Part 1 The View from the Outside

[Jaygo Jones]

The View from the Outside

Jaygo felt the wind on his face as he looked down on the courtyard. No one noticed his presence, which was what he wanted. The science building was the tallest in the school, at four stories, it was hardly a speck in the sprawling monstrosity that was Paragon City, but here it was a sky scrapper. Several students lounged on the steps, taking refuge from the warm sun, enjoying the light breeze. It was only two days since the dance, but already he could see there was something wrong, more than just the usual problems that plague a school of 'gifted' students. laughter floated on the air as a group of freshmen passed under him. fresh faced youths, high on their new status within the walls of the school, ready to take on the world.

His solace was broken by a sharp thump and a grunt behind him. Turning he sees John Drago walking over. 'Great just what i need' Jaygo thought. it wasn't that he didn't like the new kid, he was solid in a fight, he was just weird. Always seeming to know the wrong times to pipe in his advice. Or like now, showing up when he was on the roof. No one goes to the roof looking for conversation, not that the roof is a difficult thing for a school full of super powered kids to get to. 'John. how are you?' Jaygo's question was abrupt, he wanted this conversation over as fast as he could. Drago moved next to him, towering over him by almost a foot. ' Good' His reply was short enough for Jaygo to wait a heartbeat for his large companion to continue. ' What's wrong Jaygo. What do you you have there in your hand?' Jaygo steps back, quickly shoving his hand into his pocket.

' I got nothing. I really would like some time alone to think though. your trying to hard again' His tone was more coarse that he intended. He would have to remember to apologize later. ' there's something going on around here lately. Things aren't right, too many rumors and whispers as of late. Students disappearing, returning hours later looking worn, or in a few cases beaten to all hell.' Jaygo pauses, not sure how to continue. ' I don't know, just be careful. I just have this feeling.' He turns away, once again a silent sentinel to the students below. Drago stepped back 'When it comes, Jaygo, whatever it may be, I'll be here. you'll find me in the thickest of the fighting.' He was away before his words died on the wind.

'What the hell does that mean?" Jaygo shouts after the rapidly shrinking form in the sky. Yelling attracts his attention. One student could be seen walking, seemingly alone, across from the science building. Her arms swinging wide, as if to punctuate her yelling. Mimi VanBuren, student body president. Jaygo shakes his head. to any of the millions of normal people in Paragon she might seem crazy. Fighting with Sam again, Jaygo thinks. there had been a lot more of that since the dance. He shook his head. Mimi was a bit naive in his eyes. addmiditly he didn't know her all that well, but she seemed a little too ready to do, and say the right thing. He saw her shoulders slump as she mouthed something and weakly reached out. Guess Sam's done arguing for the night. Mimi retreated to the gym, the usual pep in her step gone. He scanned the courtyard, stopping on two figures sitting in the grass. Hedgehog sat with his back turned, but his laughter was unmistakable. the green haired form lying next to his was smiling. Cricket. A smile creepy across his face. At least one thing didn't go wrong after the dance.

movement, unforgettable pink hair, caught his eye. Francis and Jasmine were yelling now too. Jasmine was trying to walk off, but Francis seemed hell bent on shoving a bundle of clothes at her. Both girls had been edgy and withdrawn, even more so than usual for the goth duo. Francis tried horribly to hide an ugly bruise on her face behind more makeup, while Jasmines usual feline movements were stiff, as if she were hiding wounds of her own. his gaze lingered for a moment. Jasmine and Francis were two peas on a pod, so much so that they seemed to rub each other the wrong way more often than not. Jaygo chuckles a bit recalling his first run in with them.

Jaygo had found the door to the roof slightly open. his interest piqued he ventured on. Thrilled more at the chance to get a good look at the school than anything he might find. The view was amazing. He could see the entire campus and a good part of the city from up here. The striking of a match and the smell of smoke jolts him back to reality. Two girls were sitting in one of the corners by the door. The pink haired one was smoking, a writing tablet and pen sitting neatly on her lap. Her friend was waving her hand around, seemingly bringing the shadows to life, only to have them dance and fight in some macabre puppet theater. her giggles were chilling. ' hey, new kid. what are you doing up here. the roof is off limits.' Pink says flicking ashes off her cigarette. With a smirk Jaygo steps closer, 'Oh right. good thing you were here to help me.' He glances at the tablet. ' I get it..I'm interrupting bad poetry theater.' the other girl looks up for the first time, forgetting her puppets. Jaygo met her eyes and was lost for a second. ' Hello, you there? you just gonna stare at me.' Jaygo shakes his head, trying to concentrate. her eyes were beautiful. ' get your head out of your ass new kid. Your bothering us. now run along' She made a 'shooing' motion with her hand and returned to her 'toys'.



His hand finds the trinket in his pocket. Jasmine had given him her hair piece before the end of the dance. he looked down at it and smiled. The two girls were still at it down below. drawing quite a crowd in the process. Jasmine, finally relenting, snatches the bundle from Francis and flies off.

Once again left to his thoughts he looks down at the trinket. It was made of some metal and dyed a light blue. Intricate designs flowed across every surface, almost spelling words, but no matter how hard he tried to read them all he ever got was a headache for the trouble He saw a piece of white sticking out of his pocket. his hand slowly pulled it out. looking between the trinket and the letter, he seemed almost ready to crumble the paper up, but hesitated. replacing the trinket in his pocket he opens the letter and reads it again for the hundredth time


'We have your parents, tell anyone and they die. Don't come looking for us. we will come for you. Tomorrow the police will visit, you will not tell them about this letter'

It was hand written in an old flowing style, almost like the person that wrote it was some Shakespeare wanna be. He didn't know how or why, and was still debating whether to even care. He hated his parents as much as anything else in this world. They treated him like shit, damned near abandoning him here at this school, but they were his only family. He didn't like being played like a puppet. They made a mistake, not in kidnapping his parents, but in not treating him like a threat. A mistake that few have gotten away with in the past. He reaches into his other pocket and withdraws his trusty lighter. In a show if defiance he lifts the letter high and flicks the lighter to life, it's flame struggling to stay alight in the wind. The paper catches almost immediately, and he lets it go, watching the letter burn on the wind. Backing away fronm the edge he returns the lighter to his pocket. He sits down against the roof door and once again pulls out Jasmines trinket, and closes his eyes, fingers tracing their way around the trinket. maybe I should stay in tonight....

[Jaygo Jones]

Whoo. Part one is finished. no cool title for this one, i'm just glad to be done with it.. getting this thing one finished has been hell. I changed the beginning point due to the large influx of fiction by everyone else.. figured i'd just jump in and start it off. no time like the present huh. sorry if i step on anyone elses stories with this. not trying to. you've all just given me a great foundation to build off of.. i'm not entirely happy with this part, but as I plan on this being the worst of the stuff i submit i'll live with it.

if I got anything wrong let me know. i'll fix it.

oh and Floribunda, i made refrence to the story involving you.. hope you dont' mind. i didn't ask for permission because your NOT actually in it. so the other story has to stand now for continuity.