The Wizards of Xitt

The Huna Chip

CHAPTER FIVE

The Huna Chip

The windy afternoon melted without warning into a night whose cloak was studded with stars. The round-faced moon was glowering with its greatest intensity beyond the paisley blinds of Number Twenty Four Tenth Avenue.

Kaila was admiring himself again upon the simmering canvas of the sylvan-edged Hall mirror, which made his bedroom feminine. There was a look of surprise on the face looking back at him.

The face on the glittering canvas of the mirror was generously handsome. It had pale brown eyes fleshy cheeks and squared chin. The eyebrows were thick and arched, and the lips were ruby red. Coupled with the velvety black hair and pronounced nose, the face turned out to be oddly handsome.

To crown the weird attractiveness, was a tailed tuxedo suit, which hugged him jealously. There was also a pristine white shirt, and a glossy bow tie above the frills of the shirt. And though, the shiny white shoes were barely visible, the overall image projected by the mirror could have been fitted into a worldly temple for man-worship.

“Honey? We are...” Malena trailed off, she was already at the doorway and filled it up with her fluffy costume. “I mean, look at you.”

Kaila could see a different glow on her face that had nothing to do with how stunning she looked at the moment. It was that of satisfaction and fulfillment. She walked up to him and leaned to kiss him on the lips. Wanting the kiss to last, Kaila opened wide his mouth and tried to deepen the kiss. But then, Malena drew back and stared dreamily into his eyes.

“It took me about half an hour to build this costume. It may take that amount of time to dismantle it. And...”

“Enough already Leena!” Kaila intoned as he swept Malena frost blue feathery gown with his eyes. The dress flayed gradually from the knees, and was widest beyond the ankles. Kaila did not believe that the lower part of the gown was held out of its own accord. Something had to be holding it out, he thought foolishly. “We are going to be late.” He said running his hand along the upper part of Malena. Apart from the two feathery straps from which the whole gown was suspended, that part of her body was bare. “Come on sweet.” And he led her outside.

Malena insisted that they used her car, even if she did not argue as much as to who would drive. The darkness of Tenth Avenue soon doused their glittering as Kaila eased the fairly recent model of a Bentley onto the road. Their path was lighted by twin beams of light issuing from the silver–coated headlamps. Their destination as expected, had to be Capitol building.

Kaila knew that despite his eagerness to stretch the speed beyond what was specified whenever he did not see a patrol car. They would still lose a few minutes of the Unveiling.

The car groaned to a halt on a grassy lot, in front of Capitol building. The small parking area adjacent to the capitol building was already filled to brim. The overflow had poured onto the side of the streets and grassy area in front.

Kaila had expected it, but that did not still totally prevent the surprise that sprung momentarily to his mind. Malena barely took a breath before she eased her door open. Kaila did not know whether he expected her to lurch sidewards and plant a kiss on his cheek. He alighted the car without any haste and rounded the car to meet her.

There was no trace of annoyance in Malena’s relief as she cast him a long glance. Kaila had expected her to hiss and bound forwards, expecting him to follow. He was disappointed, though, in a pleasant way as Malena turned to face him. She propped open the feathery handbag, which should have better been termed a purse. From the handbag, she produced a white rose and a smile.

“I love this suit on you.”

Yeah! Because you ordered it! Kaila wanted to retort, but he cut himself short. “I love your d-dress too...” he offered.

Malena kissed him briefly, then, placed the rose in the breast pocket of the suit. “So I wouldn’t lose you.” She shifted her elbow a little from herself and Kaila understanding looped his hand through it.

“Come on then.”

They wound their way through other guests until they got to the Conference room, which was being used for the Unveiling. Kaila cast a knowing glance sideward at his companion. He could see the stains of joy beautifying the face a tad more. Everything was going on fine.

Kaila took in the room. It was filled with circular table that were not visible owing to the oversized tablecloth that covered them. Around the tables were small chairs of different colors. On one side of the hall was a podium, behind which was a huge screen. The screen was displaying messages from sponsors of the program. Somewhere a music system was saturating the room with a good selection of instrumentals.

