VI. Operation Park Bench
1484 Words
Pulling out the black probe,Cali placed it in her right hand.
“Are you serious?” Looking at her
“”What? It’s a dual purpose. It also has a flashlight too.”
“Uh...if you say so.”
Walking our way down the path, the grass crunching beneath our boots and the trees creaking slightly from the wind.. The elevation increasing at a slight slope we arrived at the rugged wooden picnic table. Two thick seasoned oak trees sit on either side. Their dark branches stretching out long past the table and in all directions. My eyes scanning the dim lit area of the soccer field below the hill. Not a soul in sight.
“I’m surprised we’re the only ones. Usually other high school kids are out at this hour.” Cali placing her backpack on the table and sitting down.
“Yeah. I wonder why.”
“Guess we just hang out and chill.”
“Or…”Cali trails off and a grin appears.
“Or what?” Raising my right eyebrow.
“Or we could climb this oak tree and talk. We can see everything and be hidden.”
“I TOTALLY GOT THOSE HUNGER GAME VIBES THAT I WANT TO LIVE OUT!" Cali said pointing to the oak tree on the right.
I still have that feeling of terror anywhere I’m near an open space regardless of the time of day. Almost as if someone or something is watching me. My pulse began to rise and my palms were sweaty even though it was cold outside.
“That sounds like a good idea,Cali.”
Placing her right foot on the root of the tree,Cali made her way up the middle. Once she reached the first branch she climbed up as a stepping stone to the next. I could barely see her as she reached the third branch up then straddled herself onto it and leaned up against the tree trunk.
It was hard to see her now. The leaves covered most of the branches.
“Ash! There’s a group of what looks like to be guys walking this way. Hurry up!”
Staring up at the tree,I realized I haven’t climbed that high up before. I’ve only gone up to the first set of branches.
“Are you seriously hesitating right now???”
“I haven’t climbed that high before.”
“There’s a first time for everything. Hurry up they’re making their way over here!”
“Ash!” Cali’s voice was in a high pitched tone.
“What?”
Cali was mumbling to herself under her breath.
“Cali,what is it?”
“Ash. Get up here NOW!” I know when Cali’s tone changes something is up.
Swallowing my fear,I place my right hand on the nook in the tree and my left foot on the root. Alternating between opposite hand and foot, I make it up to the first set of branches.
“Place your foot there and hand here.” Cali pointed to the deep wide gashes on the tree.
“Now left foot here and right hand there and straddle the tree trunk like how I’m sitting.”
I did exactly as she said. Looking around and catching my breath, I can only see mostly leaves. Except for a little opening in between.
“Cali,what is-“
“Shh.” Placing her index finger on her lips and pointing down to the small opening between the leaves.
I heard multiple voices chatting and growing clearer.
“This place looks good Zen.” A voice said next to the boy in the front.
A boy stepped out of the shadows. He had shaggy blonde hair - it was the boy from the other night! He had on a white cutout tank top with black shorts and sneakers.
I lightly tapped Cali and pointed to the blonde.
“Why couldn’t we stay back at the house with everyone else?” The second boy moved forward. I was able to get a better look. He had a small stature. His curly red hair fell right before his eyes that reflected in the dark. Not red but a golden color. Tattoos ran all the way up his arms to the black t shirt he had on. His black denim jeans were dragging a bit on the ground covering his feet.
“ I wanted to have a meeting with you both.” I could only tell the voice was coming from behind the second boy. I couldn’t see who it belonged to but it sounded familiar.
“I wanted to be able to talk to you both in private without the clan overhearing. As you know we are the only hybrid clan in the Southeast region. Before coming here Able did research to make sure there were no other clans here. I think he may have misjudged. We are the only hybrid clan but not the only clan.”
“Why do you say that boss?” Zen folding his arms and shifting his weight towards the direction of the voice.
“ I sensed an unusual presence in the school I’m attending. I couldn’t figure out what it was.”
“Was it a hybrid?”
“No.”
“Human?”
“Too strong of a smell to be just a human.”
“I need you and Mark to do some investigating in between school and training. I trust you both the most. We should keep this just between us for right now. I’ll alert Able if we happen to find anything.”
They both nodded.
“Now let’s go get some food.” The dark shadow emerged with red glowing eyes.
Cali and I both looked at each other. Mouths wide open. It was Brian!!
“It’s Brian!” I blurted out to Cali in a hushed tone.
“Did you say something Zen?”
Cali narrowing her eyes and glaring at me. I mouthed ‘sorry’ and covered my mouth. My heart was beating so loud I was convinced they could hear it.
“I didn’t say anything.” Zen looking at Mark and Brian.
“I thought I heard you say something.”
“Are you sure you’re not hearing things?”
"I don't know you tell me, Mark. You're the one with the ears."
"That's enough. Let's go before our food runs away." Brian turning and disappearing back into the shadows.
"I could of swore I heard something." Mark looking at Zen. Zen shrugging and following Brian back down the hill.
"Something's off." he mumbled to himself.
Mark turning to the oak on the left,his gold eyes scanning the tree. He lifted his nose in the air and inhaled.
Cali and I both froze looking at each other with wide eyes.
Placing one foot in front of the other he made his way over to the oak we were in. Stopping and doing the same. He came closer placing his hand on the trunk. Taking in a deep breath.
"MARK." Brian's voice echoed distracting Mark from his next move.
"Let's go. NOW!"
"I thought I saw something." Mark pointing up the tree.
"It's probably squirrels. I'm not in the mood for them tonight. I'm getting impatient. Let's go eat before I take a bite out of you." Brian snarling.
Mark dropping his head. He followed Brian into the dark. We heard their voices getting farther away until we couldn't hear them any longer.
Cali and I just sat there for a few minutes making sure we were alone. After a few minutes, Cali exhaled as if she was holding it the entire time.
"OMG ASH!" Cali managed to scramble a few words together.
"At least I'm not crazy." I said. Feeling relieved in one way but freaked out in another.
"What the hell did we just witness??"
"A drug clan?" dropping my palms out to the side.
"First thing tomorrow morning we ARE going to the police station to report this."
"What are you going to report, Cali?"
"That we saw three high school aged males with glowing eyes?"
"No."
"If we say that we WILL sound CRAZY."
"No. Three high school males selling drugs at night."
"If we say that then my mom will know we were out of the house at night. I'll never be able to do that again."
OK, fine. How about we say we were at the park near dusk and saw three high school age males exchanging money for a bag."
"I'm more open to that."
"Good. Then let's get out of this tree. I feel so creeped out."
- Writer
