7. Chapter 7
Chapter seven
Alex
Although Alex had said he had no issue with Galen sitting in the back of his classes, he was concerned about the perception of having a hulking rugby player as his tentative new shadow. If he agreed to this arrangement, ironing out the kinks would be a work in progress.
Fortunately for Galen, Alex didn’t have time to waste arguing about the situation this morning. Galen might stick out less if he wore street clothes rather than a black suit and tie. However, Alex decided there was no hiding a tall, dark, and handsome man like Galen, regardless of his wardrobe. Alex was sure the rumor mill on campus would quickly start churning, and hoped none of the nonsense would make its way back to Danyal. Alex loved Danyal for all his strengths, but his major flaw was a jealous streak many Turkish men possessed. Danyal was so insecure about Alex being around other men, that he’d limited his interactions with male students or colleagues at work. He even withdrew from hanging out with his best friend, Shae. Effectively cutting Shae out of his life to appease Danyal’s feelings pained Alex, but he had no time or energy to deal with Danyal’s jealousy. He knew he was running from the situation to avoid it, and was ashamed for walking away from such a close friendship. He’d been thinking of Shae of late and wanted to reach out, but lacked the courage to face his poor decision on top of addressing Danyal’s insecurities.
Arriving at the literature building, Alex was somewhat mortified to show Galen his humorously small office, which barely held his desk, a small bookshelf, and two small chairs. In all honesty, he knew it was nothing more than a converted broom closet, but it was his realm in the hallowed halls of academia. Alex stepped inside his office while Galen stood outside the door several feet away, so as not to draw undue attention.
While he prepared for his lecture, Alex heard a whisper.
“Dammit, I wish he’d be on time for once.”
“Did you say something, Mr. Tucker?” said Alex.
Galen stepped to the door and shook his head no.
Alex returned to his work, but was disturbed by another whisper.
“Shit, she said she was late. There’s no way she can be pregnant. I’m not ready to be a father.”
Alex looked around the hall quickly, only seeing students hurriedly passing by, with Galen leaning up against the wall with a confused look. He stepped back into his office, but the whispers became louder, now verging on screaming.
“Where’s my class at?”
“Damn, the tall, bearded guy leaning on the wall is fucking hot! I’d like to get him into bed!”
“Where’s Dr. Lieth? I hope he goes easy on the papers! I need to pass his class!”
“I hope Sarah sits beside me today. If she does, I’ll make my move!”
“Please don’t have a quiz today. I didn’t do the reading!”
Alex placed his fingers between his eyes, trying to focus and drown out the disembodied voices. With each passing second, the voices grew louder until they merged into a single booming static that couldn’t be deciphered. Alex fell back and sat in his desk chair while his head ached like an axe pounding his skull.
NO! Was it happening again? Please don’t let it happen again.
Alex was startled by Galen, who’d entered the office and closed the door. He knelt beside him and leaned over, placing his hands on Alex’s shoulders and shaking him.
“Professor Lieth, ya right?”
Alex couldn’t respond except to shake his head no. He could feel the pain in his skull reaching the levels he’d only experienced the morning he transcended. Without warning, Alex released all the energy building in his head, sending out a shock wave that threw Galen up against the wall and bursting all the light bulbs in the office and down the hall in a cascading wave of explosions, triggering the fire alarm and sprinklers. Alex helplessly gasped for breath.
Galen pulled himself up from the floor and knelt in front of Alex. “Breathe, mate. Take long, deep breaths. Yu’re hyperventilating. Focus on mah voice. Take a deep breath in and slowly let it out. Yu’re in control.”
Alex followed Galen’s commands, and the two men sat quietly, taking deep breaths until his breathing was nearly normal.
“Can ya speak, mate?” asked Galen.
“Yes,” said Alex in a weak, hoarse voice.
“Ya right?”
“I don’t know,” said Alex, breathing deeply. “I suffer from anxiety attacks, but this wasn’t anxiety.”
Galen squinted, looking concerned. “Ya know what triggered it, mate?”
“I kept hearing voices until I was overwhelmed…” Alex paused. “The noise was so loud I couldn’t think. There was this buildup of energy until it was released.” Alex looked up at Galen, noticing some blood above his right eye. “Are you hurt?”
Galen reached up to wipe the blood off his eyebrow.
“It’s a scratch, mate.”
Alex closed his eyes, and his breathing began to increase again. “I hurt you, Mr. Tucker. I’m so sorry,” said Alex, now holding his face in his hands.
“Not even hurt, sir. Mah job to make sure yu’re safe. Have ya experienced this before?”
“Not with voices, but I’ve experienced the explosive release of energy.”
“Eh, when?”
“Yesterday, right before Mr. Brynmor came to my apartment.”
Galen grew silent and sat back against the wall.
Alex removed his face from his hands and looked up to meet Galen’s gaze. “What are you not telling me, Mr. Tucker?”
“Don’t mean to alarm ya, sir. An EMP anomaly on Sunday crashed the electrical systems on the entire Eastern Seaboard.”
Alex raised his hand over his mouth to hide his gasp. “So, you’re saying I caused the blackouts?”
Galen nodded yes. “PGC scientists believe it’s true.”
Alex sat forward in his chair. “What do we do now, Mr. Tucker?”
“Need to get ya out of here and checked out by the doctors at PGC.”
“No,” said Alex, “I won’t go there.” He refused to make a deal with the devil.
“Come on, sir. Need to know yu’re OK.”
“No, I’m not ready. Please take me home.”
“Too risky, sir,” said Galen, shaking his head.
“Please, take me home.”
Galen relented and helped Alex stand. “Ya fit to walk?”
Alex, still dazed, didn't respond.
“Can go down two ways, mate. Ya can stand and walk out, or I can pick ya up and carry ya out. Ya choose, or I’ll choose for ya.”
Alex nodded yes. “I’ll walk with your help. But I have a request, Mr. Tucker. Please don’t tell PGC or Danyal about what happened today.”
“Can only agree not to tell Mr. Sarif if ya order me. Can’t keep what happened from PGC. Immediately sacked if I didn’t file a report. Understand yur hesitation, mate. Ya consider the risk you pose to Mr. Sarif? What happens if the next time ya’ve an attack, ya hurt him or even worse?”
Galen stopped walking and looked Alex directly in his eyes, as the water from the sprinklers drenched them from above. Alex lowered his face to avoid Galen’s gaze before nodding. He couldn’t forgive himself if he hurt Danyal. He’d have to swallow his pride and ask for help.
“Make the call and set up a meeting with PGC tomorrow, Mr. Tucker.”