Page 19 of Jinxed
‘Hey, nice baku. Is that a new model? I’ve never seen one like it before.’
The guy sitting next to me reaches out to touch Jinx, but Jinx darts away, clambering up my arm to sit on my shoulder away from the would-be petter.Do you have to be so unfriendly?I think to Jinx. To my relief, the guy laughs, revealing a neat row ofshiny teeth.
‘A shy model, huh?’ He extends his hand to me. ‘I’m Jake. Jake Saunders. Third year Profectus.’
I take his hand. ‘Lacey Chu. Um... first year. And this is Jinx. Sorry he’s a bit... sensitive.’
‘No problem! This is my baku, Vegas.’ A calm-looking retriever model sits at his feet. ‘Vegas, send friend request.’
A notification pops up on Jinx’s paw, flashing it white.
>>JAKE SAUNDERS wants to be friends.
I click accept, and his profile spills out on to Jinx’s back. He’s a popular guy, with thousands of friends. ‘Vegas?’ I ask, raising an eyebrow.
‘Yep, you can pet him if you like! He won’t mind.’
I reach out and stroke the baku’s smooth metal body – he doesn’t have the individual strands of fur that Jinx does – and Vegas closes his eyes in a simulation of pleasure.He’s a lovely baku.
‘The name comes because I love a bit of in-school gambling.’ Jake winks at me.
‘Gambling? Is that legal?’
‘You’ll see,’ he says, before pressing his lips tightly together.
Before I can press him any further, the peripheral lights around the gymnasium dim, and the noise from the other students quietens in anticipation. It’s as if everyone is holding their breath.
>>Such drama, says Jinx, sarcasm dripping in his tone. I raise an eyebrow. I still can’t get used to the baku having such a... personality. Nothing I’d read about having a baku had prepared me for that.
Shh,I don’t want to miss anything.
There’s a hum of electric life and a hole opens up in the centre of the gymnasium floor. A beautiful snow-white owl baku flies up out of it, circling over thestudents’ heads, swiftly followed by a stern-looking woman in a sharp powersuit, who’s lifted up on a rising podium until she’s level with the middle row of seats.
Jinx buzzes with information.
>>Dr Sarah Grant, principal of Profectus,he informs me.
The principal leans her hands against the podium as her owl baku lands next to her, projecting her speech down in front of her. ‘Welcome, students,to another year at Profectus! And welcome especially to our incoming students. We’re delighted you’ll be joining our thriving community.
‘First things first, some legal business. If you look at your bakus, you will see I am sending you a link now, which you will use to receive your class schedule, hand in your school assignments, and report in for attendance.
‘By accepting the link please beaware that you are agreeing to the strict legal document you will have been sent over the summer. Those of you who bothered to read it will remember that part of this includes a watertight nondisclosure clause when it comes to some of the activities that you will participate in here at Profectus Academy. To be absolutely clear, this means you cannot talk about the activities you will participatein here, outside of the Academy. This is mandatory, so if you want to opt out then you have the option to leave now. Any leavers?’
She pauses to see if anyone will leave. But of course, no one does. There’s no way any of us would have come this far only to leave because of confidentiality clauses. Wewantto know what’s behind the curtain.
‘Good. Now that’s out of the way... No doubt manyof you have been doing your research on the school online.’
There’s some nervous tittering of laughter from the other freshmen, including me – of course, I tried to find out absolutely everything that I could. There was not much to go on. Only report after report that Profectus was the toughest – and most rewarding – school around, and that it produced the absolute best scientists and engineersin the country.
‘Excellent. Now I know most of you will be itching to find out more about what makes life at Profectus so unique – and worth hiding behind such strict secrecy. But I’m not here to introduce that to you. Instead... we have a very special guest, straight from Moncha headquarters.’
Oh my God.My hands squeeze around Jinx’s body.What if it’s Monica Chan? What if it’s her in the flesh?
Jinx’s whole body shivers with anticipation, the metal strands of his fur standing up on end. I wonder if he is emulating my own excitement levels, which are sky-rocketing.
A spotlight swivels around to the main entrance of the gym. And there, half-hidden by light streaming in from behind him, is Eric Smith, Monica’s partner and second-in-command. Jinx deflates in my hands and I sharesome of his disappointment: I wanted it to be Monica herself. But having Eric Smith here is pretty cool too, even forgetting for a moment that he somehow raised someone as vile as Carter. It’s impossible not to feel a thrill at the sight of him – and his incredible baku. It’s a red panda, solemn and gorgeous, metal fur the colour of rust, wrapped around his shoulders almost like a scarf. There’sthunderous applause as he enters, his arms spread open wide.
He looks as if he is drinking it in. And I can’t help myself – I’m clapping as hard as everyone else.
