Walk Of Life

{ Chapter V - Spicin' Up Your Life }


Seconds became minutes. Minutes became hours. Hours became days, and days became weeks. Shawn fell in a deep coma. Some said it was a funny coincedence that the latter faced the same tragedy that hit his ex-boyfriend, Taylor Hill. But there was a difference between them, Taylor's coma was under the control of the doctors whereas for Shawn's, it wasn't the case. For example, one night, Shawn's heart stopped beating for 15 seconds and without any intervention from the medical crew of the hospital,
it re-started beating.

Nobody couldn't say what was Shawn's illness, nobody. Shawn's tragedy became the local newspaper's main titles for a while, but the interest for him disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Most of the people believed Shawn's case was hopeless but...as for Corey, Taylor, Ben, Tommy, Jessica and Maria and some others, they do believed that Shawn was going to open his blue eyes again. Hope was in their hearts.

"Mr. Farmer, can you stay for a little moment, I've to talk to you," said the Maths teacher, Mr. Hosie, with a strict tone in his voice. It was the end of the class and the end of the school day. "Please, close the door," added the middle aged man.

Corey sat down at one of the desks infront of Mr. Hosie. He placed his black backpack on his knees, ready to go as soon as that little 'interview' would be over. He would go to the hospital and spend the afternoon in Shawn's room, until the visit hours are over. He has been doing so since 2 months now. He would spend all that time either in imaginative chats or just staring at the beauty of his brown haired angel.

"I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you, kid." Mr. Hosie took out a file from his desk's drawer. It was the marks of all the students in the Grade 5S class, Corey's class. "We teachers don't have the right to inform the students about their marks obtained in a term but I decided to make an exception for you."

Corey stared at the teacher, half listening. He wasn't even interested in what the latter had to say. All he was interested in was Shawn's health. Ever since Shawn closed his eyes, Corey's life has not been the same. The food didn't have the same taste, movies the same entertainment or music the same melody. Everything seemed horribly dull to him.

"Farmer, you've failed your first school term. The marks you've obtained in all your subjects are mediocre," said Mr. Hosie with his usual coldness. It didn't even surprise, shock or even scare the french blond. "I understand you've been through a rough period recently, so you won't get your butt kicked too much. But," Mr. Hosie said rising the volume of his voice, "if ever you get these types of marks for the second term, I promise you, I'll make sure you get expulsed from this school!"

Corey remained calm. Not a single trace of emotion on his face.

"An advice Farmer, use these coming 3 weeks of holidays wisely. I suppose you didn't follow any of the lessons that have been teached for the last two or three months, so, catch up with the work or else... you'll be roasted. Understood?" Mr. Hosie was the type of teacher who think they are God himself. Or that they were the headmaster of the school. He had some influence though, the headmaster was his best friend.

"May I go now?" Corey asked as coldly as Mr. Hosie would have been. The latter's eyes were filled with shock and disgust. Of course, what else could be expected from a dirty fag? Mr. Hosie was homophobe.

"You no mannered dog. Get the hell away from here!" replied the Maths teacher with anger and despise. Corey stood up and walked towards the door. "There's nothing worse than arrogant faggots! You should go and make all your shits in sewers and stop annoying the healthy mental people!!!"

Corey closed the door and headed to the hospital.

"Hey, I've got this really cool new game, would you like to come home and play?" Tommy asked with a warm little smile. He was walking side by side with his good friend, Fox. The latter has been really cool when Tommy learned for Shawn. "I bet you're going to beg me to lend it to you afterwards, hehehe!" Tommy really liked Fox.

"I'm sorry, Tom. I can't," replied Fox. He was a bit nervous. He had an important "rendez-vous" in almost half an hour. He had been thinking about that meeting the whole day. He couldn't take his mind off that.

"Aw man! Why?" Tommy asked back, a bit upset. It wasn't like if he never spent a lot of time with his friend but, it was the first time, since they know each other, that Fox refused to come and play. Tommy couldn't help it, being with Fox was just... 'cool'.

"I've got to meet someone," answered Fox. He wasn't his usual self. The reason was that meeting. He had anticipated it for quite a bit of time now, and still, it made him nervous.

"Oh!" Tommy was surprised. He wouldn't have thought that Fox would refuse his invitation because of 'someone' else. "Um...and who are you going to...ahem...meet?"

"A...A girl. Uh, a girl I've met earlier in the lunch break," Fox replied. Tommy was in the library doing some research work during the lunch break. "So, you forgive me?" Fox asked with a cute little smile.

Even though Tommy fought hard, he had this feeling. This volcanic feeling. Jealousy. He wished he could keep Fox for himself but... that was impossible. Fox wasn't the type of guy you could keep for yourself. He always has girls turning around him and popular guys wanting to hang out with him. In his heart, Tommy knew he couldn't rivalise with that. "Oh I see! Yes, of course you're forgiven! Hehehe!"

"Thanks, Tom!" Fox said with a smile as he threw an arm across his friend's shoulder. Tommy shivered a bit.

