Written & Created By: Eddie Yagami
*Readers Discretion Is Advised*
Mac stood in front of Santera Private High, feeling a sense of familiarity mixed with something new. It had been three weeks since he'd last been here, and a lot had changed—both on the inside and outside.
As he stepped through the front gates, he caught sight of the usual groups gathered on the school grounds as they stared at him, but his mind was more focused on what had been going on behind the scenes while he was gone.
Then he spots two familiar faces who were waiting by the school's entrance. "Welcome back, stranger," JR's voice rang out as he approached, he and Mac doing their signature handshake as JR smiled at Mac. Lucky was right beside him, giving Mac a warm smile and a hug as well.
"About time you showed up again, Chandler," she teased, adjusting the strap of her backpack. "We were starting to think you'd ditched us for good."
Mac rolled his eyes, smirking. "You really think I'd miss all this? I just can't believe that this could hit me really hard for some reason, even my folks were stumped." JR had told Mac of the story he made up to cover his absence, but of course, Mac couldn't believe that he didn't think of anything better.
As they walked toward their first class, the familiar chatter and rhythm of school life began to settle around them. Mac couldn't help but feel a little more at ease, even if part of him still carried the weight of Alpha's presence, buzzing like a quiet hum in the back of his mind.
"You seem... content," Alpha observed, his voice drifting through Mac's thoughts like a gentle breeze. "Is this what you humans call normalcy?"
"Yeah, something like that," Mac replied internally, hiding a small smile. "It's nice to have some sense of it around here, you know? But, something is a bit off."
"Hmm... curious. I can't wait to see what a normal school day is like for you, but what seems off to you?" Alpha's tone held a hint of curiosity, as if he were still trying to fully grasp Mac's outlook. Mac just shrugged, "Not sure yet, but I'll let you know when I see it." Mac focused on the day ahead as they entered the classroom.
The school day seemed to pass in a blur of catching up with missed assignments, awkward explanations to teachers, and jokes from JR about how Mac had become a hermit.
During lunch, they sat at their usual spot in the courtyard, finally able to catch up on everything that happened while Mac was gone.
"So, did anything exciting happen while I was gone?" Mac looked at JR, hoping that he didn't tell Lucky anything about what happened with the.... 'incident'.
During the time that Mac was training with Mr. Lou and Alpha, JR came by and visited him in secret, mostly to talk about the events that lead to Mac's death. Mac had to learn the harsh reality that he had to keep everything that he learned about The Order, The Darkness and Alpha a secret from Lucky.
He wasn't happy about it, but he understood the gravity if she became involved, so Mac reluctantly agreed to keep things a secret from Lucky for now.
Still, he shared the same concern as JR, Lucky is very smart and they both know that she'll eventually figure it out by putting all the pieces together.
Lucky was the first to chime in, "Besides your fan club wondering where you have been, nothing too eventful happened in school. Although Stephanie Connors was making waves by making some drastic changes around here." Then it clicked for Mac, his so called 'fan club' seemed very docile today, which was odd for him.
"Changes like what?" Mac was curious, but his suspicions were confirmed, "She put a stop to your little "Fan Club" in case you haven't noticed. Threatened them with expulsions if they continued once you returned." Mac was amazed, he finally didn't have to deal with leaving his classes early anymore.
Alpha was intrigued, "Is what she said the difference you noticed from earlier?" Mac responded internally, "Actually.... It was."
Then Lucky brought up something that unfortunately was unavoidable since it was all over the news and social media, "Did you see that huge pillar of light that shot up into the sky a few weeks back?"
Mac nervously chuckled, this is what he was afraid of and JR just sat there as he put his hand on his face and shook his head. "How could I miss it." Mac laughed, he learned from his parents and Mr. Lou about it after he had woken up and saw the online footage as well.
"You sure she won't start piecing it together this soon?" Alpha asked, hoping his worst fear didn't come true this quickly, "Like I told you, she's very smart." That didn't really help calm Alpha one bit.
But then their conversation is interrupted when a familiar voice called out to the group. "Chandler McCullen, we need to talk." Stephanie Connors stood there, arms crossed, her gaze unwavering as she looked directly at Mac. JR raised an eyebrow, nudging Mac with a smirk. "Ooh, looks like someone's in trouble."
