Perfect School

Finished I joined him again and stood at the window a moment before taking my cup and sitting with my legs brought up onto one of the large reclining chairs. A break was nice. As much as we trained our bodies to the utmost limits, there was a vast difference to what we did and what muscles we worked compared to what you'd find in those who worked hard for a living. I wasn't out of breath from the scrubbing but I could feel light aches starting up in a few areas like my wrists and shoulder blades.

Jonah:

“I have a new appreciation for cleaners,” I said. It took a special kind of person to make a career out of cleaning up dead bodies. It was not something I had ever thought much about. In my job I only briefly dealt with the dead.

"They take just as big a role in our profession as we do. Sometimes to get the job done right you hire a cleaner. Kill someone in a car, but make it look like they died in their office. A cleaner will take care of what we can't." I paused to take a sip of my drink, "But yes, I appreciate what they can do more."

Jonah:

Our breakfast came a few minutes later. It was surprising how hungry we were now. When we had gone to the restaurant, neither of us had an appetite, now after hours or labor, we were famished.

After another few hours we had the room looking perfect as before. I drained the human stew from the bathtub. There were a couple particles still left at the bottom, but they would dissolve with the next batch. I set the other two bodies in the tub and repeated the process.

In the mean time Kira and I played cards, games that I couldn’t count cards or strategize with, such as Speed and slap jack.

It was a relief to be done, and while I wanted nothing more than to sleep, the games were a welcome distraction while my muscles slowly relaxed from their work. "We are going to need to get our information together so we can return to the school."

Jonah:

I took out the laptop and began to get our travel information.  I got an evening flight that would get us to the school early in the morning.  First class so we could sleep on the plane.  After today, I thought it was unlikely that I would be sleeping anywhere but in my own room.  Or rather my room at the school.

I let him make the arrangements, only taking the time to quote the card number and pin for the account Marie gave to me for travel and such. First class is what I was used to flying, if I simply didn't get to ride in her private jet. But for a while now I hadn't been the one to pick my seats, and Zero was more inclined to go with practical over comfort. It didn't bother me one way or the other, my own choices would usually lean towards the best however.

We took the time to do another once over for the room, giving it a chance to air out after all was said and done to remove that chemical smell from everything. While that happened we packed up our things and went so far as to order a lunch.

Jonah:

I would have preferred to leave the room to get lunch but I was not going to risk someone coming in to find bodies melting in the bathroom. Not with How Marie had planned things so far. I wouldn’t put it past her to have us caught doing something like this.

Finally the mixture had fully dissolved the remains and I drained the tub. After cleaning the bathroom thoroughly, we got dressed in outerwear and went down to the casino one last time. We got dinner, and ordered a limo to pick us up afterward. We were acting again, but I was no where near as handsy as I had been before.

I didn't want to go out, but for appearances sake we had too. Everything was different now, and while we put on a good act, an air of things not being fully right thrived around us both. It was with relief that I climbed into the limo and knew that soon I could rest. Having done not only most of the scrubbing but being drugged far more than he was, I was ready to fall asleep at a moments notice. But I planned on waiting until we were on the plane.

Jonah:

We were able to change into regular clothes before we got on the plane. We flew under different names than we had checked into the hotel. Before we boarded, I went to the book store and picked out a guide book to Taiwan. Nothing else looked interesting and it was a country that I had not put extensive research into.

It was nice being back in things that didn't involve heels, tight skirts, or showing off my figure. By all accounts the white t-shirt was plain, and the shorts were the same pair I'd worn on the drive down. The flats were for convenience as was the light hoodie. Both would be useful for when I settled into the plane and went to sleep.

As it was the boarding was quick and easy, we were still sitting beside each other but we had plenty of room and all the comfort we could ask even as the plane took off. Once we were in the air I removed my shoes, tucked them into a pocket of the seat and set it to recline while curling up. Tugging the hood up to block most of the sound and light I gave a small tired sigh.

Jonah:

I sat in the aisle seat and read while she slept. It wasn’t an entertaining read, but it was informative. From time to time I looked her over, admiring the soft shapes of her sleeping face. She looked years younger when she was relaxed.

