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.