Chapter #1

~Chapter #1~

The sky is bright and clear as birds dance across the treetops overhead. A boy, tall and slender with pitch-black hair tied back in a long pony tail stopped to look up at the spectacular sight. He shielded his eyes as his glasses reflected the harsh light, and a small gust of wind passed by him. He took in the surreal surroundings for a few more moments before shouldering his heavy bookbag, realigning his long-sleeved striped shirt and marched onward down the peaceful sidewalk.

Oh, I should explain. That guy there, is Josh.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Who cares? And I don't blame you. Most people simply care about themselves and their well-being far more than one another. It's simply instinct, “we thrive to survive,” as some would say. 

But...there's that small voice in the back of your mind whispering, “that can't be right...”

The boy stops and looks up at the large looming building before him. It's large gate wide open, beckoning him in as he stared at the rich and polished school where he'd be attending. It's towering size reminded him of a castle from olden days, he half expected there to be knights guarding the front entrance. Adjusting his glasses, he let out a long sigh before stepping through the gateway and towards the stairs leading into the monumental academy.

Guess I should disclose, I am Josh. And this is my first day at Larke Anthony North High School.

I should be ecstatic; new school, new people, new experiences...except I'm not interested in all that stuff. I don't need to get into the midst of things, make a name for myself, it just seems like too much of a hassle. But at the same time, I feel like something needs to happen...

I passed by a group of students as I walked gloomily down the hallway, their insipid chatter drowning out my inner thoughts.

“Did you hear the latest...”
“No way! That's totally...”

“You didn't know? It's really...”

I rounded the nearest corner hurriedly to close off the annoying harmony around me, only to frantically dash out of the way of a couple walking past and holding hands. Geesh... I panted heavily as I noticed the large wooden door next to me. I looked up and read the sign above it, “Advanced Chemistry,” and after I referred to the schedule in my hand with the same thing written on it, I sighed deeply and placed my hand on the door handle. I paused for a brief moment.

I want to know what it means to be, and why...

I pushed slowly and the door opened to show a full class of teenage students and a scruffy old professor staring at me.

...am I here?

I shuffle in and bow my head, apologizing for being so late. The professor with an annoyed expression ushered me in and pointed to the desk farthest in the back. I took my place and sat down, pulling out the notebooks and writing utensils and sunk into my comfortable drumming of pencil and staring out the paned window at the courtyard below. It was a quaint little scenery, placed within the very center of this gargantuan school like a display. Poor thing was probably dying from the lack of caring.

Maybe I'm being too philosophical about it. But I'm having a hard time understanding what it is that I'm SUPPOSED to do. Or if I'm actually meant to do anything at all in the microcosm of things!

A piece of paper fell before my face as I returned to attention, taking it from the kid who so rudely shoved it in my face and placed it down on the desk. The teacher was mumbling something in the forefront about taking simple testings to check on what areas he should cover on for the portion of the class.

Tests, so soon? Man, they really don't wait off on the painful stuff. Kids across from me jeer with flabbergast to one another about how ridiculous a test on the first day of school is. I would agree with them, if I wanted to.

Maybe we're being tested to see who will be the strongest, who survives...But if that were so, why are these educators helping students succeed? Shouldn't they be wanting them to fail so that they themselves can win? No, that's not it...

As the teacher finishes clarifying that we can begin the filling out answers to questions, I place down my pencil and took my view back to the garden of rosebushes, perennials, and even a tiny ash tree. If I had been paying attention I might have noticed the teacher hovering over me with an inscrutable look. He picked up the test laying at the corner of my desk and almost had his glasses fall off his face as he stared bewildered at all the answers written neatly in their respectful places. I ignored him as the bell rang and I placed my cluster of notebooks back into my backpack, stood up, and shuffled out, passing all the other students still sitting and contemplating on the difficult queries before them.

...Maybe I'm over-thinking this. I should just go with the flow.

I walk down another one of many hallways that this labyrinth of a school has, trying to find the signs that signify the direction of food and it's hopeful fragrance to make me forget my worries. I hurry past a gaggle of giggling gals who were struggling to keep their flapping mouths from running faster than the speed of light in a vacuum, catching the most common phrases such as, “Oh my gosh! Did you hear about...!” “Get out! I've totally seen...!” Luckily there was nothing in my stomach to cough up so I plugged along until I made it to the cafeteria and it's large buffet of arranged hors d'oeuvres. Ah, the riches of fancy foods!
I made three plates full before taking my tray forward into the large open tables that scattered the cafe room. Each was filled with students, all practically in their designated territories. You have to be careful even crossing borders of these areas to get to a place to sit. I focused on an empty table over in the back and bypassed the crowd to seat myself.

