Capítulo 3: Corey's Forceful Invite
It was already seven o'clock and iron-clad man by the name of Corey planted its roots. He stood there, waiting for him outside his apartment. Wandering eyes gawked at the cherry blond giant stopped outside his front door. Curtis already gotten enough unwanted attention from his neighbors, he didn't want another reason. "There's no rush Curtis, so take your time," Corey shouted from behind the door.
There was no real rush, but he was rushed. Curtis let out a sigh from under his breathtaking another look at his workspace. Papers of recent incidents piled at the corner of his desk, along with many other photos. This was his personal space where he couldn't get done at the office. For one night he was going to go somewhere that didn't revolve around work. He did need the rest after all. It's not like he had any additional materials he gathered. A nasty taste was left in his mouth; he was going to leave his work behind.
Curtis left his small apartment for the narrow hallway. The burly man smiled due to Curtis appearance. So it was one of those occasions. He wasn't one for up close and personal dinner parties. Unless he was there speaking in front of a conference table. Curtis locked his door as he passed his card key through the lock. "I can't stand those things! They're so small and easy to break. A few old fashion keys are better than any other card." Corey huffed, leading the walk. It was rather convenient for the Order to place his 'personal attendant' within close living quarters. He was watched on a day to day basis. It didn't bother him, but the constant fact that he couldn't do more did. Curtis eyed his fellow companion in his ongoing chatters which revolved around strenuous activities he always put himself through.
A few times Curtis added his opinion and his loud laughter came in return. The walk was not long before they stopped. "Here we are Mr. Curtis!" he laughed once again. It was a nice white two-story house in a gated community. Even though the younger fellow knew him for months he never came around to his house, but rather Corey came to his apartment. A heavy hand was planted on his sore shoulder.
"I can't have my guests waiting!"
"Guests?"
"Don't tell me your feet have gone cold on the word 'guests'. I just can't invite just one person over for dinner!" In such a close range, his laughter can make a man tone-deaf. Now he started to feel uneasy, dealing with his family was one thing. When the word 'guests' came up, he can't deal with multiple blustering people clustered under the same roof.
The sound of a rattling doorknob came before him. An older rounded woman, framed in light brown hair peeked through the door. Her eyes were that of hazel. Her plumped face beamed as she stared towards them. "This is the miss, isn't she beautiful!" he howled. A tiny giggle escaped from her in response. "Come in!" she insisted, pushing the door wide open. Corey merrily led the way, as the woman closed the door behind them. She smiled warmly towards her husband and Curtis. "This is Sheryl, my lovely wife." He grinned and she smiled. "And Sheryl this is Curtis." It took her a moment for it to absorb. She was in awe. "My word! This can't be Curtis!" she said in glee. "Of course it is," Corey answered in make-belief. "I bring no other." She eyed Curtis once again and then was taken aback. "He's so young!" she smiled towards her husband. Of course, he laughed. "He's nearly thirty-four!" he boasted in laughter. Curtis adjusted his black-framed glasses, hoping this won't turn into a 'how old are you' guessing game.
That was one of the reasons why he got glasses. His eyesight wasn't the worst; they acted more like reading glasses more than anything. It made him look older than twenty or maybe twenty-two. His glasses did add a few years on at most even if it was a measly two years. He also was sure enough that he didn't dress like a kid nor did he have a leaky skinny figure. Curtis has normal weight for his six-foot status and in lean shape. He didn't want to think too much into it of what people think he looks like. Corey patted him on the back.
"Looks like he walked out from a tear sheet mag!" He snorted towards his wife. He might as well slap him in the back. Her feverish nods in the agreement were too enthusiastic for Curtis's taste. "Where are my manners," she finally said. "Curtis you must be tired! Please come this way." She hurried down the hall towards a large living room. It was in good taste, cherry wood floors with dark brown leather furniture set. A large cream and red rug were placed underneath the tree stump coffee table.
