Fly: A PORTAL Chronicles Novel (The PORTAL Chronicles) (3 page)

I froze, hoping he wouldn’t notice me. Though I stood far away, I didn’t know how fast a giant could close the distance and wasn’t about to find out.

“Sophie? Where are you?”

Be quiet. Oh, please. Be quiet. Can he hear her too?

In answer to my question, the giant must have heard the Voice for he stopped and looked around, his gaze landing on me. I trembled, waiting for his reaction.

Balling his fists, he took in a great expanse of air, opened his mouth wide and let out a horrifying bellow. The noise was deafening. I lost my balance as the earth shook beneath my feet. Cowering on the ground, I covered my ears, waiting for something dramatic to happen — like the whole world, or maybe just my head, to implode.

Finally running out of breath, the giant charged towards me, his breath producing great clouds of mist like an angry bull. I watched, frozen in fear.

“Sophie!” The Voice called, this time with great alarm. “Run! Sophie, run!”

Scrambling to my feet, I bounded away without direction or a plan, only knowing I needed escape, to get away as quickly as possible.

The giant trailed me, the vibrations of his heavy steps tripping me as he gained on me. I set my eyes ahead, pushing myself forward faster. The merciless wind stung my cheeks and my lungs burned for air, but I pressed on. Severely exhausted, I didn’t know how much further I could go.

A rumbling noise up ahead caught my attention. I approached a set of train tracks. The ground’s vibrations stopped and I turned to find the giant with his ear to the ground. Curious, I followed his lead, placing my face against the cold, musty earth. The rumbling was more distinct there. I tuned out my pain and fear, focusing all my senses on listening. The noise was getting louder and coming from somewhere to my right.

I looked down the tracks where, sure enough, a train approached. While it seemed like a run-of-the-mill steam engine, it charged ahead like it was on steroids, and in only a second, whizzed by inches from my face.

With a great gust, its force sent me sprawling backwards. I flew high into the air and then back towards the ground — the earth below growing closer and closer until…

Chapter 4

Bag Boy

“Sophie!”

A sharp pain pierced my cheek. My eyes shot open. I was in Gloria’s car with my head resting on the freezing passenger window. My cheek stung from the cold.

“Sophie, we’re here,” Gloria cooed, rubbing my arm. I blinked groggily. “You were in quite a deep sleep!” she laughed.

Rubbing my cheek, I looked out the window to my right. Brushing a thin layer of frost off with my hand, I peeked out.

It was dark outside. Large, tall streetlights bathed the scene in a torrent of yellow light, bleaching away any color. Under the monochromatic light, streams of people — I guessed all students and staff of Brightman — bustled into a large building like ants, their suitcases and crates in tow.

Parked along a curb, the stately building loomed at least five stories above us. It looked every bit like a beautiful fairytale castle with tall, cream stone walls giving way to a regal entryway of six columns.

“Wow,” I breathed, my breath re-frosting my peephole.

Gloria laughed. “Yeah, Brightman certainly evokes that response. That building is headquarters for the school. Someone there should be able to direct you to your room.”

A loud rapping noise made Gloria and I jump. She quickly rubbed the frost from her window and was startled to find eyes looking at her just beyond it. We both stared at the handsome face through her window like gaping, dumbfounded idiots. We must have looked the part as the boy the face belonged to eventually waved exaggeratedly and laughed, flashing an equally handsome smile.

“Need help with your bags?” he asked loudly through the window. Neither of us said a word, continuing to moronically stare. “Maaay I help you with yooour baaags?” he asked again, slowly enunciating each word.

Snapping from her stupor, Gloria rolled down her window. “Yes, that would be lovely!” she responded cheerily. “Thank you!”

“All in a days work,” he said, giving me a wink.

Realizing I was still staring, I clamped my mouth shut and looked away, causing the boy to chuckle.

“I’ll pop the rear hatch,” Gloria said to him. I opened my door. “Wait a sec!” Gloria grabbed my arm. She handed me a business card. “Here’s my contact information. If you need anything, I only live about twenty minutes from here. Whether you need a night away from school or just a good meal, please don’t hesitate to call.”

“Thanks,” I smiled, fingering the card’s dainty monogram of a V and an S, wondering what the initials stood for. “And thanks for the ride. I really appreciate it.”

