Chereads / The Tace Projects / Chapter 2 - The Innocent Smile

Chapter 2 - The Innocent Smile

Topher rapidly ran away from the underground work place and ran up a large hill which was not too far away. Topher wished that this was all a bad dream and kept on running until 6:30AM when he approached a bus station, he looked at the name of the road, it was unrecognisable. He hopped on the bus anyways and rode on it for 40 minutes. The time was 7:10 which meant he still had time to get home before his father reached it! He made it home in time and his father did not suspect a thing, he just ignored Topher's existence just like always.

Topher was so tired while walking to school with his best friend, Rachael. Rachael had long blonde hair, she was 5'5 and wore glasses, she not only was Topher's best friend but also his first ever one too. They are so close that Topher considers her family and invites her over to his house and vice versa almost everyday! Topher would be lost without Rachael, she made him feel like he belonged, like he was wanted and loved for. Rachael and Topher got to school but to Topher's shock a familiar face showed up at his school, his face turned very pale and he felt faint. He darted for the toilet and threw up. How is he here? Why is he here? Is he here because of me? Is he here because of my father? What does he want? Are all the thoughts that flooded Topher's head, he couldn't think straight with all this stress. He threw water onto his sweating face and began to take deep breathes. He walked out of the toilet room and walked to his form, he thought to himself that it's ironic that the intruder is intruding once again but at his school. He took a seat next to the school bully, Fred. The intruder (Well his so called teacher) took the class attendance and then introduced himself.

"Hello class, my name is Mr Krillo and I will be your new form tutor!" said Mr Krillo cheerfully.

The class responded with an eerie silence.

"Ah, I see. You are all shy, well I am a shy person myself. I am sure we will all get along, so why don't you all introduce yourselves to me." Said Mr Krillo.

Each child individually introduced themselves until it was finally Topher's turn.

"Um hello, my name is Topher Primero and I-"Topher said before getting interrupted.

"-And I loving being an utter freak," said Fred mimicking Topher's voice.

"Hey! Stop that now, we will not condone that type of behaviour. Do I make myself clear?" said Mr Krillo.

"I said, do I make myself clear?" said Mr Krillo once more.

Fred nodded his head, Mr Krillo had switched from the nice, kind teacher to the intimidating teacher from hell in just an instant. Topher didn't trust the teacher at all, he was sceptical of his "nice teacher" act. All Topher knew for sure was that this guy knew stuff and that makes him dangerous, he stole from his father's agency. Who knows what else he could have done.

It was the end of school and Topher got straight onto his bike and followed Mr Krillo home from within the shadows, he knew that Krillo wanted to do something with him or his father. He just did not know what at that moment in time. About 40 minutes later Krillo stopped off at an old grey factory which had been presumed abandoned for over 40 years, he grabbed the device which resembled a camera out of his bag and walked towards the door. An old woman with what seemed liked an innocent smile opened the door while kindly inviting Krillo inside, she looked around but did not see Topher and then quickly shut the big old doors. Topher walked up to the factory walls to listen in to what hey were discussing and why Krillo went through all the trouble of obtaining that camera.

"Luke Krillo I am pleased you completed the mission," said the woman.

"Well I wasn't given much choice was I? I did your stupid heist now tell me where my family is! I want to see my mother, my father, my wife... my kids." said Krillo while breaking into tears.

"Please Luke, there is no need to cry, let me offer you a tissue," kindly said the woman.

"Thank you, now please, where is my family," asked Krillo.

"Your family is in hell." said the woman without a change in tone of voice.

"What?" asked Krillo in confusion.

"We experimented on your family and then forced your family to rip each other limb from limb after torturing them for months on end, it was real fun!" said the woman cheerfully

"What?" asked Krillo again in shock.

"I said that we basically made your family into human lab rats and then made them kill each other," said the woman.

The next few words were mumbles that Topher could not figure out but what he did hear was Krillo screaming in pain while getting dragged to a cell within the factory. Topher quickly biked away from the factory filled with fear, he realised that Krillo wasn't bad but in a bad situation but he most importantly realised that Krillo is in danger. Topher made a promise to himself that he would save Krillo and end whatever is going on with that camera. He has to do it. It's a life or death situation.