Part 4

Hey here's the next part! If you'd like to hear it narrated (by me) just tell me in the comments and I'll email it to you cause for some reason it won't post.

We stood there numbly the four of us, none of us wanting to break the silence.

“Well,” said Drew after what felt like hours. “We won’t get anything done just standing here. What’s first, I’d like to get this done as soon as possible.”

“Okay,” said Sam. “I can see a pulse coming from that building,” he pointed to a complex of shops and cafés.

“Why would it be in a little place like that?” I asked as we walked down the street towards it.

“It’s not just a place to grab a bite,” said Collin. He had taken out his smart phone and was tapping with a speed I didn’t think was possible.

“It’s a college,”

“That tiny little thing?” said Drew skeptically.

“That’s not big enough for a mall let alone a college!”

“Argosy University. It’s just a cheep place for an easy degree, they only offer: Psychology, Counselor Education, Criminal Justice, Business, Heath Science, Liberal Arts and Education. That last one doesn’t make sense,” he said, more to himself.

“It still doesn’t explain why a fragment of the Heaven’s gem would be in a place like that,” said Drew.

Collin shrugged “let’s just get it and get out, doesn’t matter how it got there.”

He strode confidently forward and we were all right behind him.

Inside, Argosy looked a lot more like a college. It was neat and clean, though small, the reception was open with only a few benches here and there. Collin walked up to the bored looking women at the desk. She was typing furiously on her computer and failed to notice us. Finally, after waiting a few minuets, Collin cleared his throat loudly.

“Can I help you?” Asked the woman still not looking away from her computer.

Collin had obviously not thought this part through all the way and looked back at us for help. Drew began miming to him and gesturing him forward. His face displayed only more confusion and finally Drew pushed him aside.

“We’re wondering about the school’s library, and in particular any artifacts belonging to it,” she said confidently.

“Are you enrolled here?” Asked the woman.

Drew seemed to consider for a moment then said, “no, but we’re looking into it. Like I said we were wondering about…”

“Access to study subjects is exclusive to students,” she said cutting across Drew. “Alright, thank you.”

I had no idea why Drew had thanked the woman, who hadn’t even done us the curtsy of looking at us… I caught Drew’s arm as she tried to go out the door. I motioned to the woman who was still engrossed in her computer. Drew nodded to show she understood and grabbed both Collin and Sam and started steering them past the desk to a door marked Students’ study room, Classes and Library. Thankfully they made no protest and we pushed the door open and went through while I kept an eye on the woman at the desk. It opened into a hallway of doors. We could hear teachers giving instructions behind each marked with a number. At the end of the hall there was a door marked Library, a girl pushed it open and came past us, glancing our way briefly.

“Wait,” I whispered to Drew thinking fast. “Go stop her, we’ll need someone who knows this place to help us find it.”

Collin stepped forward, “I’ve got this,” he said running his hand through his hair.

“Hey,” he called after her.

She turned “are you talking to me?”

“Yeah, I’m new here and I’m trying to find my way around.”

The girl raised her eyebrow as if she couldn’t believe the small school was confusing at all.

She sighed, “What are you trying to find?”

“An artifact, some kind of rock or crystal belonging to the college.”

She looked even more startled at this question.

Collin covered up his directness with another lie “I was supposed to do a report on minerals and I heard there’s a big one here.”

“Well I don’t know much about minerals but I think someone told you about the Acada.” “What’s that?” Said Sam.

The girl looked down at him, “you’re brother?” Collin was about to say “No!” But I cut in before he blew our cover, “yes, I’m his sister and this is our brother and our friend, also enrolled here.”

“I didn’t know we were allowed to bring family to the school,” she said.

“Well you learn something new every day,” said Collin quickly “we’re really in a hurry,  what were you saying about the Acada?”

“Right,” she said “It was found in 1947 by one of the people who started Argosy, I don’t remember his name, but he donated it shortly after the founding.”

“Can we see it?” I asked a little too enthusiastically.

