The Witch Hunter's Gauntlet by Bret Schulte Read Free Book Online Page A

passing students. Each wore a dark blue campus security uniform and carried a state-of-the-art Nero Industries electro-static stun gun. They were very handy weapons capable of temporarily stunning a person from fifty yards away. Nero guessed the guards were all college students picking up extra cash or credit.
    As the crowd fu nneled into the auditorium, it was forced to part around a lone tall black marble statue of a smiling elderly man in a graduation-style mortarboard and gown who held the world in his outstretched right hand. Upon closer examination, he appeared to be squeezing the world. The craftsmanship was really very exquisite. Nero didn’t need to read the plaque below to know that this was a statue of Dr. Alistair Futuro, one of the titans of the secret scientific world. Nero decided that he might have to steal the statue later if he had the time.
    As one , the crowd of students suddenly stopped in their tracks. People were staring and pointing at a helicopter that came swooping over the school buildings. It hovered momentarily over the crowd, and someone inside waved, causing the collected students to cheer.  Then the helicopter moved on and settled on the helipad behind Merriweather Hall.
    Pangs of annoyance shot through Nero. It should be him in that helicopter looking down on the rabble. But it was important for him to pretend to be just another part of the herd. So he’d play along, for now.
    The crowd surged towards th e auditorium doors again. Nero flashed his fake ID at the security guard and went inside. He picked a seat near the middle where he could keep an eye on everyone. The auditorium was nearly full when he saw Samantha Hathaway enter.
     

Chapter 5
Orientation
     
     
    Sam found an empty seat near the back of the auditorium. She had to squeeze past three people to get there. She hated being late. It made her feel like everyone was watching her--usually because everyone was--but Helen had insisted on taking pictures of Sam in front of the main gate, by the doors, by the bushes, under the WELCOME STUDENTS banner, and even by the creepy statue outside. Thankfully, Harold finally convinced Helen that they had to leave Sam alone so they could drop off her stuff in her dorm room. Sam figured Harold would end up doing most of the hauling, while Helen would be busy taking pictures of every square inch of Sam’s new room.
    The auditorium was awash with a thousand excited voices. The stage was empty except for a podium and a couple of chairs. As the anticipation grew , the idle chatter dulled down to nothing more than a sea of whispers.
    Finally two people stepped out on stage and approached the podium. One of them was Vice Principal Hernandez. The other was a tall black woman in a crisp light blue suit. She had a wide toothy smile and her hair was pulled back in a tight bun. She nodded content edly as she took the microphone.
    “Good morning, students,” she said in a cheerful tone. “I am Principal Martha Shepherd. This is Vice Principal Luis Hernandez. Welcome to Miller’s Grove Academy.”
    Mr. Hernandez gave a curt little nod of his head to the crowd of students before sitting down in one of the chairs on stage.
    “This is an exciting time for all of us. You are the first group of students to pass through these halls. You will be the standard for all other students who follow. And we are the first faculty and staff to teach at Miller’s Grove Academy. We will be travelers on this grand new adventure together,” Principal Shepherd said.
    “While many of you will be with us for several years, sadly you seniors will only be here for a single year. In that time we shall try our best to get to know each and every one of you and make sure you are fully prepared for the big wide world beyond-“
    Thump. Thump.
    Principal Shepherd turned from the crowd to face the source of the thumping noise coming from somewhere offstage. Sam swore she saw the Principal frown for a split second before returning