Sep 2007

Chapter 15A High Entry

We climbed out of the tree, Khuna and I. We just sat there, watching the sky with our backs against the trunk. Both of us didn't say a word for the longest time. The moon just moved along the sky with only a cloud here and there to hide it's silver sheen.

Khuna sighed deeply. "You know, you do look beautiful in that skirt."

It was the first thing we said since we saw him and it completely took me off guard. I blushed.

Khuna giggled as she saw my blush. "I'm serious, it looks good on you. I'd look horrible in a skirt. Believe me I've tried."

I smiled. "But you look almost the same as me."

"But I don't feel the same. The clothes we wear aren't just worn by the outside." She smiled warmly.

It was true, more or less. I felt much better in these clothes just because they made me feel good. And Khuna looked very nice in hers. She was very different from my old clothes though. Hers were way more elegant and detailed. Just a cute tight shirt and jeans to die for.

Khuna got up. "Do you want to visit your parents home?"

I shook my head. "No. Nothing for me there at the moment. There is somewhere I do want to visit though."

Khuna looked surprised. "Two ideas in one night?" She asked mockingly.

I got up and smiled broadly. "Oh yes, and you'll like this one. It'll be a challenge."

Khuna put her hands on her hips. "Oh really?"

I simply nodded and spoke evenly. "My old school."

She went from surprise to shock to laughter. "Okay. I think I get it. And yes, it will be a challenge. I'm not sure we could do it though."

I shrugged. "It's not that hard. I know of the security in the school. I don't know why, but I always notice things like that. Camera's, motion sensors, etc. All the classrooms have motion sensors and all the windows are secure as well."

Khuna giggled. "Not that hard?"

I smiled. "No, because it's an old building, and the attic and clock tower have no triggers or sensors. I've had to help move desks there once, lazy teachers. The challenge will be getting on the roof. But you'll see."

Khuna smiled and nodded. "Alright, you lead the way then."

The park was still empty, not surprising at this hour, and we made our way to the streets again and walked towards my school. For a moment flashes of the last time I walked here in the sun blinded my thoughts. But they passed as quickly as they came. My memory became sharper with every moment. I could even replay most of yesterday evening like a movie in my mind. It felt like a whole week worth of memories

We arrived at my old school, standing in front of the gate.

In the dark these old buildings looked quite imposing. Even the lighting was almost brilliantly gloomy. As if the streetlights were all positioned in a very special way to fully enhance the gloominess of the building.

'Oh no' I thought to myself. 'I'm becoming goth.'

I giggled and looked at the gates. "These shouldn't be a problem."

Khuna nodded and jumped over them into the schoolyard as if it was just a little skip. It actually surprised me and made me remember the completely failed first jump I did.

"Don't think so much, just do." Her voice came almost like a whisper on the wind. I felt myself nodding.

I stepped forward and jumped. I felt the air rushing against my face, arms and legs and felt good. I felt confident now, my body automatically adjusted for the momentum and landed nicely. Just a little jump.

I gasped. "Wow... That was fun!"

Khuna smiled and dragged me to a darker corner of the schoolyard. "Come on, no sense in standing here out in the open."

I took my time to look at the building, trying to remember how it looked from the inside as well as outside. The rain-pipe was an easy way up, but the spikes on it would not make it very easy. I saw Khuna looking as well.

I pointed to the clock-tower. "There, see that opening? It's easily large enough for us to enter." She nodded and pointed to two other ledges.

"I think we can just jump on there, then there. If we walk lightly, the roof is no problem."

I nodded and let her lead the way. It felt odd, breaking into my old school, but I had a reason. Besides the thrill of actually breaking in here I wanted to find something I hid there. And... Hmm... Better not think on it.

We walked to the first roof and Khuna took a calculated jump up, grabbed the ledge and easily climbed up. Seeing her do it made it seem so much easier. I jumped up as well but only managed to grab on by one hand. I panicked until I noticed it was no trouble at all holding on. I could easily pull myself up by one hand. So my weight had not increased with my strength.

I pulled myself up and smiled a bit sheepishly. Khuna just giggled and jumped on the higher roof without even needing to pull herself up. I tried to follow her and misjudged slightly, almost falling again if I hadn't reached out for Khuna's hand. The tip of my foot caught the edge of the roof and it was stable enough to get myself up there completely. My body still felt filled with adrenaline as we made for the tower.

My memory served me well, the opening was more then large enough to crawl through. Through the attic and down the old wooden stairs at first. Their soft creaking the only noise. We made our way to the lockers, walking quietly through the corridors like ghosts. Stirring no dust, leaving no trails. No one would know we were here. Vampires in school.

As we closed in on the lockers I walked past them and asked Khuna to give me a hand. The air-conditioning duct was far enough from the ceiling to be opened as long as you stood on some support. Once a chair, now Khuna's hands, helped me to open it and get my little hidden secret. Not even my parents knew this and I had almost forgotten. It had been simply ages since I'd hidden it here. I almost forgot the reason too.

I stepped down from Khuna's support. She didn't ask what it was but just gave me the time to show it to her.

I unwrapped it. It was a bracelet, a very old simple bracelet, a smallish moonstone set in white gold. I don't know why the man had reminded me of it so much but... It felt good to have it again.

"It's beautiful. Put it on." Whispered Khuna softly.

Unsure I hesitated and looked in her eyes. She nodded, giving me that last little push I needed. I put it on and felt the cool metal against my skin. The soft moonstone shone almost as pretty as Khuna's eyes. And I wondered if my eyes shone as beautifully in the dark.

"They do." Answered Khuna softly to my unspoken question.

I really should ask her some time if she could read thoughts.

"There is one other thing... But I'm not sure if we should attempt to get it."

She looked at me, shrugging, giving me the choice.

"There is a book I once saw in the headmaster's office. When I saw it it gave me the shivers. I have a vague feeling it has something to do with... us." I smiled bravely. "But I could be completely wrong."

She shrugged again. "It's your choice."

I closed my eyes trying to remember what I felt when I saw it months ago. Just a feeling of something out of this world, like I feel now.

I opened my eyes and nodded. "Let's go get it."