Page 46 of Validus Vale Academy 1
“Very true,” he chuckles, and that small laugh eases my tension a little further.
We are silent for a while, and I know he’s waiting until I feel ready to talk some more. It’s nice not to feel rushed or judged. Finally, I squeeze out a few words, not officially breaking Manu’s compulsion. “If I report s-s-something, what would h-happen?”The temptation to lean my head on Professor Feniks' broad shoulder is too much, so I give in to it. His head gently lies against the top of mine in return. It feels good.
“Honestly, Theo?” he sighs, “if you file a complaint, Manu Hale will probably get detention at most. His mother is on the school board, and this fucked up system will cover up for him.”
“And then he’d be mad and things would get worse for me, right?”
“I’m sorry to say that’s a distinct possibility.”
A bleak future of being tortured by Manu stretches ahead of me.
“Wilson? Theo?”
“Yeah?”
“If I could… get Manu to leave the academy, with no blowback to you, would that be optimal? Would it give you peace?” he asks. His tone is calm, but there is a steel to his voice.
“Get rid of Manu without involving me? Gods, that would be amazing. But how is that even p-possible?”
Professor Feniks gives a mirthless chuckle. “You don’t need to know. Just give me the go-ahead and consider Manu Hale dealt with.”
That sounds awfully final. “You’re not going to…do anything…?” Shit, I can’t say it, but I’m a little worried the physical education professor is going to murder one of his students.
He obviously hears my unfinished question and chuffs out a laugh. “I promise there will be no dead bodies involved, tempting though it may be.” Pinching out his cigarette, Feniks stands, puts out a hand, and takes mine, gently pulling me to my feet. “Are you OK to walk now?”
My legs are shaky, but much more functional. “I can walk.”
“Good. Let’s head to your dorm.” He pauses. “It seems unfair to ask this, Wilson. But if I’m going to get rid of the, er, problem, noone can know about this incident. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
I nod. I have no idea what Professor Feniks has in mind, but I’m not an idiot; he’s not going to solve the situation through any legitimate, school-sanctioned methods. “I won’t say a word,” I tell him.
“I’m sorry to ask that,” he replies. “I hope you know you can come to me if you need to talk about what you’ve gone through tonight?”
His thoughtfulness brings a rush of tears to my eyes. “Thanks. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything.”
“You can show your appreciation by improving your situational awareness,” he growls back, suddenly fierce. “Manu Hale should not have been able to get a jump on you.”
I just nod. He’s right, I need to be more alert to danger. When we get to Defectivum’s front door, I pause and turn to the professor. “Thanks, I can take it from here.”
“No, I’ll see you to your room,” he frowns.
That’s OK by me. Defectivum is always a little creepy at night. We cross the lobby, and I stop outside the basement door. “This is me,” I tell him, as I try to keep my voice from wobbling. “Thanks again, and I owe you.
Frowning, he takes hold of my hand. “You don’t owe me anything. I should never have teamed you up with him in gym class. I put you on Hale’s radar.”
“I was on his radar before that,” I mutter. “Please don’t think you have any responsibility for this.”
Professor Feniks gives me a long, hard look that I can’t decipher, and the static in his brain fuzzes wildly.
“This is your room?” Professor Feniks asks, after a beat. He takes a step back and looks at the narrow door.
“Yes,” I reply, giving him a weak smile. “And bed is calling my name.”
“Good, then get some sleep.” He turns abruptly, and I watch as he marches across the foyer. After the front door shuts behind him, my knees suddenly go weak.
Today was too much.
With a spinning head, I collapse onto the cold lobby floor.
