INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS
CHAPTER XXII: TESSA

The trio was welcomed by the clanging of metals, humming of machines, and zooming of cars as they passed the ‘welcome’ sign of the city of Cornerstone, a city known for its luxurious and effective machineries, equipment, armours, and other metallic tools. Most of the country’s battle gears and computers are bought from this city. Only those who are very skilful and smart can live and work in Cornerstone. The people who live in the city were too focused on work and gadgets that only a few enjoy nature. This is expected in a city which tops the production of metals for the whole country.

The first thing that caught Tessa’s eyes was the 20-feet robot standing unmoving beside a skyscraper. Made of metal, the robot was dressed in a black business suit with clear silver eyes. It was holding a black suitcase printed with the name of the company - Emergence Group of Companies. A middle age man walked out of the building as Skhy, Tessa, and Lei passed by the building. He looked at Tessa and frowned. He narrowed his eyes before grinning, turned, and walked towards a car waiting in front of the building. This made Tessa uncomfortable. What if he is a Mortemian? But if he is, why did he not attack them?

Her thought was interrupted by Skhy’s voice.

“We’re going to walk for a few blocks more,” he informed them. Tessa stared at the large buildings standing close to each other. There were very few people walking in the streets. There were no restaurants, bakeries, or other small shops. They are probably inside these huge buildings. The city was nowhere similar to the busy streets full of flowers in Woodland, and exclusive mansions and parks in her town.

“Where are we going?” Lei asked. Tessa looked at her two companions walking in front of her. Skhy seemed calmer than when they were in the woods, while Lei was so tensed that she was gripping the hem of her shirt.

“To a friend,” Skhy replied without looking at her. This response, however, did not calm her down. Tessa placed her hand on Lei shoulder to stop her from walking. Lei looked back at her and offered a nervous smile.

Skhy did not notice them so Tessa directed Lei to continue walking beside her. Tessa was debating whether to ask or not.

“What’s wrong?” she asked anyway. It took a while before Lei responded.

“This place...is too far from the woods. I’m not confident if I can...use my powers here,” she whispered.

“I understand. I also can’t control my powers because of lack of training,” Tessa responded.

“I’m not sure if I can use it anytime and anywhere. You are not alone,” she continued and offered a small smile.

Lei returned the smile and nodded.

“What’s wrong?” Skhy asked. He must had notice how far behind the girls were from him.

“Nothing!” Lei immediately responded and jogged towards him. She did not want him to know? It was not Tessa’s business so she did not react. Skhy, however, seemed worried. He was frowning at her, at Tessa.

“Are you sure?” he asked as Tessa walked towards Skhy and Lei. Lei remained silent. It’s not me though...

“Yes. Let’s go,” Tessa responded. Skhy smiled.

“Alright. One block left,” he informed and they started walking again. Tessa walked behind the two.

“Have you been here before?” Lei asked him.

“Yes, many times. I visited my friend often,” he replied.

“Can you trust this person?” Tessa blurted. She couldn’t stop herself. Lei looked startled but Skhy just chuckled.

“Yes, we can,” he replied, emphasizing “we”.

“I’m sorry,” Tessa offered. It was wrong of her to ask as an outsider. Skhy must had read her mind because he replied.

“Don’t worry about it. You can ask. You are part of the team.” Tessa stared at his back. She felt warm inside. It was too early, however, to feel safe.

As they rounded the corner of the block, three men and two women in navy clothing walked out of a building parallel to them. They seemed out of place in a city full of people in business suits. The trio responded immediately to the threat and moved under the darkness of the alley between two buildings.

“They informed all the cities in the country,” Skhy stated as if it’s a fact.

“They?” Tessa asked. He had his back on the wall while Lei sat on a block of cement attacked to a building.

“The Academy,” he stated plainly.

“So you have two enemies...” Tessa trailed.

“The Mortemians and the opposition in the Academy,” Lei finished for her.

“How would you- we know the people who are opposed to replaceing the Seven?” Tessa asked. You are already part of the team.

“The Premier or President supports me, I know that. Also, some of my parents’ colleagues. The Consortium clearly doesn’t,” he responded.

“The Consortium?” Tessa asked. This is a new concept to her. It wasn’t in her mother’s diary.

