HIDDEN SECRETS

Chapter 6

"What happened to you?" Noah asked me.

"What?" We're sitting on the couch watching Poirot. We've both watched the whole series for about three times. But we still enjoy it. We try to find out small details and solve case before Hercule Poirot does. I haven't been able to concentrate today. Agent Savvaro's words nagging in my head.

Mr. Flickermen has a lot to hide.

I've tried to push the thought aside. because after all, it's Noah we're talking about. My best friend since childhood. We told each other everything. We did everything together. No matter how shameful a secret is, we faced it together.

But, That day, before P.E. Noah was sulking around the hall. Where everyone else was in class. But how can that be. I saw Genevie in the dressing room. After that Noah was with me the whole time. So, it's out of the question.

"Uh, jenny. You have your thinking face on." Noah looked a little worried.

"I do not."

"Yes you do. You're pressing your pinky nail between your your 2 canines and your brows are furrowed."

I remove my nail from the mouth. I've been told a lot of times that I do that. I tried to avoid it. Because it clearly gives away that I'm up to something.

'I was thinking about what agent Savvaro said. "

"What about it?"

"Everything."

I examine Noah for about a few seconds. Trying to find anything unusual in his face. I was in a dilemma whether to tell him what she said or not. Clearly he was not responsible. I was about to tell him everything when another thought struck me.

What if Genevie was already branded. She was not feeling well when I saw her. It was clearly possible. But how was she stuffed in the locker then?

OH MY GOD.

Just after the teams were selected, I looked for Noah. He wasn't there. he came up from behind me. Is it even possible?

"What's up with you?"

"What?" I say awkwardly.

"You're eyeing me like I am a specimen in biology lab."

"Sorry." I glance at the TV again. The case already ended.

"It's been stressful. Get yourself some rest. Remember, don't tell anyone." Noah slung his bag over his shoulder and reached for the door.

"Bye" I called after him.

I glance at the clock. It was almost dinner time. I should've told him to stay. But it would have been super awkward. I would've been eyeing him the whole time. That's when grandma comes in.

"Where's Noah? He didn't stay for dinner?"

"No. He left."

"Well you wash your hands and come eat." Granma went to arrange the table for us. Reluctantly I got up too.

***********************

I lay in my bed trying to recollect what happened that day. But every time it concludes in Noah. I know about psychology. It's happening because agent Savvaro made me think like that by providing a warning. I get up from the bed and bring out my laptop.

I type "Famous cults"

I scroll through the results. Branch Davidians Cult. The Mason Family Cult. Heaven's Gate Cult. Then I curse myself for thinking this might actually be a religious cult. But the symbol. When agent Savvaro brought out the pictures, it was still horrifying after dressing. The burn, the flesh. Whoever did this was ruthless.

I was about to close the window when an image caught my eye. The title said El Ankh o Cruz Ansada. The symbol was pretty close to the one burned on Genevie's wrist. But it was not quite that. It was an erect cross with a petal like figure as the upper arm. But the mark of Genevie bore an upside down cross with an infinity sign along the horizontal arm.

I type the name in Google hoping to find something.

The anj (ˁnḫ) (☥) is an Egyptian hieroglyph meaning "life", a symbol widely used in the iconography of this culture. It is also called ansada cross (cross with top in the form of oval, loop, handle or ansa), crux ansata in Latin, the "key of life" or the "Egyptian cross"

None of it makes any sense. Why would some Egyptian cult target Genevie. It's not like her family is from Egypt. Besides it's not necessarily a cult symbol. A hieroglyph meaning life. Then again, someone might use it as his symbol. Someone who would be interested in this type of symbols, mysteries, decipher. Clearly me. But who else?

Noah.

The more I try to get him out of this. The more he gets involved. I remember my one birthday he gave me The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. We found The 17th century Masonic language in it. It was so fun to use it. Only Noah and I knew it. Well after sometimes Jeremy insisted that we include him.

I was scared like hell when my laptop started beeping all on a sudden.

A Skype call. Jeremy. I took the call.

"Hey sis."

"Hey. You never call this late. Everything all right?"

"Everything is fine. I heard what happened at school. Why isn't it on the news? Something like this would have flooded the media on usual terms."

"Actually," I was about to tell him that they are trying to keep it low profile to find out who is responsible. Then I remember what agent Savvaro said. "They think it's a mishap. You know, senior prank. And I'm pretty sure they're suspecting one from our class."

"Owww. But why only students? Someone else might be involved. After all her dad was a lawyer. They make a lot of enemies."

I considered what he said. It can be a possibility. Then there can be a lot of suspects except Noah.

"Did Granma or Gramps tell you anything else?" I was half hoping they already told him about agent Savvaro. Then I'll be able to talk about it.

"Yeah. You are not going to soccer practice."

"I left the community practice, remember?" The community practice took up a lot of my time which left little for me to study. So I practiced only at school. "School practice starts Monday."

"You should tell that to Gramps. He thinks you might be on drugs or something."

Gramps. Always thinking the worst possible.

"Drugs are overrated." I sigh and roll my eyes.

"What else is new?"

"I made a new friend for surviving Physics."

"Who is it?"

"Skyler." I examine my nails to avoid eye contact.

"Woods? NO WAY. She's a total babe. I thought you hated babes." he started to laugh hard.

"I don't hate babes. It's like they want to hang out with other babes. But Skyler is nice. She's not the annoying kind. And she's pretty smart."

"Whatever you say. Wait a minute I hear a knock." he goes off the screen and I hear a low conversation.

Sierra!

Hey Jeremy. I wanted to give you a surprise. Hope I'm not interrupting anything.

I was just talking to my sis. Come say hi.

Jeremy comes back with a red head girl. She's petite, Angelina lips, straight long red hair. She has a warm aura which immediately gave away that I'm gonna love her.

"Jenny, this is my girlfriend Sierra."

"Hi, Sierra. You're so pretty."

"You're even prettier. I should've guessed. You're Jeremy's sister after all." She says with a genuine smile.

I blush.

"I'll go make some coffee. It was nice to finally meet you Jenny." She went off.

"Way to go Jer. She's so pretty."

"I know. It's a miracle she liked me back. I had a crush on her since we met." Jeremy checks for Sierra whether she's hearing or not.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You're dashing. After all you're my brother." I wink at him and he bursts out laughing.

"Yeah sis. You're a charmer."

I motion with my hand as fanning myself.

"I gotta run. Call me when you can. Love you."

"Love you too, Jer. Bye." I click end and I'm left alone with my thoughts again.