Lucky shot him a look, but her curiosity was evident as well. Mac simply sighed, getting up from his spot on the bench. "Alright, Connors, what's this about?"
The commotion that Stephanie was causing caught the attention of the rest of the students in the school that they all gathered around the courtyard.
Mac wasn't happy, "I'm sensing some unease coming from you Chandler," said Alpha, Mac grunted internally, "Yeah, her commotion is causing unwanted attention that I don't like." Alpha was confused, "I thought humans crave attention. Why don't you like it?" Mac just ignored Alpha.
Stephanie's expression softened slightly, though her authoritative tone remained. "I'd like to see you in the student council room after school. There are some things we need to discuss—specifically about your... prolonged absence."
Mac arched an eyebrow. "Look, I'm pretty sure that everyone in the school---Including you---have heard some form of James' story about me being sick, don't you think?" JR and Lucky couldn't help and chuckle a bit.
Stephanie's lips twitched, almost forming a smile. "That maybe the case with everyone else, but I'm not buying it, Chandler. You can't hide behind James' stories forever." Mac chuckled, crossing his arms. "Alright, but what's in it for me? I've got a busy schedule, you know."
She rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of playfulness behind it. "How about the satisfaction of knowing you're finally taking responsibility? Or are you too busy hiding from your fan club to care?"
Stephanie knew she struck a nerve just by looking at Mac's expression, meaning that he found out about what she did while he was out.
Mac hesitated, then sighed dramatically. "Fine, you win. But if this is some kind of trap, I'm out of there in two minutes." Stephanie smiled, a small victory in her expression. "I'll see you after school, then."
She left shortly after and Mac leaned back on the bench with a look of defeat on his face, Lucky decided to speak up, "Don't let her get under your skin. She's trying to get a rise out of you and you're letting her."
Mac nodded his head, he didn't want to say anything to Lucky because of certain things that could probably upset her, but JR simply looked at Mac and he knew why Mac kept quiet.
Both boys knew everything about what was going on---Lucky having feelings for Mac, Stephanie stalking Mac, and then Mac having a thing for Stephanie---none of it was good for Lucky.
The rest of the day went by rather uneventfully, but after the final bell rang, Mac made his way to the student council room, trying not to think too much about what Stephanie wanted.
Just before he walked in, Alpha wanted to speak with Mac, "Is this Stephanie going to be any cause for concern?" Mac sighed, "I doubt it, she's just trying to push my buttons, but I can control the situation."
Alpha's concern was wiped away, but that wasn't going to stop him from keeping an eye on her.
He pulled open the door to the student council room and found her already seated at a large, fancy desk with a few folders spread out in front of her. "You're actually on time. Color me surprised," she remarked, looking up with a smirk.
Mac shrugged as he sat down on a rather fancy couch that faced her desk. "I figured you'd get all pissy with me if I showed up late. So, what's this really about, Connors?"
Stephanie's expression grew more serious, "So, how bad was this cold of yours that you had to miss 3 weeks of school?" Mac was taken by surprise, "Wait? You were actually concerned for my well-being? Now that's a shocker." Mac couldn't help but chuckle. "And here I thought you just missed me."
Stephanie shot him a look, but there was a hint of a blush on her cheeks. "You're not as charming as you think, Chandler." Mac shot her an annoyed glare, "It's Mac."
Stephanie was confused, "I'm sorry?" Mac quickly replied, "There are only certain people close to me that get to call me by my real name. You haven't gotten there yet, so you can call me Mac." She gave Mac a raised eyebrow response, "Yet?", She questioned.
Mac leaned back, instead of responding, he just changed the subject, "Anyway, to answer your original question, it was just a bad flu. Normally, I'd be out for a day or two, but this time it was different." Stephanie showed a slight bit of concern, "Thankfully, both of my parents are doctors, so I knew I was in good hands." Mac said.
Stephanie studied him for a moment, her gaze sharp. "You're a mystery, Mac, but I'm glad that you're doing better. Will you be needing any help with all the missed schoolwork that you have?"
Before Mac could respond, Alpha chimed in, "Don't worry about that, I can easily help you with my vast knowledge of the world," Mac just sighed and smiled as to not look crazy.
