1053 words (4 minute read)

Chapter 1: The Boy




“Ebony Lock-heart, please report to the principals office. Ebony Lock-heart to the principals office.” The kids at my table gawked at me, and, once more, I had to go to the stupid office in the third quadrant of school.

“What’re you looking at?” I grumbled, shoving my way between the volatile desks and the miniature stools. My hover board lurked in the corner of my classroom, and I quickly took it into my arms and strode out the door. Life had been tough since I came to Westerville, and I had an idea that it was going to stay that way.

I stepped onto the mechanical footpaths, hovering ever-so-slightly over the ground. My hover board was the newest version of the original Hover Trainer, and I drove it everywhere. My ears could pick up the soft whirring of the motor gears spinning and the vibrations of the clutch pedal. I didn’t want to see our principal, Principal Hadrian, again (for the tenth time that week) and I wasn’t to happy to see him standing outside the door, clicking his black, ballpoint pen in his right hand. Principal Hadrian wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, and, now that I think of it, he isn’t that bright either. He had been working at the school before hover boards even existed, so he is pretty ancient if you ask me. His black tux and purple tie tantalized me, mocking my every move.

I hopped off of my board and pressed the pushbutton to shut down its electromagnetic field, the reason why it levitates in the air, and it clashed against the metallic floor.

“You wanted to see me?” I muttered, and he stared at me blankly for a moment.

“Yes, I think that you need to have your extremities checked because I have been finding oil on the ground beneath your desk and around the school.”

“So you automatically think that I’m leaking gas? It could be someone who was trying to get back at me or setting me up or-“

“I know that it was you, Ebony. I can see that you’re gears are rusted, and the metal is leaking.”

I looked down at my thigh and sure enough, my leg was leaking a steady stream of pure black oil.

“I’m sorry. I will have to check it when I get home, and I have more time.”

Mr. Hadrian paused for a moment, trying to recall what had happened before my appearance in the office.

“No need. I have already scheduled you a trip home on the Hyperloop. The car shall meet you in the tunnel in exactly five minutes,” Principal Hadrian recalled. “So you might want to hurry.”

Hyperloop was my least favorite choice of transportation. The stupidly small cars were so uncomfortable, and about every time I’d been in one, my gears had gotten stuck on the hideously sewn cyber-material that was strewn out everywhere. The metal was magnetic so my limbs always flew upwards towards the ceiling and I would be forced to ride upside-down for the twenty minutes it took to get to my house.

“Oh, and you’re to pay the good man extra because this is off hours for him, and he isn’t quite the bargaining type. Have fun!” His face was so-o-o-o-o phony and bogus that I couldn’t help but glower in anger. I paced out of his office, and I could hear the click clacking of my prosthetic leg on the hard tile floor. My eyes scanned the room for stalking students who had snuck out of class to see what had happened, but I only found sixteen, the lowest amount of kids I’d ever found.

Just when I thought that the hallway was clear of spectators, a boy, about my age, maybe older, popped out into my tracks.

“Hi there. Um, how may I, uh, help you? Were you looking for some trouble, because if you are, then you’re looking in the entirely wrong place.”

“I’m looking for an Ebony Lock-Heart. Do you, by any chance, know where I could find her?” The boy’s voice was soft and smooth, like when you take a bite of ice cream and it slowly melts in your mouth. I felt the strange sensation that I knew him from somewhere. Somewhere where we were alone, and we were in a silent state of peace. I let the words settle into my ears like the smothering warmth of a blanket. The state of peace stood there for a few seconds. That was all I had needed.

“Why do you need her so badly? Couldn’t you wait until tomorrow, or a day in the future when today isn’t today and yesterday wasn’t yesterday?”

“No, and I know that you know where she is, and I know this because you just tried to hide her. Where is she? I need to speak with her.”

“Well, you’re in luck because you’re talking to her right now.” I answered to his quirky response to my somewhat open-ended comment.

“You’re Ebony?” He sounded displeased. His eyes glinted with confusion.

“What? Were you not looking for an intrusive cyborg delinquent? Well then, I suppose I should get on my way.” He lay silent for a moment or two.

“No. I need to tell you something. It’s urgent.” I could sense that he really wanted me to listen to him.

“Okay, I might as well give you a try.......” His entire face lightened up. “But, it’ll need to be quick. I don’t want to miss my hyperloop.”

“ This may come as a difficult change for you, but........... you’re special,” I stared at him. What was he going to do? Ask me on a date? “You’re not going to believe this, but you aren’t who you think you are. It’s too public here. I can’t let anyone else know about this.”










Next Chapter: Chapter 2: The Letter