The Next Page 3

The class instantly went into an uproar as soon as Principal Bells left the class. Lincoln, for his part, was not in the mood to make noise. He hardly ever was, though, being one of the ‘underdogs’, with not so cool powers. In this school, the underdogs tried to curry favour with the students with ‘better’ powers, but Lincoln never did.

Unfortunately, this was seen as pride, both on the part of the more elite students and the underdogs. As a result, Lincoln often found himself the subject of pranks and jokes, and could count on one hand the number of people who were even willing to talk to him, let alone be his friend.

Suddenly, he noticed someone standing in front of his desk. It was Dru. Alex stood off to one side, a little way behind her. She was dressed in all black, and her face was a mask of impassivity tinged with slight irritation. “Paper Tiger, is it?” she drawled.

“The name’s Lincoln,” he replied. “Need anything?”

“No,” came the reply, “just wanted to see if you were as stupid as the rumors go.”

Lincoln scowled. “And what have you seen?”

Dru did not reply. Instead, she looked at the large clock situated on the wall over the whiteboard and said, “two hours till city-keeping. We’ll meet at the library. I’m sure you’ll like it.”

Two hours later, Neon’s team was assembled at the city library, where Lincoln saw a sight that made his heart drop. The three most prospective students were lounging at the door, most likely waiting for them to arrive. Mack and his lackeys.

Lincoln set his face straight and tried to march past them, but Mack blocked his path. “What’s the hurry, Paper-mache?” he asked, a stupid grin on his face. Lincoln made no answer. Mack’s right-hand man, Brendan, stepped up and jabbed Lincoln, sending an electric current into the silent boy.

Lincoln yelped and spun on Brendan, rage apparent on his features. “Careful, dweeb,” said Ania, Mack’s henchwoman, crossing her arms with a cool smile. “You know what happens to paper when it gets wet.”

Lincoln remembered the water that had drenched him awake hours ago in class, and he knew it was Ania’s doing. Which only served to make him seethe more.

“Cool off, Lincoln,” Dru said blandly, pushing past the enraged boy, so that she was standing face-to-face with Mack. “Don’t you clowns have a city to protect that you’d be wasting time at the library?”

“I’ll do what I want, vampire-girl,” he shot back, verbally poking at her rather pale skin contrasted with dark choice of clothes.

“Fine, fine,” Dru sighed. “It’s just that I can’t see why you’d be at a place that will do you no good, seeing libraries are of no use to the illiterate.”

A jet of water struck Dru from behind, followed by a quick bolt of electricity. Alex, unsure of what to do, stood still, while Lincoln clenched his fists and advanced towards Brendan. But Dru raised a hand, and, to the surprise of everyone, chuckled.

“Touché, alpha dorks, touché.” So saying, she marched stiffly into the library. Alex and Lincoln had no other choice but to follow her, to the laughter of the three bullies.

To be continued...

Thanks for coming!

That little boy,

@pearlumie