He could tell it was Corey's pride and joy when Curtis eyed the thin flat screen LCD. It took a good amount of wall space. The measurements were around to eighty-two inches or more. That didn't catch his eye though; it was more of the sound. He heard voices mixed in with laughter, the other 'guests'. All were silent as Curtis entered the room. The attention was too much for him to bear. It felt like high school all over again.
"Sorry to keep you guys waiting." Sheryl smiled warmly to the others. "Everybody this is Curtis!" she gestured towards him happily. "Please enjoy!" It sounded like she handed him to a pack of wolves. Her statement left her running with Corey towards the door. Now, how was he going to handle the situation? First, he needed food. There was a snack tray or by the looks of it, the snack table. It was lined up against the wall across the oversized room. It was a far cry with the lingering people about. "You must be one of Amber's friends," a matured voice came from a red-haired woman. Her voice sounded mature but she looked about in her early twenties.
She had a small petite frame, while she wore a gray loose off-shoulder blouse. Her black skinny jeans were matched with black peep-toe heels. She fiddled with her drink as she strolled her way towards him. She flashed a smile towards Curtis, holding a half-filled cup in one hand. "My names Janet," she said offering her hand, he took it. "As you know from earlier, it's Curtis." She laughed at his gesture drawing up her straw. "So, you're here for Amber's welcoming party?" He knew it. This wasn't some average family dinner. "I'm sorry, I don't even who Amber is." He spoke the truth in his words. Curtis looked at the girl as if he offended her. His voice may have sounded low; it still wasn't any reason for her to look dazed. "Janet?" he spoke softly, hoping to get her attention again. She quickly blinked once and giggled. "I'm sorry," she began. "I got a little sidetrack." Somehow he wasn't fazed by it.
"W-wait! So you don't know who Amber is?"
"No, I'm sorry I don't."
"That's odd because we all went to school with her."
"Excuse me—"He stopped himself short. Something caught his attention. His eyes scanned the room once again and he realized. Around fifty people were about to enter their young adulthood besides maybe two of them. He wanted to leave due to his new realization. He let out a small smile, "I wasn't aware. I came here under the invitation of Corey."
"Corey?"
"Yes, Corey. You might know him as Mr. Andrew."
"Ah! Her father then!" she pointed out. "So how do you know her father?" He didn't want to say. If he did, the whole 'guessing game' will occur. He didn't know what to say, but he didn't want to be rude either. "He's a colleague of mines."Curtis sighed, while she looked startled. Before another word flew from her mouth, he smiled. "Sorry, today was pretty tiring." She still couldn't manage any words. "It's a pleasure meeting you Janet." He left her groping for air. The redhead was soon surrounded by chatting girls, whispering towards his direction. His steps only quickened in the result.
One after another they came. "You're so handsome!" one said.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" a younger girl snorted. He could only manage to blink at the poor girl.
"I'm not looking for one." This time a hefty girl came up to him.
"Do you like kids?" he shook his head for that one. A younger man tapped his shoulder, "You straight?" Curtis laughed.
"Well isn't it Curtis enjoying himself!" the all too familiar voice thundered. "You left me among desperation." Curtis narrowed his eyes at the hearty man. "Ha! That's what you call youth! Don't worry! I bought over a few boys from the office." He smirked.
Right on cue, they came in a neat little line. There were six in total, and four he knew. Corey huddled the others in a little corner that was meant for the grownups to dwell. He gladly took his seat within the group finally relaxing a bit. All the officers were dressed in their street clothes even though they still stood out from the rest. He may not be an officer on the field, but had the suit and tie to keep him in the loop.
One slender man, by the name of Jonas D. Fitch, took the opportunity of getting himself a beer. His blond hair was slicked back, over his pale skin. He never looked well on most days, but he was usually the one with the most energy. The other fellow that sat near him happened to be a well standing officer among the Order, Gregory Dale. He was just as tall as Corey but less violent. He's of a dark bronzed complexion but born with bright grey eyes. A man of few words, but very considerate. "Nice party!" a freckled man chuckled. He was topped off with russet hair. Curtis knew of him too, his name was Henry O'Lean. Henry was always the talkative one among the group. Curtis met him once during work hours. Henry suddenly stopped at his desk when he said, "Got a condom?" It was a joke intended but in bad taste.