“Of course, as long as you have your student ID’s with you.”

“Oh darn,” said Collin “I haven’t gotten mine yet. What about you Jess?”

I shook my head.

“We just started here,” said Drew.

“Well, I guess I could show you, I mean, if you really need it.”

“Thank you so much,” said Collin, giving her one of his most winning smiles. 

Part 3

Here's the next part!

We were all a little intimidated by her daunting declaration.

Sam stood first “why not?”

Collin and I stood at the same time, then looked at each other and grinned.

“We’re in,” he said for both of us.

“Well I can’t be passed up by you three punks,” said Drew smiling at us.

We took half a second to enjoy the moment, all of us united in a common cause. Finally feeling like a team.

“So, who’s going to be the one to make a life decision and be weak and destroy the dark side and whatever?”

We all looked at Sam as he said it.

“That, unfortunately, we cannot be sure of. Any one of the prophesied events could refer to any of you. It’s as frustrating as watching your favorite program only to have it be cancelled halfway through.”

I shared a look with Collin. I was recognizing more and more miss Heiden’s strange analogies.

“So, we won’t know until we go on this dangerous mission?” Asked Sam.

I wondered if I could detect a hint of fear in his voice.

“That is the deduction we reached,” professor Mason spoke for the first time.

“We have full confidence in the success of this mission.”

Yolo checked his phone, “we’d best be headin’ out.”

We all stood together.

“I’m sure the students have prepared a farewell,” said professor Mason “let’s not disappoint them by sneaking out before we’ve had breakfast.”

We walked down to the mess hall together, not speaking. I was sure everyone’s minds were spinning with the new information we had received. I myself couldn’t help but wonder who fit each line of the prophesy.

Professor Mason pulled the first glass door open and told us to wait until we had all assembled in the little room between the second set of doors.

“I must ask that you do not share any of the information you have just learned with your fellow students.” He seemed to look directly at Sam. “Although it may not seem clear to you, we kept that knowledge from you for a reason.”

We entered the breakfast room to see everyone waiting anxiously for our arrival. A banner that looked several years old had been strung up with the caption: Good Luck On Your Mission!

Everyone cheered when they saw us and I couldn’t stop a smile crossing my face, even when I noticed a few students huddled together whispering and glaring at us.

Professor Mason stood in front of the room and raised his hands for silence.

“Thank you all for joining us in wishing our four adventurers a successful mission. I’d like to take a moment to explain in part just what they hope to accomplish.

“As always, Feren has forced our hand into action. We will be sending one of each of the four branches out to locate the fragments of the Heaven’s gem.”

There complete silence throughout the room.

“As some of you know, the enchanted jewel shattered into eight pieces. The four’s goal,” he gestured to us, “will be to retrieve them. We are indeed fortunate that Drew, Collin, Jessica and Samuel have agreed to take on this mission. Now let us all now recite the well wish.”

Everyone chanted in unison: “May your fire’s burn bright, May the earth be kind, May the streams run smooth, May the winds be ever at your back.”

We waited the longest for Collin who had to say goodbye to each of his many friends separately. I wondered vaguely if one of the pretty girls he had spoken with had received an extra special farewell.

Professor Mason didn’t send us off with any profound words of wisdom, only that he had faith that we’d have a successful mission. To tell the truth I was more worried about coming home alive.

The school van turned out to be an old Volkswagen that had once been teal. I could tell every student that had ever been to the Academy had added something to the car. There was graffiti and stickers, lipstick stains and pieces of string tied on things. Even the tires had been spray painted four different colors. It was in surprisingly good shape for such an old model, except the back right-hand window, which was cracked. We piled into the back and Collin took the front passenger seat to help Emty with directions.

The Loop turned round in his seat and lowered his shades to see us better.

“Everyone got their stuff? Seatbelts on? Good, now sit tight ya never know what might happen in these parts.” And with that he started the engine and pulled out of the Academy’s main drive.