‘Locker rooms stink.’ Ren thought as he was pulled
further into the room. The tightly fitted ivory tiles interposed with different coloured tiles. ‘Looks familiar,’ Ren hummed to himself in thought, then snorted. ‘It looks like the runes Mom kept trying to put onto the wall before painting over them, I’m glad she wants to protect us, but superstitious rigmarole is not the way to do it. And why am I seeing patterns where clearly it was only aesthetic desire that placed the tiles in those patterns.’
“Hurry up, whoever you are, and stop lollygagging,” Zack snarked.
“You know, if you’re going to confuzzle me into being on your team, the least you can do is learn my name.” Ren responded.
“Heh, maybe but I really only need you for this game.”
“How cutthroat of you.”
“Whatever. So, what is your name then?” Zack asked, eyebrow raised in sarcasm.
“Oh, now you’re curious.” Ren snarked back. “My name is Ren O’Malley.”
As the name O’Malley was spoken, Ren watched Zack flinch back without seeming to realize he had. ‘Was that fear or something subconscious?’ Ren mused. ‘Then again, with all the crazy shit my family does is it any wonder that anybody who has seen the videos tries to get far away. Except Myria… but she is insane too.’
Ren came back to the waking world, pulling his wandering thoughts out of the aether with the waving of a hand and the calling of his name.
“O’Malley! Wake up dammit. Stop spacing otherwise you’re gonna get creamed on the field.”
“Seriously, why do you want me to play?” Ren asked. “The most I’ve ever done is play catch with my Dad and Blake.”
“That’s one of the reasons; you’re untrained, so the senior team won’t know what you’re going to do. The other reason is that there are videos on that hidden website that Myria was showing that shows you playing catch. From what I saw you’re pretty good. Insane, but good.”
“Great, more videos.” Ren muttered.
“Here.” Zack said, shoving a pile of equipment at Ren. “Get dressed. I need to run you through a couple of exercises and catching drills before we start.”
“And I shall help.” a deep voice spoke up from behind Ren. “Holy crap!” Ren shrieked as he hopped the bench and put his back to the lockers. Gripping at his heart Ren growled at Ray, “Stop doing that big man.”
“And deprive myself of the enjoyment of watching you freak out? I think not.”
Ren stuck his tongue out at the laughing Ray in a decidedly mature fashion. A chuckle stopped any more words or acts. It was masculine and ethereal to Ren and Ray’s ears, but Ren thought there was something underlying the sound that was off… something he couldn’t place.
“Stop laughing Zack, otherwise I won’t help you in chem.”
The laughing stopped abruptly, but the sound echoed and continued for a bit longer than Ren thought an echo should. Shaking his head once more Ren thought to himself, ‘My parents’ paranoia must be hereditary.’
Slowly, seconds ticked by as the three stood staring at one another. Ren soon got annoyed and gestured at the other two to
turn around. When all they did was give him a blank stare, Ren had to rub his head in frustration.
“If you two would please stop staring and turn around, I will get changed,” Ren growled.
A wicked grin split Zack’s face. “Shy, are you? Don’t know why? Those pants look like their painted on.”
“I know for a fact that they are not,” Ren stated glaring bale- fully at the grinning black-haired teen and grabbing at his thigh and pulling leather a good inch and a half away from skin. “Why are you trying to antagonize me?”
“’Cause when Myria told us you were coming to the school, she made it sound like you could walk on water and you never got mad. Also, you better get over that shyness if you are going to be playing for the rest of the year.”
“Well I think I debunked that myth when I punched Larry, don’t you think? Also why would Myria try to talk me up?” Ren mumbled to himself, though it was clearly heard by the other two. Ren’s head snapped up when the second part of Zack’s sentence filtered through.
“I thought I was only playing one game?” Ren asked cocking his head to the side.
“Yeah, about that… I called you family in front mom so you’re stuck helping the family, either through playing the game, joining the cheer squad, or helping Mom under the auspice of detentions. I recommend playing football personally.” Zack told him, a bright cheerful and slightly sadistic grin on his face.
“Right. Awesome. My ignorance is to be punished while you, Myria, and I suppose Ray get off free and clear?”
“Actually, no. Your ignorance punishes you; it’s true. But me, Myria, and Ray will feel the brunt of the exchange. Mom will kick my ass, and then ban me from football. Ray will likely lose his scholarship potential as well as his bursaries for school, and Myria will be taken off her squad, and any chance of getting further in her martial arts will be a pipe dream.”
“You’re an ass, Zack.” Ray told him in amusement at the same time as Ren’s dry monotone.
“Well, yeah.” Zack told the two his cheeky grin still in place. “Zack Nidhoggr Kaede.”
“Um, why are you talking about the dragon that feasts upon the root of the world tree?” Ren asked, his head moving to the other side in a mirror of his earlier confusion.
“I’m not.” Zack all but cried in exasperation. “Though kudos on the name catch. Not many people know about it. But that is my name.”
