Namjoon’ Our minds when blank and it was dead silent.

‘kidn*pped? As in they stabbed him with that syringe and took him against his own free will?’ I nodded.

‘I don’t mean to curse but WHAT THE f**k? Valarie that’s a whole crime. I think you should’ve elaborated on dangerous. More like criminal acts. Wtf can we do?’

‘Investigate what else?’

‘Are you crazy? Don’t investigate. You could be kidn*pped as well. The guys a lost cause. Save yourself’ I slapped him on the face.

‘Bring yourself together Mr. 148 IQ with cute dimples. Now isn’t the time to freak out. Don’t you think I haven’t already thought that? My brothers dead and he was all I had’ A few tears left my eyes and Namjoon looked at me softly. ‘Pull yourself together’ He wipes my tears away from my face and nodded.

‘I’m sorry I just don’t want you to get hurt because of this’

‘I’m born in December you nim wit I’m as tough as they get’

‘Definitely didn’t just see tears come from your eyes then’

‘Oh be quiet. I’m human too’

‘That you are. Now back to solving this case’ I smiled because he was really going to help me. I handed him the device and he took a look. ‘What was this used for?’

‘To lock and unlock Angelo’s door because of the security’ 

‘Okay Val I’ll take a look at it later if that’s alright?’

‘Yes definitely. But please be careful. I already hate myself for dragging you into this mess’ He put his hand on my shoulder.

‘Don’t. Friends help each other and I’m your friend now so that’s what I’m going to do. Leave it to me’

‘Thank you a lot. I’ll make it up to you later‘

‘You really do-‘

‘ I’m not taking no for an answer’ He sighed before nodding. ‘Also, hide the syringe and device in led. If anyone comes in here with x-ray vision like me they’ll spot it immediately but we can’t see through led’

‘Thanks for the heads up and what powers don’t you have’ We laughed a little and after 10 minutes Namjoon successfully found somewhere with led. I didn’t turn invisible when we left his room because there was no cameras in that hall way.

“What lesson do you have?” I asked finally speaking. It’s felt a bit weird because we had been talking in our minds for a while.

“Valarie we don’t have anymore lessons it’s afternoon roll call”

“Already? I didn’t realise we spent that long” When we walked in everyone looked at us and I whispered to Namjoon:

“Why’s everyone looking at us?”

“I don’t know maybe because we’re fricking 10 minutes late” I nervously chuckled.

“Why are you two late?” The headmaster said.

“I was in the infirmary”

“And what about you Namjoon?” He said now looking at him. I saw him panick so I answered for him.

“I didn’t know where the infirmary was so I accepted his offer to take me. It’s hard being new here because this place is so huge” I said with a fake smile at the end.

“Okay hurry and line up”  We fast walked into our line.

‘Nice quick thinking it really saved me’ He said to me in my mind.

‘You mean us? We’re a team so no need to thank me. I got you into the position in the first place’ He didn’t reply back as the headmaster started talking.

“Now that everyone’s here” Everyone but Angelo. “I have news for the upcoming competition on the 7th of July.  I’m sure you’re all familiar with it as we do it every year but this year is going to be different. You’ll be in teams instead of on your own” I had no idea what this competition was so Namjoon briefly explained it to me.

‘It’s basically just a big tournament and for the first part we’re put in a forest with dangerous animals. Everyone wears a ribbon on their arm and you have to fight others for them. Usually only 15 is required to be able to enter the tower, which is located exactly in the middle of the forest, so as soon as you have them you make your way to the tower’

‘Oh Alright. Thanks for bringing light onto the topic’

‘No problem’ We then went back to focusing on what the headmaster has to say.

“As you will be in group the number of ribbons collected will rise to 35” I heard people gasping, complaining and winning. “Be quiet everyone. You’ll never get stronger doing what your comfortable with. Starting from tomorrow, everyday will be training day so just wear things you can comfortable fight and work out in. All dismissed”

-2 minutes later-

??? POV

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ITS GONE?” I raised my voice at the student who stood before me.

“Si- sir i- it wasn’t the- there when I c- c- cleaned up the room”

“YOU HAD ONE JOB....” I looked at the guys jumper to see his name. “TENISH. ONE f*****g JOB”

“I- I’m sorry sir”

“AND WHERES THE DEVICE I GAVE YOU?” He looked in his back pocket and didn’t dear look back up at me after.

“WHERE IS IT?”

“It’s al- also g- go- gone sir” I slammed my hand onto the the table next to me.

“UHHHH YOU’RE SO USELESS. Maybe I should have a long talk with your mother. I don’t think her life support is going to hold up”

“N- no please don’t sir. Give me one more chance. I’ll do anything”

“Anything?” I said a raised eyebrow 

“Yes anything” The guy nodded his head several times. I smirked as I had the perfect thing in mind

To be continued...