When my eyes grew heavy I asked a flight attendant for a cup of coffee. Even for first class, it wasn’t very good but ti was enough to keep me up.

It was easy to fall asleep, and the fact that I was facing him had been partially an unconscious choice. Mostly it was to face away from any light that might come from outside the plane, as usually I'd always flown in the morning.

I dozed for the entire flight, and Jonah had to wake me up just so I could buckle myself back into the seat though I went right back asleep after.

Jonah:

When we got to the school it was all quiet. Nearly everyone was still asleep. We were taken to our rooms to freshen up but I chose to get breakfast instead of lingering in my new room. It was interesting being back here after so long livng in the house. For one we each had a full room, similar to the hotel suite but smaller. No longer in the student section of the school.

I made my way to the cafeteria after showering and changing once again. Now I wore a gray shirt and black pants. The cafeteria was similarly empty. Now that I was an assistant instructor I had the liberty of making my own meal if I so wished. I fried a couple eggs and buttered toast before taking it to the instructors lounge to eat.

Paublo:

I was in the midst of eating breakfast, a large array of waffles, bacon, and cheesy eggs, when Jonah came in. One of the best things about coming here was having access to so much more in terms of food and ingredients. Plus I could make whatever I wanted alongside the actual cooks. I took full liberty of that, helping them out even as I made my own food. And they had always been happy for the help. But as I looked up to see who'd entered the instructors lounge my face lit up.

"Jonah! You're back!" Standing I grinned, searching him over for anything that might stand out and tell me just what he'd been doing.

Jonah:

I smiled when I entered the room and saw him. I clapped him on the back before taking a seat at his table to eat my breakfast. “How has it been here?” I asked before he began asking me questions of our trip.

"It's so weird being called a teacher...I still feel like I'm worse than a lot of the kids here. Especially the really good ones." I paused and then hastened to add, "I mean they aren't as good as you and Kira were. But as good as Kyra and Emily were I think."

Jonah:

“I would expect so. Kyra and Emily were trained here after all,” I said, unbothered by the mention of her name. A few of the other students who had grown us with us were back to teach as well. Dayo and Akiko in particular I was interested to see.

"Well. Yeah." I began to fill him in on some of what had been happening, students I thought were exceptional, and those that would need an extra hand. I also told him where all the returning students were assigned and how they were all doing.

Jonah:

“I look forward to meeting them,” I said. I was less animated than I usually was, the exhaustion was beginning to weigh on me. “How are Kyra and Andrew doing?” I asked. Kyra I was sure would excel as an instructor, her brother however. Andrew was not someone who spoke well in front of others. He didn’t particularly perform well when all the eyes were on him. Both of those skills were necessary to teach.

"Kyra is a natural. She has that motherly air about her and she's been a big hit with the older guys as well. Andrew...was his own surprise too. He isn't very good at it. But I've never heard any complaints about his class either." Finishing my food I leaned back in my seat until it groaned.

Jonah:

I nodded. It was to be expected. I stood up for a moment to refill my coffee and took my seat again. I barely suppressed a yawn before taking a sip. “What is on the roster today?” I asked. I didn’t expect Kira and I to have to jump right into teaching, and if so the students were going to have a poor first day. Kira was currently in hibernation and I was drained.

"Today is a field trip day. Practical lessons out in the woods. Everyone is doing it. A capture the flag type thing. It was my idea but..." I shrugged and looked down at my plate. The regular teachers had stolen the idea and had presented it for approval. The students had paintball guns, and such. The idea was to practice stealth, tracking, and hunting for targets. "They will be going at it until this evening."

Jonah:

I eyed him.  “It’s a good idea Paublo.  I look forward to what it produces.”  I finished the rest of my food slowly and sipped my coffee.  It would be a long day and an early night.  A few other people had come into the cafeteria.  Former instructors of mine, a fellow former student or two.  They looked me over but otherwise they left us alone.

"We are pretty low on the totem pole all things considered." I said in relation to his look. "Just because we were the best team doesn't mean we are the best teachers. I mean. I'm sure you wont have any troubles but..." I shrugged helplessly.