ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 34: Classroom Introductions

Chapter 34

Classroom Introductions

“Good morning class. Happy Tuesday. Due to our interrupted circumstances yesterday, I neglected to do something that is a staple for new classrooms. I would like you all to introduce yourselves to each other, stating if you are a lineage. If so, then what your parents do. Then finally what you intend to do when you awaken.” Ms. Tutlidge began.

Then after waiting a second for her questions to settle in, she continued. “I will start. I am a half lineage of a minor Awakened. My father, the awakened, is gifted with analytics and works for a large data firm ensuring integrity of products from around the world. My goal, well I hope it is obvious. I want to be a teacher. Now, let us start with our only male of the classroom. Luke Thyme?”

With that Luke stiffened and began answering the questions. “Right, so I am a lineage to two awakened. Both mom and dad are minor awakened.” Luke began.

At that Alexa raised a slight eyebrow to stare at her brother. Then realizing she was forcing her face to show emotions, she dropped the tell, but it was there for anyone who could see it. Meaning nineteen werewolf females both saw and felt the questioning glance, but Luke and the teacher who had been solely focused on Luke missed the quick exchange.

“Mom is a quality control specialist for a major chemical plant. And dad works at the same plant, ensuring that all waste biproducts are removed safely before they can impact the local ecosystem. As for me, I want to be an Awakened League Champion.”

Luke of course was referring to the high stakes sporting events that are run by and can only be performed by Awakened athletes. This was another government-initiated project that eventually gained traction with the populace. Often viewed as a necessary evil, a place where powerful Awakened could square off against local and international teams to establish dominance. This was also a way for some of the Awakened community to get out their more violent tendencies in a healthy productive way. At least that was what was being sold to the populace.

The sports that evolved from being performed by supers had little to nothing to do with their civilian counterparts. Super Basketball was more a display of force in motion, than of finesse and skill that the game came from. Meanwhile Super Football was an act of utter mayhem, where referees had to be supers themselves due to the sheer force and magnitude of powers on display.

“What about you Alexa?” Ms. Tutlidge asked, showing the direction the questions would be going.

Alexa nodded then answered truthfully. “I have the same parents as Luke. My profession? I don’t know. I guess I could follow in mother’s footsteps.” Alexa finally answered the last part after a slight pause.

“At the chemical plant?”

Alexa just nodded her head awkwardly.

“Okay, then. That is a very noble profession and something that is very important. Though, don’t you think someone with your skills would be more suited to helping the community. Someone like the recently retired Judge and Warder?”

Alexa just looked at the woman like she was ridiculous.

“Judge is so hot.” Luke said, fortunately taking away all attention away from Alexa for the moment. Which was good, as it took away from the slight look of revulsion that crossed Alexa’s features. An expression that was again a forced auto response to mirror her true thoughts, and what emotions her thoughts should produce. This was as close as Alexa could force herself to get to appearing normal, though in this instance, she would hurt, rather than help her cause.

“Mr. Thyme, while I think many in America would agree with your assessment. It should be noted that such comments will only estrange you from your current set of classmates.” Ms. Tutlidge said.

At that, Luke turned to see everyone staring at him. Then realizing he was still the only male in the classroom nodded to the professor, then asked a question that was likely on everyone’s mind.

“Why do you think they didn’t take off the masks? They were hometown heroes that had the power to be national icons but chose to stay here.” Luke asked.

“That is a good question, and one that we will have to get into. I cannot speak for Judge and Warder personally, as I am not aware of their true cases. But there are many reasons why Supers choose to keep their anonymity. Some might just be done with the life. Others might want to make it, so their children don’t have a glaring since of responsibility. Being a legacy is tough enough. Being a legacy of a national, or even regional super is likely even tougher.” Ms. Tutlidge answered, before she continued.

“In a way, you two should feel lucky that you don’t have parents like Judge and Warder, and their legacies hanging over you. Many supers failed to live up to the legacy, or worse, failed to awaken at all. Those are the people that have seen the most tragedy. Those growing up expecting greatness, only to have it thrown away at the last minute by a cruel intention of fate.”

