Harbinger (The Bleeding Worlds) by Stone Justus R

Author:Stone, Justus R. [Stone, Justus R.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Tags: Fiction & Literature
ISBN: 9780987743909
Publisher: Red Bucket Publishing
Published: 2012-10-28T04:00:00+00:00

16/ Places You Can't Go Back To

Fuyuko stood waiting for Gwynn at the corner of the school grounds. She gave an angry look at her watch.

“You’re late.”

“Sorry.” Gwynn huffed. He’d run all the way.

“He should still be inside. Come on.”

Gwynn scanned the grounds for any teachers or students who might notice him.

“You know I’m not supposed to be on school grounds during my suspension, right?”

Fuyuko shrugged. “This is more important.”

Gwynn followed Fuyuko into the school. Even though classes had ended just thirty minutes earlier, the halls were deserted.

“So who are we meeting?”

Fuyuko sighed. In that single gesture, Gwynn understood. She would not answer all his questions. Instead, she would take him to someone who could stomach the torrent of quandaries Gwynn had. She’s from Suture. He felt no doubt.

“We’re meeting someone who’s better equipped to answer your questions.”

There it was.

Gwynn followed her through the school. He found it odd how two days had passed, yet this place seemed like a relic from another lifetime. He’d never been comfortable here, but now he felt removed, above it. Why had he ever worried about the petty politics and social maneuvering? A world existed with things none of them had even begun to understand. But he had started to. He’d become a part of it. Not just that one, large world, but millions of worlds. A multitude of universes, opening wide for him to explore and draw strength from. This place was beneath him.

They came to an office door. Fuyuko knocked and waited. Gwynn stole a glance at the nameplate on the door.

“Mr. Baker? We’re here to see my English teacher?”

“He’s much more than that.” She said with a wink.

Fuyuko knocked again. After waiting another minute, she eased her ear toward the door. Her eyes and nose crinkled into an expression of puzzlement and she opened the door.

The office was empty.

Not just empty, deserted.

Fuyuko went behind the desk and started opening drawers. She moved from drawer to drawer, getting more flustered with each failure to find anything.

“I don’t understand.” Her voice filled with anxiety. “I just spoke to him. I was sure that’s why he was here. There…there’s nothing left. He hasn’t even left his teaching notes. Other than the name, it’s like he’s erased himself.” She spoke the last bit in an ever–quieting voice. Terror crossed her face. “No. Oh no.”

Someone cleared their throat behind Gwynn. He turned and found the principal, Mr. Davis, standing behind him.

“Students should not be in a teacher’s office unsupervised.” Mr. Davis said. Then he clamped his hand on Gwynn’s shoulder. “Especially students who are suspended.”

Mr. Davis’ voice started to change. It filled with the sounds of breaking stones and the finish of his sentence ended in a guttural growl. Gwynn stood transfixed. The man he had known changed. The skin in Mr. Davis’ shoulders bubbled and expanded. His face elongated and his teeth became jagged and too large for his mouth. The grip on Gwynn’s shoulder increased in pressure.

Gwynn grimaced in pain, much more and he expected his shoulder would snap.

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