Now Curtis's eyes drifted to the last person he knew among rumors. He had grey hair pulled into a braid, running down his back. His complexion was the color of chestnuts. He always wore his restraints over his clothes. Maybe it was for the pride of his work, his name was Matthew Palmer. Matthew turned his gaze towards Curtis and nodded his head in acknowledgment. Curtis did the same towards the older man. The other two people left, he didn't know. They look around about the same. A matching pair if you will. It was a man and a woman sitting side by side, sharing the same sandy flaxen hair color and emerald green eyes. The man had short hair slightly spiked, framing his shapely thin face. Even though his features were strong, his eyes were soft.
He held the same glare as the women sitting next to him. Curtis stirred in his seat, to get a better view of the woman who sat next to her counterpart. They were similar, but her face was round. Her facial structure was gentle and graceful that matched her big eyes. Anything else, it was hard to tell. Her face was covered by heavy bangs, sloping into the rest of her lengthy hair. It reached down to her back in its full glory. "If you didn't know boys, this is Mr. Jacobson." Corey smiled at them. Puzzled looks came from everybody in the corner besides, Gregory and Matthew. "You don't know who he is!?" Corey jabbed towards Henry. "I thought you were taking care of Sage's great-grandson!" Henry bolted in pure shock. Corey was left laughing and Curtis smiling.
Not only did people think that he looked too young for his age. Now he knows his colleagues thought he was the great-grandson of Sage Anthony. "My name is Curtis Jacobson, I reside in the intelligence branch of the Order. It's a pleasure to meet all of you outside of work." Curtis smiled at the awe-stricken. Corey bent over in laughter trying to stay in his seat. "This day only gets better and better," Corey smirked.
"So this is the person you left to babysit." Jonas held his smile back, but it was there. "Jo—!" Corey alerted him but stopped midway.
"That's right. I'm glad that you miss him still. You can take him if you want." Curtis mumbled. Jonas stared at him and broke off into soft chuckles.
Gregory smiled towards Curtis under his watchful eye. Of course, Corey's fright dispelled immediately as he busted out in laughter. "I'll like to apologize for Jonas's rudeness." The sandy-haired woman whispered over to him. "I feel the same way as him." Curtis smiled. She laughed slightly.
"Sorry didn't get your name."
"I'm Alyssa Gray and this over here is my brother, Alex, we're twins." Curtis smiled as he shook their hands in greeting. "We understand why Corey was assigned to you," Alex said with his twin nodding her head. "Someone of your standing can easily become a target among the public eye." Laughter broke into the short-lived three-way conversation. "Corey does indeed need the protection, but from no public eye. He can handle himself quite well." Corey said as he sipped his drink.
Curtis cleared his throat as others of the group eyed him. They also wanted to know why Corey the iron muscle was assigned to him. "Curtis, you mind?" Corey asked his fellow man. Curtis didn't mind at all. Information enclosing him wasn't classified nor that personal. It made things easier for him.
"It might belong," Curtis said. "We have all night by the looks of it," Matthew said looking over the younger generation. Henry laughed along with Corey in agreement. Even Gregory seemed interested in what Curtis had to say. "To start things off…I never went to the Saint Francis Order Academy." He said starting sudden grasps among the circle. Of course, the burly companion muffled in a laugh. It was Jonas turn who spoke this time. "How did you get in the Order then? Even if you are in the intelligence branch, it's strictly mandatory to have at least eight years in the academy." Curtis smiled this time. "In my case I was excused, to learn the offense and defense arts. The world that we live in, it's mandatory, but that doesn't qualify for everybody."
"So you were born with a magic wand in your hand?" Henry smirked. The twins just continued to listen to the ongoing conversation. "You worded it differently, but overall yes," Jonas smirked taking another drink. "It's rare though, it just doesn't happen on random. I'm the child of the Will."
