They opened the school grounds as early as 7 in the morning. Classes started at around 8. This sizeable gap of time was for the arrival of special groups amongst the school. Groups like clubs. For things such as early morning practice, access to the school library, and so on. To ensure they carried appropriate behaviour out during this time, teachers were also required to report working.
Oliver would usually take a 30-minute walk from his house to the school. A few stops on the way usually delayed him, but today he was sprinting there to cut down on his daily task. There was a reason he was doing this so early in the day.
Although they had never mentioned it, Oliver knew Jack and Elaine were among those students who got to school early. Their reasons sometimes differed, but they would always be there early. Oliver had confirmed it even as he walked to school by texting Jack and the response was immediate.
They were both at the school library, helping members of the library committee with library stuff. Yet another group that arrived at school early.
Oliver held his phone in his hand as he stopped by a zebra crossing. Cars zoomed past and Oliver wouldn't brave crossing recklessly.
There were very few people around, all of them waiting for the pedestrian waking sign to change to green. Oliver hated this part of his walk to school. It felt like ages until finally the light changed green and the car traffic came to a halt. Oliver took a single step when he saw the blur.
It was the person who had been waiting for the light to change right behind him. A blurring blue hoodie concealed their face in shadow as they swept past Oliver's right. A light brush sensation and Oliver's hand no longer held his phone but empty air.
Oliver watched the back of the person run away, dumbfounded. Everything seemed to move in slow motion before Oliver's shock snapped and was replaced with an indescribable amount of rage.
He chased after the thief.
An elderly lady was pushed out of the way while holding a cane by the thief in their desire to flee. She toppled over with a yelp. Oliver ran up... and jumped over her like a hurdle, not even bothering to look at her as she cowered even further into a small ball in the centre of the road. Passers-by and car drivers stared dumbfounded as the thief crossed the road with the speed of a superhuman and Oliver right behind them.
They ran across the block, past buildings, crowded areas and even across busy traffic, much to the rage of several drivers. Their pace never faltering but the thief making more and more mistakes in panic. Stumbling slightly over sewer hole covers, bumping into pedestrians but maintaining that unbelievable speed all the while. They eventually came across an empty alley blocked at the end by an overbearing brick wall, the backside of an office building.
The thief saw it first and with little hesitation ran into the alley disregarding the homeless man who he pushed out of the way, cursing and seething in anger. Oliver followed right after, a feeling of panic finally replacing the anger.
{MY PHONE!]
It wasn't the fact that a thief had stolen from him in broad daylight, nor that he hadn't been careful enough to keep his phone away. But that he could lose his phone that drove him to chase after the thief. Panic blinded him to anything other than getting back that phone.
His very life depended on it.
The alley was deep, a couple metres from entrance to the dead end and quite wide as well, big enough for a dump truck to drive into.
The thief didn't slow their pace.
Neither did Oliver.
As soon as the thief came within a few metres from the dead end they did something that would leave a mark forever in the mind of young Oliver.
They jumped. It seemed just like a casual leap, but they flew over 10 metres high. Barely high enough to land onto the office roof building. The blur of blue jeans, hoodie and sports shoes disappeared over the terrace just as Oliver came to a halt. His fists clenched tight as the rage resurfaced.
"FUCK!!"
The thief wasn't normal, wasn't a basic human. But was an evolved. Oliver raged against these circumstances. He threw a tantrum in that very alley, kicking the air and shaking his fists at the sky. The fact that Oliver hadn't even managed to get a glimpse of the thief's face only made his rage sink deeper.
He looked around the alley, looking for anything to wield his rage against. The homeless man from earlier had disappeared, a rageful mood of his own following after him no doubt. Eventually, Oliver's rage exhausted itself and he sat down on the dirty ground. His back against the office building.
{I need to get my phone back. I have to get my phone back.}
His rage threatened to resurface, but he forced himself to calm down and think.
{First things first, what time is it...}
Oliver owned no watch, why would he when everything he needed was on his...
He threw another tantrum.
Eventually, he settled and begrudgingly left the alley. His walking speed noticeably slower than before. Happiness stolen from him, no smile was on his face as he came back to the street. The road was busy and so was the sidewalk. People giving him dirty looks as he simply stood there, obstructing the flow.
Should he file a report? The nearest police station was just around the block. Oliver stared at the sky before realising it mattered little.
He turned around and followed the flow of pedestrians. Crazy thoughts filled his mind, no way would he rely on anyone else. A report would take too long, police wouldn't be stirred into action and since it was an evolved it would take even longer to have a hero assigned to the case.
No, the best action was simple.
He would catch the asshole himself.
********************************************
Elaine typed away on a keyboard. A bright red hard-cover book was right beside her on the librarian's desk. She was quick and precise as she typed in the deliveries entry for the book and the number of copies it came with. She was wearing a simple pair of light blue jeans, a white thick cardigan and brand new white sneakers. Casual wear for her, but as she worked, Jack eyed her from somewhere behind her like an authentic Picasso.
"Yo, where's Smith?"
Ethan Helsey walked from around a bookshelf, pushing an empty cart. He had just filled the bookshelves with the new deliveries. Usually it was the job of the actual librarian, but she was on maternity leave and the library committee volunteered to take up her duties.
Right now, though, it was only Ethan around, as the others couldn't make it in today. So Jack and Elaine came in to help him.
They had mentioned Oliver would come in too, but it was already almost time for first period. Oliver hadn't dropped by.
Elaine stopped her typing and turned to look at Jack. He was also worried, and it was clear to see on his face.
"Not sure... maybe he stopped by somewhere."
It was an optimistic view, and Ethan simply accepted it. He picked up his sweater he had draped on a nearby chair.
"Well then, I'm off. You guys can leave too. Thanks for the help."
With that, Ethan left the library, leaving Jack alone with Elaine. Jack let out a sigh as he looked at his phone's screen. Messages was open, and he had been trying to call Oliver at least 3 times.
"You don't really need to worry, you know."
Elaine shut off the computer and placed the red book into her bag. She had registered herself as the borrower on the computer. When she stood up, she turned to face Jack, her black hair bobbing with the movement.
"Oliver will be here."