"Appreciate the offer, but I can handle it," he said, Alpha realizing his mistake. "Oops, my bad." Stephanie was slightly disappointed, "Damn, here I was wanting to keep a closer eye on you," Stephanie was being playful with Mac.
Mac gave her a sideways look, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, you mean how you were keeping a closer eye on me from behind the light poles during this past summer?"
Stephanie was caught off-guard, blushing even deeper this time and crossing her arms defensively. "I— I wasn't stalking. I was just... keeping an eye on you. It's my responsibility as the student council president."
Mac leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I never said anything about stalking, Connors. Even so, you weren't exactly sneaky about it, you know." Stephanie's jaw dropped slightly, but she quickly composed herself, a flustered smile tugging at her lips.
"You're impossible sometimes, you know that?" Mac grinned, leaning back again. "Yeah, but you still like me because of it," Stephanie was left speechless for a moment.
While Stephanie was trying to come up with a response, Alpha's voice cut through Mac's thoughts, sounding puzzled. "Is this what you call... flirting? It seems to serve no practical purpose, yet you engage in it with such enthusiasm."
Mac turned his head and smiled, "Just sit back and take notes, Alpha," Mac replied internally, his tone light. "This is how humans build connections."
Stephanie was finally able to say something, although it may have gone differently in her head, "And what if I did?" Mac was intrigued by her question, "Oh? What's that supposed to mean, Connors?"
Stephanie smiled, "I think we've talked enough for today, but don't be a stranger. Anyways, I have work to do, so if you don't mind leaving me alone for now."
Now it was Mac's turn to be left speechless as he was kicked out of the student council room with a curious look on his face.
The days began to settle into a rhythm for Mac, balancing the world of mystical training along with the familiar halls of Santera Private High.
His mornings were spent in classes, where he found himself catching up with JR and Lucky, easing back into the daily routine. But the afternoons often held new challenges, both in the training studio with Mr. Lou and in the unexpected friendship that was growing with Stephanie Connors.
It started simple enough, with the two of them crossing paths more often between classes. Stephanie, no longer hiding behind the façade of her usual stern demeanor, would catch Mac's eye and offer a genuine smile—a far cry from her initial stern and serious side.
Their banter became a regular occurrence, with Mac making a game out of teasing her, and Stephanie—much to her own surprise—finding herself enjoying the playful exchanges.
As the month progressed, Mac's afternoons alternated between intense sparring sessions with Mr. Lou and moments of quiet companionship with Stephanie.
Their friendship, once tinged with awkwardness, began to feel more natural, their conversations flowing with an easy rhythm.
One day while at the studio, the training sessions with Mr. Lou intensified. The rhythmic sound of fists meeting padded gloves filled the air as Mac sparred against his mentor.
Each strike and counterstrike echoed through the room, the sound of their feet scuffing against the mats adding to the intensity of the fight.
Thud. Mr. Lou blocked Mac's punch, deflecting it with ease before sending a swift kick toward Mac's side. Mac barely managed to dodge, the wind from the blow brushing against his ribs.
"Focus, Mac. Let the energy flow through you, like we practiced," Mr. Lou instructed, his voice calm despite the speed of their movements.
Mac nodded, centering himself as he let Alpha's energy flow through his limbs. He felt the warmth of it settle in his muscles, and as he launched his next strike, his eyes briefly flashed with a golden hue.
His fist collided with Mr. Lou's block, a crack echoing through the studio as the force of the blow reverberated through the air.
Mr. Lou stepped back, a look of curiosity in his gaze. "Your eyes continue to change when you channel Alpha's power. It's a sign of progress, but you need to maintain control."
Mac caught his breath, grinning despite the sweat dripping down his face. "Guess that means I'm full of surprises, right?" Mr. Lou's lips twitched into a rare smile. "Indeed. But surprises won't be enough in the challenges ahead.
Your fight with The Creature was only the beginning and once The Order or The Darkness finds you, things will only get tougher from there." Mac realizing how long it has been since that fight and then wondering what The Order has been doing all this time.
As the days continue to pass in a blur of training, study sessions, and growing friendships. Mac found himself looking forward to his afternoons with Stephanie, enjoying the easy rhythm of their conversations.