So if we're not here to test one another, why do we try to hurt people? Like with spreading rumors and slander against each other...

I was munching down on some delicious Linguini a la mode (which is heavenly) when small noises of ruckus and racket reached my ears from somewhere off to my left. Probably someone dropped a tray. I kept eating.

We try and best each other in competitions and fights, and for what? Or like war...

The cacophony was growing even more and I was sure it was just people making a big deal about spilling something or -.

I looked up to see what the commotion was, and then paused as I tried to make sense of what I was really viewing.

There were so many of them. I would call them students but I hadn't the foggiest idea if they went here, because none of them were wearing a school uniform. Instead they each seemed to be dressed in bizarre apparel designated to their individual personality. One boy was hurling grapes with a slingshot, smiling all the while as they bounced off a kid in a dress-shirt and tie, aiming a banana at a kid with ski goggles on his head. This boy seemed in a stalemate with him, for he also held a banana at eye-level toward his foe. And then there was a boy with a king's crown rolling across the table, as all the others sitting moved their food away from his flailing hysteria. There was even a musical group, atleast from what it seemed, setting up to the side with guitars, a vocalist that looked similar to a robot, and even a frail girl holding onto a harp!

I stared for another half second before the bell rang once more for classes starting back up. I shook my head and left the cafeteria with a bit of disorientation. I erased it from my mind.

Well, no matter. I'm thinking too much about these things again.  

The next thing I remember, I'm in my next class of Algebraic Physics staring out through the window at the courtyard once more. Although, this time it's from a different angle...

A piece of paper flopped into my face as the kid in front of me passed it back down the row. I swatted it down to the desk and glanced at the heading of what read to be another introduction test. I rolled my eyes as I wondered why in the law of conservation of energy would we be needing these quizzes, when suddenly the teacher spoke up and announced, “You may begin, now.” Sighing heavily, I picked up my pencil and tapped it lightly against my temple. Just get through the day. My eyes drifted to the sunshine glowing from the window pane.

The courtyard was so alive down below. Birds were heard chirping a tune in the branches of the glistening tree, standing proud and tall in the center of the garden, surrounded by multiple clusters of dianthuses. The chill air of autumn's approach swept through the leaves and bushes as a small butterfly fluttered to a stop upon a bud. It fanned it's wings as it soaked in the warm afternoon rays as it sat idly by.

But let's just say for example, this scene here. Am I meant to ignore it and miss the beauty that is presented out there? Or should I bask in the moment and leave behind my worries of future evaluations and tests...

“Time's up! Turn in tests!”

The teacher gripped hold of the sheet of paper on my desk and whipped it away before I even had time to react. I was stunned, eyes bulged out in fear and I dropped my pencil to the floor, realization dawning on me. I hadn't answered a single question. Crap! I turned around in my seat to try and get the teacher's attention and return the quiz but she was long gone, already assigning the first project we were to dread for. I let loose another heavy sigh of disgust as the bell to end school for today rang noisily.

I walk out of the classroom, head hung in shame as I walk through the corridors once more to find the exit out of this incarcerated place. Atleast, that's what I think, I don't honestly remember. My mind was whirling in hundreds of directions again, mostly in frustration but basically...because it does. Man, this happens all the time! Why do I have to struggle with these annoying ideas and thoughts while others can just breeze through so easily, without a single fret in the world?! It isn't fair, people should think about these things every now and then! …Shouldn't they? Am I so weak compared to everyone else? Can I really fail at existing?!

I pass by the courtyard, students bustling everywhere, and I dodge my way to the waiting line for the bus stop.

...No, no. If I failed at life, there would be a big End Game written all over me. No, I have to be able to do something here. Maybe something better that most people can't do...

“Hey, you getting on?” the bus driver asks, staring down at me as I reach my hand up to the sky, seeing the sunlight glint through the spaces between fingers.

...Heh, maybe I am really strong...yeah! Like, some ability no one has ever heard of! What if I'm the only one who sees these things around us? A gift of 'Sight'! And I could teach others to notice their enclosures like me and-...

