Ascension (The Ascension Series) (13 page)

“You still haven’t found it?” Charles’s father asked from his office.

“No sir, Mr. Walsh,” a voice from the speaker said. “We’re still looking. The item is classified so the investigation must remain private.”

“This is unacceptable,” his father said to the person on the speaker
as he slammed his fist on the desk. “How do you lose a glowing crystal that’s locked in a vault at BioTech Industries? Just call me when you’ve made progress.”

Mr. Walsh ended the call when Charles entered his office.

“Hey dad,” Charles said. “What’s going on?”

“Oh nothing. Just a little item went missing from our downtown headquarters. I’m sure we’ll find it soon.”

“Ah, okay,” Charles said. “I just wanted to let you know that me and John are heading out tonight. We’ll be back later.”

“Sounds good,” his father waved, “Have fun.”

Charles slowly walked out of his father’s office and when he made it into the hallway, he sped back into the kitchen. Countless thoughts rushed through his mind when he realized his father was responsible for the crystal that was changing their lives.

CHAPTER 6

The next morning, Charles and John were getting ready for class and chatting nonstop, not about a mysterious crystal, but about flying for the first time.

“I soared like an eagle!” Charles gloated.

“It’s like we’ve unlocked another power,” John said. “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done! I knew there was more to this than just making paper balls float in the air.”

“Dude, I can’t believe we can fly,” Charles
yelled. “This changes everything. I think I might be invincible.”

They passed through Charles’s living room. A large television in the room was turned to the local news.

“Plans have stalled on renovations to the Roebling Suspension Bridge,” said the newscaster, “And in the latest breaking news, the First Bank of Cincinnati was robbed last night. Well-equipped thieves broke into the bank after midnight. The vault was reportedly broken but no word on how much was stolen. Police officials say an investigation is underway.”

Without paying much attention to the news, Charles grabbed the remote and turned the television off.

“Want to fly to school?” John asked.

“No,” Ch
arles said. “I can’t believe I’m the one saying this but we can’t just fly through the air during broad daylight. Someone will see us.”

“Clark and Sarah flew to school,” John said.

“And if they keep that up they’re gonna get caught real soon,” Charles snickered. “Me? I’m the master of treading lightly. No flying till sundown.”

“Oh, come on,
” John said as they left the house and got into Charles’s car.

Charles started up the engine
and they sped off.

“You can fly through the air whenever you like,” Charles said. “I’m just not gonna be there beside you getting caught.”

They were speeding down the street, en route to class, when John remembered the crystal.

“You were telling me,” John said, “About the crystal being at your dad’s
place.”

“Bio-Tech Industries, it’s located downtown,” Charles told him. “And John, I don’t want you telling Clark or anyone else about this. At least not for now.”

“Why not?” John asked.

“I don’t want them blaming my dad for anything. At least not until we lear
n the full extent of whatever’s going on,” Charles looked to him.

“
Okay. So what are we gonna do?”

“Leave it to me,” Charles said as he lifted one hand from the wheel and pulled out his phone. He dialed a number and waited for an answer. “Hey dad… Yeah, I’m doing good… On my way to class… Okay… Well I was wondering, you see, Monday is Martin Luther King Day. No school but we got this project due. So I was wondering if me and John could join you at Bio-Tech on MLK day to write the report on your business… So we can… Awesome… Great, see you later, dad. Bye.”

“So we’re going on Monday?” John asked.

“That’s the plan
,” Charles smiled. “See how easy that was?”

“So what do we do there?”

“We’ll join my dad at his office then sneak off to the classified section of the headquarters. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Who’s gonna stop me? My old man owns the place.”

“So we can learn what the crystal is?”

“Or where it came from,” Charles said.

When they made
it to school, John kept Charles’s trust and said nothing to Clark about the crystal originating from Mr. Walsh’s corporation. Clark was all smiles with his arm around Sarah when they all greeted one another before class.