“You’re most welcome, Sophie. I’m sure you’ll do great things here at Brightman,” she said, giving me one last hug.

Turning back towards my door, I took a deep breath before stepping out, immediately toppling sideways right in front of the gorgeous boy.

“Whoa!” He dropped my suitcase to catch me by the arm. “Are you okay?” he asked, setting me straight.

“Yeah, thanks,” I said, feeling my cheeks warm. “I didn’t realize my leg was asleep,” I lied.

Brushing a patch of dark hair from his eyes, he smiled making his green eyes dance. Suddenly self-conscious, I looked away, trying to control the monster butterflies invading my stomach. An awkward moment passed before the boy let go of me to return to unloading my bags.

Now fully exposed to this cold world of huge buildings, strangers, and a mysterious boy who oddly put me on edge, I missed the safety and warmth of the BMW and Gloria’s soothing presence. The chill soaked through my bones, sending an uncontrollable shiver through me.

“You’re not from around here are you?” the boy asked. He stood by my four suitcases, unabashedly watching me.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snapped, my voice coming off sharper than intended.

“Nothing.” He shrugged, unfazed. “I noticed you shiver.”

“Oh.”
Was he watching me? Is he flirting or just being nice?
I moaned as the gears in my overanalyzing brain began to whir. “Sorry. I’m a little crabby. I just woke up,” I explained, putting my hands to my cold cheeks.

“You’re not crabby, you have spunk. I like that in a girl.” He smiled.

Okay. That was definitely flirting.

Gloria groaned loudly, making me realize we had an audience. Not knowing how to respond, I changed the subject. “Is it usually this cold in September?”

“No. It got cold unusually early this year, so I hope you packed warm clothes. It’s supposed to snow next week.” I grimaced and he laughed. “Is this everything?” He gestured to my suitcases.

“Yeah,” I said, and he slammed the rear hatch shut.

“Bye, Sophie. Best of luck,” Gloria hollered as she pulled away.

“Thanks again,” I called.

“Your mom is pretty,” the boy said, so close I could feel the warmth of his body. “I can see where you get it from.”

“Her? She’s not my mom,” I corrected, stepping away. Only then did I realize he was flirting again and the correct response was a simple thanks. The fact that I hadn’t spent much time around kids my own age — much less boys — was painfully clear.

“Oh,” he shrugged.

I turned to look at the large building again. It seemed daunting and monstrous — a lot less whimsical and charming as from the confines of Gloria’s car. I suddenly missed Dad. Facing new situations was much easier with someone to share the experience with.

“Don’t be nervous. You’ll like it here,” the boy said, again standing too close. I could smell his cologne, sending a different sort of shiver through me. Noticing, he frowned. “You’re cold. Let’s get you inside.”

I stared after him as he rolled two of my suitcases into the line of ants making their way into the building. The scene before me was like clockwork: Car after car of students methodically unloading their luggage and dragging it towards two great doors that swallowed them up like a giant mouth. I gulped.

“Hey!” The boy was already halfway to the mouth. “You coming?”

I was gaping again. With a start, I grabbed my remaining luggage and raced to meet him. It turned out being swallowed by the mouth wasn’t so bad. The doorway opened to an inviting circular room overflowing with students.

The boy asked me something.

“Hmm?” I asked, distracted by the scene before me.

“What is your name?”

“Oh! Sophie,” I answered, flattered he’d asked. Though I didn’t know if it was proper flirting, I extended my hand to shake.

“Sophie what?” he impatiently asked, ignoring my hand.

“Oh! Um… Sophie Cohen,” I answered, confused.

Then and only then did I notice the rows of students lined up behind large signs reading A to C, D to F, G to I, and so on. Thrown by the boy’s flirtatiousness before, I thought he was asking out of interest, but of course a guy so cute couldn’t be interested in a boring bookwork like me. I blushed, embarrassed by my presumption.

“This way,” he said, taking off for the opposite side of the room.

I followed him, finding it hard to maneuver my suitcases through the swarm. Falling further and further behind, I finally lost him completely. Where had he gone? He had my bags! I stood in place and was about to panic when I heard him.

“Sophie!” He wildly waved his arms some yards ahead. Relief flooded me as I reached him. “You’ve got to keep up,” he snapped.