The bus driver had given me a funny look before closing the door and driving off, ready to make the deliveries of children before returning home in time for the Knicks game with a healthy side of fast food. Little did I know that there had been a second bus that drove up and took it's original place in front of me.

...wait, wait. Is it plausible? There hasn't been any traumatic experience in my life to give me any benefits over others, nothing special atleast...

I lowered my hand and smirked to myself emptily. Stepping forward, I grabbed onto the railing leading into the bus.

...Wishful thinking, but not quite accurate. Though possible storage for a hypothetical theory for a more subsequent time. If anything I should keep studying my surroundings and focus on-.

My heart skipped a beat. Sweat ran down my face. I could barely contain myself from twitching as a dozen pair of eyes stared directly at my vicinity.  Darkness shrouded in around me and the world seemed to disappear from outside as I froze like a statue, panic racing through me. The feeling of the onlookers staring bore through me as I saw those eyes view straight past my clothes, skin, and directly into my soul, shattering the remaining bits of it within.

At this point I realized I had been holding my breath and I could barely keep it in any longer. I exhaled slowly, at the same time slightly moving my hand up to the bookbag strap across my shoulder, the gazes following my every action precariously. It frightened me, but the eyes did not seem to hold any sort of eminent threat toward my person as I continued my movement and took a step forward. I made my way back, passing by a boy who seemed to be dressed from the Edo Period, and then another kid who seemed to be...a hockey player? Our school doesn't even have a hockey team...Klink!

My foot caught, and before I had a chance to react, metallic grinding sounded as two large mechanical arms came racing down from above me and clamped onto my wrists tightly. Down below, small clasps gripped around my sandals and held me in place as I squirmed in a frenzy to get away from these things. Little did I realize at the same moment the lights dimmed in the bus and all the seats swiveled to turn inward facing me, who was strung up like a puppet. All the chairs seemed to make a perfect circle around me as a bright spotlight glared down from the ceiling, illuminating only me. I could barely see the outlines of the people around and I noticed someone had to have been wearing sunglasses, as the light reflected off of them. What the hell is this?! My nerves were wound and I was drenched in perspiration, this wasn't any natural bus and I certainly wasn't in normal company.

“Begin examination,” a voice out of the dark announced flatly.

I barely had time to gasp, “W-what?!”

Small fiber-optic feelers branched out of the cuffs that held my hands in place and began suctioning themselves onto my skin, green glows emanating off of them as they cross-crossed around my arms. From below, the same thing was happening as the fibers attached themselves to...my pants. Wait, why my pants?

“This is too weird, you aberrations! Let me out of this!!” I yanked harder on the handles, thrashing like a madman and yelling at the top of my lungs. Was I mad? How is this happening?!

“Patient is showing signs of restraint. Applying muscle petrification,” a more monotone and electrical voice stated.

WHAT?! Even as I was thinking that, feeling began draining from my arms and legs, and a very heavy numbness settled over me as I relaxed weakly. My eyes even started blurring as I slurred noisily, “Ah...m-muh arms...and 'egs...can' pheel them...is this wha' death pheels 'ike?”

The electrical drone voiced once again, “Continuing initial examination...taste test.”

“Thaste Thest?”

There was a small chomping sound and I casually look to my left to see a boy. Not your ordinary boy, ofcourse. This kid had a large plastic crown atop his head (like one of the ones you'd see being passed out at a fast food joint) and a small flowing purple purple cape dangling around his neck. His Hawaiian shirt sharply correlated with his baggy cargo shorts and, oh! He was hanging off of me with his mouth wrapped around my forearm. I'm pretty sure his teeth had sunk into my skin, but seeing as I couldn't feel my body it was hard to tell. Doesn't mean I didn't react normally to it. 
“AAH!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” He slithered his tongue down to my palm before finally removing his face from my body, all the while I'm screaming my head off, “The hell, man! Don't bite other people and leave slobber all over them! Do you have any decency?!”
“Mmm, tastes of earthy charcoal with a hint of velvet cream,” the boy smirks as he closes his eyes and ponders thoughtfully. I raise an eyebrow directly at him, “...Earthy charcoal?”
“And maybe a bit of tubesock jerky?” he grins happily, smacking his lips and jumping back down into his seat somewhere in the darkness. 
I begin to retort that there's no such taste as tubesock jerky, but I am cut off by another figure stepping into view. His movements stiff, he stares me down with very empty eyes as he fingers a keyboard that seems to run along the side of his arm. The red hair sprouting from his head seemed very bright and contrasted everything else about the man. He seemed...mechanical. Yeah, that's a good word for it. Not to mention his mouth was actually a screen that showed a line that moved as his voice burped out in electronic beeps, “Initial examination concluded.”
“Now determining theoretical results...” his pointer finger hit one last button on his armpad and his eyes went fuzzy with static.