“Sort of the board of directors of the Academy. They are anonymous,” he replied. He moved to the edge of the wall and looked back at the building where they saw the five Concordians.

“Why don’t the whole Academy support you in replaceing and protecting the Seven? It doesn’t make sense,” Tessa stated. She had her back on the wall opposite Skhy.

“The Consortium doesn’t believe the prophecy,” Skhy replied, still watching the building. Tessa did not believe this.

“It that really it? Or they have other plans?” Tessa offered. Skhy turned and stared at her. Is he angry?

“We’re going to replace out,” he responded. His eyes turned a darker shade of blue. It seemed that the thought had already crossed his mind more than once.

After one last look at the building, they started walking again. The five Corcordians were nowhere to be seen. The street where Skhy’s friend resides was unlike the other streets they passed. This one had less buildings and cars. The buildings were shorter compared to those near the roads. Some of the buildings were dull, some were rundown. A few houses stood at the end of the street.

When they arrived in front of the fourth building, Skhy entered a narrow alley and Tessa and Lei followed. He stopped in front of a metal door on the side of the building. There was nothing in the alley except that door.

“I can easily open the door if I use my power, but they will follow the energy,” he said.

“It opens using power like a fingerprint,” Tessa interpreted. Skhy grabbed a stone on the ground and started pounding on the door. Three quick taps. Pause. One long tap. One short tap. One long tap. Pause. Four short taps. Pause. Two short taps. Short pause. Then two short taps.

He dropped the stone. A click was heard and the door slowly open.

“You made it,” a terrifying voice said. It sent a chill on Tessa’s nape. There was no light inside so it was hard to see the face of the tall figure.

“May we enter?” Skhy asked.

“You three may,” the voice responded. Skhy moved inside the darkness, Tessa followed with Lei behind her. The door suddenly closed. It took all her strength not to shout.

There was a clicking sound. As Tessa’s eyes were adjusting to the bright light, she noticed a hand reaching towards her. She immediately gripped the wrist and forced it on the person’s back. Her heart was thumping so loudly that she did not immediately hear the laughter.

“Oh my God! That was hilarious, Karl!” a voice different from the first one exclaimed. It was followed by a loud laughter. Tessa blinked several times before the scene became clear.

She was holding the wrist of a large man, who was lying flat on his face on the floor. Three other men stood near the metal door, laughing and with their hands on their stomachs. Skhy was standing amused with his back on the wall, while Lei was sitting on a metal chair near a flight of stairs staring at her. The four unknown men were wearing suits. She immediately released the man’s wrist and stood up, embarrassed.

“Please tell me she’s your girlfriend,” the man with a golden tie said to Skhy. The other two with blue and green ties continued laughing.

Tessa did not hear Skhy’s response because she tried helping the man on the floor.

“I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed. She offered her hand as the man slowly stood up and dusted his black slacks.

“It’s okay,” he said and laughed heartily. She couldn’t look directly into his eyes because of embarrassment.

“Well, this goes to show that I need exercise. Thank you, young lady,” he said. This time, she had the courage to look at his face to respond with a smile. But, her eyes widen when she saw the splitting image of Steve in front of her.

“Steve?” she whispered. The man looked confused. But, it wasn’t a mistake. She had been with Steve for most of her life so she knew that face anywhere.

“Who is Steve?” the man with Steve’s face asked.

“You- you’re dead...” she whispered. The man frowned at her.

“Tessa, what’s wrong?” Skhy asked behind her. She closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them, it was still Steve’s face.

“Uh nothing. He- he just looks like someone I know,” she replied without looking at Skhy.

“Who is this person?” the guy with Steve’s face asked.

“Steve- Eliot,” she answered and saw his eyes widen.

“Eliot?” Lei exclaimed. Does she know him?

“What’s happening?” Skhy asked.

Tessa clenched her hands as she waited for the man’s answered. His wide eyes stared at her like she grew horns. Meanwhile, Lei moved beside her with nervous expression.

What is going on?

Tessa faced Lei who’s gripping the straps of her backpack.

“Yes, Eliot,” Tessa uttered slowly. “Do you know him?”

Tessa did not wait for Lei’s response and faced Steve’s look-alike.

“Are we talking about the same person?” she asked, glancing at Lei.

“Let’s see,” Steve’s look-alike said, his eyes darkened.