บท 1: Chapter 1: Faster than the wind

Chapter 1: Faster Than the Wind

The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the school's track field. Tessa stood at the starting line, her heart steady despite the adrenaline-fueled excitement buzzing through the other runners around her.

'Is it just my imagination or am I being watched?' She felt eyes on her, but she quickly pushed that thought away as she got into the mood of the moment.

The annual track meet was one of the highlights of the school year, and today, the entire student body was gathered in the bleachers, eager to witness the competition.

'Why did Mr. Joel pick me for the track? Ms Caldwell wouldn't have told him anything right!? That being the case, I'm still bothered about the way he insisted on me participating, it's either he knows something or someone is playing him like a stringed instrument!' Tessa was deep in thought as she got on her right knee, and then her left knee simultaneously as adjusted her shoelaces, her fingers trembling slightly. She had no reason to be nervous, not really.

She could run faster than anyone here, faster than anyone could imagine. But that was precisely the problem.

"On your marks!" The coordinator, Mr. Rayne's voice boomed over the loudspeaker, pulling her focus back.

Tessa crouched low, her fingers pressing into the rought texture of the track. She could feel the subtle vibrations of the earth beneath her, the steady thrum of her classmates' pounding hearts, each one filled with anticipation.

She felt in her heart that all their anticipation were futile with her here, she was almost tempted to get up to tell them not to waste their strength, but she had to Veuemently keep her head low so as not to draw attention to herself, or seem arrogant, as humans are a confusing species.

They praise some arrogant rich kids and they selectively hate and discriminate against some other arrogant kids, it's a messy thing to consider. The track stretched out before her like an open invitation—one she had to resist accepting fully. She couldn't let herself get carried away, no matter how much her alien instincts screamed for release.

"Get set!"

She took a deep breath, her muscles coiled, ready to spring. Across the field, Ms. Caldwell stood at the edge of the track, clipboard in hand, her sharp eyes focused on Tessa. She knew. She always knew. But there was someone else there, too—Mr. Rudbick, the government official who had been lingering around the school more often lately. His presence sent a chill down Tessa's spine.

He didn't belong here, not at a school track meet. His daughter wasn't even participating, and Ms Caldwell ensured that he wasn't invited, yet, he came.

Don't draw attention. Blend in, she reminded herself. But once the gun went off, that reminder would be hard to follow.

"Go!"

The crack of the starting pistol shattered the silence, and Tessa sprang forward, her body launching into motion like an arrow shot from a bow.

Her feet hit the ground, light and sure, barely disturbing the dirt beneath them. Instinctively, she held back, matching the pace of the runners beside her, each of them pushing themselves to their limits. The pounding of their feet was loud, ragged breaths escaping their lips as they fought for the lead.

But for Tessa, it was effortless. Too effortless.

As they rounded the first corner, she felt something stir deep inside her, the pull of her true nature. Her muscles screamed to be unleashed, her body demanding more speed.

The wind whipped past her, and she gave in just a little. Her legs stretched farther, her stride lengthened, and suddenly, she was moving faster than she had intended.

One by one, her classmates fell behind her. She wove through them like a shadow, twisting and turning as if she were part of the wind itself. Her body bent unnaturally as she ducked and surged between opponents, each movement a blur of impossible agility.

"Wait, is she always that fast or am I just noticing her?"

"Who is that girl, where did she come from?"

"At this rate Ms Caldwell's class is going to win again. Her class has been on a great run of form lately, and in all competitions, and now that I think of it, that girl has been in the heart of every win they have had "

Whispers and voices start to pour in like a sudden rain on a hot afternoon

Tessa was oblivious to all of that. Her feet barely touched the ground as she broke away from the pack.

A few more steps, and she was alone.

The crowd's cheers grew distant, like a fading echo. Tessa's mind raced along with her body, and before she could stop herself, she was running at a speed no human should be capable of. The track blurred beneath her, and she felt an intoxicating rush of freedom.

For just a moment, she allowed herself to experience what it truly felt like to run, to move without limits.

The finish line loomed ahead, and with a final burst of energy, she crossed it, leaving the rest of the runners far behind.

Panting, she slowed down and looked back. The other students were still halfway down the track, gasping for breath, their faces painted with shock and confusion.

She had beaten them all by an impossible margin, and she could see it written on their faces—they didn't understand what had just happened.

But one face stood out in particular, and it wasn't one of her classmates. It was Mr. Rudbick.

Standing at the edge of the track, he watched her with a piercing gaze, his expression unreadable but intense.

"I got you now, you alien freak!" He mumbled to himself as he kept staring right at her. There was no mistaking the calculating look in his eyes. He had seen it. The way she moved, the speed, the agility—it wasn't human.

Ms. Caldwell was there, too, her brow furrowed in concern. She took a step forward, her eyes darting between Tessa and Mr. Rudbick, as if already piecing together what had happened. She knew Tessa had slipped—this time, there would be consequences.

Tessa's breath came slow and steady, her chest rising and falling with controlled calm. But inside, her heart pounded with fear.

She had made a mistake, one that couldn't be ignored, but she had to make Ms Caldwell's class look good.

That woman had become like her mother and protector. That was an odd thing to say, considering the fact that she was at least a century older than Ms Caldwell. Tessa just doesn't age here on earth so no one would know.

She just remains as a normal 16 year old and move from one part of the world to another when time was up and she was about to be exposed.

She thought she could still stay a while here, but now, someone was on to her. Would she have to move again? She was lost in thought. She could see the wheels turning in Mr. Rudbick's mind.

He wasn't just a government official; he was something much worse—someone who hunted for anomalies. How crazy are the people from the SSG organization?

They stick to any sign of smoke, either it yeilds fire or not, and most times they end up getting results.

And now, she was his target.

Ms. Caldwell approached, her voice low but urgent. "Tessa, you need to leave. Now."

"I didn't mean to…" Tessa stammered, still shaken by how easily she had lost control.

"I know," Ms. Caldwell said, glancing quickly at Mr. Rudbick. "But you've been noticed. He's not going to let this go."

Tessa's eyes flicked to the man still watching her. His gaze hadn't left her for a second. "What do I do?"

Ms. Caldwell didn't hesitate. "Disappear. You're not safe here anymore. You need to leave school, I will look for you, I promise." Ms Caldwell had tears forming at the edge of her eyes. She hadn't married nor does she have children, but it felt like she was giving up her child.

Tessa mumbled slowly, "What of the competition, is that how it would end? Ms Caldwell... I..."

The reality of her situation crashed over her like a wave. She had spent years blending in, hiding in plain sight. But today, with one simple mistake, she had exposed herself in front of the wrong people. Mr. Rudbick's presence was no coincidence. He was there for her, and now he had exactly what he needed to begin his investigation.

Tessa felt her stomach churn. She had been running all her life, hiding her true nature, and now, once again, it was time to run. But this time, she wasn't sure if she could escape.

Not with Mr. Rudbick watching her every move.

This time, her contenance changed as if something had broken inside her, she stared at Ms Caldwell and spoke. "I won't run anymore. This time, I will fight..."