The Forgotten Heir

Chapter 3: Deadline
“You wanted to see me, Sister Margaret?”
Arnett wrung her hands together as she burned a hole into the back of the leather chair. She fiddled with her one-piece uniform as she waited for the former nun to regard her presence.
Looking around the office, Arnett saw it appeared much more renovated from the last time she was here. A brand new furnished sofa, a large oak bookshelf brimmed to the top with reference books, novels, poetry, etc. were a part of those items. What really caught her eye was the reminiscent grandfather clock, the thin brass pendulum repeatedly swung in a lazy fashion.
Arnett was brought back to attention when the principal suddenly swerved her chair; the elderly woman placed tired but sturdy elbows onto her desk as she gazed at the red-head. Sister Margaret slowly folded her hands together and gently placed them over her mouth, covering the frown lines etched on her face.
Sister Margaret would have gladly asked Arnett to sit down, but she wanted to make this short and sweet.
One week had passed since the cafeteria incident, and thankfully no future incidents occurred since then. As she stated in their welcoming ceremony, students were to be wary of such circumstances, but all in all, they should have known better regardless. With Novas appearing more frequently than ever, West Genetics, if not all Genetics academies around the world, need all the help they could get. Sister Margaret slowly blinked at Arnett as her warm voice echoed in the room.
“Macmillan-kun,” she lowered her hands onto the desk, “I understand you are having a tough time and are still in mourning…”she said as her voice lowered to a more serious tone, “however I must inform you…in order to remain a Pandora in this facility…you must be baptized with a new partner effective immediately.” Chocolate orbs hardened as she watched Arnett raise her own eyebrows in shock, ready for protest. “That is not a request.”
Arnett stood ram-rod straight at the principal’s commanding tone, the brewing tension between herself and the woman grew thicker by the minute. Slowly placing her hands behind her back, she clenched them together as she lowered her head, crimson bangs partially covering her face. “Is there really no other way?” she murmured, staring at the dull patterned floor with intense interest. Sister Margaret let out a sigh before she sternly replied.
“I’m sure you know of the saying, ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,’” Arnett suddenly raised her head as Sister Margaret pushed herself off the desk, her mouth placed in a solemn line as she turned back to the window before the intended interruption. Sister Margaret softly gazed upon the campus with a sad smile, her students laughing and smiling to their hearts’ content under her watchful eye. If only things were much simpler, she thought to herself as she continued to look over her students.
Forcing a child to be with someone they didn’t care for was not part of her agenda.
“Relax Macmillan-kun,” Sister Margaret called without turning back to Arnett, “rest assured what is said here is strictly confidential. These walls help avoid prying ears for matters like this.” Another silence passed between them as the nun watched the sun set; the clouds surrounding the golden ball turn fiery orange as she turned to look at Arnett. “The Commander grows suspicious by the day. I cannot afford to stand by and watch if he learns your stigmata remain intact, regardless of your past relationship with Morrison.”
“That will not only put you in danger, but also any other Pandora in a similar predicament.” Baby blue convent robes fluidly flowed behind her as she walked towards her student; Arnett’s eyes were wide with shock as Sister Margaret leaned back on the top of her desk, indigo eyes filled with regret as she looked into copper orbs.
“I will give you time,” she began, waiting patiently for Arnett’s full attention, “but know this. I can only give you until the Fall Carnival to make your decision. Otherwise,” her stern tone softened into a small whisper, “I won’t be able to help you if he learns of this. Do I make myself clear?” Arnett clenched her hands harder as a pregnant pause passed between them, Sister Margaret calmly watched as she waited for an answer.
She already knew before coming here she was in deep shit. She planned to fix it, with the most trusting guy friend she had ever had.
If only…that hadn’t happened.
“I understand,” Arnett slowly replied as she let clenched hands fall limp to her sides, “I will find a new partner before the new semester,” she bowed her head respectively towards the older woman. “And also,” Arnett added, her copper orbs filled with resolve as the setting sun gave a fiery glow to her form, “I will make sure never to fail you again, Sister Margaret.”
