Chapter 28

Ren

What were they talking about, were they talking about me? He did not have to make such a scene, the way I looked at him when he stood up. I know everyone saw it. Everyone knows. All of the whispering. I can hear it, I can't make out what they're saying above the ringing in my ears. Did he only do it to embarrass me? I despise showing vulnerability. Sometimes, I believe he really is just toying with everyone's emotions. Emotions are so inconvenient, and I have managed to disconnect myself from most of them but, when it comes to the notorious Arthur James Collins, I cannot disconnect. It is truly, annoying. And it hampers my performance. Emotions. Whose idea was that anyway? Who in the world would decide to create anything so…inconvenient?

I look up from my blank phone screen to see a tall, military profession man walk into the classroom. He has jet black hair, slicked back with gel no doubt. He has very white teeth considering he is a smoker, at least, I am led to believe he is, judging by the tobacco stains on his fingers. He probably gets them whitened, his teeth. He seems like someone I want to be rid of. Just another person to hear all their whispering. He speaks but I cannot make out the words, the ringing is too loud. I cannot focus. I need to find something, anything to distract myself. The name on his jacket reads Darren Delmonico. That sounds like a stage name…. I unlock my phone and head straight for the dark web, searching in Darren Delmonico. I find nothing. That is impossible, unless…. I begin trying to find everything I possibly can on Darren Delmonico in military servers. But I still find nothing. He does not exist. Not even a record for a name change. No talk of him on the dark web at all. I raise my hand and look 'Darren Delmonico' directly in the eye, he can tell that I know something. Darren smiles. "Yes my ginger friend?" he says. I glare at him and ask my question, I dislike the way his eyes are boring into mine. Does he think he can intimidate me? "May I speak to you in private after your dull seminar?" his smile grows wider and he shrugs "Of course, Ren." I keep my gaze locked on his. Not showing any surprise at the fact that he knows my name. Knowing of his lack of existence on the internet, nothing he knows nor anything he does, can possibly surprise me.

After he finishes his speech he gestures for me to walk out with him. he closes the door behind us

"Whadda'ya need son?" he says, arms crossed over his chest.

"Who are you?" I glare, he rolls his eyes "Darren Delmonico, can't you read?" he sounds bored. I stare at the stranger,

"Your boy AJ asked me the exact same thing."

"What else do you know about us?"

"that depends," he shrugs "Do you mean 'us' as in you and AJ or 'us' as in you, AJ, Amora, and the one you so fondly call Raven?"

I sigh, still not surprised at his knowledge. Though he seems to be trying extremely hard to throw me off. He rolls his eyes once more, it's becoming very monotonous and annoying.Everyone I know rolls their eyes. Why don't they find a new gesture. As I wait for his response I am looking past him and my eyes rest on AJ. Standing up against a locker with something that looks slightly incriminating… he would never smoke a cigarette, so I am assuming it is a joint. And in the blink of an eye, my worry for him comes back at full force, I had managed to tone down most of it, hidden behind my irrational anger, I know my reaction to this stranger is unjustified. I just need something else to focus on, I need to gather new information. I will do anything to get it. Though now, seeing AJ take a long drag off of the joint reminds me that he only turns to drugs when his emotional turmoil is too 'loud' as he calls it. He uses them to quiet the noise raging through his head. We make eye contact and I see how helpless he feels, how guilty. I glare at him a gesture for him to put the joint out. He complies with reluctance. He walks over to me, glaring at Darren before saying a word to me.

"Can I talk to you? After…whatever this is?" he shoots a look at Darren once more.

He returns the look with a smile, "AJ so nice to see you again" He says as his smile falls, and he rolls his eyes yet again. Causing me to roll my own and scoff.

"Dull."

AJ knows it is about Darren's attitude. I look AJ in the eye, "Whatever could there be to talk about? Obviously nothing has changed"

"It's not that simple…"

When I look down at the ground and shake my head he stops, knowing I do not want to hear a single word of his excuse, at least, not right now.

"I'm sorry."

He says, leaving it hanging in the air between us as he looks at me with solemn eyes. I stare into them, and I hope I am not giving my true feelings away when I say "Sorry for what? Your inability to put aside fear? Fear is such a useless emotion, why can't you see that!" AJ sighs and I can tell by the shift in energy, Darren is growing impatient. He moves to walk away but I quickly grab him by the arm and yank him up against the lockers.

"We are not done here." I snarl at him. I look at AJ "If you insist on speaking to me about such a childish thing, do it later. I am busy."

AJ's eyes bore into mine, his look morphing from pleading to caution.

"Ren. Calm down. Do you really want this to happen now? here? Think about what happened last time. Two kids were hospitalized. Do you remember?"

I clench my jaw and dig my fingers deeper into the flesh of Darren's arm. I smile as I hear him wince in pain.

"Of course I remember AJ, how could I forget? We were in eighth grade, their names were Molly and Jennifer, the two girls who had been harassing me for being so small. That was before I hit my growth spurt, of course. And as I recall, I quite enjoyed hurting them. So. To answer your early questions; yes, I would love to have my 'psychotic break', as you call it, right here in this hallway. Potentially hospitalizing Darren here and, also likely, you. Being as you are the main point of my irritation. Always. So I suggest you simply walk out of this school and find me later after I am done chatting with our friend here."

I narrow my eyes at Darren, focusing my attention back on him. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes." I shove him into the lockers once more "Who. Are you?" I grind my teeth. I see blood bloom across the sleeve of his jacket and watch it thoughtfully. The stranger pales ever so slightly but shows no other indication of his knowledge. I dig my thumb deeper into the wound I have made. And look him right in the eyes, any amusement off of my face. "This." I begin digging my fingers in more "Won't stop, until you explain." He just stares at me, as if my strength and instability does not ruffle him the slightest bit. This tells me that he was expecting as much from me. Even his lack of response tells me more information about him.

"Oh I see." I say to him vehemently. "You've been trained for this, haven't you Darren?" He looks me in the eye " I'm not scared of you England." I tighten my grip at his arrogance.

"You are a war man, a marine at that. Of course you are not afraid of a 17 year old boy. However, I'm sure you know me for a reason. Which means you must know what I'm capable of. A man like you wouldn't go into such a risky mission unless he knew as much as possible. All I want is for you to tell me what you know."