A slight pause.

“See, this is good dialog and much of what we will be covering over the course of this year. In addition to the regular sophomore class. We will also go into the ethics and morality of being an awakened and what are appropriate, and excessive uses of force.” Ms. Tutlidge said the last part staring directly at Alexa.

Alexa for her part just stared back calmly.

Ms. Tutlidge realizing that Alexa wasn’t getting the hint continued, by having the next student introduce herself.

“Alecia Flowers, not a legacy. I want to be a member of a commune.”

“Good. This is often what a lot of werewolves, or progenitors wish to have at first. This gives them a sense of community, of bonding with nature, and allows them to avoid many of the baser impulses. This is something else we will cover. The different habits and perceived stereotypes of the different supernatural races. How werewolves tend to want to live simplistic lives in nature. While Vampyres tend to live larger lives within heavily populated areas. Both have their reasons, and we will get into them.”

So, the class went, as eighteen more women identified themselves. Only Julie Swinton was a legacy, all the others were the first generation of awakened, or soon to be awakened within their perspective families. This meant that in addition to her body evolving further into that of a werewolf. She might also be one of the rare double-awakened. Or more simply put, a progenitor werewolf that also had some form of powers to wield as well. They were both rare and deadly.

Added to this strength was the knowledge that the earlier the Lykanthropy virus got into one’s system, the longer they would stay at an optimal age. That was partly why sixteen was seen by many as the almost perfect age to be infected. The body was still growing and maturing, which meant the mind was capable of understanding and adapting to those changes at a chemical level.

All this was to say that the classroom of sophomores would likely have the virus fully manifest and make all lasting changes to their bodies by the time they were each eighteen. These changes would then allow them to stay at that state of physical maturity for a nearly indefinite time.

Of course, Ms. Tutlidge and many school administrators were not aware of these nuances. But it was something that Captain Johnston’s crack team of experts were postulating at this very moment, as to why the perpetrator would only target sixteen-year-old females. The only logical conclusion was that the rogue master werewolf was a male in his late twenties who wanted to create a fantasy pack of pristine warriors who would be susceptible to his will.

Alexa similarly came to many of the same conclusions of the TSI Captain, but she had a slightly different view on the rogue Alpha. One that likely involved the subject at one point being subject to bullying, before contracting the Lykanthropy virus. If Alexa’s hunch was correct, then the Alpha would not just be a progenitor level werewolf, but also an awakened being as well. Meaning he would be the dreaded double threat, a werewolf with extra supernatural powers and abilities.

But before she could get too deep into her own thoughts, the class went on.

“Right so now that introductions are out of the way. Let us begin with…” Ms. Tutlidge began but was quickly cut off by a knocking at the door.

Knock, knock.

“Come in?” Ms. Tutlidge said to the door.

Mr. Mackie opened the door and popped his head in. “I am here to get Ms. Thyme; we are going to be taking her to the local hospital today.”

Alexa was already packing her things. Her fast reaction time and efficient movements made it, so she was completely packed and ready to go by the time Ms. Tutlidge turned around to tell her.

“You can, oh.” Was all Ms. Tutlidge managed.

Alexa for her part gracefully danced her way to the door. Then once she was there, she took a moment to lock eyes with every girl in the classroom. Again, Ms. Tutlidge didn’t know what was happening, but she did not like it. This was unnatural.

After eye contact was made, the student in question would relax slightly as the tension in their shoulders lessened. Then the next and so on. Finally, only once all the women in the classroom had been ogled in such a way, did she leave.

Julie just stared at Ms. Tutlidge, with a knowing glance.

“Go on, ask it.” Julie pushed.

Luke for his part was completely clueless. The entire process of locking gazes with everyone took only a matter of seconds, and Luke took it as more of his sister’s eccentricities.

“That look she gave you. You can tell me if she is threatening you. You know that, right?” Ms. Tutlidge said, fear evident in her voice.

Laughing.

