Free Student Bodies by Sean Cummings Page A

yearbook photo of Travis along with the words, “Classes Canceled for Today. There will be a Memorial Service in the Gym at 9 AM. Grief Counselors will be available – please contact the Guidance Department to arrange for an appointment . ”
    Marcus emitted a tiny sigh. “Geez… I don’t know what to think. I mean, I didn’t know Travis that well, but he did add me as a friend on Facebook which is surprising seeing as how I’m persona non grata at school. This just feels unworldly.”
    I draped my arms over his shoulders and then I gave him a tiny peck on the nose and forced a smile.
    â€œAre you OK?” I asked, quietly. “Do you need to talk with someone? You had a close call on Sunday.”
    Marcus shuffled his feet and he lowered his gaze. “Maybe. I mean, I feel a little bit guilty because I could have been killed and instead it’s Travis who is going to be having a funeral. My mother is freaked right out about this, she almost didn’t let me go to school today. Fuck, Julie… This is all so messed up.”
    This was serious, because Marcus never drops the F-bomb. Ever. He buried his face into my shoulder and squeezed my waist with his bony arms as he let out a quiet little sob.
    I pulled him close and whispered in his ear. “Marcus, I’m going to find out who did this. I promise you that I’m going to find them and…”
    He pulled back from me and looked into my eyes. “And do what? Kill them? Jesus, you’re not really thinking that, are you?”
    I chewed my lip for a moment as I returned Marcus’ gaze. All around us were small groups of students engaged in quiet conversation and the air was filled with the sound of ringtones from dozens of phones as they texted back and forth.
    â€œThis was a murder that no homicide detective will ever solve in a thousand years, Marcus,” I said firmly. “Last night, I headed over to Mike Olsen’s house to talk with him. There was a police car parked out front with the engine running. It was dripping with malicious energy.”
    â€œHoly crap, what are you saying, that a cop is behind this?”
    I shrugged hard. “Maybe… Possibly. Look, there won’t be any police investigation because to everyone but you, me, my mother and Betty, it looks like Travis got hit by a car. More people are going to wind up dead until whoever did this is stopped, and I’m going to stop them. Count on it.”
    Marcus gave my hand a small squeeze. “Everything about your life flies in the face of the way things are supposed to be. As long as I’ve known you, I’ve seen so much stuff that can’t be explained and I’ve given up trying to do it. But now with Mike Olsen and Travis, Jeez, we’re just freaking teenagers, for crying out loud.”
    I placed my hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes. “Magic doesn’t play by anyone’s rules other than those of the person who is wielding it. This might be about me or my mother or someone with an old score to settle. It’s cool if you want to lay low during this, Marcus.”
    He shook his head. “I didn’t say that wanted to lay low, Julie. I’m just… I’m just scared is all. Magic and now murder… It’s all terrifying when you take the time to think about it. What sucks is that it has taken a guy getting killed to make everything hit home.”
    Marcus had a right to be scared. Magic can be terrifying even to someone like me who has been learning their craft since they were a little kid. There are times when I think about the power that I wield, a power amplified by the copper band on my right wrist, and I shudder at what it all means. I possess enough skill to kill a person – to kill lots of people, but I use that power as a force for good. The person who killed Travis had turned their power into an abomination, and it was clear that both Marcus and I had