Ni'il: The Awakening

“Hi,” A young girl smiled at him through a mouthful of braces. “What can I get for you?” He ordered a soda and waited while the girl dispensed it from the fountain. “You're the Chief of Police, aren't you?” Dan nodded. “Guilty.” The girl giggled and waited for the foam to subside on his drink. Dan watched her, smiling. The girl was probably sixteen, or seventeen. She could have been quite beautiful, and probably would once she got used to her own sexuality. Her hair was thick and curly, her body curved in all the right places and with the firmness of youth. Right now though, she wore too much make-up and her miniskirt and sweater were a touch too tight. With age would come subtlety. Maybe. “Should I know you?” “You gave a speech to my class last year,” the girl said and set the paper cup of soda on the counter. “On drugs.” Dan gave her his money. “Was it any good?” She shrugged and gave him his change. “It was okay. I already knew most of the stuff you talked about.” “Oh well,” he said. “At least I didn't put you to sleep.” She giggled again. He thanked her and stepped outside to take a quick look around the school. The night was calm and starless, absolutely quiet but for the muffled cheers from the gymnasium and the distant rumble of surf. He could smell sea salt and popcorn. The sidewalk led around the side of the gymnasium and he followed it, walking casually, neither slow nor hurried. He sipped his cola and scanned the parked cars and dark buildings for anything unusual. He'd found through experience that the unusual was usually easiest to spot and unusual for a reason. He rounded the back of the building. The sidewalk ended and he found himself walking across asphalt that was both the access road and parking lot for the teaching staff when school was in session. School, however, was not in session and the parking areas were empty. The calm darkness was peaceful, if a little spooky. Even in adulthood, he had not outgrown the feeling that the school was supposed to be full of young voices. He had spent many hours among these buildings. Seeing it dark and empty felt like a Twilight Zone episode where everyone else on the planet had been killed. As he passed between the main building and the dark mass of the shop building on his left, a furtive movement caught his eye. It was unusual. There was no legitimate reason for anyone to be back here His senses went on high alert, but he did not change his pace or attitude. He continued past the spot where he'd seen the motion and used his peripheral vision to examine it more closely. Again, he saw motion, a shadowy silhouette ducking behind the back of the building. Someone was trying to hide from him. He kept his pace even and nonchalant until the neighboring music building hid him from the suspect's sight. Then, as quickly and quietly as possible, he slipped next to the wall of the music building and doubled back until he was almost at its edge. A security fence ran along the back side of the buildings. If the suspects wanted to escape, and they thought he had kept going, they would emerge from between the buildings. They had nowhere else to go. He could probably reach out and grab them. For a few moments, he heard and saw nothing. He waited. Then, came soft footsteps from around the corner. Approaching. He readied himself. It was probably just some kids sneaking a beer, or a joint, but it could just as easily be a burglar or vandal. The footsteps reached the edge of the music building and stopped just around the corner. They must want to double check that Dan had really kept going. He stayed where he was, pressed flat against the wall. When in doubt, let the other guy make the first move. Laughter. Deep bass laughter sounded from around the corner. They, he, was laughing! Something about it made his flesh crawl and the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. “Ni'ilshanla,” A voice pronounced. He knew he was there. Dan fumbled for the small pistol he wore on his belt. With the pistol gripped in tight in both hands, Dan leaped away from the wall and around the corner. “Police! Hands where I can . . .” No one was there. He quickly scanned the area between the buildings, then carefully moved up to check behind both the Shop and the Music building. No one was there either. He was alone. He lowered his pistol and leaned back against the wall of the music building. His hands were shaking and his heart pounding. Had he imagined the whole thing? Somehow, he found that hard to believe. He was not prone to hallucinations, at least he hadn't been in the past. But how else could he explain what he'd seen and heard with what he'd found when he'd rounded the corner? He had no idea.