The kinky old dude undergoes body surgery.

Ten minutes.

It took me ten minutes to get away from the building. There are lots of students loitering in the yard. High school bums. Divided into their cliques. The geeks with their study circle, the jocks with their girls, the skaters with their crasher skating fun, the hipsters and scenesters with their bouncy front and back. They got the whole yard to themselves. The outsiders, like me and the lone wolf are shoved to the side.

They probably been left out or just want to be left alone.

No time to waste, I jumped into the fence where I skidded off late this morning. The time on my watch is 3:30 pm. I've slept a good deal of six hours. Strange thing about this school is, there's no walls circling the ground. So if there's a thief or a terrorist, he can get inside easily.

The familiar fields I paved through earlier came into view. The plants I ran my hands through as I sprint with the wind, lay withered and parched in front of me.

The satisfying power in my leg is back again. Coursing through my veins, pumping nothing but energy. The more I speed up towards my destination, the more energy fills me with adrenaline rush.

I have this weirdest unreasonable doubt. It's been stuck in my head ever since I heard the cornfields died. There's something I didn't tell Dad. The 'thing' that could get me in a difficult situation if they knew.

You see, I did not heed his instruction to go east. I head south. Figured it could get me to school faster if I take that route. And watching the barren field lined the same path I streak chilled my muscles and blood.

I'm not hundred percent sure. But I think the culprit is the same 'person' who watch me with crow like eyes when Ms. Greythorn pulled me away from the yard this morning. He followed me to the school to check if I saw anything. I may be the only possible witness who saw him commit his crime, is what I think he's thinking right now.

But he's wrong. I didn't. That's why I need to find that old man. I'm sure he has answers. I'm sure that old man notice the culprit like how he easily noticed me.

I lift up my sleeves and scratch the Mark. It's itching again. The wave of energy doubled everytime I tried to slow down. Even if I stop completely, the adrenaline rush doesn't stop coming. I dare not waste it. I sprinted, I break into a thick patch of dead leaves and stomp on the clearing of weeds and black mud.

After 5 minutes of running, I finally see the rusty gate. I looked down. The weeds here have decayed. There are tiny flies circling above. Making it their new home. It's in this state already?

Why? They're just weeds. Not food crops.

"And what in the devil are you doing here again?!"

I frown. I found the old man alright. But something is not right with his appearance. He was wearing a cap earlier. He discards it now, exposing his black and blue mismatched eyes. One big as a marble, the other is as small as a goat's sh*t. His back is hunched in a convex position. And I could've sworn they were straight earlier. His leg isn't straight too. The left is longer than the right.

"I want to ask you a couple of questions! Mind if I join you in your house err...Sir?"

"Leave!"

"Forgive me, I already asked for permission so this ain't trespassing." I open the gate and chaperoned myself inside, despite his protest.

"I said leave!" he snarled. His voice is guttural than earlier. He was making this weird noise in his throat, like growling. Is he that unhappy to see me?

I stepped into the small road. Deliberately ignoring the dead weeds and mud. I'm exactly nine meters away from his house. He's standing with arms crossed on his wooden floor, supported by four thick pillars which were plunged into the ground.

"Look, I only came here to ask one - maybe a couple of questions. And then I'll be on my way. If you answer me directly, we won't be stuck in this position any minute longer, okay?"

Even without the glaring, which is what he's exactly doing right now, I would've been nervous. It's weird being alone with this old man. There's something in his eyes that made me waver. He's staring at me as if he wants to crush me with his feet, literally speaking.

And nothing could ever bring him more joy than watching me grovel for life. I shuddered.

"Ask away." He said with a huff.

Okay. I did not expect that. I straightened my back. Made a short run through of my question in my mind.

"Earlier this morning, when you saw me stopping by, did you see other people coming after me?"

There's no change in his grumpy expression when he shakes his head.

Assuming I'm still on his good side, I ask again. "Then do you see anyone suspicious loitering in the fields this morning? Someone who could kill all these plants?"

"No." His guarded glare tells me my time is up. I should leave. Even though our conversation didn't take that long. Only forty-five seconds tops. I wanna try stalling time by throwing unrelated questions but I feel that gesture won't be received warmly.

"Oh, okay. Well, if you ever see anything, be sure to tell me. I'll be in touch."

I want to leave my phone number like policemen do in their investigation. How cool it sounds, to pretend you're a cop. Yet I can't. I'm still a freaking kid and Dad won't let me own a cellphone. He said it's easily traceable. Too dangerous for people hunting us.

And I'm hundred percent sure he's just paranoid. Not that I'm exempted anyway.

I turn my heel and picked the shabby gate to get out when he called me.

"Hey, kid."

I bet this is the part where he'll give me random information on what he witnessed today. Which becomes an important clue to my investigation. I screamed inwardly. This is it. The taste of success draws near.

"Yes?"

He hesitated for a moment. I inclined my head, telling him to continue.

"Your Seeker...has he located you yet?"

Huh? What Seeker?

"What do you mean?"

He produced a malicious disgusting looking grin.

"Today really is a great day."

He wheezed and twirled his head in bone cracking motion. Black fluid veins made visible in his neck. He forced every part of his body to twist, making every bone and joints crack. I cringed. The crack and krrrrr sound feel so real, a shudder runs through my spine.

Something protrudes from his left chest, traveling down to his hip with a snap. Next thing I know he's looking at me with sinister eyes as his jacket pop, growing two long sharp wings on his back.

I backed away, absolute terror ran through my body.

"I'm lucky. " he cooed. "My first find is a powerful Eklektos who doesn't realize what his blessing is."

And he lunge at me with long razor sharp nails.