I looked at the night sky and saw many bright stars. A snowflake fell on my forehead.

"How could it be if we were in midsummer?" I thought, trying to believe my eyes.

I looked at my feet and they were covered with snow. I did not feel cold, but my body was still, like totally frozen. I desperately tried to move. I fell with my body erect. A voice from far away tried to tell me something. I struggled to try to understand...

"Get up, ROGER! BREAKFAST IS ON THE TABLE!" Clara shouted.

"Damn it! Didn’t hear my DS-Tab Phone go off again!"

I got up scared and remembered that I had a history test. I got dressed and hurried up climbing down four stairs at a time. I reached the kitchen, my brother was sitting at the table and Clara was setting the table for breakfast.

"GET UP, ROGER! BREAKFAST IS ON THE TABLE!" Clara shouted again.

"I’m up. Good morning, Clara! And... Good Morning!" I said looking at my brother.

He ignored me, got up and left without finishing his breakfast. Romeo hadn’t spoken to me in a few months. Ever since he arrived, we’ve been living in disagreement. Maybe his anger is because he thought I had it all from the beginning and he didn’t have the same privilege. That blond hair, serious blue eyes, always looking more handsome than me.

"You’re so cocky!" I thought.

I knew I was prettier and smarter, even though we were twins, but this would be no reason not to address me, except for the fact that mom...

"Roger, hurry up, you’re late!" Clara said.

"I’m on my way!"

"And one more thing: Tomorrow I..."

"Ok, I’m going!"

We lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On weekdays I walked through the same route in the morning. It was just a few blocks to school, and I almost always got late. I tried to go unnoticed, but...

"Mr. Stan, you’re late once again."

"I Know, Mr. T., I’m sorry."

"No more excuses! If you arrive late again this week, you will have many extra activities during your summer vacation."

Mr. T. was the school monitor. He was obsessed with his work and had a bald head that reflected the sunlight on our faces. Besides, his serious, suspicious gaze scared the people who looked at him, but he felt this was frustrating because he couldn’t fulfill his dream of having a rock band.

As soon as I entered the classroom the teacher interrupted what she was explaining on the digital board. All the students stopped and looked at me, except for my brother who kept focusing on the comments about the test that would be applied, which was on the huge board.

"Roger, pick up your DS-Tab SchoolBook to answer your test and sit down! I will finish the instructions and you will have 40 minutes to finish it. If you have any doubts, close your eyes and talk to God!"

Teacher Sonia Carter was crazy, in my opinion. With that straight black hair and that fringe hairstyle of the ‘90s. She must consider herself very funny with her dull jokes, but I couldn’t lie, ‘cause apart from her madness and appearance, she was an excellent teacher. I took the DS-Tab SB, looked at the test and wondered:

"This time I won’t make it."

My brother stood up in 10 minutes, handed the Tab SB with the whole test answered and left.

"As he always finds himself the Mr. Know It All," I thought outraged.

He always took the highest marks in the class.

"Attention! Time is almost up."

"What?" I thought.

A huge message appeared in the Tab SB notifying me that the time had run out, preventing me from continuing. I had barely answered half of the test. Teacher Carter took the Tab SB from my desk and laughed at my look of despair. I was the last one to leave.

It was very hot and I decided to stop somewhere to get something cold. I crossed the street and stopped at a diner. I ordered a Neapolitan milkshake and walked back home. I had to study for the next day test and not do the same shame of missing out so many questions again. My wish was to go out with friends to forget the problems and responsibilities, but something told me I had to go home.

On the way, a black car drove slowly past me and as, I looked to see the driver through the dark glasses, he stepped on the accelerator and turned the corner just ahead. This was weird, but I kept tasting my milkshake.

As I got to the front door of my house, I heard an angry cry.

"ROGERRR!"

Recognizing the voice and remembering the previous day, I turned and gazed a look of fury, but at the same time a look that would bewitch any sailor on the high seas, inviting him to jump, even if he could not swim.

"What happened? Forgot what we were supposed to do today?"

"No, sweetheart! I’m just distracted by the awful day I’ve had so far," I said, trying to apologize and remember what I had to do with her.

"Where is your Tab Phone? I called several times, I sent several messages and you didn’t answer."

"I left it at home. Woke up late, and you know how I am."

Even Desirée furious with me, I couldn’t find her annoying. She always enchanted me with her bright, seductive brown eyes, her silk-curly hair, and her soft, dark skin.

"Give me this milkshake, Roger! Let’s do what we’d planned!"

She took the milkshake with one hand and with the other, my hand. We followed a path without my knowing where it’d take us. I hoped to remember before we got anywhere. On the way we met my brother in the opposite direction.