Several of the girls laughed, while the others looked at Ms. Tutlidge in confusion.

“Why would Alexa threaten us?” Valeri Pierre asked, she was one of the mousier of the females who had been turned. Even with the power of Lykanthropy changing her, she still gave off a meek impression.

“Isn’t that what she did at the end? A glare to make sure you all stay in line?”

More laughter.

“You don’t understand pack. She is the Alpha. With her going away, it is a disconcerting feeling. So, she gave us all a visual reassurance that not only was she coming back, but when she did, we would all still be accepted.” Julie clarified.

Ms. Tutlidge let out a small breath she had been holding at that.

“I still don’t like it. She has too much control over you all.”

More laughter.

“What?” Ms. Tutlidge asked, clearly flustered.

“From an outsider you might think that, but we actually control her. We demand a lot from her, but she gives freely.” Kylie Blanda answered.

Ms. Tutlidge looked like she wanted to say more, but Julie brought up a point that she could not refute.

“Look. I get where you are coming from. But I will let you know; you are coming close to crossing a line. You are talking about our Alpha while she isn’t here to defend herself. Furthermore, you are pressing a narrative of her somehow abusing us or her position, which we have denied multiple times. If you keep going down this road, you will only ostracize us from you. Which is not what I think your intended purpose here is. The best course of action here is to continue to be with us, and actually understand what it means to be pack. Then once you have a good understanding of what it truly means to be pack. Then you will understand how great of a leader Alexa is, for us.”

With that Ms. Tutlidge nodded her understanding.

“Okay. Perhaps I have been a bit judgmental about this whole thing. I just can’t help but hate that you all must deal with this.”

“Trust us, if given the chance. I don’t think any of us would want this outcome. That said, I’d much rather Alexa be our alpha than the original voice we all heard.” Valeri said. Perhaps it was her mousy demeanor that Ms. Tutlidge found herself relating to most, but after hearing her speak. Ms. Tutlidge found her own thoughts changing.

“That’s right. I can’t help but think this has all been forced on you. Then I take out my frustration on the wrong target, when it should be the jerk that did this to you all in the first place, not Alexa. I apologize.” Ms. Tutlidge said.

With that, a growing tension that had been building in the classroom, an almost invisible barrier separating the students from the teacher shrunk.

“Let me start again. This is my first time teaching a class that is this large and made up of one continuous pack. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of anyone ever having dealt with such a case and trust me I did a lot of searching on this topic last night. That said, I am learning. So please let me know if I overstep, I do not mean to push, but to understand. I apologize if my actions have come across as less than becoming of one in my position.” Ms. Tutlidge began.

“Don’t worry, Alexa already said you were pack.” Julie said.

“She did?”

“Yeah, yesterday when she went to get the bully’s information.”

“What will she even do with that?” Ms. Tutlidge asked.

Julie just shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. She didn’t tell me. All I got from her was that it was taken care of.”

“She told you that?”

“No, we felt it.” Alecia interjected.

“Felt? As in you felt my sister’s emotions?” Luke asked, suddenly perking up.

“She is hard to read. Her emotions are muted, but if you know where to look, you can find them.” Julie admitted.

At that a genuine smile formed on Luke’s face. “So, she does? She has them? Emotions I mean?”

Julie and the others just stared at Luke like he was particularly dense.

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

“As long as she has been my Alpha, at the least.” Kylie answered.

At that a genuine smile filled Luke’s face for the rest of class, as he made a note to tell both mom and dad, and the Captain of this recent turn of events. This was, well it was groundbreaking, and the first real progress made in years. The first progress since she once again began speaking, after the incident.

Alexa’s trip to the plant was the reason why Luke couldn’t go. Luke didn’t know what had happened with the incident, not truly. All he knew for certain was that for whatever reason Alexa had been taken to his parents work and came back changed.

To this day so many questions came about from that incident, but for the first time since she began speaking again, she showed improvement. Even if it was minor, it was a start, this was going to be great, and he couldn’t wait to tell everyone the good news.