Story on Display: Angelic Linear

[noizchild]

Angelic Linear

Chapter One: Once in a Lifetime Chance:

-Arisu-

As I stand attested to what I have learned, I cannot unsee what has been poured into me. What started out as an easy final project for my journalism grade in university became a sea of scandal that I wasn’t prepared for. If I had known that my sanity and life would be at stake, I would’ve taken a lower grade and graduated.

-Two Months Earlier-

The year was 2027 then. Spring break had just ended then. My grades were rather decent at the time. My ambitions ebbed and flowed in those days. I knew what I wanted for my future, but I felt rather lazy at times. Most of my friends had already applied for jobs on their last semester of college. I wanted to do that, but I felt unmotivated. I pressed my head against my desk. That day, I just didn’t seem to care. An arm plotted down in my line of vision. My eyes trailed upwards to a handsome older man looking down at me. I lifted my head to see that man shaking his head at me.

“Professor Robinson?” I asked. That gorgeous man with dark hair and a square jaw shook his head at me.

“Arisu, can I see you for a moment?” he asked. I gave him a blank stare.

“Okay…” I mumbled. I followed him back to his office in the basement of Lavender Building. I looked around at the shelves lined with classical books falling apart at their spines.

“Uh… am I in trouble?” I asked. Professor Robinson took a seat at his messy desk.

“Oh, no, no,” he said. “Nothing like that. Take a seat.” I sat down on the low wooden chair in front of his desk.

“What’s the problem?” I asked. He pulled out what looked like a folder and shoved it in my direction.

“Do you have any plans after university?” he asked. His thick British accent made my cheeks grow warm.

“Go into journalism…” I said in a quiet voice.

“Have you applied to anywhere?”

“Well, not yet.”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “May I ask why not?” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Am I failing anything?” I asked.

“No,” Professor Robinson said. “Do you know how many credits you need to graduate for this semester?”

“I don’t really know,” I replied.

“Look, you are doing well in my class, but you are still a couple of points shy from passing.” He reached into his drawer and pulled out another folder. “Which is why I have a big project for you.”

My eyes grew big. “For me?” That charming man opened the second folder.

“My father has been chasing this case for years, since the 1980’s,” he began. “Are you familiar with the Rowe-Shepherd family?”

“I believe so.”

“There are so many mysteries surrounding this family and the incidents in the 1970’s. No one’s been able to even come close to finding out what really happened. So many rumours have followed the children.”

I blinked at him. “So, what would you want me to find out?” Professor Robinson pulled out a photograph. I looked down to see a young man looking out in the street. The poor lighting obscured his face.

“His name is Henry Rowe,” my journalism professor explained. “He is a descendant of the children. I managed to track him down all the way in Coney Island, New York.” He drew back the photo. “I need you to fly to New York and interview him for your final project.”

My jaw dropped. “Me? Go to New York to interview this guy?”

“That’s what I said.”

“But… why me?”

Professor Robinson sat back in his worn leather chair. “You have so much potential, Arisu. I just hate you seeing wasting it away by doing nothing. This project will do you some good. Don’t worry about airfare and hotel fees. I’ll cover that out of my own pocket.”

I gave him a strange look. “Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am,” he replied. “Do you accept the challenge?” I nodded without thinking.

“Sure!” I said. “When can I start?”

“Tonight,” Professor Robinson said.

“What?”

“You will pack up, head to the airport after your classes and clubs, and fly out to New York tonight.”

“Wait… by myself?”

“That’s right. I will be in contact with you the whole time you are in Coney Island.”

I drew my mouth closed as I nodded. “Okay, I’ll take it.”

My professor gave me a little smile. “Very good. That is all.” He handed me the stuffed worn out folded. We shook hands and I headed back to my dorm.

Angelic Linear:
http://gotvg.net/viewstory.php?sid=2652&warning=4

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