Most importantly was the fact that the hall was already three-third on the path of expectation. That is, in terms of the guests. Among them Kaila could see both familiar and unfamiliar faces. Most of the face he had only become familiar from the Television and the dailies.

Senator Richard Thornton was whispering to another Senator whom Kaila could not quite spin out a name for. There was a Congresswoman, a Rebecca Benet or something. She had strongly opposed the Republican led Government war policy in the Middle East. There were other Congressmen and women whose names Kaila could not recall. The Mayor of Honolulu was there, and so was the NASA chief, and someone that resembled Robert Harewood, a well known astronaut.

Kaila remembered that they had walked through a metal detector at the entrance. He had actually been appreciating a vase of flowers then. And it also clicked that all the people standing every five table or so away, were security personnel.

Malena waved to two girls whom Kaila recognized and felt obliged to acknowledge with a nod. Beyond the girls, Kaila saw Professor Pretzel at the foremost table. He was whispering to a boy Kaila did not place beyond twenty. The boy turned out to be Joseph Keal, a third year Physics Student. On the same table, which Professor Pretzel occupied was Professor David C. Hopper, President of the University of Hawai’i. Professor Maverick Dane of the Institute for Astronomy (IfA), an affiliate of the University of Hawai’i, and Professor Lyon Tessla of the Geophysics Department, were also on the table. Other staffs of the University of Hawai’i occupied several other tables.

Kaila was still doing a headcount of the dignitaries when he bumped into a young man, who was clad like him in Tuxedo suit. The young man looked as if he was not more than twenty-two, even less, because his chin shew no signs of having being shaven before. And the man looked too impeccable to be a true human being.

“I’m sorry...” Kaila fumbled as both of them regained their poises. He could see lots of colour rush to Malena’s cheeks as she attempted a speech she did not, or could not complete.

“Don’t mind...”

The young man thrust his hands forward, and when he opened his mouth to speak, his teeth dazzled like diamond bars. “Igor Fleming.”

Kaila took the hand; it was as soft as it was frail, like it was going to crumble into Kaila’s hand. Kaila wondered just how much the young man spent on cosmetics, because he looked more like the rubber-made model of a man. His hair was slick and glossy; it fell on either sides of his head, but did not hide his perfect ears. His eyes were sharp turquoise and his nose was a perfect slope of delicate skin. The lips were succulent and ruby and its ridges were distinct and regular. In fact, every feature of Igor’s magical face was proportional; nothing was relatively bigger or smaller.

“’Didn’t get the name.” Igor prompted when Kaila did not say anything or release his hand.

“Kaila, Kaila Maentel, and this is...” Kaila threw a quick glance at Malena who pretended to be looking at one of the revolving chandeliers. They had been separated during the collision “...Malena Spars.”

Malena turned at the mention of her name. “Oh, pleasure to meet you, Mr...”

“Igor Fleming.” Igor supplied again gracefully.

“Why don’t we have a seat?” Kaila said, for some reason his knees were beginning to feel week and his core temperature was rising.

“A very good idea.” Igor agreed, flashing his carefully crafted teeth.

Kaila watched him as he pulled out a seat for Malena before taking his own beside Malena. He put the variables together and came up with a comment. “So how are you enjoying your stay in Honolulu?”

“Great so far, though in fairness, I’ve barely been here for a day.” Igor smiled again and Kaila could see Malena blush visibly. Igor seemed to read Kaila’s mind because when next he spoke he explained his mission in Honolulu. Apparently, he was an Irish-born Cambridge Undergraduate of Physics. He had come to see Professor Dane of the IfA, who had invited him for the Unveiling of the Huna chip. His main purpose of coming was to find out what the discipline of Astronomy would require of him because he planned to take it as a second degree.

Kaila was not still convinced, but had shelved any more doubts he had about Igor Fleming, at least until after the Unveiling. Professor Tessla had already taken the podium and almost all eyes were turned his way. Even the jukebox of a music system had obeyed the professor and ceased it discourse.