"...its okay. No need to thank me. I understand," replied Tommy a bit nervously. Though he really liked when Fox showed his affection 'physically', it always blocked him. So they remain silent till Tommy's house. Then, after trading 'see ya!', each went their separate ways.

"Hello Charlie!" greeted Jessica and Kathryn in unison. They were asked to come for an important meeting. Of course, the two girls came as quickly as possible (even if the australian top model 'Dick Missile' was posing at the shopping mall for the afternoon).

The two girls were in the HQ, in a lonely and secret place in the woods. They were sitting on the brown couch infront of the speaker. "Girls, things are going to get really nasty soon."

"Nasty? What do you mean?" Kathryn asked, a bit worried. Jessica did her best to pay attention at was being said. She was thinking about Shawn and Maria. The latter went to a clinic because of her depression. It has been 2 weeks now that Maria was out of Sunrise Valley.

"You remember what I told you about the Boss?"

"Yeah, you told us that he mysteriously disappeared. You didn't even know if he was still alive. Is that correct?" Kathryn answered.

"Positive. But, my sources informed me that he came back in the spotlight again. There're even rumours that he's going to put his plans in action very soon. So, our objective is to stop him!"

"Charlie?" Jessica finally joined in the conversation, "you never told us what 'plans' that Boss wants to put in action. Can you please tell us what it's all about?"

There was a moment of silence. Kathryn stared at her friend with big eyes. It was true though, Charlie never explained what were the plans of the Boss.

"You're right, I'm sorry about that. Well, here's what I know," Charlie replied before clearing his throat. "The Boss came to Sunrise Valley for a specific reason. He wants to buy the actions of the town. That is, he wants---"

"---to take full control of Sunrise Valley," interrupted Kathryn.

"Exactly. He wants to possess the town!" Charlie said with a severe tone, almost a dramatic one.

"Okay. So a guy wants to buy the town, and...what's the problem with that?" Jessica demanded. Kathryn wondered the same thing.

"The problem is that the Boss is going to be a dictator in Sunrise Valley. He will pass unbelieveable laws. The population will lose its freedom here. And so, they will move out from here. The Boss is also going to close all the companies and all the commerce related factories and so on," explained Charlie. Kathryn was shocked by what she heard and Jessica, still had some questions in mind.

"But why is he going to do that? I mean, what's his objective? Get pulverised by the entire population?" Jessica asked.

"His objective is to get rid of the whole population or most of it to be able to start his 'business'," replied Charlie.

"What business?" the two girls asked back.

"Girls, his plan is to possess the XXL elixir!" Charlie answered. "The XXL elixir is a liquid solution (which looks like petrol but in red) that has properties that can be compared to the Nuclear. For example, if the XXL elixir is put a simple gun's bullet and then shot, it will cause the same damage a nuclear bomb or missile would have done!"

"Oh...my...god!" Kathryn was surprised, shocked, scared. She didn't know such a thing existed. Jessica didn't say a word.

"The Government asked the B.O.D (board of directors) who are the owners of Sunrise Valley to keep it a very very deep secret that only them should know. But of course, with the spies and so on, the news went quickly. The best scientists are trying to find something that would anhilate the XXL, but it's hard, costly and slow. I was asked to protect the XXL from eventual 'dangers'. So, that's why we have to stop the Boss!"

"You can count on us, Charlie!" Kathryn said with energy and enthusiasm. Jessica remained silent.

"I'm going to contact you as soon as I get more info. Till then, take care!" Charlie said before hanging up.

"What's wrong with you today, Jessica?" Kathryn asked as she closed the door of the shed. "You acted strangely with Charlie, why?"

Jessica remained silent and went on walking. Kathryn followed her. They remained silent for a moment. Then, when they got out of the woods, Jessica stopped and faced her friend.

"Kathryn, there's something wrong with that guy. Don't you think it's a bit... out of reality that he chose teenage girls to defend such a dangerous product. And don't you think if the Government was really involved in such a thing, they would have closed the town or something like that. I'm telling you, there's something wrong!"

Kathryn lowered her eyes as she thought about what Jessica just said. No, she couldn't be right. "Maybe it's a security mesure or something, to prevent the journalists of putting their nose in it."

"And why this 'Charlie's Angels' cinema? I mean, it's obvious that this guy is not clear. And...I received a warning," explained Jessica as she started to walk. Kathryn followed closely.

"W-What? What warning? From who?" Kathryn demanded, confused.

Jessica stopped. "A very close person told me that and I trust that person. So now, I'm going to be more vigilant concerning that 'Charlie'. And you should do the same. That close person of mine told me that if we follow what that Charlie ask us to do, we might end up... you know."

Jessica and Kathryn remained silent for a moment. Each of them realizing the dangerous situation they were in. They didn't know who they were fighting and even worse, for whom they were fighting for.


{ End Of Chapter V }

Written and Created by
Cloud Angel

Copyright © 2002 by Cloud Angel, All rights reserved