The Paladin Prophecy

#76: WHEN YOU GAIN THE ADVANTAGE, PRESS IT TO THE LIMIT.

“Get out,” said Will. “Now. All of you.”

Will stood chin to chin with Todd, who flexed his fists, then reached over and knocked the photo of Will’s parents off the bedside table. It crashed onto the floor, and the glass cracked. Fury spread through Will like a time-lapse sunrise.

I’m going to wipe that smirk off your face.

Wild energy rumbled through Will’s chest and throat, an electrical charge firing up his spine, but just as he was about to let loose, Dave leaned in beside Todd and blew lightly into his ear. Todd swiped at his head, completely spooked, spinning around to look for whoever or whatever could have done that to him.

“What the hell …?” said Todd.

Will saw a puzzled, inward look steal over Lyle’s face. He has no idea what to make of it—but he felt Dave’s presence just then.

“Search the other rooms,” said Lyle.

Todd put his head down and stormed out. His running mates fell in behind him. Lyle leaned toward Will and levered his face into a gruesome version of a smile. Will caught a whiff of foul breath and sour body odor. Lyle’s voice was raspy and dry with adrenaline, spittle forming at the corners of his liverish lips.

“I’ve got you all figured out,” said Lyle.

“Do you?”

“You think being good is all that matters. That goodness and virtue have something to do with value. That’s the false comfort losers always fall back on. The pathetic fallacy of the weak.”

Will’s heart beat faster. The blood drained from his face.

“We don’t like you,” said Lyle softly. “We don’t like what your being here means: charity for nobodies. The false promise of a ‘level playing field.’ This field isn’t level. It never has been. It isn’t supposed to be.”

“Who’s ‘we’?” asked Will.

“Your superiors,” said Lyle viciously. “You’re an oik. Oiks don’t belong at the Center. And you won’t be here for long. Count on it.”

Lyle straightened his jacket over his slouched shoulders and left the room. Will followed him out. Brooke and Nick were watching the others try to open the door to Elise’s room. Lyle took out his master key and headed over to open it. Will picked up the nearest black phone and pushed the button.

“Good evening, how may I direct your call?” said the operator.

“Send an ambulance to Greenwood Hall,” said Will loudly. “Fourth floor, pod three. Right away. There’s been a terrible accident.”

Lyle, Todd, and their two goons stared at him. Will picked up the black phone, hefted it in his hand, testing its weight and feel. Seeing that, Nick lifted an iron poker from the fire pit and tapped it into his palm.

Todd took the key from Lyle and inserted it into the lock. Elise threw open her door from inside and blocked his path. She held her field hockey stick, spinning the blade in a confident, businesslike way.

Emboldened by the others, if not quite as committed, Brooke picked up a pillow from the sofa. Reared back. Totally prepared to throw it.

“Excuse me?” asked the operator.

“One sec,” said Will. He lowered the phone and made a show of counting Lyle, Todd, and the two goons—one, two, three, four. He lifted the phone again: “Make that two ambulances.”

Todd signaled his sidekicks. Both lunged at Elise. With the reflexes of a cobra, Elise smacked their wrists, a sharp precise crack from her hockey stick. They backed away, shaking their hands in pain. Everyone tensed, both sides waiting for the other to react, the prospect of violence heavy in the air.

Standing in the doorway to Will’s room, Dave took out a cigarette lighter, fired the wick, and held it in the air like a concertgoer listening to an ’80s hair band. He disappeared a moment later when the front door burst open. Dan McBride hurried in, followed closely by a breathless Ajay.

“What’s going on here?” said McBride. “Mr. Ogilvy? Please explain.”

“Searching the room for contraband, sir,” said Lyle.

“On what basis?” asked McBride.

“He doesn’t have one,” said Will.

“I do so!” said Lyle, eyes blazing with anger, then he seemed to instantly regret that he’d said it.

Will could read it in Lyle’s eyes: He’s seen something but he can’t reveal how. There’s more to this creep hassling me than just bullying. Maybe a lot more.

“Let’s hear it, then,” said McBride.

“I’m afraid I can’t prove anything,” said Lyle, backing down.

“Yet. Let’s call it a misunderstanding.”

Lyle gestured to the others and they quickly followed him to the front door. Nick, politely, opened the door for them and waved as they left.

“Ta-ta,” said Nick quietly. “Have a safe trip back to Douche-bagistan.”

Todd gave Nick a last poisonous glare on his way out. McBride headed after them into the hallway. “I’ll be right back,” said McBride as he left. “Hello? Mr. West, are you still there?” said the operator.

“Mr. West?”

“Sorry. Wrong number.” Will hung up the phone.

“Da-yem, that was classic,” said Nick.

He asked for a fist bump. Will gave him one. Brooke dropped the pillow and wrapped her arms around Will, who didn’t object. Leaning against the door frame, twirling her hockey stick, Elise offered a crooked smile and a raised eyebrow.

“Two ambulances,” she said. “Nice.”

“Nice?” said Ajay, jumping around. “Nice? Are you kidding me? That was totally fa-rouking awesome!”

McBride came back into the room. “Will, step outside with me for a moment,” he said.

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