"Everyone to four people out of a world's population of humans is born with the ability of the Will; they are called the children of Will. It happens after centuries apart, never in the same era." Mathew said to enlighten the others. "When the Will is at its peak in density only four will be inherently born with abilities." Gregory smiled at his knowledgeable friend. Now all eyes were on Curtis as he took a drink. "I'm so far the only one at the moment," Curtis said downing the drink. "That explains some of it. But that still doesn't fully explain why you're working for the Order." Jonas pointed out. 'Why' just happened to be Curtis's favorite word over the past few months. "Before a word could get out about me, I went to the Order hoping to become of any use. I simply knew that they couldn't turn me away when they saw my scars."
Jonas eyed him, "Scars?"
Matthew took the liberty of filling in the gaps. "Scars are the symbols that all children born with the Will. It gives proof of what they are." Curtis smiled and nodded towards Matthew with his fun-filled facts. "So you're like superman without the kryptonite." Henry smiled. "Far from it," Curtis laughed alongside with Corey. "Instead of it being of any use to the Order, they sealed me up, 'saying that I can pose a threat to others and myself.' It made sense to me. I didn't know what was happening. The Order also saw other 'talents' that I possessed. So they placed me in the intelligence branch. Only to gather information, but in the end, I wanted to be on the field more than anything." Curtis drank to that as a few others did.
"You're in good hands. Corey isn't called Iron muscle for nothing." Jonas cheered, while Corey flexed one muscle. Everybody laughed as a few others chuckled. The mood became light among the corner. Corey bragged about how many restraints he had to Henry and Jonas. Gregory and Matthew sat back soaking in the good mood. The twins smiled towards the others, but their eyes never left Curtis. As if wanting to speak to him.
Alyssa turned her attention to Alex for a brief second and then turned to Curtis in wonder. "Um," she started off gaining Curtis's attention. "I and Alex were wondering, why you don't have any restraints." He examined her a bit then her counterpart. Curtis knew for a fact that he didn't even see or hear Alyssa and Alex talk to anybody and among themselves. "I have seals instead. There's no need for restraints." She looked towards her brother again then back at him. "If you don't mind me asking you, how many?" Curtis eyed the set in wonder, he knew their ability. "One hundred five and counting."
"I see now. That's why I couldn't see." The silent brother mumbled to himself. Curtis smiled. It was his turn to ask a few questions. "Alex and Alyssa if you don't mind me asking you're classified as a clairvoyant. I'm I correct?" Alyssa giggled and Alex grinned nodding. "We're fresh from the academy," Alex said. "Congratulations." Curtis smiled knowing that they should be around the ages of their late twenties to early thirties. "About you seeing something…does that have to do anything with my seals?"
"I can see the potential capabilities of any life form of higher intelligence. It's like a short bio scan."
"That's very interesting. Now I know the seals work on both sides."
"Isn't just five seals enough for a human? Ten is technically brain damage."
"I may be human, but I'm different. Being a child with Will breaks all the rules and laws of nature. As I age, my power increases. A seal won't work on me for long except for new replacements."
Alex's sister stared at Curtis in awe. A lot of girls been doing that to him lately. She looked back at her brother again, and he smiled at her. Curtis was having fun looking at the twins having a mental conversation with each other. If there weren't clairvoyant, they probably would have been the chattiest people here.
The night didn't last long with the Order's selected members present to keep his mind off of the prying eyes of the younger audience. Despite Corey's efforts to keep Curtis mind off the case, the group's conversations turned into a discussion about work. It went from current to upcoming cases, then a small debate. Soon after, Corey's daughter came through the door surprised. She thanked her parents for the welcoming party at short notice. Of course, Corey showed Curtis off to his daughter. She was left blushing with her friends. Curtis sighed, his fellow officers laughed.
There were a few drinks put in before the night was out. Amber's welcoming party bid her farewell as she took her luggage upstairs. Corey snorted at Jonas who has fallen suddenly sick. Gregory was helping Mrs. Andrew cleanup after the younger crowd. Matthew excused himself to go into the background to watch the starlit sky. And Henry fell asleep in his seat snoring away. Which left the twins to examine him once more. Even though the twins just came out of the academy they looked like in their mid-twenties. Too bad the same thing couldn't qualify for him.