“Well you are all welcome to this wonderful occasion...” Professor Tessla was saying. Kaila’s attention was soon dragged away from the Professor by the sudden appearance of Chung Ji, one of his classmates at their table.  Dressed like Kaila, Ji still seemed to be running around, doing last minute organizing.

Ji bent and spoke into Malena’s ears and without words; Malena followed Ji towards the nearest exit. Kaila threw a quick glance at Igor; the young man was wrapped up in whatever Professor Tessla had to say.

Meanwhile, Kaila’s strength was constantly ebbing by the minute, and his core was burning up. He could feel his body working doubly hard to cool him, sweat soaking his first layer of dressing. Kaila felt sick and he did not believe it had anything to do with the meager diet he used to tease rather than feed the angry worms in his stomach since morning. It was not actually the first time he had gone about a day like that.

Soon, there was a round of applause for Professor Tessla, and the huge man was heading back to his seat. Professor David Hopper was already approaching the podium.

Igor turned to look at Kaila who pretended to be clapping along with everyone for both Professors. Igor seemed to be commenting on Professor Tessla’s speech, but Kaila was not hearing a word of what Igor was saying. His heart was beginning to slow, and his temperature was bursting through the roof. Kaila felt like he was going to go up in flames any minute. He pressed his hand to his chest and deepened his breathing.

“Are you alright?” Igor bent towards him.

Kaila tried a smile in which his face did not partake fully. “I’ll be fine,” he managed and stood up. As he turned, he realized that the room which Jacque Fillong had secured for the Logistics Sub-Committee was behind the nearest exit. If only he could get to the leather cushion in that room...

Kaila took a glass of wine from one of the waitress loitering about the hallway, and downed it in one gulp. The drink did not improve his failing strength, of course, he did not expect it to. In general, he was getting worse with each step away from the hall.

By the time Kaila got to the wide open door of the room, which Jacque had secured, he was near panting, and fractions of an inch from ignition point. He dragged his weary feet into the room, saw through some mist, three or four people gathered around something. The people were discussing in what may have been soundful words, but reached him as soundless whispers. Within seconds, the image was dissolving. He barely had the time to see Jessica turning to see who had entered the room before he swayed and was falling to the ground.

Perhaps, he never reached the ground. Maybe, he did, all the same, he could feel Jessica’s hands wrapped around him and dragging him inch by inch out of the room.

Jessica dragged Kaila all the way through the dimly lit hallway. She passed an unconcerned waiter as she practically carried him to the gents’ restroom, and heaved him onto a chair. Kaila could hear silent sobs, smell her gardenia-scented perfume, and could even feel her wet hands wiping sweat from his brow. The handkerchief she was using through the short staggering to the restroom was now sopping wet from his sweat.

The big problem which Kaila sensed Jessica may have noticed was the fact that he could not move any muscle in his body. Not even the one that allowed him to open his eyes. However, he could not deny that he was a bit better than when he was inside that room. In fact, he was close to death in there, even his heart might have momentarily stopped beating in there.

Kaila could feel the panic rise a little more in Jessica’s voice. She put her ears to Kaila’s heart and might have heard his feeble heart beating in slow motion. Next, the blurry outline of her face obliterated the darkness, caused by his closed eyes. Jessica had retracted one of his eyelids to see what Kaila knew would be an out of focus eyeball.

The darkness swallowed Kaila again; he could hear Jessica’s swift footsteps exiting the gent’s restroom. Had Jessica left him there for death? Or had she gone to get other people? The Medical unit? Anyone that might help. Kaila wished he had returned Jessica’s kiss earlier, maybe, the hope of getting more would have driven her to save his life... Soon, the heavy load upon his eyes seemed to have been lifted. Kaila could open his eyes, could move his fingers, and his jaw could twitch.

The door swung open and Jessica hurried in. She was almost oblivious of Kaila as she searched impatiently for something in her bag. The handbag was just as small as Malena’s.

“Jessy,” Kaila surprised even himself. Jessica knelt immediately and took his hand. The hands gradually squeezed hers and she was all smiles.