A frail calloused hand was softly placed on top of her head, surprising Arnett with the immediate warmth. She looked up in confusion to see her principal give a small smile while intimately patting her head. “That was quite a scary face right there Arnett. I remember telling you I like your smiling face much better.” Arnett flushed a light pink before she gave a quick nod, surprise still existent in her features. Sister Margaret let out a light chuckle before stilling her hand.
“My dear child,” she soothed, making Arnett’s heart give a painful throb, “Never have you or any of my students during my teaching have ever ‘failed’ me. No matter what happens, I will do everything in my power to protect you. No matter what.”
Missing the momentary warmth from her pseudo-grandmother, Arnett gave her a small nod before turning towards the exit, burning copper orbs filled with resolve.
.o.O.o.
“Summer!?” Creo yelled as she placed a hard punch in the center of the heavy bag, leaving behind a small dent. Arnett remained mute as she braced herself behind the leather, hands clenched while Creo placed bandaged hands in front of her face, her mild pants the main sound she could hear, besides running treadmills.
After she left Sister Margaret’s office, Arnett decided to collect her thoughts for a few days before telling Elizabeth and Creo. However, things didn’t go exactly her way.
Creo was mad when she didn’t answer about the mystery guy. Now she was livid, practically demanding answers while she beat the heavy bag to a pulp.
Once she saw everyone in the gym decide to mind their own business, Creo began her jabs once again, her forest green gym shorts swaying about from her swift movements.
“That’s not enough time,” the white-haired girl angrily grunted as she weaved and jabbed, the chain from the ceiling jingled from the pressurized vibration, “that’s only four months. What the hell kind of results are they expecting in four months!? That’s impossible!” Arnett flexed her legs as Creo continued her onslaught of punches, her fingers going numb from the continuous vibration. She had to admit, her white-haired friend was right about one thing. It would be a full-blown miracle to find someone not baptized in four months, let alone a Nova hasn’t attacked in over three years.
“Don’t be so pessimistic you two,” Elizabeth Mably remarked as she finished her jog, her sweaty palms slowly turned off the treadmill. Placing a mini towel around her bare shoulders, a relaxed sigh left her lips as she approached the two. Flowing blonde hair was placed in a low ponytail, swaying against her white tee shirt. Placing the cold bottle of water up to her lips, Elizabeth swallowed in satisfaction while Creo suddenly stopped her punches, much to Arnett’s relief.
“On the contrary,” Elizabeth continued, “four months is a very long time, so don’t get your hopes up too quickly.” she quickly sipped again as Arnett and Creo quickly looked at each other, then back at Elizabeth in suspicion. “For you to say something like that,” Arnett watched Elizabeth drink as she stretched her aching arms, “it seems you have someone in mind?”
Elizabeth licked her lips as a stray drop escaped; her ocean blue orbs looked into suspecting copper.
“Well since you asked, yes I do,” Elizabeth replied while Creo placed a hand over her face as she lowly grumbled ‘match-making again?’, “A few days ago, new students had transferred in to begin this spring semester. It’s been officially confirmed two out of the three transfers are second-years, and one is male. Although two have only arrived at the moment, the one within our grasp is in the premises.” Arnett looked at Elizabeth in disbelief as she furrowed her brow. “And how accurate is this information, Elizabeth?” Arnett growled, her mind refusing to believe such miracles exist, “Did you hear this from some underclassmen?”
“That’s quite rude of you Arnett, to tarnish information I was able to retrieve.” All three turned to see a short Pandora approach, gleaming hazel eyes and a prideful smirk were etched on her face as she finished her stretches. Twin silver pigtails bobbed from side to side as the girl stopped walking, placing her small hands to her hips.
“What Elizabeth has said is true,” Attia spoke, her voice clear and concise to the three, “there is a new second-year male student this semester, and from what my sources tell me…he didn’t seem too thrilled to be André’s new roommate.” Arnett only looked at Attia in confusion as she questioned why Eugene left. Attia’s answer was a light chuckle as she watched a certain blonde’s cheeks singe pink in embarrassment.
