Photos

I turn on my TV as my photos developed. I had what many considered an odd hobby for a teenage boy to have. I don't know why taking artistic polaroids was considered weird for a teenage boy to have as a hobby, but it just was. I then snap out of my thoughts and turn my attention back to the TV as the 4 o'clock news came on. It was always the same, but it always sucked me in for some reason. It started with the date, year, month, and day of the week, today's is Saturday, January 22, 2077. Then the leading, most important story came on, this is the part the always enthralled me.

"Gas is now up to five dollars a gallon in most places in the United States. This is because of the Syrian-Afghan War taking place over the last remaining oil reserves on the border. Scientists predict that once this last big gas reserve is tapped into that we will have 5 years until we are out. Many have predicted that this day will hold the greatest war in history. The last drops will herald a new age of civilization. A new age of either an age clean energy or an age of recovery, whether that be from the greatest war or from energy deprivation our civilization will surely suffer. With news on the war that is going on now from the front lines is Scott."

"Thanks Jenn. The United States has recently joined the war on the Syrian side. This is a last second attempt to keep Syria's democracy intact and not get overrun by the Afghan dictatorship. Ever since America started helping the Syrians with their government back in 2033 the United States and the Syrians have been great allies. After becoming great allies with Syria the price of gas dropped in the United States, and cause the United States to stop buying gas from Russia entirely causing a further drop in the Russia's currency, the Ruble. Joining the war accidentally backfired on the Americans though, due to Russia joining the Afghan side in an attempt to get their currency to come back up and buy what is left of their barreled oil. After about a week after the United States joined the war they have pushed back the Afghan and Russian armies back about one hundred miles. One of the main weapons that helped to do this is sitting right behind me," Scott says as he gestures to the desert camouflaged vehicle behind him, "This is the new L-121, a compact, close combat, fighter tank that uses the latest in laser technology to take down aircraft, tanks, and wipe out whole lines of troops. Back to you Jenn for the weather."

"Thanks Scott," Jenn said as I turned off the TV. I went to go check on the developing photos and saw that they are done. I started to look at the dry photos on my couch. All of the pictures of the park turned out nice, well almost all of them. In some of them there was a blue aura around a person in the photograph. Taking a closer look at the photographs I saw that it was all the same person, more specifically a male teen. I decide to look for this teenager, for I was sure I could find him, and I wanted to know why there was a blue aura around him. I walked to the first place I found him, picture in hand, the park that was two blocks from my house. I sat down on an old, wooden bench and started to scanning the park for the teen in the grey sweatshirt with a picture of a beaver and the word 'Roots' on the front in blue felt to contrast the grey. Then I saw what I thought was him sitting on the ledge of the fountain playing with the water. I walk up to the fountain area and sit down on a bench. Holding up the photo of the teen earlier and confirm that it is him. I approach him saying,

"Hey, what is your name?" He jumps at my voice, splashing water on me. He looks away from the water to look me in the eye and say with anger,

"Go away."

"No, there is something different, something special about you. I want to know it, because I know that you know," I say with conviction. He clenches his fist and says again,

"Go away, you will never know." Contemplating showing the photo I say,

"Oh, so you admit that there is something special about you." He looked down into the water, I could sense his mood changing and said,

"I never said that, you are simply twisting my words, so I ask again, go away."

"I will go away when you tell me."

"I have nothing to tell."

"I believe you do."

"If I did have something to tell you, why should I?"

"Because of this," I say as a show him my ace in the hole, the photo.

"How, how did you get this, my aura isn't supposed to show up in photos. That’s what they told me!"

"Slowdown, who is they?"

"I have said too much already, I must go." I am suddenly hit with a lot of water that he must have grabbed from the fountain. After regaining my sight I grab my photo which had fallen to the ground and chased after the teenager. The kid was headed off into the government section of the town away from my house. The tall buildings loomed closer as I chased after the kid. He was faster than me so I decided to use technology to my advantage. I pressed a silver button that I had attached to my chest, by pressing the button I called my hoverboard to my position. I keep running toward the teenager, who keeps getting further away with each step. Then I hear a familiar whir behind me, I speed up my run knowing that I will not have to run for much longer. As I am running my board comes up beside me. I time my jump between steps and hop on to my hoverboard. I lean to my target, the teen, to tell the board where to go. I finally start to gain ground on the teen, but now we are in the government district now, the most urban of the districts and the busiest. I step down with my back foot, making my board careen upwards into the sky. I had almost lost the teen but I spotted him from high up due to his contrast of everyone else's suits. I aim to cut him off by seeing which building he is headed for. To me it looks like he is headed for the only deli in the government district, which was conveniently for its business located next to the biggest government building and the biggest hospital. I press my front foot down causing a steep, fast, forward decline towards the deli. It was going to be close, but I managed to spin in front of the door just in time to cut him off.

