Page 29 of Prickly as a Porcupine

“What’s this?”Agent Quackenbush pulled a knife from the far wall.Joline was surprised she didn’t notice it when she first walked in.Although there was so much mess in the room, it was easy to miss.And Joline was more worried about Ariel’s whereabouts and safety.

A sheepish look crossed Ariel’s face.“I kept a knife under my pillow.Just in case.”Her green eyes held a haunted look, one that Joline had never seen in Ariel’s eyes before.It was as if all her anger and need for vengeance vaporized, leaving fear behind.Joline figured Ariel used her anger like a bulletproof vest, helping her to feel safe from any dangers.Joline’s eyes flicked back to the knife embedded in the wall.It must have been the throwing knife Ariel grabbed from the leg Grimm gave her before the agents confiscated the rest.Relief washed over Joline, knowing Ariel’s resourcefulness—and inability to completely stick to the rules—kept her safe.She’d never question Ariel’s motives again.

“Aside from the taser we’re letting you keep in the other leg, you’re not allowed to have weapons.”Agent Talbot locked Ariel in her steely gaze.Clearly she was not as relieved as Joline.

Ariel bit her bottom lip.“I know.But I was scared after Grimm gave me that note.”Shock and guilt flooded Joline.She had no idea Ariel felt that way.She always appeared so confident.Joline felt pained that Ariel didn’t open up to her about her apprehension.Even though they were getting close to each other, it was apparent Ariel still kept her guard up like a protective armor.

Joline noticed Ariel was still shivering.She put an arm around her, pulling her close.It would have to be enough to help her to feel safe again.Joline vowed to protect Ariel at all costs.“Surely you can’t be mad at her for this?It’s not like she was out stabbing cadets.This creeper came into her room.”Joline’s tone had venom in it.She knew she shouldn’t question her superiors, yet she felt they were acting like Ariel was a criminal.While misguided in the past, Joline could tell Ariel was trying her best to do better.And who could fault her for wanting to feel safe when a crazy person sent her a note stating he had been watching her.

“We’re not mad at her.But she still has to follow the rules,” Agent Talbot started.

“After tonight,” Agent Quackenbush added with a gentle smile.“Once the threat of Grimm is put to rest, no more weapons.”Her ponytail swayed as she shook her head for emphasis.

Joline felt more at ease that the agents weren’t planning to punish Ariel for keeping the knife.Ariel’s green eyes flitted around the room as if assessing for other threats.Her body still shuddered under Joline’s fingers.Joline rubbed Ariel’s back, trying her best to keep her calm.“Do you want help getting dressed?”she asked.Ariel seemed frozen, unsure of what to do.Finally, she nodded.

“I’m going to take the snake… thing… to the hospital wing to get checked out, but we’ll keep him locked up and guarded.Agent Quackenbush will escort you to the hospital wing once you’re dressed.”Agent Talbot glanced around the room, keeping the snake cradled to her chest.Its feathery wings drooped from her arms.Her brow wrinkled as if an unsavory thought struck her.“In fact, I think I want an agent with you both all day.”

Joline’s eyes widened at the thought.She was mentioned in Grimm’s note.They were both targets.She wrapped her arm around Ariel, pulling her close, trying her best to help her feel safe again.Ariel’s trembling subsided.

Agent Quackenbush gave the room a once-over as Agent Talbot left with the amphiptere.“I don’t sense anything hiding or lurking about,” she announced before giving Ariel a sympathetic gaze.“I’ll be just outside in the hall if you need anything,” she said softly before leaving the room.

Joline tucked a lock of Ariel’s silver-streaked hair behind her ear.“What can I help with?”

She still had the sheet wrapped tightly around her small frame.Her eyes kept darting to the dresser as if she feared another creature would pop out from underneath it.

“Ariel?”Joline prompted, while giving her shoulder a quick squeeze.

Ariel shook her head as if coming out of a daze.She glanced around the room as if temporarily forgetting where she was.With a sniff, she finally said, “I need to find my track pants that snap up the side.It makes it easier to access the compartments in the other leg.”Her voice was flat.

“Are they in the dresser?”

Ariel nodded.As Joline left her side to open the drawers, Ariel grabbed her arm.“Be careful,” she said in a whisper, still eyeing up the dresser as if it could transform into a monster.

“It’s alright.Agent Quackenbush already cleared the room.”Ariel’s facial expression said that she wasn’t convinced, so Joline added, “I’ll be careful.”When she crossed the short space to the dresser, she asked, “What drawer are they in?”

“The bottom.I’ll need a shirt too, but which one doesn’t matter so much.Shirts are in the middle drawer.”

Joline carefully searched for the pants, not wanting to make a mess of things after Ariel already had a lot to clean up.Then she found a shirt that matched the black track pants.She handed the clothes to Ariel.Tears streaked down her cheeks.“What can I do to help?”Joline offered.

Ariel shook her head.“I never realized how helpless I really am.Especially since…” She glanced down at the prosthetic leg.Joline wished she could say something reassuring, but all ideas sounded stupid in her head.She stayed quiet.Ariel continued, “I was laying in bed.I sleep with my leg off.”She shrugged.“I expect most people do.”Her tears eased up, slowing in frequency as she wiped her nose on the back on her hand.“He came, knowing I’d not be able to run.”Her brow wrinkled.She leaned against the wall, putting a hand to her forehead.“How could I be so stupid?”

“About what?”

“I let him mutilate me.And for what?”Anger brought a blush to her cheeks and neck.Her fingers bunched up the sheet as she made fists.“So he can send creeps into my room at night to toss my leg out of reach so I can’t run?Or fight.”Her eyes glanced back at the dresser.“At least I can still manage pretty well on three legs.”The last comment seemed more a musing out loud.

“That’s all more reason to put an end to this, once and for all.Agent Stone said they’re prepping to hit up the place Grimm invited us to now.And our plan seems pretty solid.With the extra security on campus, I don’t think he’s getting away with anything today.”Determination grew within Joline.It mirrored the look on Ariel’s face.

“One way or another,” Ariel agreed, “this ends today.”

Ariel thought that agents would have shut down her plan after the intruder, but they seemed all the more determined to help.Extra reinforcements were brought in just in case.WANC swarmed with current and former agents, all on high alert.While most of the ‘Eh Team was with Agents Stone and Sparks’ raid, a few members were called back to campus just in case shit hit the fan.

Grimm would be crazy to pull anything with all the agents and security around.But Ariel knew he was just that: crazy.He’d view it as a challenge to prove how smart he was.If anything, the extra help would lure him in.

After meeting in the classroom, Ariel swapped her prosthetic for the one ‘gifted’ by Grimm.She felt dirty just touching it.The club members spent the morning setting up their traps.Simon instructed all of them on the various ways to make snares.Jennifer provided education on how to properly chloroform someone.

It seemed strange that the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.Ariel half expected a storm for all the trouble that was brewing.The only thing in the sky was a lone eagle passing lazy circles overhead.She wondered if that was an ASS agent on patrol.

Everyone quickly sprang into action.They had a lot to do before their fake party started.They spread the supplies around the obstacle course, so it was readily available.Agent Talbot snagged a donut that was left over from brunch before disappearing.She would stand watch between WANC and the obstacle course to warn them if trouble was on its way.Trina, Lyla, Gabby, and Agent Quackenbush took their lunches and supplies to the hippo pond that sat between WANC and the fenced perimeter.If Agent Quackenbush had any ideas about why they were standing on watch near the hippos, she didn’t let on.