"Hi, Romeo!" Desirée said.

"Hi, Desirée!" Romeo answered, mirthless.

My brother ran home and we headed to what we’d planned. We came to a hectic street, full of clothing stores, toy stores and restaurants.

Right ahead, we entered a shop full of jewels, gold earrings and diamond necklaces. Desirée approached the window of wedding rings and soon I recalled something...

Four months ago I had promised her that I’d buy our engagement rings for her birthday. Then we’d get married two years later. I must’ve been crazy when I told her that! We were only 17 and we had not even gone to college yet. There were many things I wanted to do before. I liked the idea of enjoying life without taking so many responsibilities.

For a moment I thought she had bewitched me just to accept all this. It was a tricky situation, but I couldn’t forget it.

"Tomorrow is her birthday," I told myself.

"Honey, this is the one I want," she chose, thrilled.

"Are you sure, Desirée?"

"Yeah, absolutely sure!"

I had nothing to do but buy the ring. I spent half of the savings I was supposed to use on my summer vacation. It was so frustrating to imagine how happy she was and I didn’t feel the same.

We left the store and headed back home. I still had to study, as I intended to provide a comfortable life for Desirée in the future. I stopped again at the same diner, bought another milkshake for her and followed the way. Close to home, very thoughtful, I stopped and said:

"Desirée, wait please!"

"What’s up, Roger?"

"Can we give ourselves some time to prepare better?"

"What?" Desirée complained. "What do you mean?"

"It’s just... Well... I don’t think I’m ready to take on so many responsibilities."

"You said it would be tomorrow! You promised me! You said it was what you wanted the most!"

"Yes, my angel, but..."

Desirée threw the rings on the ground and ran away crying. I, without much reaction, picked up the rings and watched her run with no courage of going after her. I grasped the rings tightly, put them in my pocket, and went home.

I followed my path and almost at the door of the house, I came across Romeo looking at me furiously. He put his hand on my chest.

"You said you’d marry her!"

"Mind your own business! Get out of my way!"

"Stop being irresponsible! Don’t treat her like your toy!"

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Romeo grabbed my T-shirt and we started to fight on the ground, but soon a man approached and separated us. He dragged us to the front door of the house and rang the doorbell. After a few seconds:

"Excuse me, Miss?"

"Of course. How can I help you?" Clara said glaring at me and my brother.

"Sorry to bother you, I’m your neighbor, and when I was arriving I saw these two boys fighting at your doorway."

"Romeo and Roger! Get in now! I’m so sorry for the inconvenience, Mr...?"

"Wood."

"Thank you, Mr. Wood!"

"Glad I could help. See you!"

Mr. Wood went to his home. Clara closed the door, glared at us and said:

"Lunch is almost ready. Have a shower and come to lunch."

We had shower and soon returned to have lunch. I sat at the table with Romeo, something that hardly ever happened, and we started our meal, which happened in silence.

At the end of lunch my brother went up to his bedroom and I went to mine. Even though we were brothers and twins, we had separate rooms. I never understood what was wrong with this guy.

"Was he jealous of the fact we were twins but I was cuter than him?" I wondered.

I picked up my DS-Tab HomeBook and spent the afternoon trying to study, but it was hard to concentrate, something bothered me. I took my DI-Eyes (Augmented Reality Glasses) and tried to study in a more interactive way, but soon I opened a game and the hours passed quickly.

Late in the afternoon, tired of playing, I stopped and looked out the bedroom window to see the weather. I heard a message tone. I thought it was Desirée, but it was a message from an unidentified person saying:

Go to the mailbox.

[5:55 PM]

I went to the window and saw there was something in the mailbox. I was suspicious and scared. I ran downstairs and went to see what it was.

"A package? Who could’ve left it here?" I thought.

It couldn’t have been the mail service, as there was no identification, no stamp, nothing that would prove to be a mail delivery. I looked up hoping to see a delivery drone, but I didn’t see anything. I went in with the package and went to the kitchen to drink some water.

"Hey, Roger! If I hear you and your brother have quarreled once more, I’ll call your father."

"All right, Clara."

"Your father is traveling to work. Do you want to make him furious and worried?"

"No."

"And come eat. I’ll set the table."

"I don’t want to, I’m going to study."

I picked up the mail packet, some hidden cookies, and went upstairs to my bedroom. When I was climbing the stairs, Romeo was coming down to eat like a good boy.

"You prick!"

As I passed the stairs, I bumped into him and it was like 110 volts through my body. We both looked at each other, but we ignored what happened. I went to my bedroom, put the package on the table, and pulled out a chair for me to sit on.