Life flowed back gradually into Kaila and he was able to raise himself from the chair. Even understanding too was leaking into the chambers of his brain. It was becoming clear to him that whatever had drained his strength, slowed his heart and spiked his core body temperature was in that room. Questions began to form in his mind as to what it could be. Why did it affect him and not anyone else? What would have happened if he had stayed in that room a while longer? Would he have...? He stopped short, he knew the answer to that...

“What was it Kyle?”

“I have no idea, but I’m okay now. So what’s going on?”

“Professor Long is giving his lecture.”

Professor Hubert Long. Kaila repeated the name in his mind. He had heard of the man, definitely not a Professor of any of the Sciences if he could still remember. The man was either a Theologian or a Philosopher. What could the man possibly be lecturing on? Kaila did not actually have the time to dwell upon such a question. “I mean what are you guys doing?”

“Finalizing how we’ll present the Huna Chip.” Jessica replied. She was playing with Kaila’s chin, though she was pretending to be checking his temperature.

“The Huna chip?” Kaila asked without meaning to. “The Huna Chip was there in that room?”

Jessica looked up sharply at him. Kaila hoped she was not thinking what he was thinking. Jessica feigned ignorance and answered with an informal tone. “The Huna Chip was there.”

Their eyes met and the contact stretched into seconds. It seemed they both understood, though, none of them wanted to pursue the issue any further.

Kaila broke the eye contact and covered Jessica’s right hand with both of his. There was no doubt that the Huna Chip was a big danger to his life. “Thank you Jessica.”

Jessica blushed in spite of the worried expression on her face.

When Jessica did not speak for a moment, Kaila decided to start the dismissal process. “Actually, I came with this friend who doesn’t know much of Honolulu.”

“It’s not an allergy.” Jessica said re-establishing the eye contact.

“Allergy?” Kaila asked feigning ignorance.

“Your reaction.”

“No it’s not.” Kaila rushed. Jessica was still not pacified, her eyes were still challenging him to spill whatever secrets he was keeping. Kaila knew he had to resort to desperate measures. He bent his lips towards Jessica’s, and then kissed her.

The kiss somehow found a life of its own and lasted for about a minute or so. When they broke apart Jessica was flushed though still full of smiles.

“I guess this is where I say I’m sorry.” Kaila breathed.

“And this is where I want you to show remorse when you are sorry.” She kissed him again and this time there was not much respect for natural borders or out-of-bound areas of the body. It was not until a feeble knock made the Ivory door squeak, that they broke apart, breathless and at a loss for words.

The door opened and a face neither of them recognized peered in. Seeing them still entwined together, the older man closed the door firmly behind himself and strode towards the other restrooms.

“You don’t need to say you are sorry again,” Jessica began. “I can see the remorse.” She helped him up. “Now here you go to see your wayward friend while I go back to see the others.” She turned to leave.

“Wait Jessica,” Kaila said. Jessica rounded to a halt. Kaila walked up to her. “Thank you again.” He said and placed a kiss on her forehead.

She smiled. Kaila returned it.

“Now off you go.”

“Sure,” she nodded and left the rest room.

Kaila closed his eyes for a moment or so. He was this close to saying goodbye to a world he was not so sure he loved that much, and to all the people that mattered inside it. All because Professor Pretzel found a way to make Technology less complex, yet, more sophisticated, and mysteriously accurate. But why did the Huna chip affect him only, even when he was a long way from the chip. It had started affecting him inside the conference room while the chip was in the room. He could understand now, both doors were open. It meant that the only reason why the chip was not affecting him now was the fact that wood and brick could somehow act as insulators from exposure to the chip. Back there in the hall there was no shield, both doors were open... Well, that did not explain the fact that the chip only affected Kaila Maentel and no one else.

Kaila had already ruled out the fact that he might have a medical condition. Many test and results had proved him to be relatively normal. So who was Kaila Maentel? Or better sill, what was Kaila Maentel? He could not possibly be human. Human beings do not have cuts that disappeared in minutes, or broken bones that righted themselves in seconds. Human beings did not react on exposure to a Huna Chip. It could be possible that he was some kind of alien.

‘Alien’, the idea frightened and excited Kaila. After all, the quest might yield something.

