Lee Williams

The man led Jane, Aria, and Thorne down a series of narrow, brightly lit hallways. The trio followed hesitantly, their footsteps muffled against the polished tile floors. The walls were lined with bulletin boards covered in papers and colorful decorations they couldn't read. Occasionally, a few students passed by, their eyes widening at the sight of the strangers.

"Where's he taking us?" Thorne whispered, his voice low and tinged with suspicion.

"I think it's somewhere important," Aria replied, glancing at Jane. "Should we even be following him?"

Jane gave a small shrug. "Not like we have many options."

The man finally stopped in front of a door marked with unreadable letters. He knocked twice before pushing it open and gesturing for them to enter. Jane hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside, with Aria and Thorne close behind.

The office was modest but neat, with a large wooden desk at its center. Behind it sat a man who immediately commanded attention. Principal O'Gassery wasn't a small man by any means. Standing roughly six-foot-four and weighing around 250 pounds, his presence alone filled the room. His attire was unassuming—just a plain button-down shirt and slacks—but the way he carried himself made it clear he was someone not to be trifled with. His sharp eyes scanned the newcomers with an intensity that made Thorne take a step back.

O'Gassery leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, and clasped his hands together. "Who are these three?" he asked, his deep voice rumbling through the room.

The man who had brought them began to speak, his words still incomprehensible to the trio. Jane, Aria, and Thorne exchanged nervous glances, their inability to understand the language becoming more frustrating by the second.

O'Gassery raised an eyebrow as he listened, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied them. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, the wooden frame creaking under his weight. "You three look like you've been through hell," he said, his tone blunt but not unkind.

Jane could only guess what he had said, but the weight of his gaze made her uneasy. Aria shifted uncomfortably, her hand brushing against Jane's arm. "Do you think they're going to arrest us?" she whispered.

"I don't know," Jane muttered back, trying to keep her voice steady. "Just stay calm."

O'Gassery seemed to catch the nervousness in their demeanor. He gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk, his expression softening slightly. "Sit down," he said, though none of them understood the words. When they didn't move, he motioned again, this time more insistently.

Jane cautiously stepped forward and sat down, her companions following her lead. O'Gassery leaned forward again, his sharp gaze fixed on them. "Let's figure out who you are and what you're doing here," he said, more to himself than to anyone else.

The room fell into a tense silence, broken only by the sound of a clock ticking on the wall. Jane clenched her fists in her lap, her mind racing as she tried to think of a way to communicate. What do we do now? she thought, her heart pounding as O'Gassery continued to study them.

Principal O'Gassery reached into a small glass bowl on his desk, pulling out a piece of candy. He unwrapped one for himself and popped it into his mouth, then held the bowl out toward Jane, Aria, and Thorne.

Jane blinked, unsure of what to do, but Thorne eagerly reached forward, grabbing one and grinning. "Thanks, big guy," he muttered, though he knew the man couldn't understand him. Aria followed suit, cautiously taking a piece, while Jane hesitated for a moment before accepting.

O'Gassery leaned back in his chair, watching them with a faint smile. "Well, at least you're not shy," he said, though his words were meaningless to them. He tapped his fingers on the desk thoughtfully. They're definitely not locals. Foreign students? Maybe exchange students?

He reached into a drawer and pulled out a blank sheet of paper and a pen. Sliding it across the desk, he gestured toward it. "Names. Write your names and contacts," he said slowly, his tone calm and encouraging.

Jane exchanged a glance with Aria, who shrugged. Taking the pen, Jane scribbled her name carefully in her native script. She passed the paper to Aria, who added her name, followed by Thorne, whose handwriting was large and a bit clumsy. They slid the paper back to the principal.

O'Gassery picked it up, his brow furrowing as he examined the unfamiliar characters. He flipped the paper over as if looking for a hidden message, then chuckled softly. "Well, that's definitely not English," he said, shaking his head. He set the paper down and glanced around the room, his eyes landing on a bulletin board covered with flyers.

He stood and gestured for them to follow. Jane, Aria, and Thorne rose hesitantly, exchanging confused looks but trailing behind him. O'Gassery led them to the bulletin board and pointed at a brightly colored flyer advertising language classes. The words meant nothing to them, but the small illustrations of books and students holding pencils gave them a vague idea of its purpose.

O'Gassery tapped the flyer and then pointed toward a door at the far end of the hallway. "Class," he said firmly, mimicking the act of writing in the air.

Jane tilted her head, unsure of what he meant, but nodded politely. Aria frowned, leaning toward Jane. "Do you think he's sending us to a school?" she whispered.

