Page 32 of Light Leech

“You think it’s a dead end for finding the Correction?”

“I think there are better ways… Oh my zeg, yes!”

“What?”

“What if your parents sent you here to look for something? Maybe they were prepping you for some Luxist thing, but maybe it never showed up.”

“Or maybe it would have if I had graduated.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize–”

“No, it’s not that. I got caught up in all of this right before I had the chance to graduate. If your theories are correct, I’m glad I didn’t make it to the end or I might be another orphan owned by a corporation.”

“Is that better than being a tooth-eating Imp?”

“I have family now, that’s all that matters.”

I smiled. “Let’s take a step back. Say your parents focused on this school so much and that is why the other Luxists sent us here. That doesn’t mean that the Correction isn’t out there, but what if we’re approaching this all wrong?”

“Mixed-up data makes sense. There are seven Beacons out there that we don’t know about, after all.”

I smiled and patted him on the back. “Zeg yeah, du.”

“Don’t get too excited. We still have the head of the PTA to deal with.”

“Do you know them?”

“Maybe? My parents had them over every now and then. I might recognize them, but they also might approach me like I’m some nephew, especially if they know about my parents.”

“PTA involvement, just another reason to think they’re looking for something else in the school.”

“Is everything alright, boys?” Naoma called from outside.

“Your wife wants you,” Boyband said.

I smiled and shook my head as I turned to leave.

“Sorry for the wait,” I said.

Sanna looked more exhausted by the minute and lacked the enthusiasm she had at the beginning as she bid us to follow her towards the elevator.

We stepped inside and Sanna pressed the button for the tenth floor.

Naoma took my hand and eyed me from the side. Her eyes flashed for a moment.

A message appeared on my interface.

Naoma: Is everything alright between you two?

Petya: Yeah. We’ve got a lot to talk about later. Not sure how much we can accomplish right now. I don’t think this place will lead us to the Correction, but there still might be something worth our time.

Naoma: I was getting the same feeling. We’ll keep this PTA thing short.

Petya: See what you can dig up on the PTA, and see what Boyband’s parents were looking into before they got offed. You plug?

Naoma: Yup.

The elevator chimed upon arrival and the doors slid open. Sanna led us down the hall to a room in the corner of the floor. The back two walls were windows facing the city, giving plenty of natural light and the violet tint of the surrounding skyscrapers.