"Hey! Get out of my way! You don't know what you're messing with!" the teen yelled at me. I looked around and noticed the crowd was starting to back away as if this had happened before. Suddenly an explosion happened to the left of me throwing me into the wall and away from my hoverboard. I tried to get up to stop the teen from getting away, as he was still standing firm on his feet, but I couldn't move. As I watched from the sidelines as a man did what I tried to do, block the teen's path. I could see that the man was saying something but I couldn't seem to hear him anymore. The man then distracted the teen as another man snuck up from behind him and picked him up. Then the man came over to me and was now close enough for me to read his lips which said,

"Thanks for your help kid. You created the distraction we needed, but you've seen too much so we have to bring you to our place. We will fix you up." The man then picked me up causing almost enough pain to make me blackout. Out of the corner of my eye I see the man motion for someone to get my hoverboard. The man then walked over to a helicopter that was hovering a foot above the ground. Placing me on the floor of the helicopter he and then the guy with my hoverboard jumped in. The world started to go black. I was just conscious enough to feel the helicopter take off. The last thing I saw before the world went dark was a medic standing over me. 

The Prophecy

Great, now I am stuck here with them. I thought as my uncle walked out the door to his important government job. I was stuck here with his kids on a Wednesday because it was a snow day at my school. I t wasn't even an inch predicted, but because it was the south everything non-essential must be shutdown. Government jobs did not fall into this but school did. My rant to myself is interrupted by one of the two kids coming down stairs and saying, "I'm hungry!" I turn around to see which of his seven year old twins had come downstairs. It was Kenna. My uncle had left a list of what the kids usually ate for breakfast and lunch. Therefore I said, "Just wait and watch TV and I will make you breakfast." I hear the TV turn on as I walk towards the kitchen I look at the list and it says that Kenna usually has cereal and Kenny usually has toaster strudel. I decide to put the streusel in the toaster oven and then in the microwave to keep it warm because I assume that if one is up the other will come soon. I pour the cereal into a bowl and then brought out the milk to pour into the cereal. I watch the milk cascade over the shredded wheat. Then I walk over to the drawer of utensils and pull out a spoon and dip it into the bowl of cereal. As I brought the bowl of cereal out to the table I called for Kenna to eat. I was about to sit down with her but then the toaster went off so I got the strudel out and put on the icing on it. Kenny, as I was putting on the icing, came down so I brought the strudel out to him. I then asked, “Is there anything either of you two need?"

"Yes," Kenny said, "Can we play outside, we don't get snow much?"

"Sure, Kenny, after we are all done with breakfast," I responded. I had already eaten breakfast at my house, because I didn't know that school had been canceled, but that was at 6:15 now it was 9:30. I was a hungry teenage male, it was time to food. I went back into the kitchen and saw that there was a loaf of banana bread sitting out, so I cut a slice off the already cut end and took a bite out of it and walked back to the table and saw that they were almost done so I asked them, "What does your dad do?" Kenna spoke first,

"He is trying to find the four the prophecy talks about."

Kenny, as soon as the word prophecy came out of her mouth said, "Kenna! SHUT UP, you know that we aren't supposed to talk about that!" I then witnessed something that I had not seen nor done since I was living with my brother moved out. They were having a discussion using the eye and body language of a locked stare. This one was the most intense locked stare that I had ever seen. I decided to break the stare by saying, “Who wants to go outside?" I see the discussion break and Kenny turn to me saying half happy and half defeated,

"Sure, I would love to!"

"Alright, go get changed, and then we can go outside to play, ok?" I reply.