“Guys,” Clark addressed Charles and John, “I’ve got football practice tomorrow on Friday so I was wondering if you’d
like to hang out later today after school. I thought we could all go flying.”

“Sounds good,” Charles said.

“What?” John laughed, “Dude, you just told me this morning you wouldn’t fly unless it was dark. And how you didn’t want to get caught!”

“Yeah but I guess I feel a little more comfortable when there’s a lot of people doing it at once,” Charles said. “And it would be a little harder to single me out in the sky
when there’s half a dozen people flying like birds.”

“Well, I wish I could come,” John said. “But I’m going to meet up with Andrew. Just going to talk to him one last time before he leaves
. Because we live in the same neighborhood and all.”

“Alright,” Clark said. “Sounds good. I’ll let you know how flying lessons go.”

“Are you going to invite Chloe and Donny?” Sarah asked.

“Yeah,” Clark said.

“Great,” Charles said, “I’ve been looking for that cute little Chloe, anyway.”

“Dude, she’s going with Donny,”
Clark told him.

“Oh come on,” Charles laughed. “We both know Donny the Geek and Chloe Li are not serious.”

“Actually,” Sarah corrected him, “I think they are.”

“If you’re coming this afternoon,”
Clark said to him, “I don’t want you starting anything.”

“Alright, I promise,” Charles said as he brushed his shirt
, placed on his sunglasses, and walked off.

Sarah had to nearly pry Clark’s hands from around her waist when she headed off. He g
ave her one love-struck look that said he hated parting ways.

“I’ll see you soon,” she kissed him before finally leaving.

“Must be nice,” John said as he walked with Clark to class. “Having someone that crazy about you.”

“Yeah, I guess it is nice.”

“Allow her to blissfully pollinate your every daydream,” John joked. Clark shoved him as they got into the classroom.

“Don’t make fun of me,” Clark laughed. “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry!”

“Is that another power of yours?” John teased him. “Can you transform into a beast, too?”

“Not yet!” Clark said amusingly, “I’m still working on that.”

“I hope you’re not as tired as you were yesterday,” John went on. “Dude, you were sleeping for half the class.”

“I know,” Clark told him. “
I couldn’t stay awake. Feel a lot better today.”

“Me too,”
John half smiled. “I’m staying with Charles right now. It’s amazing how better you feel when you’re not being abused by your father.”

“I’m glad you’re doing okay, John. I hate to see you down.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you guys. I feel like each of you is constantly saving me from the brink.”

“So, what are you going to see Andrew for?”

“Oh, just to say goodbye, I guess.”

“I talked to him during class yesterday,” Clark informed him. “We didn’t exactly have an agreement. So if you see him, tell
him I’m sorry. Tell him we’re all going to miss him.”

“Sure thing, Clark.”

Class began and Clark decided to pull out his folder and take history notes. He knew he’d have to keep up a certain grade point average in order to remain on the football team. So Clark jotted down everything his teacher was saying when he looked over and saw John with a quarter in his hand. John wasn’t paying the teacher any attention as he focused on the quarter cupped in his hands. Clark watched as John stared at the quarter. Seconds later, the quarter began to bend. John made the quarter twist until it broke in half.

“Wow!”
Clark whispered.

John looked to Clark
and smiled. He whispered, “Donny called it the power of God.”

Clark returned his attention to the teacher and continued taking notes until class was over.

“Alright John, I’ll see you later,” Clark said.

John waved and walked away. Clark noticed as TJ the bully looked at John in the hallway and squarely avoided any contact with him.
Clark then headed to computer class. As he sat in his seat, he watched as Donny and Chloe entered the room holding hands. They parted ways as they sat in their seats located on opposite sides of the room.

“Dude, you look as love-struck as me after a morning with Sarah
,” Clark said to Donny as he sat next to him.

Donny grinned from ear to ear which allowed every portion of his braces to be visible.

“I’ve never felt this way before. I still can’t believe I have a girlfriend. I feel so lost without her. What a meager existence we have as guys─ to be so unfulfilled without girls,” Donny bemused.