Thorne scratched his head. "Beats standing around. Let's just follow him."

The principal started walking again, gesturing for them to come along. The trio reluctantly followed, still uncertain of what was happening but understanding they had little choice. The hallway grew quieter as they approached the door, the faint murmur of voices audible from the other side.

O'Gassery opened the door, stepping inside and gesturing for them to follow. The group hesitated briefly before stepping into what appeared to be a classroom filled with students their age. All eyes turned toward them, and Jane's heart sank as she realized they were now the center of attention.

Principal O'Gassery leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes never leaving the trio. After a moment of consideration, he exhaled heavily and rubbed his temples. "Foreign exchange students," he muttered to himself, as if trying to make sense of the situation.

He straightened up, fixing his gaze on the man who had brought them in. "I'm guessing they don't speak English?" he asked, though his tone suggested he already knew the answer. The man shook his head and muttered something incomprehensible to the trio. O'Gassery nodded thoughtfully, his lips pressing into a thin line.

"Well, I suppose they're here for some sort of program," he said, mostly to himself. He glanced back at Jane, Aria, and Thorne, who were still sitting stiffly in the chairs, their expressions ranging from confusion to cautious curiosity.

Clearing his throat, he continued, his tone more deliberate as if addressing the trio directly. "Foreign exchange students. Don't quite know your names yet, but that's fine. We'll figure it out. In the meantime," he gestured vaguely to the room around them, "you're going to learn English. Or at least enough to get by."

Jane, Aria, and Thorne exchanged glances, still unable to understand his words but picking up on the tone. Aria leaned closer to Jane, whispering, "What's he saying?"

Jane shook her head slightly. "Not sure, but it sounds like he's… trying to help?"

Principal O'Gassery tapped his desk with his knuckles, drawing their attention back to him. He gave them a small, almost awkward smile, as though trying to reassure them. "We'll get this sorted. Just a little patience, alright?" His voice was steady, carrying an air of authority that made it clear he expected cooperation.

He gestured toward a bookshelf lined with colorful binders and textbooks, then back to them. "Step one, you learn English. Step two, we figure out where exactly you're supposed to be."

Thorne blinked, his brows furrowing as he whispered to Jane, "Is he saying we're in the wrong place?"

"I think he's saying he wants to help us," Jane muttered back, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Principal O'Gassery leaned forward again, folding his hands on the desk. "You might not understand me now, but you will soon enough," he said with a firm nod. "Welcome to Lee Williams High School, kids. Let's make this work."

The man who had escorted them in chuckled lightly, muttering something in agreement. O'Gassery motioned for him to step out for a moment. Once the man was gone, the principal turned his full attention back to the trio. His expression softened, his voice dropping to a more conversational tone.

"We'll start small," he said, pointing to a notepad on his desk. He scribbled down a few simple English words, holding the paper up for them to see. "This is 'hello.' Say it with me. 'Hello.'"

Jane tilted her head, catching on to the gesture but not understanding the sound. Aria and Thorne stared at the paper, their expressions a mixture of confusion and intrigue.

"Baby steps," O'Gassery said, setting the paper down with a patient smile.

The principal stood from his desk and gestured toward a whiteboard in the corner of the room. He grabbed a marker and began writing in bold, clear letters: "HELLO." Turning back to the group, he smiled and said, "This is where we'll start."

Jane, Aria, and Thorne exchanged confused glances before Jane leaned closer to the whiteboard, studying the letters. The principal pointed to the word and repeated it slowly: "Hello."

Jane tried to mimic the sound, though it came out awkwardly. "H-hello?"

"That's it," O'Gassery said encouragingly, nodding. "You're getting it."

The trio spent hours in the office as the principal worked with them. He broke down simple words and gestures, demonstrating their meaning as patiently as he could. Despite the language barrier, his enthusiasm was evident. The group, though hesitant at first, began to mimic the sounds he made, slowly grasping the concept of basic greetings.

By the end of the day, they had managed to understand and say just one word: "Hello."

As the principal packed up for the day, he glanced at the trio, who looked both exhausted and overwhelmed. "You'll get there," he said, though they didn't understand. "It's a start."

The group stepped out of the office and into the cool evening air. The fading sunlight bathed the school grounds in a warm glow, but the trio's relief was short-lived. They looked at one another, realization dawning simultaneously.

"We don't have anywhere to go," Jane muttered, the weight of their predicament sinking in.

Thorne shrugged, his usual carefree demeanor faltering. "We'll figure it out," he said, though even he didn't sound convinced.

