Free [Janitors 03] Curse of the Broomstaff by Tyler Whitesides

white shirt pressed. Spencer got an immediate location on him. The director was northwest of Denver, nestled into the mountains at New Forest Academy. The location didn’t surprise Spencer since he knew that Garcia lived in a house on campus. Spencer choked back his anger over Director Garcia. Not only was he a corrupt warlock, but he was the creator and principal of the elite Academy.
    Spencer had learned that the BEM had established New Forest Academy to be a safe haven for education. The Academy would be kept Toxite-free while all other schools in America were left unattended and infested. In this way, the BEM could handpick the future leaders of the country while everyone else got dumber from Toxite breath.
    There was a knock at the door. Garcia bent over and spat into the sink. He wiped his mouth on a soft towel and threw it over his shoulder as he pulled open the door. Spencer recognized the man in the doorway as one of the Academy teachers.
    “Sorry to bother you, sir,” the man said. “But you have a visitor.”
    “A visitor?” Director Garcia repeated.
    The messenger swallowed nervously. “It’s . . . it’s Mr. Clean, sir.”
    Garcia took a cautious step back. “Where is he? What’s he doing here?” There was definitely terror in the director’s voice.
    “He’s waiting for you in the underground parking garage. First level.”
    “What does he want?” Garcia asked.
    “He said we should expect more company within the hour.” The man paused. “Pluggers.”
    “Pluggers? Here?” That obviously angered Director Garcia. “I’ve had enough of those overgrown beasts. Why is he bringing them here?”
    “The Academy was the only secure location along the Pluggers’ route. Mr. Clean said the Extension Toxites needed improvements,” the messenger answered. “I believe his exact words were, ‘I’m going to turn those hunting beasts into war machines.’”
    Garcia responded, but the vision was already blanching, Spencer’s concern over the conversation pushed him away. What was Mr. Clean planning to do to Leslie’s Extension Toxites? Spencer couldn’t think about it now. A new vision was taking shape, whiteness fading into black.
    Spencer waited patiently, but nothing came into view. He almost panicked, wondering if his Auran ability had suddenly ended. Then he realized that, despite the blackness, he could still hear, and he had a specific location.
    What he heard was the distinctive sound of a school bell ringing to announce the beginning of a new day. And the location was just where he suspected.
    Spencer pulled his hand away from the bronze medallion, and the cab of the truck shimmered back into view.
    “Walter’s already at Triton Charter School, and I think he’s in trouble,” Spencer blurted.
    “What did you see?” Penny asked.
    Spencer decided not to mention Garcia’s vision yet. Walter was in danger, and they needed to focus on him. “Nothing. I couldn’t see anything, which means that Walter’s eyes were closed—or covered.”
    “Maybe he’s sleeping,” Daisy suggested.
    “Definitely not sleeping,” said Spencer. “He’s at Triton Charter School. I heard the first bell ring. Walter’s been captured! And my dad might be with him.”
    “You don’t know that.” Penny was trying to keep him calm.
    “It’s a pattern,” Spencer said. “Every time the BEM knows we’re coming, they replace our Rebel with a bad guy. They do it so fast there’s never enough time to change plans. That’s how Slick got us at New Forest Academy. And that’s what is happening at Triton.”
    “Kid’s got a point,” Bernard said. “And if the BEM knows where we’re headed, then those nasty Pluggers might be waiting for us.”
    Spencer knew the Extension Toxites weren’t at the school. But again, he decided not to mention them. He didn’t want to give anyone a false sense of security. Just because the Pluggers had made a pit stop at New Forest Academy didn’t mean they were giving up