"Ok!" he says as he runs up the stairs to his and Kenna's room. I went to the coat room at the front to borrow one of his coats when I see one of mine. I think to myself about how that coat could have gotten there. I think back to the last time I was here, I didn't think that it was cold, but I could be wrong about the last time I was here. Anyways I grabbed it and slipped my hands into the pockets. In them where gloves and a beanie. I put one glove on and put my beanie on. I turn around from the closet and see that Kenny is standing at the door waiting to go outside. I walk up to the door and take off the deadbolt with my non gloved hand and pull open the door. The cold rushes to meet my face and the warm air from inside. I step to the side to let Kenny rush by out into the cold and snow. I shut the door behind us to keep the warmth in the house. I see that Kenny starting to build a snow man. Though I wanted to help, I didn't I just had too much to think about. What is this prophecy? Why would the government cover it up? Why did the twins know? I had a lot of questions and no answers, I looked down the rows of bland white houses that all looked the same scanning ever closer until a finished snowman came into focus. The chill of the cold was starting to get to me so I said,

"That is a nice snowman you have there Kenny, but I am getting a little cold, can we get back inside?"

"Sure," Kenny said in a semi depressed way. I opened the door again allowing Kenny to get back inside. Kenny, once inside, immediately runs up the stairs to his and Kenna's room. I can sense that they are having an argument but I decide to let them work it out between themselves and stay down stairs. I hear the door to the kid's room open and then footsteps on the stairs. I turn around from the TV and see that they are carrying a brown, scared, tattered, wooden box. Kenny then said,

"She already told you about it so here look at it." Realizing what must be in it I took it gingerly and opened it. I saw one cream colored old paper and at the bottom it was ripped off.

2nd Grade Love

Boi: Hey, I know that you have been hitting on me because you're sharing your fruit snacks with me during snack-time.  #lol

Gurl:*giggles girlishly* Thank god you noticed! I was beginning to think that you didn't even know I existed! #pleasebebae

Boi: Well, I did notice, and you’ re one fine piece of first grader so like, do you want to go out with me?!?!?!

Gurl: *screams excitedly* OF COURSE I DO!!!!!!!!!!! #baeisbaenow

Narrator: Four hours later

Boi: *while swaying hips* I know that we've been together for ages now…

Gurl: Yassssssssss…  #whitegurl

Boi: And I think that after all this time, that I love you! #truelove

Gurl: *squeals and does little jumps* I love you TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Boi: *thinks to self* I like it when she jumps ;)…

Together: I love you!

Boi: Let’s get married during Recess under the monkeybars!

Gurl: I'll wear my best Dora themed skirt!

Boi: I’ll not rub mud all over myself!

Narrator: At Recess…

Boi’s friend: I now pronounce you, Pre-Pubescent, high voiced husband and flatchested, first grade wife.

Gurl’s friend: You may now hug the bride!

Gurl: Wait, wait, wait, wait. I’m not ready for this!!!

Boi: But it’s been like a whole four hours together! *stomps foot*  

Gurl: But what if a teacher sees us?!?!?! They could take away recess time!

Boi: Good point, you know I like my recess like a #whitegurl loves her starbucks!

Narrator: One Snacktime later…

Boi: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN’ BELIEVE YOU'D DO THIS TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gurl: *confused* Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat???????

Boi: *in fury*  I. SAW. YOU. SHARING YOUR FRUIT SNACKS WITH BILLY!!!!

Gurl: Oh Shiitake Mushrooms! You weren't supposed to see that!!!!!

Boi: I thought we had something special!!!!! #betrayed

Gurl: I’m sorry, but Billy, fulfils my needs like you never could… he has goldfish! #satisfied

Boi: Fine, Go have your Goldfish with Billy! I hope your fruit snacks taste bad and you color outside the lines!!!!! I'm breaking up with you!!!!

Gurl: Fine!

Boi: Fine! And I’m keeping your dino-gummies! #dinosaurs

Narrator: Boi and Gurl’s relationship lasted roughly two snack times and a recess. During which, one hug was thought of and one marriage had.

