Chapter Fifteen

Crickets and various other nocturnal creatures could be heard for miles around, sounding like a chorus singing away the ones who would seek to intrude on their sanctuary. The fog that periodically graced the forest's presence set low to the ground, giving the blades of grass a much needed drink, but also leaving the ground wet enough to be uncomfortable for those who would be unlucky enough to be out at this time of night.

It was in this foggy solitude that five silhouettes currently resided. All were wearing what appeared to be business casual garb. One woman, blonde with a black blouse and dress pants, three men in black suits, and a rather large muscular man in suit pants and a white shirt who was currently tapping a finger on his folded arm in a pattern, as if attempting to keep time by tapping each second. One could see a vein throbbing on his bald head as he patiently stared at the house.

"I swear someone was in there." The woman said out of agitation. "It was as if one moment he was staring at us through the window, then he was gone." She was understandably upset, as she and her colleagues had been waiting outside their target's home for well over three hours, yet they saw no movement to suggest anyone was home since she saw the boy through the window.

"He has had the tome for less than a week, there's no way he could have gotten a spatial home. " A large man from the group sighed as he made his way to the door. "You've kept us out here waiting long enough!" His voice echoed in the silent forest. "I'm going to have to insist on your hospitality!" He tried the doorknob to the house and found it unlocked. He looked back at his group. He put three fingers in the air, and three of the men in the group ran to the door in a close pattern. When they entered, one went left, another right while the last went straight.

The large man waited until he heard three quiet "all clear" from the other men before he entered the house. Though the house was completely dark, his eyes went wide as he could clearly see that at least the spacious family room was devoid of all furniture, as well as any traces of anyone currently living in the house. "It appears we are too late." He sighed while he massaged his forehead.

"It looks like you were wrong." The woman came up to the larger man. "Not only did he get a spatial home, but he also cleared any signs that he lived here. I doubt we'll even find a scrap of paper with his name on it."

"He can't have gotten too much stronger." The larger man pulled a cigarette from his shirt pocket and snapped a finger, a flame appearing on his index to light it. "If anything I'm guessing he's at level five, but no stronger." He took a long draw from the cigarette and held it in for a minute. "The company wants to recruit this boy before he knows his capabilities. If we lose this opportunity, we might not get another one."

"Then what's the plan, boss man?" One of the three men voiced. He smiled one of his trademark friendly smiles. Even in the dark, one could still make out his open suit jacket, no tie rebel look. His long red hair tied back in a ponytail, and to top the whole image off, he wore a pair of aviator sunglasses atop his head. He looked the very image of arrogance.

"Rukil, since you were kind enough to ask," the large man smiled at the playboy. "I think it would be a good idea to set a watch. He will have to come back eventually, and anybody knows you can't appear anywhere else other than where you disappeared."

The man named Rukil looked around. "You just want me to stay here until the kid comes back?"

"Like I said, we can't let this opportunity go."

"Then at least leave me a pack of smokes." Rukil's eyes went to the man's shirt pocket. "I'm out until payday."

The large man sighed as he held his palm out. A red pack of cigarettes materialized out of nowhere and landed in it. He then threw it to Rukil. "Make them last, it might be a while."

"So it's just going to be me here?"

"Does a level eight feel apprehensive about a new immortal who barely knows how to walk?" The larger man's lip curled up in a condescending smile.

"I was talking about boredom. At least leave me Kylie to stave off the boredom." He looked pleadingly at the man.

"In your dreams, playboy." The blonde spat back at him. "I'm sure you can find a way to keep yourself occupied, it might do you some good to level up a little. Unless you want to continue being at the bottom of the totem pole."

"Nah," Rukil popped a smoke into his mouth and lit it with a lighter. "That'll be this kid soon, so either way I'll be off the bottom shelf and moving up in the world." He let out a breath of smoke, a smile forming as if he could taste freedom instead of just nicotine.

"As long as you know what to do, we'll leave you to it." The larger man said before moving to the door. "Try to be nice to the kid, we need him to like us." With that, he motioned the others out after him.

"Yeah, yeah." Rukil sat against a wall facing the last place they had seen the boy. "You better be worth all this, Jason." He said under his breath while he stared at the stars through the window.