“Results for what?! I simply got on the WRONG BUS!!” I exclaim.
As no answer was responded and the silence crept back into the fold, I became agitated and slumped in my shackles. I felt eyes upon me from behind and I whirled my head around to stare at another character, sitting into the dark but not quite out of the lamplight burning above me. He had his head resting on his arms which were folded and balanced on a thin brown cane. He wore an old english cap (the ones you see golfers wear to go putting around) and an old worn out fleece jacket. Hands wrapped in fingerless gloves popped out of the ends of the jacket and he made a small smile toward me, almost reassuringly. 
“What're you gawkin' at?!” I barked, making him jump back in his chair terrified. That made me feel a little better, atleast I seem threatening to them. I won't start being bullied on my first day here. Besides, why did they pick at me? I just happened to be in this position at this point in time, right? Why is this happening to me...
“Test results achieved.”
“And...?” a slightly impatient boy spoke out, his dark sunglasses reflecting the light as he lay with his hands behind his head sprawled in his seat. Guess my eyes were adjusting, I was starting to see people more clearly.

The mechanized boy tried to imitate the best shrug as possible, the sound of gears grinding as he lifted his shoulders, “His chemical composition is within variations of homo sapien, although his phosphorus levels are extremely high, possibly being similar to that of a plantae or algae.”

“I am NOT a fungus,” I sigh, desperately wanting to be anywhere but here. 
“Seems perfectly harmless!” A feminine voice spoke up cheerfully. Is she the only girl on this bus?
“He seems ok...No weird vibes coming from him,” the guy next to her almost whispers, his curly hair draped over his eyes as he fiddles with a string attached to a guitar in his lap.

A guitar? Wait a minute...
“This fella seem cray, y'know?” a boy who seemed much more 'cray' than I remarked from across the bus. His outfit seemed comprised of all sorts of odd ends, wearing a computer mouse around his neck and large ski-goggles perched on his head.

I've...seen these guys before...

Another person next to him gave a disgusted guffaw as he cleaned the butt of a pistol with his striped red necktie, “I don't see what the big deal is.”

These guys are from the cafeteria!! Oh man, this is just my luck...

The muscular boy with the hockey uniform grumbles, “He looks kind of...pathetic.”
“Can't hurt to try though, eh?” another boy next to him chimes in politely, the kid who looked like he was the last samurai of Japan, his short ponytail sticking straight up as he tugged on the dark green robe that he wore.

Noise starts erupting every which way as opinions are tossed about. A young man who looks up at me under a large brimmed hat narrows his eyes I could swear for a minute they began to glow. I shy away nervously as he points in my direction and speaks hoarsely, “He is weak...” Well that's comforting...
“He's a secret weapon, a secret weapon! I love secret weapons!!” the crowned caper of a boy jumps up and down in his seat merrily.

The boy I had seen lounging about earlier in his chair with dark sunglasses abruptly stands up and raises his hand. The room falls deadly quiet and I gulp at the immediate change in everyone's reaction the boy who stood only a foot away from me now. He must be the head honcho of this or something, I don't like this. Are they voting me off?
The boy standing before me ran a hand back through his sleek hair, another hand reaching and taking out a fat cigar from his blazer he wore. The jacket was incredibly bright blue and the corduroy brown pants underneath seemed to make a very stylish match. What is with these guys' fashion sense? Did they not get the memo that the school has a uniform?! He struck a match and lit his smoke, giving it a few small puffs before turning the motionless mechanized kid, “What do ya think, Blayne?”
“I am truly impartial to the matter,” his response was flat and lacked of any emotion.  

There was another long pause as everyone's eyes gazed upon the slickster who took another few long takes on his cigar. I couldn't see his eyes clearly but I knew they bore into me with scrutiny as he blew out a large ring of smoke that, if I had been paying any closer attention, seemed to form a dragon chasing it's own tale which is known as an Ouroboros which in relation to the phoenix can depict a cycle of new beginnings to any end and which could further explain-.