“Why would you tell somebody your full name? Especially someone you just met? Names have power after all!” Ren scolded the other teen, before burying his head in his hands. “Oh, hell. I can’t believe I just said that.”
Zack and Ray had both perked up when Ren had exploded about power and names before staring at each other in a silent conversation.
Before they could open their mouths, Ren looked at them and once again asked, “Can you please turn around now?”
Chuckling, Ray picked up Zack who had been about to open his mouth to speak and turned around. Zack yelped in surprise as he found himself now facing the other way.
“Seriously.” Zack moaned. “What? Do you walk around commando or something?”
“Yeah, it’s the or something, Zack?”
Shuffling around, Ren removed most of his clothing leaving his shirt and his underwear on. Black ink could be seen poking out from the arms of his shirt.
“What the hell is on your arms?” Zack asked as he craned his neck around to see his newest player.
“Seriously, are you really that interested in seeing me half naked?” Ren rejoined sarcastically.
“And if I am?”
Ren caught sight of Ray stiffening in either fear or anger and stated, “Then I’m going to have to ask for money for each view- ing. I don’t particularly like being looked at or ogled for long periods of time, regardless of what Myria says.”
The locker room fell silent, broken only by the sounds of clothing being put on and pads being centred and adjusted. As the final sound of a buckle was heard, Zack could no longer contain himself.
“So… how much would it cost me?” Zack asked mouth curling in a mischievous grin.
Without missing a beat Ren replied. “Five dollars with clothes on and a racy magazine. Fifty thousand without clothes.”
“Holy crap, you’re expensive.”
Ren laughed. “I’m easy, not cheap. Turn around if you want. I’m finished. Though how the hell you move around in something this tight is beyond me.”
“Well it’s not supposed to be overly … tig…” Zack began as he and Ray turned around, Zack still held in Ray’s hold. A blush suffused Zack’s face as he beheld Ren.
“Ah…Bue,” Zack mumbled incoherently, his face reaching a red normally seen on flowers.
“He means you look good.” Ray supplied to Ren’s confused look.
“Are you sure?” Ren asked as he moved to the full-length mirror in the bathroom. A slight noise began to reverberate through the school though none of the teens noticed.
“Well at least I won’t be the only one embarrassed.” Zack said once he got control of himself, happily burning the image of Ren into his head.
“Umm, thanks, I think?” Ren said. “What happens now? Do you want me to try and memorize plays or what?”
“Yeah, no. Right now, trying to get you to memorize plays will just get you confused.”
As Zack finished his lecture, the sound that had been playing in the background increased to low moans echoing through the locker room and the building began to shake. Soon the sound could be felt throughout the body before the shaking stopped and the sound ceased. Ren’s eyes widened in shock before he smoothed his features into a blank mask and stared into the mirror once more. As he watched Zack and Ray through the glass he noted the surprise, shock and glee that appeared on both faces.
Zack craned his neck towards Ray. “Tell me you heard and felt that.”
Ray nodded his head in disbelief. “I heard it but do not believe it.” He rumbled. “How about you Ren, did you hear that?”
“Hmm.” Ren hummed thoughtfully. “It sounds like it might have been a semi; those things do weird shit on uneven roads or during wind gusts.”
“Is that what it was?” Zack asked to which Ren shrugged in confusion.
“It is plausible.” Ray muttered though doubt clouded his tone. “However, I do not know enough about vehicles to say for sure.”
“Oh.” Zack muttered, depressed. “I thought for sure it was related to the story my mom told me.”
“What story?” Ren asked as he continued to look in the mirror, red beginning to creep up his face as he once again noted the tightness of the lycra on his legs. As Zack began to gather his thoughts to tell the story that his mother had imparted to him, Ren noticed something starting to coalesce over his right shoulder. Soon standing behind him was the translucent form of a young boy, who Ren could swear was a squire out of time.
“You are not real… nope, nope.” Ren muttered to him- self shaking his head and closing his eyes stepping backwards quickly.
“What’s not real?” Zack asked him as he settled an arm across Ren’s shoulders.
“Nothing, nothing.” Ren paused for a moment before asking, “I thought you were going to tell me a story?”
“I will, but first we gotta hit practice before mom and Myria blow something.”
“Why are you being so friendly?” Ren questioned Zack. “I thought you hated me.”
“Hate you?” Zack repeated. “I don’t hate you. I mean I kinda disliked you because of how Myria described you; I thought she would dump us as friends when you showed up.”
“Myria wouldn’t do that.” Anything else Ren would have said was interrupted by a groaning sound echoing throughout the locker room causing both Zack and Ren to whirl around in sur- prise.
“I know you heard that!” Zack exclaimed grabbing Ren’s hand.
“Well of course I did,” Ren replied. “Because it came from Ray.” Here Ren pointed with his other hand at Ray, who was now inexplicably on the ground, not noticing how Zack had yet to let go.
“How did you end up on the ground in the first place?” Zack asked, letting go of Ren’s hand to crouch down and poke at Ray.