He could see the walls she kept around herself gradually lowering, and sometimes, in the quiet moments between jokes and teasing, he caught glimpses of something deeper.
One evening, as they walked out of the student council room, Stephanie hesitated at the door. "You know, Mac... you're not half bad, when you're not being so insufferable."
Mac shot her a playful grin. "I'll take that as a compliment. And for the record, Connors, you're not too bad yourself—when you're not being all 'presidential.'"
She laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're incorrigible. But... maybe that's not such a bad thing." Alpha's voice hummed in the back of Mac's mind, sounding almost thoughtful.
"Human relationships are... complex. Yet there is a certain warmth in these exchanges," Alpha said mentally.
"Yeah, Alpha," Mac thought with a smirk. "That's the magic of getting to know people."
And as they walked side by side through the quiet halls, Mac couldn't help but feel that, despite the dangers and mysteries that still loomed, life had taken a turn he wasn't quite ready to let go of.
Elsewhere in the vast, dimly lit chambers of The Order's headquarters, Kassandra stood before a massive, arched window that overlooked a darkened, stormy sky.
The flickering glow from the mystical runes etched into the floor illuminated her features, casting her in an otherworldly light.
Her emerald eyes narrowed as they surveyed the horizon, her mind consumed with thoughts of the powerful event that had unfolded weeks ago—a surge of energy unlike anything felt in centuries.
A low knock echoed through the chamber. Without turning, "You may enter Lorenzo." The doors creaked open and Lorenzo stepped inside, his black cloak billowed slightly, his cold gaze looking towards Kassandra.
"My lady," Lorenzo began, his voice reverberating with a chilling calm. "The search continues, but we now have confirmation that the energy surge we detected last month is tied to the ancient power that you've been looking for. The same power believed to be linked to your brother's... work."
Kassandra's eyes darkened at the mention of her brother, the elusive figure known only as The Alchemist. Her lips thinned into a contemplative line as she turned to face Lorenzo.
"The Alchemist..." she muttered, her thoughts distant. "It seems that after all these years, his final creation still leaves ripples in the world. Tell me more."
Lorenzo inclined his head slightly. "We've had a report from The Darkness. One of its members encountered something during the event—a pillar of light.
It seems tied to the ancient powers you seek. However, the memory of the encounter is... fragmented. They can't recall the details of the fight that followed."
Kassandra's calm exterior cracked slightly, her emerald eyes flashing with irritation as she turned to Lorenzo and slammed her hand down on her desk.
"The Darkness," she echoed, her voice carrying a bitter edge. "They serve us as a hivemind, yet they cannot remember a simple confrontation? How is this possible?"
Lorenzo shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "It appears the surge of power was... too overwhelming, even to them. Whatever it was, it disrupted their connection. All we know is that one of its members was destroyed, and the light—it vanished."
Kassandra's fingers drummed against the armrest of her high-backed chair after sitting down, her frustration palpable. "Destroyed," she repeated slowly. "And yet, we have no information on the source. How incompetent can The Darkness be?"
"My lady," Lorenzo said carefully, "The Darkness reported as much as it could. The encounter wiped The Creature's memory clean—beyond that, there is nothing more they can give us."
Kassandra turned sharply toward the window, her mind racing. The Darkness, once so reliable in their brute force and hive intelligence, had failed her.
A rare, unsettling thought crossed her mind, "Could there be forces at work stronger than even she had anticipated?"
Her eyes narrowed as lightning illuminated the distant clouds. "Then we need more. I want eyes in Austin. Discreetly. No mistakes. Whatever this power is, it will belong to us no matter what, and I won't let it slip through our grasp because of The Darkness's failures."
Lorenzo bowed slightly. "As you command. I will see to it personally." Because for Lorenzo, that event with the pillar of light hit close to home, where he lives with his family. He left shortly after, he had his orders.
Kassandra's gaze returned to the storm outside, her thoughts a swirl of possibilities—of power, control, and of finally bringing her brother's creations under The Order's dominion.
Whatever this light was, it had her brother's mystical fingerprint all over it, and she would see it brought to her, no matter the cost.
To Be Continued….