Last Day of School

I was looking at an almost empty locker with almost no one around me on the last day of school. With no idea of what to do next I stared blankly at the almost empty locker. I suddenly heard fast footsteps headed toward me. I turn to look at the sound and see my friend running towards me at full speed. As he approached he said,
"You have to come with me right now. It is a matter of life and death. "I start to interject, but my friend says,
"No time, come with me." I start running with him back to where he came from, which was the cafeteria, and soon I saw what he was talking about. There were fruits and vegetables everywhere. Not inanimate ones either, these were running everywhere, they were alive.
"How did this happen?" I ask my friend.
"I don't know. I just saw a bright flash from this direction and then ran to get you," my friend responded.
"Does it smell like sulfur and potatoes to you?" I ask.
"No, it must be your heightened sense of smell," he responds. How could this have happened? I wondered to myself. Then I remembered something.
"Hey, do you think that this is the work of the Animator?" I ask my friend.
"It could be, but what does he want with the school?" my friend responds back.
"I have no idea but we have to stop him," I say.
"Ok, that sounds great and all, but the fruits and vegetables seem to be organizing," my concerned friend said. I look at where my friend was pointing and I saw two lines start to form as if a giant battle was about to happen between the fruits and vegetables. Just then a dark figure appeared in the back of the cafeteria and held up what seemed to be a staff. At the top of the staff there was an object that caught the light right every once in a while, but I could not tell what it was from such a distance. The dark figure then raise his empty hand and his staff and a bright flash filled the room and my friend fell to the ground. My friend slowly got up and turned to me saying,
"I am running away, sorry." He then started to run off, but I called after him saying,
"Find all of the others and take them with you." I knew that there would be only two or three other students in the school and about fifteen teachers. I then looked back to the armies and saw that they were no longer organizing to fight each other, but instead were turning to face me. I then a choice to make, delay for my friend or follow him. I had little time to think and only one thing ran through my mind, what did the figure want? Just then the wall next to me fell blocking my path. I guess he wanted me. I decided that if I was going to die I was going to die fighting. I ran toward the amassing army of fruits and vegetables with a sense of recklessness. It didn't really do much to impede me, all I had to do to kill the beings annoyingly hitting my ankles was to step on them. I was about halfway to the figure went he raised his hands again, but I just keep running. What would he do this time? I thought to myself. A bright flash came and I could feel my body get lifted off the ground and sent flying backwards. I felt my head hit the wall. My body slumped against the wall that I first started at. I barely had the strength to open my eyes, but what I saw was amazing, the fruits and the vegetables were arranging themselves into humanoid shaped bodies. Just as my eyes were closing I saw the cafeteria doors that are locked on both sides blown off their hinges and a team of people flood in. Then my eyes closed and I fell into the unconscious darkness.

Two Items

Two objects are before you: a golden hammer and a cup of what seems to be water. A note on the wall says: 'Go ahead, Make your choice. The outcome will decide whether you are ready or not.' Ready for what? What is this place? Why those objects? Which will you choose? What will each do? Why are you of all people here? How did you get here? You decided that after twenty minutes of waiting a thinking that it was time to make a choice. The water looking substance was the more peaceful, but what if they are looking for war? The water also shows that you are not greedy as it is plain while the hammer is golden and greedy. The hammer show that you might be crafty with tools and your mind. After much thought you decide to choose the humbling water substance. You approach the objects in the center of the room and look around for a camera, because you know you are watched from the note. You cannot decide on a clear cut camera so you look into the mirror in front of you and pick up the glass of water-like substance. You look at it for a second and then you move it towards your mouth and start to tip it up to drink it but then you smell something slightly vinegary and you realize that it is not water. You decide to make sure you are right by pouring a little on your hand. You pour a little bit of the liquid on to your hand and as the liquid sits there it starts to bubble and you know you were right, it is hydrogen peroxide. You realize that it was a test to determine to the extent of your sense of smell. You have always had a heightened sense of smell since you were small and could smell things others couldn't. How did that, though, do anything for these people? You had mad you decision but no one had come to get you and nothing changed. You place the hydrogen peroxide down and come up with a scheme to get them to notice you. You pick up the hammer and attack the mirror causing many cracks but not breaking it. You start to look through the cracks and notice that there is a backing to the mirror that was made of a clear bendable material that seemed to be made of polyester. You then start to give up and then you faintly remember a chemistry class where you learned that hydrogen peroxide weakens polyester. You return to the center of the room and grab the cup of hydrogen peroxide. You approach the most broken part of the mirror and pour the hydrogen peroxide on the backside of the mirror and wait for the sound of bubbles to stop. As the bubble noises stop you start to raise the hammer in preparation. Then you swing downwards suddenly on the spot where you poured the peroxide. Your hammer broke through the other side with a great shattering sound. You look inside the hole you just made and see a camera. Wary of the broken edges of the mirror you reach through to grab the camera. You, again wary of the edges, pull the camera out from behind the mirror and pull on the cords. Careful not to cut the cords on the back of the camera you place it on the center table and surprisingly the camera's wires still have slack. You then hear a knock on the wall, but you do not know where it is coming from since there is not an outline of a door on the wall. Then a piece of the wall pushes itself toward you a then move up into the ceiling. A women walks in through the hole in the wall and says to you,

"You are the one we have been looking for." She then looks around and continues saying, "And I guess I should have walked faster."