“Ren backed into me.” Ray groaned as he grabbed hands that were being held out to help him up.
“What are you on Ray?” Zack questioned. “I highly doubt his skinny ass could lay you out just by walking into you.”
“Thank you for the compliment about my ass.” Ren snarked, to the unrepentant Zack. “However, that comment is meant, I have to agree. There is no way I could knock you over; you are a mountain with legs.”
“Nevertheless, that is exactly what happened. Did you see the child in the mirror? Is that why you moved back so suddenly?” Ray wondered, his eyes alight with curiosity and something else that Ren could not place.
“No, I saw nothing.” Ren denied spinning on his newly ac- quired cleats and heading to fold his clothes.
“Something surprised you. I know it did. Many people have seen the entity in the mirror.”
Ren sent a glare over his shoulder that had both freezing in their tracks. “Stop reaching Ray. I have nothing to do with this. My parents indulge their fantasy and I cannot stop them, but I do not want to live in their shadows. I have my own plans.”
Zack’s head bounced back and forth between the two speakers as their argument continued. Soon a new voice interrupted their discourse.
“Are you guys ready?” Myria’s voice came through the door. “Almost. Just a couple things to adjust,” Zack replied.
“Okay. Mrs. Kaede wants to start practice soon. I’ll let her know you will be out in just a moment.” Myria’s footsteps soon disappeared along with the squeaking of a door.
“So you don’t believe in ghosts?” Ray wanted to know.
“No. I do not believe in ghosts, monsters or other supernatural thing-a-ma-jigs. Everything has a rational and logical ex- planation. I am a sceptic and no information yet has managed to convince me otherwise.”
“Excellent!” Zack shouted exuberantly, shooting a look at Ray who nodded in understanding.
Ren backed up a little in shock at the look on their faces. “What’s excellent?”
“You being a sceptic, of course. If you’re willing to help us out in searching the school for unexpected phantasms, real or imagined, we’ll help you out in school.”
Ren cocked an eyebrow in confusion. “Did you not hear me when I said I do not want to be in my parents’ shadow? Also, what do you mean help me?”
Zack drew himself up, chest puffing out as he finally pulled his helmet off. His hair spiked slightly and smoothed back- wards without any gel. His dark brown eyes switched from red to brown without rhyme or explanation. Ren was slightly transfixed on the sharp angles of Zack’s face and his nose.
Zack started speaking while Ren stared at his eyes, which moved more to the red shade in his fervour. “For about the last twenty-five years, odd things have been going on around the city and surrounding countryside. I’m still trying to get Mom to let us use the cameras from the school, but she considers me too immature to use them. But you’re a new addition that has al- ready shown some leadership and willingness to own up to your own mistakes, as well as helping the team out even though you didn’t have to. Also, not to brag, but Ray here has like a dozen scholarships already and I’m no slouch when it comes to memorization; I’ve got these really cool mnemonics that can help
anybody who can think.”
“Why don’t you get Ray to lead your club? He seems to be decently level headed when not accusing people of insanity. Or maybe Myria? She’d be interested.” was Ren’s rejoinder.
“Umm, yeah, about that…” Zack began as Ray started blushing. “For some reason Ray has problems saying no, especially if I seem logical. And since I can bullshit my way out of most trouble while sounding logical, Ray is rarely able to say no, mom considers this a problem as she calls me reckless fool when I get to into something.”
“And Myria…?” Ren let drift off.
“And Myria is more gung-ho since her trip that you saved her from whatever that thing was.”
“I didn’t save her.” Ren protested.
Zack waved his hand dismissively. “Whatever. The point is that she is more intense about recording paranormal events than I am.”
“Really? Last I talked to her about it she was staying away from such things.”
Zack looked away, almost afraid to admit the reason before Ray spoke up.
“She wanted to maintain her friendship with you more than she wanted to discover the paranormal and figured that if you knew what she was doing, along with the fact that she asked you to come here to do your schooling, it might drive a wedge between you. Myria was afraid that you would be offended and think the only reason she was asking you to come was because of the supernatural or your parents.”
“So will you help us?”
Once again taken aback by the question, Ren stalled for a couple of seconds. “Umm… Oh! We should head out to the field now.”
Moving quickly, Ren snagged the helmet he had been given and started out.
“Hey, wait!” Zack cried out. “What’s the rush? You didn’t an- swer us!”
“I’m rushing so that I don’t piss off Mrs. Kaede, who most likely teaches one of my classes.”
“Crap.” Zack moaned as Ren walked out of the locker room.
Shaking his head in dismay, Zack followed the retreating Ren out while Ray looked back at the mirror and murmured. “He saw you. I know he did, and he will help us.”
“Ray, hurry up!” Zack yelled out, “You’re missing an amazing show; I didn’t know an ass could move like that.”
“You rampant pervert!” Ray shouted out, exasperated by his friend’s actions and words and headed out himself.
“You better believe it.” Zack told him sending an unashamed grin over his shoulder.