Kaila strolled to the door but before he pulled it open, he heard some voices. The voices seemed to be coming from an overhead room. And to his best knowledge, the Unveiling was not supposed to extend beyond the ground floor. What intrigued him most was that the language was a mixture of English and another language. Intuition told him the other language was definitely ancient and not among the ones, he knew of. As a History student, he knew most of the world’s ancient language, and though he could not speak any, he could tell which was being spoken if he listened for some time. And by the sound of it, Kaila knew, it was a conspiracy of some sort, a plan to cause mayhem.

Opening the restroom door, Kaila sprinted towards the stairs. He was not sure the lift would be operable at that time. He sent about two waiters to the ground, overturning their trays. He could hear the men curse and spit as he hurried away from them. He only wished he had the time to say sorry, and probably help the men to their feet. There was no such time though, if whatever was about to happen was stoppable by his prompt action, then knocking over two lazy oversized waiters would be excusable.

He took the stairs, two at a time and found himself at the landing of the first floor. He listened hard to know which direction he ought to take. He realized that the voices were coming from the floor above. Turning onto the stairs again, he hurried, and found himself on the second floor. The floor was supposed to house the Hawai’i State Art Museum (HiSAM). An A-list museum, which boasted of about three hundred and sixty works displayed in five galleries.

Kaila followed the voices to one of the five galleries of the Museum. It turned out that he could make out what the voices were saying, as he got closer. Apparently, the conspirators were distributing roles. Three victims were to be terminated, an item to be carted away, and a laboratory to be incinerated.

One of them was named Icarus, and summoned as though he was the youngest of them. The voices could have been from three or more people. Icarus was supposed to take professor Prestel and the chip...

It dawned immediately on Kaila what was about to happen. Whoever was in there was going to kill or kidnap Professor Pretzel and make away with the Huna chip. They will also kill two more people and probably burn down Professor Pretzel Laboratory.

Without thinking further, Kaila tried the door, it was not locked. He opened it and rushed into the room. The room was dimly lit, but Kaila could make out the outlines of the same three creatures who tried to down the Delta 757 Airline he had boarded from Bethany the previous day.

They had stopped talking immediately he handled the doorknob. Kaila could sense them getting ready to descend on him; he now saw the foolishness in his haste. Rushing in to apprehend conspirators with bare hands and no plans. What the hell was he thinking? That he will just burst in and declare. “Hey I’m Superman. Surrender your weapons and follow me to Hale Maka’i.”

“Lumis!” A gritty voice said. A crystal of light bobbed from one of the creatures’ mouth and floated to the centre of the room, illuminating most of it.

Kaila took in a deep breath. The creatures had to be wizards. He knew he should have reached that realization a long time ago. Not when he had just witnessed magic, and with the flick of a finger, he could be dead and gone. Kaila could not quite relax until the wizard who had produced the light crystal spoke again.

“So we meet again Mr. Maentel.” His voice was even more gritty, and it was his one sided nose rather than his mouth that traced the pattern of his speech on his scarred face. He looked rather pale and his eyes were as pearly as the floating crystal.

Kaila was even more afraid. Whoever this wizard was, he just called him by name. However, he was not going to give them the satisfaction that their mere presence stirred lots of fear in him. He put up a brave face and decided that the best way to go about it was to engage them in some triviality. “Sorry, I didn’t catch the name last...”

“Gantz, Locre Gantz. This is Quanti Flint.” He pointed to the one with the face of a monkey. “And this is Icarus Severetti.” He indicated the one with the face of a child. “I will believe you’ve already met my team.”

“Depends, I wouldn’t call that a meeting. I mean saving over a hundred and eighty souls you tried to drown.”

Gantz began to laugh in a throaty voice, Flint joined in but Icarus did not. Instead, his mouth acquired two more contours, his face turned deep purple and something like vapor was exuding from his ears. “So you really fancy yourself as saviour of the world.” Gantz mocked.

“I don’t see anything better to fancy myself as.” Kaila returned in a defiant tone. “Argh! Argh!” Kaila began to scream. His airways were closing up and pain was radiating up every part of his body. He dropped to his knees... “Argh!”

