Angel of Fire - the Breath of Immortality - Book One #Wattys2014

Newbie

 Chapter 3 - Newbie

At first I thought I was dreaming – engulfed in murky images of golden light that felt more like a gentle caress – until a deep voice sounding as if it came from away penetrated the silence.

“Chaos, can you hear me?” the voice inquired with a general lack of concern.

Drifting back to reality, I gradually became aware of my surroundings. Realization that my body laid all sprawled out on the floor, and the reason why, came flooding back to me. My breath hitched as both eyes flew open. Scrambling to get away from my attacker, I kicked off with both feet in one swift motion, causing my back to skid briefly along the floor in a backwards motion, until my head crashed into the bottom edge of a row of lockers.

“Ouch!” I wasn’t dreaming. The pain was real.

“Are you okay?” This question from a female.

Why do people insist on asking such stupid questions? If I’m passed out on the floor, do you really think I’m okay?

“Yeah,” I grumbled. It wasn't worth arguing about. Besides, what did she expect me to say? I just felt like taking a nap.

Shaking the remaining cobwebs from my brain, I finally recognized the first voice. I also knew it didn’t belong to a teenager. It had way too much authority. Gee, I wasn't sure which was worse; passing out at school after being attacked, or being discovered by the Punisher. I decided it was a toss up.

“Don’t try to get up too fast,” Mr. Gonzer insisted.

“I’m okay,” I lied. Ignoring him, I sat up anyway – hands skipping nervously over my body as I checked for injuries. No obvious broken bones. Neck still in tact. And when I held up my hands, I wasn't covered in blood. Bonus!

Free of injuries with just one tiny exception. My head hurt like hell.

Ever so hesitantly, I swung my gaze left then right, searching the hallway for my assailant. Thankfully, Beastie was gone.

I realized only then that I'd been holding my breath and exhaled deeply. With my over active senses still on high alert, I wanted...no, scratch that...I needed to know whether or not Beastie was coming back. I hated surprises.

Mr. Gonzer cleared his throat. I glanced up for the first time to see him standing next to some girl I didn’t know. Unless I’d hit my head harder than I thought.

I snuck a peak at her again.

Nope, definitely didn’t know her. Lovely. As if passing out wasn’t bad enough, I had to be found by a newbie. This day just keeps getting better and better.

I smiled up innocently at Gonzer as if it was normal to find me lying on the floor when I was supposed to be in class. But judging between the flint hard look in his steel-gray eyes – not to mention the frown tugging at the corners of his mouth – he wasn’t buying my act.

Geez, what was it gonna take to get a little sympathy around here?

“Let me help you,” Mr. Gonzer said in a tight voice, thrusting one perfectly sculpted arm in my face. For a school principal, he was pretty ripped. But for a human, he had about as much compassion as a rock. Or maybe he was still pissed from our last encounter. Either way, I definitely didn't want him touching me.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” He didn't make it a question so much as a demand.

I considered telling him the truth and then realized how it would sound. "A guy that used to go to our school and who, by the way, is no longer alive – but still breathing ferociously – just tried to make me dead."