“Well~,” Attia snickered as she saw Elizabeth’s cheeks grow redder, “it’s because a certain someone and André were being too… lovey-dovey… for his tastes, so Eugene requested a room change. It was pure dumb luck the transfer student happened to live by himself.” Attia’s snickers persisted while Creo and Arnett looked back at Elizabeth, who immediately gave them a cold ‘don’t judge me’ glare with her cheeks sporting a strawberry tint.
“Anyway,” Elizabeth declared, forcing her blush away, “I’ve heard nothing but good things about him from André all week. Not just from him, but plenty of other students as well. We have to remember, more Pandora apply to this school than prospective Limiters, so we should hurry before vultures capture him.”
“By vultures, you mean that glutton, right?” Attia interrupted, her smirk grew even wider as all three turned her attention to her. “No worries about that. A couple days ago, Miyabi tried her luck for limiter number four, and he flat out refused. When she protested, I heard he took one good look at her and said,” she harrumphed as she attempted to lower her voice, “‘everything about you reeks of booze and sex. If I didn’t know you were a student, I would’ve sent you right back to Tobitashinchi.’”
Attia burst into laughter as Arnett and Creo looked at her with disbelief. That chuckling, blushing suck-up from last week…could speak like that?! “I heard Miyabi was so shocked, she fainted as soon as he was out the door.” Clinging to her sides, Attia groaned from her aching stomach muscles as she tried to stop laughing.
“Anyway, this guy is clean as a whistle. He’s not much of a talker, but after that little outburst with Miyabi, he became extremely popular with both genders...although he is nothing compared to my Mark.”
Arnett couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the expected remark. Absolutely nothing seemed to ever compare to Attia’s precious Mark.
“Sorry to burst your bubble, but we’ve already met the guy.” Creo’s cheery voice raised eyebrows from both Attia and Elizabeth, while Arnett turned to her tan friend in horror. “In fact,” the white-haired girl smirked, “last week, the guy literally swept Arnett off her feet like some knight in shining armor. Oh, he also saved her sorry ass from getting chewed out by Tichy.”
“Creo!”
“What?” Creo huffed, not finished with blowing off steam, “you never told me what was going on, so I’m going to assume. Besides, don’t even think about weaseling your way out of this one. Not even ten seconds- ten seconds- after he touched your shoulder, you were literally eye-fucking each other in the middle of the cafeteria! In front of some girl who seriously believed you would kill her!”
“We did not!”
“And then you had the gall to do it again! In front of Tichy of all people! I’m glad she dragged him away when she did, or who knows what would’ve happened.”
“It wasn’t like that, I swear!”
“Uh huh, tell me that next time when your mouths decide to have better conversation than your stomachs.” Arnett blushed deep red at Creo’s sarcasm, embarrassment set in while Attia nearly passed out from laughter.
“Alright, that’s enough you two,” Elizabeth placed the half empty bottle of clear liquid to her side, a small smirk graced her features, “now that we know the both of you have already been…acquainted, so to say, have you seen him at all this past week?” After forcing her flushed face to turn its normal color, Arnett only gave a blank look at the blond-haired woman.
“After the cafeteria incident, he’s been avoiding me like the plague. I check after gym, before class, after class, during food hours, nothing! Everyone says I just missed him. It’s like the guy’s a complete ghost.” Arnett refused to believe that was the case. She saw a living, breathing, human figure last week.
And she still had those questions.
Elizabeth nodded in understanding while graciously grabbing her phone from her shorts pocket, sending a quick text. Moments later, a light sound came from the phone while Elizabeth looked the message over.
“André said Akira left for the cafeteria about twenty minutes ago. If you’re lucky, you can still catch him, so you’d better run.” Attia, Arnett, and Creo stood agape at Elizabeth. The sheer loyalty André has to answer her text within seconds was absolutely phenomenal.
“Well, don’t just stand there,” Elizabeth remarked with irritation, “go already!” Stunned alert by the authoritative commanded, Arnett sprinted off towards the exit, set on catching Akira and telling her what really happened.
Creo and Attia looked at Elizabeth’s contempt face, Attia being the one to break the silence.
“How long ago did he really leave for the dining hall?”
“Just now.”
“And you didn’t even remind her to change first?”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Hope you enjoyed the new Chapter Three. Again, now the characters will finally have a real meeting. So look forward to it in Chapter Four!