“Icarus! Icarus!” Gantz shouted beating Icarus on the back. “How many times would I tell you that this protean temper of yours really needs a case. I think I’ll just have to let this roll to Halon.”

“Okay I’m sorry. But if you didn’t notice, I still do not have a tooth.” Icarus said in a voice that resembled the whining cry of a ballerina. He flashed his teeth in the process, showing a set of badly fitted teeth, with premolars and molars favouring the front and the rest migrating sideward. There was a hole between the upper front teeth, which looked more like a black hole.

“I thought Halon was looking into re-growing it?”

“Apparently not, the Fertilicium Osteosis used to re-grow teeth and bones, has some problems when it comes to teeth that was not magically broken.” Icarus supplied in a fierce manner that made him less childlike.

“And torturing young Mr. Maentel I would say is not a very good medicens for your teeth.” Gantz observed.

“So it would appear, but at least it would give him a taste of my wrath.” Icarus hissed.

“Well, as you can see Mr. Maentel. I guess our last meeting did not go down well with me and my team. I, for one, got a deep gash from the erring branch of an oak, adding another scar to my beautiful face. Flint here lost a finger and a part of his hair.” Gantz paused and smiled lamely “I guess only you left that meeting whole.”

“Except you failed to notice an item in your possession, which originally came from my backpack.” Kaila replied. Somehow, the fear that had clutched at his heart since entering the room was loosening its grip.

“And you wish to equate this item to my ointed blood, or the Limen lock of Quanti’s hair?”

“I would believe that whatever you three lost is worthless compared to what I lost.” Kaila intoned.

“Can you just hear him...” Icarus raved, his eyes had turned crimson, and his right hand was raised.

Kaila was lifted bodily from the ground; he could not see what was lifting him. From time to time, a twinge of pain radiated through his body. Kaila noticed that the pain corresponded with when Icarus twisted his hands.     

“Icarus! Icarus! Knock it off!” Gantz was shouting at the top of his voice and the room seemed to be shaking.

Kaila hit the glossy brown tiled floor hard and remained there.

“This temper of yours Icarus, this temper of yours.” Gantz said breathing heavily. “Let’s hope Halon would take it as lightly as I have.”

Flint produced a tongue of fire at the end of his right index finger. He raised it to the gold-rimmed wall clock. “Locre, the hour has come.”

“Has it now? Well, Mr. Maentel, it was nice talking. But we really have to go. I hope you’ll make good use of yourself when you’re up to it. This gallery has some of the best paintings I’ve ever seen.” Gantz said and gathered his draping cloak.

Kaila staggered to his feet. “I’m afraid Gantz or whatever your name is; I can’t let you do that.”

“Do what?” Gantz said in an incredulous tone.

“I can’t let you murder those people, or make away with the Huna chip.”

“And how do you intend to stop us, if one may ask?”

“Only one way to find out.”

“You see Mr. Maentel; we don’t really have time for this joke.”

“I’m not joking Mr. Gantz.”

“Then, I suppose you leave me no choice,” Gantz said. “Entita Pertrificum,” he shouted. A blue beam of light spurted from his eyes and hit Kaila squarely on the chest.

Kaila fell backwards like a log of wood. He reached the ground with such impact that some paintings shuddered from their hangings.

The three wizards walked up to where Kaila laid. Their images floated into Kaila’s field of view. He could not do anything else.

Gantz bent his scarred face towards Kaila and spoke in that gritty voice. “I don’t think you left me much choice there Mr. Maentel. Fortunately for you, it is only a petrifaction spell. It means, thanks to our little modifications, only your eyes would be alive until the spell wears off. So I think this is goodbye from us, or at least until you try your foolish heroics again.” He rose and summoned the other wizards to follow him. He turned before reaching the door.

Icarus who was looking slightly pleased after the Petrifaction turned purple again.