Principal O'Gassery approached them, holding up his keys. He gestured toward the parking lot, speaking in a calm and friendly tone. The group hesitated, unsure of his intentions, until he motioned for them to follow.

Walking into the parking lot, the trio froze as they saw him stop next to a massive, rumbling machine unlike anything they'd ever seen. The shiny black vehicle gleamed under the setting sun, its upgraded exhaust growling softly as O'Gassery unlocked the doors.

"What… is that?" Aria whispered, her eyes wide with both curiosity and fear.

"It's like a mechanical beast," Thorne added, stepping back cautiously.

Jane couldn't take her eyes off the vehicle. It was massive, powerful, and utterly foreign to her. She instinctively grabbed Aria's arm. "I think it's safe," she said uncertainly. "He wouldn't have helped us if he wanted to hurt us… right?"

The principal opened the passenger doors and motioned for them to climb in. "Come on," he said, his voice kind but firm. "I'll take you somewhere safe."

The trio exchanged nervous glances before cautiously climbing into the Chevy Silverado 1500. The interior smelled faintly of leather and motor oil, and the deep growl of the engine as it started made Aria flinch. Thorne, ever curious, leaned forward and poked at the dashboard.

Jane sat rigid in her seat, her hands gripping the edge of her knees. "What have we gotten ourselves into?" she muttered under her breath.

As the truck roared to life and pulled out of the parking lot, the trio could only hope they had made the right choice.

The drive was tense, the three of them sitting silently in the backseat as Principal O'Gassery maneuvered the truck through the dimly lit streets. The hum of the engine was the only sound breaking the stillness, and each bump in the road made Jane clutch her seat tighter. She glanced at Aria and Thorne, who were equally on edge, though Thorne's expression had an unmistakable hint of curiosity.

Aria whispered, leaning closer to Jane, "Do you think he's taking us somewhere safe?"

Jane shrugged, her eyes locked on the faint glow of the truck's dashboard. "I don't know. But he hasn't hurt us yet. We just have to trust him for now."

Thorne leaned forward slightly, his voice low. "This thing… moves faster than any carriage or beast I've ever seen. It's amazing. I wonder how it works."

Jane shot him a look. "Now's not the time for that, Thorne."

The truck slowed as O'Gassery turned onto a quiet suburban street. Rows of modest houses lined the road, their windows glowing faintly with the warmth of evening lights. Children's toys were scattered across neatly trimmed lawns, and the occasional dog barked in the distance. The scene was strange to them—familiar in a way that reminded them of their villages back in Elakia, but alien in its structure and style.

The truck came to a stop in front of a single-story house with pale yellow siding and a dark brown roof. O'Gassery killed the engine and turned to face them, his expression calm and reassuring. He gestured toward the house, saying something they couldn't understand but which sounded welcoming.

"He wants us to follow," Jane guessed, her voice uncertain.

O'Gassery opened his door and stepped out, walking around to open theirs. The trio hesitated for a moment before following him out. The cool evening air was a relief after the stifling tension in the truck, and Jane took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.

The principal led them up a short walkway to the front door, unlocking it with a quick turn of his key. He held the door open and gestured for them to enter. Inside, the house was cozy and modest, with a living room that smelled faintly of coffee and books. A small kitchen was visible to the left, and down a hallway to the right were several closed doors.

O'Gassery pointed down the hallway, saying something while gesturing for them to follow. He led them to a small guest room at the end of the hall. Inside was a single bed, a dresser, and a small nightstand with a lamp. It was simple but clean, and Jane felt a small wave of relief at the sight.

He motioned to the room and said a few words, his tone warm. Then he pointed at himself, mimed driving the truck, and gestured toward the door. He was clearly trying to tell them something, but the language barrier left them guessing.

"He's leaving," Aria said, her voice tinged with unease.

Jane nodded. "Probably to get something. Clothes, maybe?"

O'Gassery clapped his hands together once, offering a small smile before turning and walking back down the hall. The sound of the front door closing and the truck's engine roaring to life signaled his departure.

The three of them stood in the small room, the silence stretching between them. Finally, Thorne broke it with a low whistle. "Well, this is… unexpected."

Aria sank onto the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumping. "What are we even doing here? This place—this world—it's nothing like Elakia. How are we supposed to find him?"

Jane leaned against the wall, crossing her arms tightly. Her gaze was distant as she muttered, "We'll find him. We have to."

Her voice was steady, but her heart was pounding. She didn't know if she was reassuring herself or the others, but she held onto the hope that this was just another trial they'd have to face. And that somewhere, somehow, Changra was waiting for them.