Dreamscape- Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The room fell into a hush as Jack stood in the middle of the circle of cheesy fold up chairs. Somehow he always kept everyone’s attention at every second of every speech. I emphasize the word every because Jack was one of those people who you just couldn’t stop looking at. On his oval face sat a button of a nose, sapphire almond eyes, and blue-black hair. His light ocher skin, along with the rest of him, somehow captivated me. He let his stance take a casual position as he waved seven children up. Tobias fidgeted beside me, watching the new recruits I assume. Four of the children were boys and three were girls. I wondered if he was scouting out the girls.

“All right everyone.” Jack’s voice broke me from my thoughts just like very other time and all whispers had disappeared. “We have seven new Dreamscapers today. Lacy,” He put his hand over a girl with short, mouse brown hair, “Melinda,” Then moved his hand over a pixie-like blonde girl, “and Jackie are our female new comers.” His large hand rested on the Jackie’s clearly African hair. “They will be put under the guidance of our very own Pink Doves. Charlotte has chosen Tara, Amanda, and Jena to be the guardians of these three until they can fight for themselves.”

The girls shifted uneasily, they obviously weren’t used to being the center of attention. The African American girl, Jackie, caught my eye. Something clicked. I didn’t even know how or why but Jackie seemed to be important. Saying that in my head sounded epic and stupid at the same time. Stop thinking epic thoughts, I told myself.

Another blink from Jackie showed no emotion; I was suddenly curious as to what she was thinking. She turned her head away to look up at Jack, “Why do they all have pink hair?”

“Well, the Pink Doves are our elite female group of Dreamscapers. They have significant powers that we use as our front line of attack. They’re a bit too proud of themselves, however.” Jack shot a grin at Charlotte who returned it with her tongue, “They decided that they’d all dye their hair pink so they’d be even more recognizable.” Yup, we were the egotistical section of the Dreamscapers. God forbid you didn’t know about us; he might strike you down with thunderbolts or something.

“Do we have to dye our hair?” Lacy spoke up in a quiet voice. I felt bad for whoever had to train that little mouse. I doubt I could get even get a squeak out of her, even with some cheese.

“Not necessarily. However, by the time you complete your training and become part of the Pink Doves you might change your mind. Now go on. I already pointed out your mentors to you.”

The gray-eyed Jackie glided over to me with confidence. She smiled. “Hello.”

I looked to either side of me quickly and felt guilty. “Hi I’m Tara, second in command of the Pink Doves. Sorry there’re no other chairs, want mine?”

Jackie shook her head with a sly smile, as if I didn’t know something, “I’ll get one.”

It was apparent that I didn’t. A rattle emitted from the back of the room. One of the tacky fold-up chairs dislodged itself from the rest and hovered toward Jackie. What a smart chair.

The chair touched down behind mine. Jackie rose into the air calmly and landed in the chair, hands folded. I smiled at my new student; telekinesis was definitely a useful power.

She seems like she’ll be a handful. Of course, Zephyr had to put his two sense into it.

Well, at the very least she’s more mature than you. I retorted in defense of my pupil.

A pause. I’ll give you that, poodle.

Jack cleared his throat as a businessman would, in a business-like way of course. “Now for our boys.” The boys beamed and looked confident, except for one.

Jack smiled down at them. “Kai, Joey, Patrick, and Josh.” He pointed out a Native American boy, a little, geeky looking kid who wasn’t smiling and Irish twins with freckles and mischievous grins. “They will be assigned to Zephyr, Anna Beth, Pins and Needles.”

The boys dispersed in a formal manner and went to their mentors. Jack looked relieved to see the children settle in with the grown ups. A few whispers popped up but Jack quickly silenced them by calling out. “Reports?”

One by one division stood and reported. A few reports of trouble came in but nothing too serious. Thank God, I had pulled a muscle and I didn’t feel like kicking ass. Jackie sat calmly with her dark hands folded over her lap behind me through the reports.

“Charlotte?”

Char’s name drew my attention back to Jack. Charlotte stood scratched at her ear, her piercings jingling. “Yes, milord?” She asked sarcastically.

“Anything you’d like to close up with?”

Charlotte shifted and let her head fall. She put her hand on her chin and swayed for a moment. “Nope.” Her head snapped up. “All is well, as usual.”

“You never know.” Jack replied. “All right children, class dismissed. I brought food for anyone who hasn’t eaten.”

The entire room burst into life. I stood and Jackie followed. Tobias appeared at my side again, grinning happily. “Hiya, Jackie! I’m Tobias.”

He held his hand out for her to shake. What a gentleman, if only she knew the annoying devil I was accustomed to. She took it with as much enthusiasm as Tobias put forth. “Glad to meet you. Are you friends with Tara?”

“Only her best ever!” I cuffed Tobias in the back of the head. “You only whack me because I’m right!” With that he ran to a safer place, hopefully a nice bomb shelter equipped with three months of food; that would be a nice challenge.

Taaaaarrrraaaaaaa. Zephyr whined at me loudly. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples, finally deciding I was allergic to whining.

“Yes?” Zephyr loomed over me; tenseness was weaved into his face and stance.

Newbie. His strained mental syllables went perfectly with his taut muscles. Behind him the Native American boy stood confidently with a glint of mischief in his eye. For a moment I looked between the two, mildly confused. It finally clicked, he must've been using his power.

“Let him go, kid.”

His eyes snapped at me. A scowl replaced his grin. “It’s Kai, not kid.”

“Got it. Let him go before I do him a favor and get a newbie off his back.”

Grudgingly he released whatever he had on his mentor. Zephyr wheeled around to punch Kai only to find himself locked in position again. Kai shrugged. “Now do you see why I was holding him?”

“Ah.” Was all I could come up with. “Zeph stop trying to beat up to newbies.”

Whatever just make him stop NOW!

Kai seemed to understand that he’d stop. He released his power, whatever it was. Zephyr straightened up.

“I. Hate. Newbies.”

“Newbies hate you.” Kai responded venomously.

Zephyr wasn’t affected. “Jackie doesn’t.”

My student shrugged with a self-satisfied smile on her face. The clicking of the fold up chairs could be heard as the Dreamscapers started to clean up and leave. I reached down to fold up my own and get moving. “Let’s go to Tobias’s house.”

On cue, as usual, Tobias appeared next to me with a huge sandwich in his hands. “Sure! Let’s go.”

I looked at the shrimp with disbelief. “Dude, you just ate seven subs at your house. How on God’s green Earth are you able to fit another one in there?”

It was obvious he didn’t know nor did he care. Another chunk was missing from the sandwich before I could blink.