"What’s in it? A bomb?"

I must’ve been crazy about bringing this inside the house, but tired of having a busy Monday and it was just the beginning of the week, I didn’t care what might happen and opened the package.

It was a wooden box. With my heart racing I carefully opened the lid, set it on the table and looked inside. There was a photo. A man in uniform.

"Who is he? He reminds me of someone" I thought clueless. "Did he leave that box here?"

I put the picture on the table and looked again into the box. There was something like a...

"Key chain?"

I looked carefully at the object that looked like a key chain. It was in the shape of an ice cube. I thought it was pretty but suspicious.

Strangely the object began to freeze. I dropped it on the table next to the photo and looked inside the box for anything else. Deep down it there was a folded piece of paper. I got it and something was written on it.

A gift left for those who have inherited the power.

"Who was the madman who wrote these things? Was it the guy in the photo?"

I didn’t care ‘cause I had to study. The next day I would still have a test.

I remembered what had happened between me and Desirée. I waited for her to send me a message all day, but not even an emoji I’d received. Lying in bed once more I tried to study, but soon I stopped. I started accessing social media, watching some funny videos, eating a few cookies and playing the same game again. I looked at the clock and it was already past 11:00 PM. Desperately I got up, got the DS-Tab HB, opened Chemistry and started reading.

"Chapter 29. Biogeochemical cycles. The chemical elements circulate in nature sometimes participaaatiiing in the mo-le-cu...

It was getting colder and colder, but it was nice to me.

"Romeo? What do you want with me? I’m not going after you!"

Suddenly my body stopped moving. A mirror appeared in front of me and I found myself frozen. I didn’t feel pain. In the reflection, I saw Romeo and tried to call him, but he couldn’t speak. Desirée appeared beside him and the two began to disappear.

"I’m alone!" I said, scared.

The mirror disappeared and in front of me and, at a short distance, I saw someone. I couldn’t see who it was. He was trying to tell me something, but I didn’t listen. I struggled to try to understand...

"ROGERRR! BREAKFAST’S ON THE TABLE."

"Damn it!"

I was late again. Damn Tab P! Can’t hear it going off. I needed a decent AI. I got up in desperation, got dressed in a flash, went downstairs in two leaps, and in the kitchen Clara was already finishing getting my breakfast ready.

"Get it, Roger! And go away! Have it to go!"

"Thanks! See ya!"

I ran to school hoping not to meet Mr. T. I arrived, when I was almost entering the room like a ninja...

"Mr. Stan! Late one more time? I do not even need to tell you what’s going to happen..."

"But, Mr. T., today is the last day and final test."

"Really, well reminded. Then you will have many extracurricular activities to do in the summer holidays."

"But, Mr. T..."

"Enough! Go to your room!"

"Sure, Mr. T."

I entered the room and the test had already begun. I picked up the Tab SB on the table, sat down, and immediately afterwards Romeo got up, handed out his Tab SB with the whole test answered and left.

"Prick!"

As always feeling as the man. I tried to concentrate and started answering some questions, but I was interrupted by the teacher:

"You almost missed your test. You’ll need luck!"

I looked at Teacher Elizabeth Collins and kept quiet wondering at some possible answers. I was feeling pretty confident. Somehow I knew the answers. I didn’t know why. I thought it was because of a game of adventure and puzzles that involved a lot of these subjects. I finished it, handed in the test sheet and left. Again I was the last one, but I was very confident. I left school thinking about Desirée.

"How is she?" I thought, worried.

I was too harsh on her and I should’ve been more mature and responsible. I checked my Tab P for any missed calls or messages from her but found nothing. Desirée troubled me with many loving messages, but since the day before I received nothing from her. I needed to get in touch, at least send a happy birthday message. I was a dick yesterday and I didn’t dare send her a simple emoji.

I walked home looking miserable, like I’d worked hard all week for the presentation of a project and in the end everything went haywire. It was still Tuesday and friends had called me to enjoy the end of the exams. They always enjoyed it, no matter if it was the beginning or end of something. What was important to them was to be cool and enjoy life.

On the way back, a black car drove again past me very slowly, but soon accelerated.

"Was it the same as yesterday?" I thought.

I was very suspicious and scared. I wondered if anyone was trying to kidnap me. I rushed home.

When I got there, something was weird, nobody was home.

"I’m hungry, but where’s Clara?"

There was a message from her at the fridge door:

Boys, I went to my mother’s house to get her medicine and I’ll be back tomorrow. I left food in the oven to warm up. Whatever you need, call me.

Clara.

Clara still insisted on writing messages on paper. It’d be far more practical to send a message through the Tab P.