As the party came to a close, Curtis felt the stress settling in. His head ached, and his limbs weighing twice its weight. He laid his head back trying to regain its once blissful feeling. He began to feel a little sick himself. He exhaled and breathed slowly as he closed his eyes. Despite his efforts, his relaxation technique was fruitless. He grew grim at the thought. Tiny fingertips were felt at his temples. Maybe it was his imagination, or it could be the fact that a girl sneaked back in the house. Letting her fingers have its way with his face. Corey could kick her out if he posed a threat. He was too tired to move to even defend himself.
Something was humming in his ears, it was a faint sound. It was slowly rushing back and forth soothing him. It was odd hearing it in Corey's living room maybe he put on the TV. It was the sound of rushing water over the beach. He could tell, and then Curtis heard the sound of seagulls along with the sea. Curtis didn't know that he had surround sound. Well, he didn't see them either. Maybe it was the wireless versions that came out. It sounded like the real thing. No static in any way, shape or form. Everything was crystal clear. This was too relaxing. His body felt heavy with sleep. Even though it was comforting, he didn't want to fall asleep like Henry.
He needed to get up but his body protested. It was a losing battle, but if he were to open his eyes. He'll get up, leave and fall asleep in his apartment. The bed in his room started to become appealing. He began to notice that warm light was bathed over him; it was getting a little hot. He slowly creaked his eyes opened not wanting to get up. Warm light blinded his half-closed eyes. This was just too much. Curtis's thoughts stopped for a bit. Blinding light? His eyes flashed opened stunned in place. He saw sea, sky, and seagulls. He was on the breach. He laughed softly to himself. When did his dreams become so vivid? He could even smell and taste the salt in the air. The sand beneath his shoes felt real too.
Never had he have a dream refreshing like this. "He's smiling." A faint voice was heard in the distance. It sounded like Corey's voice but smaller. "I hope you ain't doing anything that might… be a little shameful."
Even though Curtis heard it, his mind didn't seem to focus on it. It was just him and the sea. He began to hear soft footsteps coming towards him.
"Corey please."
His eyes caught long smooth slender legs. But he couldn't see the rest of her.
"Well, look at him. I never saw him smile like that before."
The woman's walk turned into a jog, kicking up the sand about her. Her body was fit but slim. Her waist was beyond small with huge—
"I-I-I n-need to focus!"
It bounced! Her hair bounced with her movements, wrapping itself around her bare—
"Yup, yup! I could tell. When a man has a smile like that—he's seeing some naughty pictures."
What was she wearing!? He didn't even know! She was close enough he could see her face—
"Corey!"
"Alyssa!" Curtis gasped for air, jerking from his seat. Corey laughed at his sudden outburst. Curtis slowly began to calm down. His ears felt numb and seemed to mute the other sounds around him. He touched his ear dazed. He heard the grain of sand falling. Why did it still ring in his ears? Alex eyed Curtis along with Jonas in spite of his illness.
"Wha…what just happened?" Curtis broke into a sweat.
"…Alyssa can create illusions." Alex answered Curtis while he looked at Alyssa. She didn't move from her position as her twin continued to look at her.
"Alyssa, what happened?" Alex whispered towards his sister. Her gaze was unfocused as she made her way to the door with Alex in pursuit.
His breathing became uneven, as his heart picked up the pace. "Curtis?" Corey looked at him worried. "I-It's my fault. I kept on distracting her." He still heard it… it hummed in his ears. It was more grains of sand flowing. He couldn't keep balanced. The pouring of sand felt like it was weighing him down. Curtis's knees went out. "Curtis!?" Corey ran over to him dragging along Jonas. "Cur—!" he looked at the muted hazy figures of Corey and Jonas. He couldn't hear them. He didn't care. The sound of sand accompanied him into the darkness.
Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder