The boy without a system

CHAPTER 9 — THE DIRECTOR

Evan didn't get in.

"I'm good right here," he said.

Director Vasquez offered a smile that looked entirely too practiced. "Smart. I'd be disappointed if you actually climbed in."

She killed the engine, stepped out, and leaned back against the car door.

"Walk with me," she suggested. "You can keep your distance if it makes you more comfortable."

As she started down the sidewalk, Evan followed, keeping a steady ten feet between them.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I work for an organization that's been tracking unusual activity for the last six months." She shot him a quick glance. "People waking up with abilities before the official Awakening. Dreams of things that haven't happened yet. Ripples in the System."

Evan kept his expression completely flat. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Of course you don't." She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. "April 2nd. Chicago. Millennium Park. Goblins."

Evan felt the blood drain from his face. "How do you know that?"

"We've known about the Awakening for years. Governments, scientists, a select few of us." She folded her arms across her chest. "We've been preparing. Quietly. We haven't done enough, but some of us are trying."

"Trying to do what?"

"To save lives." She looked him dead in the eye. "I know what you are, Evan. You aren't like the others. You don't have powers, but you have something else. Something we don't quite understand yet."

Evan remained silent.

"I'm not here to expose you. I'm here to offer you a place." She reached into her jacket, pulled out a card, and handed it to him. "There's a school. A System Academy. It’s designed for those who awaken. We open right after the crystal ceremony, and our first class is already being selected."

Evan looked down at the card. It was sparse just an address and a phone number.

"Why me? I don't even have a System."

"Not yet." She held his gaze, unwavering. "But you will. And even if you don't, you know things. That makes you valuable."

"I'm nobody."

"You're the most interesting 'nobody' I've met in years." That practiced smile returned. "Think about it. No rush. But time is running out."

She turned and walked back to her car. She opened the door, then paused.

"One more thing, Evan. The people following you? The ones you haven't noticed yet?" She looked back at him. "I'm not one of them. But they are real. So watch your back."

She got in and drove away, leaving him behind.

Evan stood there alone, clutching the card. *She knows about April 2nd. She knows about the Awakening. She even knew my name.*

How much more did she actually know?

He didn't get home until late.

Lily was sitting at the kitchen table with a plate of cold food in front of her. She looked up the moment he walked in.

"You're late."

"I know. Sorry."

She pushed the plate toward his side of the table. "Eat."

He sat down and picked up his fork, but he couldn't bring himself to eat.

"Something happened," she said. It wasn't a question.

Evan looked at her, searching her face. "I met someone. A woman. She knows things."

Lily leaned forward, her interest piqued. "What kind of things?"

"About the Awakening. About what's coming." He paused, the weight of the secret heavy in his throat. "About me."

"Did she threaten you?"

"No. She offered me a place. A school. For people who awaken."

Lily fell silent for a moment, processing it. "You don't even have a System yet."

"I know."

"But she still wants you."

"Yeah."

She studied him, her eyes searching for something. "You're going to go, aren't you?"

"After the Awakening? Yeah."

She nodded slowly. There was no argument, no anger just a quiet acceptance. "Okay."

Evan blinked, taken aback. "Okay?"

"You said you'd tell me the truth. You are. That's enough for me." She stood up. "I'm going to bed."

"Lily."

She stopped.

"I'm sorry. For everything."

She turned to look at him one last time. "I know."

As she went upstairs, Evan sat in the silence of the kitchen. She trusts me. I don't deserve it

His phone buzzed on the table. A message from Sarah.

Checked the first two names. Dead ends. But I found something else. The third ripple is close. I can feel them.

Evan typed back: Who?

I don't know. But they know about you. They know about Marcus. And they're hunting the same people you are.

Evan stared at the screen, a cold knot forming in his stomach. Someone else was out there hunting. Someone else knew his name. And they weren't a friend.

He stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the street was dark, quiet, and perfectly normal.

But somewhere out there, someone was watching. And they knew exactly who he was.