“Whoa,” Clark said. “I
know how it feels but you’ve been drinking Kool-Aid, my friend. Either that or─ wait a minute. You two did it, didn’t you?”

Donny nodded his head up and down.

“Seriously?” Clark asked in a curious tone.

“Yeah,” Donny said
, still shaking his head and grinning. “You know Chloe’s parents are college professors. Well they teach evening classes so we went back to her place. I mean, that wasn’t even the intention. We were supposed to be studying and then one thing led to another and now I’m no longer a virgin.”

“Dude, how cool is that!?” Clark patted him on the shoulder. “Did it go alright?”

“Yeah,” Donny said. “Well, I was kind of nervous. I don’t think I had ever been more excited in my life.”

Clark laughed,
“I think it’s time to drop your ‘Geek’ moniker. Officially. I hereby disavow you of all previous misdeeds.”

Donny laughed, “Thanks.”

“Just don’t go around telling this to everyone,” Clark told him. “People like Charles talk too much.”

The teacher entered the room and drolly sat at his desk. The students paid no attention and continued talking amongst themselves.

“I know I can trust you,” Donny said. “You’re right. Some people never shut up.”

“Oh, speaking of which,” Clark changed the subject. “Some of us are going to go flying this afternoon. You and Chloe want to come?”

“Yeah, sure,” Donny said. “Although I haven’t done it before. I tried levitating and sometimes I wake up floating above my bed, though.”

“That’s fine,” Clark said
. “It’s super easy. Just concentrate and propel yourself upward.”

“You know,” Donny said looking on the other side of Clark, “It feels strange without Andrew here. Did he just drop out of school?”

“Him and Big Dan both─ I think,” Clark said.

“Wow. They’re leaving just because they made fifteen hundred dollars at a racetrack!?” Donny said in a confused
manner.

“I don’t know, man. It does sound really strange.
Guess they’re coping in different ways.”

Chloe got up from her seat and Clark watched as she rolled a chair over to his area and sat next to Donny.

“No paper airplanes for me today?” Chloe smiled as she wrapped one of her arms around Donny. Clark turned his head to face his computer but he couldn’t help but listen to their conversation─ considering they were right next to him.

“Oh, I kinda forgot. I was just talking to Clark. And I imagine you thought those paper airplanes were kind of lame.”

“No, I always thought they were really cute. Especially when you drew a heart or a message inside.”

“Okay,” Donny
said shyly. “I’ll make sure I send you five each class then. And another five during math club.”

“Math club is tomorrow afternoon,” C
hloe smiled.

“You know, I probably wouldn’t show up if you weren’t there,” Donny said affectionately.

Chloe hugged him as he sat in his chair. “You’re too sweet. Why didn’t we get together sooner?”

“I don’t know,” Donny shrugged. “I just had to gather the courage to ask you out. Guess I can thank Clark for that.”

“Thanks for getting us together!” Chloe waved to Clark.

“Anytime,”
Clark said before lowering his head and returning to his computer.

“Clark was wondering if we’d go flying with him and a few other people,” Donny told her.

“Flying?” Chloe asked.

“Yeah. By using our powers,” Donny said excitedly.

“How do we do that?” Chloe questioned him.

Donny pointed his finger at a pencil and it lifted off the table.

“The same principal applies to us,” Donny said. “It’s amazing we haven’t thought of it before. Sarah and Clark were flying yesterday.”

“Really?” Chloe looked to Clark.

“Yeah,” Clark said to her. “You’re gonna love it.”

She agreed to join them
after school and they decided to meet in a remote location where people wouldn’t spot them.

“We’ll find a spot somewhere over the tracks,” Clark told them when the class bell rang.

“Sounds good,” Chloe said. She held Donny’s hand and they walked out of the classroom together.

Much later in the day during gym class, Clark was joined by Charles and John in the gym locker room.
As soon as they walked into the locker room, Coach Smith ran from his office and over to Clark.