"What can I do if she was still against technology?" I thought, unhappy.

It was still early for lunch. I got a packet of cookies and went into the bedroom. I connected the DS-Tab 55" TV on the wall to watch a movie or series, but at the same time I turned on my DI-Eyes to play. The Tab TV was broadcasting news, but I was glazed in the game that was almost ending. I was kind of hungry. When I checked the hours, it was already past 12:00 PM. I looked at the cookie package I had not opened, but I decided to go downstairs and get lunch.

I warmed up the food and went up to my room again. As I ate, I stared at the ice cube-shaped key chain that seemed to never melt on the table. Several things came to mind. I remembered the message of unknown origin that I received from that box in the mail. I spent some time trying to figure out who could be responsible for this. No one came to my mind. This situation was beginning to annoy me.

I finished lunch, put the Tab TV on the mute, which was still repeatedly reporting on an accident that happened yesterday at a military base in Nevada due to a drill error. I grabbed the key chain and looked at it for minutes concentrating on the silence of the room, but I was startled by the sound of a voice call tone from my Tab P. I let it fall, but I didn’t even pick it up, since I ran to see who was calling. I wished it was Desirée, but it was:

"Grandpa Charles?"

It was a surprise, ‘cause Grandpa Charles hardly ever contacted us. I looked at the Tab P for seconds trying to figure out why Grandpa was calling, but then I tapped the screen and answered it:

"Hello! Grandpa Charles, are you all right?"

"Hey, Roger! Yes, I’m fine! I need you to help me with a job. Would you have some free time?"

"Yeah, Grandpa. Sure! But what kind of help do you want from me?"

"It’s just something I’m having trouble with. I e-mailed you all the instructions you’ll need to get here. Pack up and come. Thank you!"

"Okay, Grandpa. But I have a question. How’d you get my e-mail? You don’t like these virtual media."

"Just come and don’t forget to bring the ice!"

"What? But what are you talking about?"

Then, I realized I was talking to myself. Grandpa Charles had hung up and he didn’t hear my question.

"Was Grandpa talking about the key chain? Could it be that he left the box in the mail? That wouldn’t be possible," I thought, confused.

Weird things were happening and now this one from Grandpa...

I grabbed the key chain on the floor and put it back in the wooden box it came in, took the photo of the guy and the note. I looked at the photo for a minute and reread the message:

A gift left for those who have inherited the power.

I was trying to connect the facts, but nothing seemed to fit. I tried to be a Sherlock, but I wasn’t cut out for that. I put the photo in the box along with the key chain and crumpled the note into a paper ball. I looked in the bin right on the corner of the room imagining myself like a basketball player trying to make a three-pointer. I aimed, aimed again, I threw it and missed it... I bowed my head in disappointment and flung myself down on the bed.

I heard someone coming into the house. I figured it must be Romeo. My intuition was confirmed when I saw him by my door that was ajar. He went into his bedroom and slammed the door. I got up and packed up to travel. I took the picture and the key chain in the box. I put them on the bed and started packing.

With everything ready, I sat on the bed, picked up the key chain and wondered if grandpa had any connection with these things. I started to remember the fight I had with my stupid brother.

"Always messing around with my stuff," I thought, outraged.

For a second I was very angry with him and suddenly the key chain in my hand started to get really cold. I got up scared. The key chain began to shine brightly.

"What is this?"

The little key chain turned into a kind of knife and its ice cube shape stayed at the end of a kind of handle. Its blade looked very sharp, but running my finger over it, harder and harder, did not cut me and I figured maybe it was blunt. I passed its blade on the mattress and it cut it like a sharp knife slicing sushi.

"Awesome!"

The knife released some steam, as if it were very hot, but it was actually icy. I played with it like a swordsman, but then I found out I was not joking and all the moves I’d made were accurate, like I already knew how to handle a melee weapon.

"What’s going on with me?"

I dropped the knife on the bed. I was frightened. Soon after it turned into a harmless ice cube-shaped key chain. My mind was in a spin. I was so scared I couldn’t process anything properly.

I decided I had to find out what was happening and something told me that grandpa could have the answer. I was so nervous that I grabbed my Tab P from my backpack and sent a message to Desirée. Carefully I took the key chain on the bed, tossed it into my backpack, and spread a sheet on the mattress. I carefully picked up the photo that had fallen on the floor, put it in the box, threw it into the wardrobe, and left the room.

I took a piece of paper from one of Clara’s scrapbooks, wrote a note, and left it on the fridge door. Outside, still at the doorstep, I took a deep breath trying to convince myself that everything that was happening were not mind tricks. With my Tab P in hand I looked sideways and left.