“Excuse me?” My relief wilted.
“You
left
me!”

He looked appalled by my insinuation. “Maybe you would have seen where I went if you weren’t daydreaming.”

I gasped. Why was this gorgeous stranger boy being so rude? Had I imagined him flirting with me outside just moments ago? Who did this kid think he was? With great effort, I held my tongue, though I saw no problem allowing my eyes to speak what my mouth couldn’t.

He took off again, this time looking over his shoulder every so often to make sure I was still behind him. When not glancing at me, he looked around nervously. I looked around too, wondering what he was looking for, his apparent anxiety wearing on my already-frazzled nerves.

We soon reached the end of the “A to C” line only to silently stand with our arms crossed as we progressed at a snail’s pace. Bored, I watched the boy as he repeatedly scanned the crowds around us and glanced at his watch. After about an hour, I caved, unable to take the silence anymore.

“Hurry up and wait, huh?” I offered. He ignored me. I was ready to write him off as a rude dolt but gave him the benefit of the doubt. I later tried, “Thanks for your help. It would have been hard to maneuver all four suitcases over here without you.” He glanced at me and shrugged before going back to scanning the room in his weird, fidgety way. Okay. So he was a total jerk after all. “Know what? You don’t have to wait in line with me. I can get it from here.”

“It’s okay,” he responded without looking at me.

I sighed, agitated. Bluntness wasn’t my style, but this guy clearly wasn’t getting it. “No really. I got it,” I said, wheeling the suitcases nearest him closer to me. “Have a good night.”

He took the suitcases back. “I said I’m fine staying.” I looked at him incredulously. “What’s that look for?” he asked.

“Sorry, but you’re creeping me out and I’d like to be left alone.”

“Creeping you out?” He laughed. “I can’t leave. Dr. Smitherson told me to look out for you.”

I frowned. “So you know about that?”

“Yeah.”

“And yet we’re here.”

“He instructed me to get you registered and escort you to your room,” he explained.

“Well, my dad talked to him this morning and told me I was to find him first thing upon getting here. Our stories aren’t exactly lining up. I’d like to see him now.”

“Do you know where he is?”

“No.”

“So you’re stuck with me,” he said, haughtily. I scoffed. “Look, it’s not like I want to be here any more than you do. I wasn’t supposed to be here tonight. I got stuck minding to you because Smitherson got held up with more important things.” I gasped from the sting of his words. “That came out wrong. I didn’t mean it like that. I meant—”

“You’ve clearly said enough,” I interrupted. “If we’re
stuck
waiting together,” I said, turning his words on him, “let’s continue doing so silently.”

“You’re mad at me.” An amused smile hinted at the corners of his mouth, only further infuriating me.

“Silence, remember?” I reminded him with a cold glare.

“I never agreed to that,” he smugly replied.

I groaned, wanting to be as far away from this lunatic as possible. “Which way is Dr. Smitherson’s office?”

“I already told you what my orders are and I’m not supposed to let you out of my sight, so no can do.”

“You’ve already failed then, haven’t you?” I shot back. “Might as well quit while you’re ahead.”

He frowned. “I think we got off on the wrong foot.”

“Clearly.”

“What can I do to make things up to you?” he asked.

“Find Dr. Smitherson.”

He sighed. “What can I do besides that?”

I was ready to blow. “The man was integral in me getting admitted here on short notice and I’d like to personally thank him. I’d hate to put you out since you’re already stuck babysitting me and all, but if you’d please check, I’d really appreciate it.”

I couldn’t read whether his face told of anger or amusement. He pursed his lips in thought, holding my gaze for a time with his stupid mesmerizing eyes. “Fine. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you!”

Leaving, he added with a smile, “But don’t go anywhere. We both know you have a propensity for getting lost.”

Chapter 5

Cock Fight

I waited alone as the line continued to creep forward. I wondered what was taking so long. Forty-three people were in front of me, meaning if each person took only one minute to register, I’d be in line for another forty-three minutes.

My stomach groaned in protest. Hungry and tired, I was not in the mood to wait anymore. As well, the room had grown chilly as the two heavy doors of the mouth were still propped open and most of the body-heat-providing students had registered and left. I clutched myself tighter.