Menta-Life (Book 1)

Chapter 24

I look around at the focused faces in each lane, trying to find Paul's. I reach the tables and look left to see people I don't recognize studying in silence. I turn my head right and see Paul staring at me from the back wall; he is leaning against it with his arms crossed and a curiously angry look on his face. He is wearing a brown long sleeve shirt and blue jeans.

He certainly recognizes me from Menta-Life. The whole time he was back there during the meeting, he was probably scanning everyone in the audience. I would have done the same, but I was sitting in the middle, making me an obvious creep for everyone behind me. He uncrosses his arms and backs off the wall, then walks behind the very last shelf to my right. He's clearly luring me back there, though how can I talk to him if I don't go?

I walk back there, as I normally would; not too quickly nor too cautiously. I reach the back wall where the last section of books is, then turn into a sudden stop and see him standing right in front of me. It doesn't creep me out one bit to see this guy standing here after looking like he was heading to the opposite end. Now that I'm close to him, I notice his skin tone is only a little bit darker than his shirt.

I stand there, looking up into his eyes as he demands with his deep voice, "Follow me."

He turns around and starts walking towards the other side. I follow him, as instructed.

When we get halfway through, he instructs, "Wait here."

I stop walking and he continues, then turns to the right, leaving the aisle. Where is he going? This definitely doesn't seem right. I haven't had the chance to tell him that I don't work for Menta-Life, so he'd better not do anything stupid. I hear him clear his throat from the other side of the shelf. I turn towards it and see him through an empty space where a book should be.

He pushes the next book towards me, "Pick up the book and open it." I pick the romance book from the shelf and open it, then he adds, "Don't look up from it."

I assure him, "I'm not Menta-Life."

"I never said you were."

"Then why are you being so evasive toward me?"

"To make sure you weren't followed. Who are you?"

"Van."

He irritably asks, "Van what?"

"Van nothing."

"I can't trust you if I don't know your real name."

"And I can't trust you if you know mine."

I listen to the silence on the other side and realize he's gone. Am I going to chase him? Absolutely not. Yeah, he took a stand against Menta-Life, nevertheless, he needs people more than I do. I can take down Menta-Life on my own. Who am I kidding?

I put the book back on the shelf and quickly walk left out of the aisle. I make my way past the shelves towards the front as I look between each shelf for him. I reach the walkway where the reception area is and turn left. I head straight around the receptionist to the front door. I stop at the door. Forget it.

Wherever he is, he's probably running, thinking I had set him up. Daylight is no longer grinning through the window, so I need to go find out what's going on in GCN. I casually walk out of the library and across the street to my lectrocycle. I get on, then drive away heading west. I have to let Dayio know it's happening soon, but I need to check the place out before his arrival to make sure getting in won't be a problem.

I tap my Econ, "Serenia, call Dayio."

She connects us and Dayio greets, "Yo, Van."

"Dayio, I need to get into GCN. Meet me there in an hour and a half."