The Alien Within

Chapter 5: Mr. Rudbick's Plan

Mr. Rudbick sat in his dimly lit office, the air thick with the scent of leather-bound books and old files.

His eyes lingered on the framed certificate on the wall—a relic of his years of service to the SSG (Special Surveillance Group).

It had once been a badge of honor, a symbol of his sharp mind and tireless dedication to uncovering secrets, but now it felt like a reminder of every theory he had ever put forward that had been mocked, ridiculed, and dismissed as the ramblings of a man chasing ghosts.

He wasn't mad. He knew what he had seen. Tessa wasn't just any ordinary student, and this time, he had proof.

He leaned back in his chair, recalling the moment of near-collision with Tessa outside Ms. Caldwell's class. The way she had moved—no, bent—to avoid him was not something a human body should be capable of.

Her spine had twisted at an angle that defied every law of physics, yet she had straightened herself without a single grimace or hesitation, like it was the most natural thing in the world. That wasn't just agility; that was something alien.

Mr. Rudbick's fingers drummed on the desk as he considered his options. Ever since Ms. Caldwell's intervention and the proprietor's decision to restrict his presence near the classrooms, his chances of observing Tessa had dwindled.

He could no longer hover in the shadows, waiting for her to slip up. The school had effectively cut off his access, and if he wasn't careful, they might begin to question his motives in ways that would only complicate his mission.

His eyes drifted to the framed photo of his son, James, sitting on his desk. In the picture, James was smiling, carefree and unaware of the heavy world his father operated in.

He was a good kid, though, smart and intuitive. That's when the idea struck him—James was the perfect way to get close to Tessa. She was in his class, and unlike Mr. Rudbick, he wouldn't raise suspicions by trying to befriend her. A sly smile curled at the corner of Mr. Rudbick's mouth. Yes, James would be his ticket back in.

That evening, Mr. Rudbick called his son into the study, where the low lighting cast long shadows across the room.

"Dad?" James's voice came from the door as he leaned in, his lanky frame silhouetted against the hallway light. With his sandy brown hair tousled and a curious look in his sharp, clear eyes, he stood waiting. "You wanted to talk?"

Mr. Rudbick motioned for his son to sit. "Yes, come in, James. There's something important I need to discuss with you."

James stepped into the room and dropped into the chair opposite his father, frowning slightly. "Okay… What's going on?"

Mr. Rudbick leaned forward, his voice low, almost conspiratorial. "It's about one of your classmates. Tessa."

James raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. "Tessa? What about her?"

"Tell me what you think of her," Mr. Rudbick asked, trying to sound casual, but there was an edge to his tone.

James shrugged. "I mean, she's... quiet. Kind of weird, I guess, but not in a bad way. She's just different. She doesn't hang out with anyone, doesn't talk much. But she's super smart. Always answers the questions in history class, like she knows everything about the past."

Mr. Rudbick's eyes gleamed with interest. "Exactly. Different. She's hiding something, James."

James laughed, shaking his head as if he'd misheard. "Hiding something? Dad, come on. What could she be hiding? Besides, everyone is hiding something!"

"Listen to me," Mr. Rudbick's tone sharpened, cutting through James's disbelief. "There's more to her than meets the eye. I've seen it with my own eyes. The way she moves, the things she knows—it's not normal."

"Not normal? You think she's an alien or something?" James snorted. "Dad, you've lost it."

"I'm not joking," Mr. Rudbick said firmly, leaning in closer. "I've been watching her. She's different, James. And I need your help to find out why."

James stared at his father, half-expecting him to burst out laughing, but the seriousness on his face remained. "You're… you're serious."

"As serious as I've ever been," Mr. Rudbick replied. "I need you to get close to her. Befriend her. Talk to her. Find out what she's hiding."

James leaned back in his chair, his face a mix of confusion and skepticism. "You really believe this, don't you?"

"I do," Mr. Rudbick said, his voice unwavering. "And I need you to believe it too. I can't get near her anymore, not without raising red flags. But you can. You're her classmate. You have access that I don't."

James hesitated. The idea of spying on a classmate, especially someone as quiet and reserved as Tessa, didn't sit well with him. But at the same time, his father had never been so insistent, so convinced of something before.

"Okay, I'll… I'll try," James said, not entirely sure what he was agreeing to.

"Good," Mr. Rudbick said, sitting back with a satisfied nod. "Just keep your eyes open. You'll see what I mean soon enough."

---

The next day at school, James found himself watching Tessa more closely than he ever had before.

She sat in her usual spot near the back of the history class, her dark hair falling in soft waves around her face as she listened intently to the lesson.

She was, as always, quiet and focused, scribbling notes with an almost mechanical precision. Nothing about her seemed particularly strange—at least not at first glance.

But as the day went on, James couldn't help but notice little things. The way she seemed to know the answers to every question in class, no matter how obscure or complex. The way she moved through the halls, almost as if she were gliding, never bumping into anyone, always aware of her surroundings in a way that felt unnatural. And then there was the way she avoided eye contact, like she was deliberately trying to keep people at a distance.

During lunch, James decided to make his move. He spotted Tessa sitting alone at a table near the window, her lunch tray untouched as she flipped through a thick history textbook. Taking a deep breath, he approached.

"Hey, Tessa," he said, trying to sound casual as he sat down across from her.

Tessa looked up, her expression unreadable. "Hi."

"I noticed you're really into history," James said, gesturing to the book. "That's pretty cool."

She blinked, clearly caught off guard by his sudden attempt at conversation. "Yeah… I guess."

James smiled, trying to break through her icy exterior. "I've always found it interesting too. You know, how everything we do today is shaped by what happened in the past. Like, every decision we make is connected to some event that happened hundreds or even thousands of years ago."

Tessa nodded, but her gaze flickered toward the window, as if she were already trying to escape the conversation.

"I mean, it's kind of mind-blowing when you think about it, right?" James continued, determined to keep her engaged.

"Like, what if the smallest thing in history had changed? Like, what if Alexander the Great had decided to take a day off or something? The entire world could be different."

Tessa's eyes sharpened at the mention of history's turning points, and for a brief moment, James saw something in her expression—a flicker of recognition, of understanding that went far beyond what any high school student should know.

"You're right," Tessa said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "History is full of moments like that. Small decisions that change everything."

James leaned in, sensing he was finally getting somewhere. "So, what's your favorite moment in history? You seem to know a lot about it."

Tessa hesitated, her fingers tightening around the edges of her book. "I don't… I don't really have a favorite."

Before James could press further, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Tessa quickly gathered her things and stood up. "I have to go," she muttered before disappearing into the crowd of students.

James watched her go, his mind racing. There was definitely something off about her, something she was trying to hide. But he couldn't quite put his finger on it yet.

---

Over the next few days, James made a point of seeking Tessa out whenever he could. He started sitting near her in class, offering casual comments about history, and even stopping by her locker to chat between periods.

At first, Tessa seemed wary of his sudden interest in her, but slowly, she began to warm up—just a little. She would answer his questions with short, clipped responses, but there was always a guardedness about her, like she was constantly on high alert.

Ms. Caldwell, however, was quick to notice the change in James's behavior. She had always been protective of Tessa, sensing that the girl was different, special in ways most people couldn't understand. And now, seeing James—Mr. Rudbick's son—hovering around her, her suspicions flared.