Chapter 64

64 Web Search

September sighed and looked at me, whereas Malachi did the same. It was only a matter of time before I followed. We all knew that we had to find the robot and stop it from being used for whatever it was intended for. Mr. Drails had given us the task, and we were going to do everything in our power to complete it.

But where do we start?

“Anyone got any ideas?” Malachi asked. September shrugged.

Malachi sighed, then I followed suit, until September’s face brightened as if she had a sudden epiphany. “Did you check the name of the robot?” September asked. Malachi shook his head no, so September took out her phone and started to type away; looking up any information she could find on the given topic. “Let’s try finding it on the laptop,” Malachi suggested next.

***

“Ugh, this is so frustrating!” September exclaimed, slamming the laptop shut. We had been trying to find the name of the website for hours, but we just couldn’t seem to find it. September was getting more and more frustrated with each attempt, and Malachi and I could only watch and try to help.

September’s frustration was mounting with each failed attempt, until finally she slammed it once again shut in exasperation. “I can’t find it! It’s like the name of the robot is hidden or something.”

Malachi and I met eyes, both of us thinking the same thing. “Perhaps it’s not on the website?” Malachi proposed. September shook her head in response. “No, I checked every single page multiple times. Plus, I tried looking up the name of the robot on other websites as well but to no avail.”

We all grew quiet as we brainstormed our next move; we had been stuck for hours with little progress made.

.....

Yay.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Finally, September broke the silence. “Maybe... maybe we should go talk to Mr. Drails.”

“I refuse to give up,” I said. “September, we have to keep looking. There’s still a chance.”

She looked at me with disbelief and chuckled. “We’ve been searching for hours now- it feels like forever. And for what? Tisiah?”

“Tisiah is worth hours of our time,” I said solemnly as the feeling in my heart burned hotter.

I felt like I was getting angry, but it was more of me being emotional. Tisiah was a good friend, and I wasn’t gonna let him go like that. “I’m not gonna give up until we find him. So let’s keep looking.”

Malachi nodded in agreement, and September sighed before opening the laptop back up. “Fine, let’s keep looking.”

September checked the website one more time, but then she found a link where it said the word Cybertron.

“Cybertron?” she muttered. We looked with curiosity, along with Malachi.

September clicked on the link, and a new website opened up. “There it is!” she exclaimed. We all leaned in to take a look, and sure enough, the name of the website was Cybertron. “Wow, I can’t believe it,” September said breathlessly. “We found it!”

I let out a sigh of relief and grinned at September. “Good job, we did it.”

“Okay someone, write down the address!” Malachi said. September quickly copied down the address and then we all got up to leave.

“We’re finally going to find Tisiah,” I said as we walked out the door. September nodded, and I could see the same determination in her eyes that I felt in my heart. We were going to find our friend, no matter what it took.

“Wait, but what about Nikki?” I asked.

September’s face softened and she sighed. “Should we wait until she gets better?” she asked. We all knew what September was thinking- it would be easier to find Tisiah if Nikki was with us. But we also didn’t want to leave her alone and sick.

“We should tell her,” I said.

“You should,” Malachi protested. “I’m not sure she’ll be too happy to see me.”

“I’ll tell her,” September said with a nod. We nodded and chuckled, grateful that we had such a great friend like her.

“We’ll find Tisiah together,” I said as we walked out the door. “Just tell Nikki that okay?” September nodded.

“I will.” she said. And with that, we went our separate ways.

***

It was lunch now and everyone was rushing to the cafeteria, but September still wasn’t back. I guess she was still talking to Nikki. I looked around and sat at the usual table that me and Tisiah usually sat at.

I miss him, I thought as I stared at the lunch that I didn’t have an appetite for. Even though he was gone, his laugh still echoed in my mind. His smile that shined like the sun. I sighed as I felt a tear run down my cheek.

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn’t notice when someone sat by me. It was Malachi, at least someone I know. “Hey, are you okay?” He asked with a worried look on his face. I shook my head and looked down at my lap, feeling very heavy inside. “It’s been really hard lately, I feel like I can’t do anything right.”

“What makes you think that?” Malachi asked. I shrugged, “I don’t know, everything just feels so pointless now.”

“Hey, it’s going to be okay. Why do you like him so much?” Malachi asked. “As a friend, because he’s the best one I ever had.” I looked up at Malachi and he gave me a gentle smile. “He’s always there for me, even when I got here two seconds after that small test. I just don’t know how to function without him.”

“I get that, but you need to try. You can’t let one person ruin your whole life. Here’s what you gotta understand, this will happen a lot in your life. You’ll lose people and it won’t be the best, but you just gotta keep going,” Malachi said.

“Well, it’s kind of easy for you to say. You have many friends, like everyone adores you like crazy,” I said.

“It doesn’t matter how many friends you have, when you lose one it still hurts.”

Malachi’s words rung true, even though I didn’t want to admit it. I sighed and nodded my head. “I’ll try.”

“Good, now anyways, I came to tell you that September told Nikki. Although she said somethings rather rude to me, it’s all good now.”

“What did she say?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, nothing to worry about. You’d flinch at one story I could tell you. Let’s just say, I’m not her favorite person right now,” Malachi said with a small chuckle. I gulped, I knew that Nikki could be ruthless when she’s mad. “But don’t worry, I can handle her.”

“If you say so,” I chuckled. “Just hope Tisiah doesn’t find out.”

“Why? He’ll just be happy that she’s gone,” Malachi said. “She’s annoying.”

“No, he won’t. She’s his sister,” I said.

Malachi’s face froze and he stared at me for a few seconds before responding. “Oh, I see.” I nodded with emphasis, making sure he knew how serious this was. “Well, I’ll keep my mouth shut then.”

“Thank you,” I said with a very comical smile.

“No problemo, now let’s eat. I’m starving.”

Malachi and I began to eat and we talked about some of the crazy things we’ve seen our mission. Although it was nice to have some company, I still couldn’t help but feel a little lonely without Tisiah. But as least Malachi was being nice enough, for once.

“So, how’s your classes in school?” I asked.

“They’re going great. I’m getting all A’s so far,” Malachi said with a proud smile. “I’m determined to get into a good college.”

“You mean besides Harvard?” I teased.

“Hey, a guy can dream right?” Malachi said with a wink. I chuckled and nodded my head. “Well I guess at this point, anything is possible. Who’d knew I’d become a spy mage.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Malachi said. “You’re really smart.”

“Thanks,” I said. “So are you, that’s why you’ll get into Harvard, I hope.”

“Oh, so now you’re rooting for me,” Malachi said jokingly, elbowing me in the side.

“Yeah, of course. How could I not?” I said with a smile.

“You literally teased me of being dumb!”

“When?”

“‘You mean besides Harvard?” he mocked in a high-pitched voice. “Oh my,” I said, playfully horrified. Malachi rolled his eyes as I began to snicker. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it.”

“Whatever,” Malachi said, but he was smiling.

It was refreshing to talk with him like an actual friend, and not an enemy. Maybe things were finally beginning to look up.

However, I still couldn’t help feeling a little lonely without Tisiah. But at least Malachi was helping, but it was Nikki that needed the most consolation. She was taking it really hard, almost to the point of self-destruction. I had never seen her like this and it scared me. Everything just felt weird and uncertain without Tisiah. I missed him dearly, even though we only knew each other for such a short time. But in that short time, many things happened.

Imagine how Nikki, who knew him all his life felt.