“Hmm, I’ve heard of many a tales of petrified bodies making the meals of wild animals in Xitt. I wouldn’t think that to be likely here, but I think I should keep an eye over you.” He took a deep breath. “Lumis zen opticum.” Another pearly crystal of light bobbed from his mouth and something else came out of his eyes. The two materials floated to middle of the room and united there. Meanwhile, the other crystal of light, which was getting fainter floated back to him. He closed his long slender fingers around the light crystal, extinguishing the light. “Adios Mr. Maentel.” Gantz said and left the room with the other two wizards.

Kaila laid incapacitated on the tiled gallery floor. He could not move any muscle in his body, and he was experiencing a sensation of weight. It was like his organs and entire body had turned to stone. He stared around as much as the visual field would allow him. All he could see was a white text coat wall littered with paintings. He could only make out one of the painting clearly though; Work and Rest. The work showed a native Hawai’ian woman with a child on her back. She was grinding on what seemed a black stone. The work was purported to have been created by the famous French artist, Jean Henri Charlot.

Kaila could also see a stone slab holding what looked like a mini-tree cast from fibre glass. Beyond the stone slab were two arched hallways, supposedly leading to other galleries. Kaila wondered if the wizards had already carried out their plans. He would have heard something, some sound at least. It was frustrating to know that even his hearing mechanism had also been petrified.

His heart soon began to ache, but he could not express the pain in any form. Then suddenly, he blacked out. It was like a dream, a nightmare even. He could see three greenish beams of light speeding away in three directions within the hall where the Unveiling was being held. Two of these beams were headed towards  the foremost table where Professor Pretzel and other staffs of the University and its affiliate programs sat. One of the beams was headed for the exit door, through which he had used earlier on.

“Prof? Prof? He’s not breathing! Prof? Prof? Get an ambulance.”

Kaila ripped himself forcefully from the scene. He was back at the Gallery. He tried to move his hands; they followed his command, though in slow motion. His lung too restarted its job and his heart was pumping in slow motion. For a while, it seemed Kaila was learning the act of making good use of his body all over again. Within seconds, the efficiency of co-ordination between his thought and action reached maximum. His heart sped up, and may even have been a tad faster than normal.

Kaila rose to his feet and looked up at the crystal of light Gantz had set over him. The other thing inside the crystal resembled an eye. It was flipping from one place to the other without picking up anything. However, when Kaila drew nearer, the eye stopped flipping and focused directly down at Kaila. Kaila raised his hands and slammed the light crystal into the wall.

Many things happened when the light crystal hit the wall. The crystal exploded like a small muffled bomb. It glowed wildly like the sun and then disappeared, suspending the room in darkness. There was also a gust of destructive wind somewhere within the building. It was like a hurricane wind and Kaila could feel the vibrations it made of the building. An angry voice too like the rumble of thunder could also be heard within the building.

Kaila went straight for the door. His eyes had adjusted enough to the darkness to be able to pick out the faint outline of the glass door. Kaila tried the door; it was locked, probably, by some spell. Then, the gust of wind came again. Kaila could feel it rattling against the door, like someone’s breath. He could hear people screaming and shouting in terror. There was however, only one person on Kaila’s mind, as he stepped back and went at the door with all his might. The door flew apart, and the alarm system went off.

Kaila bounded for the flight of stairs. It did not take much time to reach the hallway leading to the Unveiling. The hallway was filled with people running to only-God-knew where. The few eyes Kaila caught had ‘TERROR’ tattooed onto them. He made for the nearest entrance into the hall and bumped into Igor Fleming. “Have you seen Malena?” Kaila asked breathless.

“Miss Spars must be outside.”

“Okay see...” Kaila stopped in mid-sentence. He saw it coming, a green beam of light coming towards them. It was speedy and arrow-headed, and it was deepening in colour as it neared them. It was either meant for him or Igor Fleming. Kaila did not have much time to divulge on why he so strongly believed the beam of light was not meant for Mr. Fleming. The problem was the handsome chap was in the way. Without much thought, Kaila pushed him out of the way and took the full force of the green beam of light.

He was thrown a few feet backwards, his heart stopped beating, and his breathing ceased, then everything was black. Clinically speaking, Kaila Maentel was dead.