“Let's take him to the field,” a smirk spread over the boy's face as he turned to sit back down in his cushy seat, but not before barking out to the driver, “Dan! You know the way.”
Cheers erupted from the kid with the crowned hat, pumping his fists in the air with excitement. The other kid I had spooked earlier raised his eyebrows in shock, readjusting his cabbie hat and spoke nervously, “D-do you think that's safe?!” But before anyone could retort, the driver shouted over his shoulder with surprising enthusiasm, “Full speed ahead!”
“This is gonna suck...” grumbled the hockey player as he clasped the double seatbelt over his chest. The other passengers all copied him almost in unison and I stutter in panic, “Wait, w-what are we-?!”
The bus suddenly rattled with energy as the the driver, named Dan apparently, revved the engine harshly, wheels spinning wildly. A low hum rang throughout the cabin of the bus as small glowing green lines began to appear along the walls and pulse towards the roof of the car. My eyes bulged in awe as I watched the vitality come to life like circuitry around me, each line gleaming like neon lights that were filled with an energy source that at the present moment I could not pinpoint. As the lights flowed up past the rooftop, there is a sharp explosion above us as a great beam of green light shoots forth in front of the bus. It morphs, and I notice that it seems to be widening, opening up into a large circular glob. The driver suddenly takes his foot off the brakes, releasing the bus into a full dive toward the green mass at an incredible speed.

Me being able to cling to nothing but the mechanical arms that are attached to me, shriek at the top of my lungs as I gasp in horror, “WHAT IS THAT?! DON'T HEAD FOR IT!! WE'RE GONNA DIE!!”
The young man who had been cleaning off a pistol before, which hadn't really connected in my head at the time that he had a gun, now waved it nonchalantly toward my direction with an annoyed expression, “Will you shut up already?”
In the background I can hear the crowned kid squealing with joy as he stood grasping the railing above with his hands, swinging like a hysterical monkey. Next to him the kimono wearing samurai tried to pull down lightly on the boy's hawaiian shirt, “Zack, do please sit down...”

I watched in horror as the bus picked up even more speed and rammed into the green circle ahead. I cringed for impact but found that the bus kept on going, the beam of light encasing us and almost willing us forward even faster. Looking out the window, I viewed the green mist swirling around us, it's texture like ooze absorbing us in, and I contemplated on it, seeing as I had nothing better to do but to be scared pants-less. The first word popped into my head that would have been most illogical in every other circumstance.

A portal...
A bright flash of light abruptly faltered my thoughts as I squinted through my glasses to see up at the head of the bus. A hole gaping in the tunnel we've been traveling came racing toward us at breakneck speed, and that was when I realized this was the exit to the portal we had been traversing. Huh, short trip. But as I watched the driver Dan reach for a large red lever protruding from the side of his seat I got a prickling feeling in the back of my mind that this was about to get rough. He yanked back on the lever and the bus tires squealed in pain as the bus tried to halt itself as we came flying out of the end of the portal. The ledge appeared only moments after, the cliff edge hanging only a few meters in front as the bus skidded on it's side and smoke rose from the wheels, coming to a final stop at the very peak of the overhang. Luckily we didn't zoom off the edge and perish. My face may be crumpled, however.

As Dan had released the emergency break, the momentum had thrown me forward, tearing the mechanical arms from their hinges and thrusting me towards the front of the bus. I collided with the dashboard and I almost fully blacked out if not for the swelling pain in the bridge of my nose. I groaned, miserable to have this happen all because of my attention span and the lack of it. I sat up slowly and cupped my nose, “Ugh...I feel like I went through a blender...”
“Yeah, that's how I felt when I first went through that,” the boy with the english cap held out a hand shakily to me. I warily grabbed hold of it and he hoisted me back on my feet, his hand suddenly gripping a lot firmer, “But you should really pay attention to your surroundings, kid.”
I looked back at him in shock of the change of tone and saw what I could have sworn wasn't there before, a thin black mask encased around his eyes with small white screens to cover over his vision. That along with his furrowed eyebrows made him look twenty times more intimidating than he had moments before. Are all of these guys straight from the insane asylum?! I turn away and decided to pear out the front window of the bus at the landscape around us. Wish I hadn't done that.
“...Where are we?”