I came down to the main office a few minutes early. Joseph was behind his desk when I stepped up to the doorway of his office, concerned after feeling Claudia’s anger. I wondered if she was confronted by Rachel again. I wished that girl would’ve gotten the hint that I wasn’t interested in her. If she was messing with Claudia again, I would have to set her straight once in for all.
There was no doubt Claudia must have been thinking of her, at least I sense something before she shut me out. She must have still been angry regarding Rachel.
“Hey, nephew, where’s Miss Belle?” Joseph was getting so used to seeing her beside me that when he didn’t spot her, he was immediately concerned.
“I’m not sure. I was hoping to find her here, but it’s still early. I told her to meet me here in your office.”
He raised an eyebrow and was immediately interested. “Did you check with Michael?”
“Not yet. Like I said, it’s still early. Besides, I didn’t want to worry him, I’ll just wait for her before I go looking for her in Michael’s office.”
Joseph squinted his eyes at me. “You still looking unsure. What gives?”
“I don’t know. I hate to be that boyfriend, but I sensed she might have been upset then, it was just gone.”
“What do you mean, gone?”
“She seemed afraid … I don’t know, maybe I’m overreacting,” I tried to explain, “but when I tried calling to her she didn’t respond.”
“Hmm,” Joseph said. I doubted he was as worried as me.
“I hate to worry about nothing, but I don’t know what to make of it.”
Joseph rose to look out the window of his office. “Listen, John, with all that’s going on you’re right to worry. I would keep an eye on her. And you’re not that guy, there’s reason enough to be concerned.” He looked troubled. “Especially with Dr. Nicholson on high alert looking for the source, which Miss Belle is.”
“Yeah, I better go look for her.” I stopped near the door and look back at him. His expression worried me. Joseph seemed to be having a moment himself.
The final bell rang. I thought of waiting a little longer, but after what Joseph had said, I thought I’d better go now.
“What’s up? You okay? Is something going on?” I asked Joseph before walking out. He had the look of someone who had just gotten the worst news. Have we just been pulled off the mission? I could see why that would be bad.
Before he could answer, Michael came through the entrance of the office. He looked slightly worried. “John, there you are. Is Claudia with you?” he asked looking around Joseph’s office.
Now I was worried. The fears that had first made me concerned returned.
“No, she’s not. I was about to head up to your office to see if she was with you.”
“Have you heard anything from her? Did she say anything about going anywhere?”
“No, Michael. What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure. Her teacher said she never returned from the bathroom and hasn’t seen her since. She thought that maybe she was in my office. It’s not like her to just wander off without telling me. I thought maybe she was with you here in Joseph’s office.”
Joseph stepped up. He looked extremely worried. He put his hand on my shoulder. “We better look for her.”
I knew that look and understood his concern. Our boss was around. He was lurking, waiting for the right moment to try to find what he was looking for. What if he already got his hands on Claudia?
“We’ll look for her, Michael. I’m sure she just lost track of time. Maybe she stopped to talk to a friend.” I was making up things for his sake.
Michael nodded. “I’m going to look for her in Mr. Claypool’s and Mr. Vasquez’s offices.”
I nodded. “I’ll try the parking lot.; Maybe she thought of meeting me at my car,” I suggested.
“I’m sorry to be such a trouble,” Michael said to Joseph. He smiled and shook his head.
“No trouble at all, Michael, John will be glad to help,” Joseph said.
“What if Vega returned?” I asked firmly.
“I doubt it,” Joseph grunted. “He wouldn’t dare, not if he knows what’s best for him.”
“Some people never learn, Joseph.”
Joseph tucked in his lips in frustration.
“My fears are far more like ET product,” he admitted.
“You go and look in the parking lot, double back. I’m headed to the second floor to see if any of the devices can give me any information or have been activated. Call me if you see anything.”
I didn’t move for a moment. I examined the look on his face. He looked worried. I had never seen him as worried as he was now.
“Go! What are you waiting for? Go find Miss Belle.” Joseph motioned to his watch.
I nodded and walked out of his office.
Walking down the long hall, I past the cafeteria, and through the side doors that led to the parking lot. Outside the buses had arrived and were loading up. I looked in each direction, wondering where Claudia could’ve been. Michael’s car still sat in the parking lot. I didn’t see her nearby.
I walked over to my car and put my backpack in the trunk before going back into the building to look for her. I couldn’t feel her and that scared me the most. I usually sensed a trail of emotion, bad or good, but there was nothing. It was as if she had vanished.
Claudia, where are you?
The sky above seemed to darken, and I wondered if it would rain. A light flashed above, just over the next building. For a split second, I thought the wall had been hit by a bolt of lightning, but when I looked again, I caught sight of someone on the edge of the building. I realized who it was and what I was seeing.
I raced back into the building, dialing Joseph’s number. He answered after the third ring.
“What’s up, did you find her?”
“The roof, now!” I yelled.
I heard a click as I rushed to the roof door. I stopped just a few steps away from the ledge. Claudia seemed to be under some sort of spell. In front of her was a vortex, spinning a beautiful display of colorful lights— reds, blues, yellows, and purples all lighting and spinning like a wheel. From inside, there seemed to be a storm brewing, lighting and snapping at the inner parts, crackling and whipping a wind around us. The watch on my wrist was going crazy moving rapidly. The energy from this thing was disrupting it slightly and I wondered if it was Claudia’s power that was creating such a thing. There was a strange glow covering her body like a light mist of golden dew. The whole scene made me revert to the incident in the parking lot days prior.
Something was using her gift to power this thing. I could almost sense it. No wonder she was disconnected from me. That thing had distorted our connection.
I tried to concentrate on her image, but I could get nothing from her. Distortions from her mind were all I could latch onto.
“Claudia!” I shouted.
Joseph came behind me. We both stood gazing at this amazing, monstrous wonder.
“Shit,” was all I heard from Joseph.