The train shook side to side, waking Rodney out of his trance. He kept his eyes on the azure sky, not paying any mind to the monotonous gray town before him. It was pleasant to envelop himself in his own mind, allowing the sky to be a canvas for whatever came into his imagination. It was the calm before the storm known as school. He also made sure it was the earliest train just so the entire carriage would be quiet from other students. He also always got the back one as it was the least populated.

The rumbling over the tracks, the electric sparks, the whistling of passing wind against the windows became white noise that Rodney would focus on. He relished every second he was on that morning train.

As his eyes trailed upwards, the blue canvas was blotched by a figure falling. Rodney blinked his eyes a few times to clean the blotch from his view, but it stayed. The person was still there, approaching the ground at supersonic speeds.

Rodney said nothing. He wanted to make sure he had not gone insane from the hours of studying the night before. His suspicions fell away as the other early commuters in his carriage looked towards the figure. They also remained speechless.

As the falling person approached the ground, it became obvious to Rodney it was not a skydiver. The sun illuminated the man’s plain white shirt and navy jeans. Then, as he approached the ground, Rodney and the rest of the train held their breaths.

The man halted mid air, about twenty feet off the ground. Everyone gasped, watching him hover with no explanation. Rodney was hoping he was in some strange dream so he pinched himself. The pain shot up his arm and he closed his eyes. He opened them again to see now the man was staring at the train.

Rodney felt that man’s stare tear deep into him, finding his worst fears and pull them out for the world to witness. He backed away from the window and down the carriage towards its back.

A feeling entered the schoolboy that caused him to freeze in the spot. It could only be described as falling into water, all normal sensations cut from feeling. Rodney felt pressure against all parts of his body and tried to speak. Nothing came from his lips. All light coming from outside also cut, but somehow he could still see the entire train.

His eyes darted to something bright coming from the left most corner of his eyes. A yellow light came from the void around the train, cutting through the carriage a few feet in front of him. Rodney watched as the beam entered a business man and slice through him before exiting the other end of the train. Then, as fast as the delusion came, it broke away.

Gravity returned as the cut off half of the train dug into the tracks, sparks kicking off and landing on the carriage floor. Rodney shut his eyes as warm liquid splashed against his face. He opened them again to see his uniform and body coated in thick blood. He looked all around him to see crimson painted the rest of the carriage and the passengers.

Screamed tore through Rodney, jolting him out of his shocked state. He wiped the blood from his face and watched as the other half of the train endure another yellow beam of light. It exploded, the blast shaking the surrounding ground. The train derailed off a corner of the track and speared into a building, prompting another explosion to shock the town of Morgan. All the survivors watched the smoke trickle skywards, blotching the azure canvas even more with ash.

The man who fell from the sky landed in front of the halved carriage.

From nowhere, a young girl with blond pigtails appeared in a gust of wind beside the man. She had two blue sapphires for eyes and wore a pink, frilly dress. She carried a small brown bag around her shoulder than hanged from her side. To Rodney, she looked like royalty. She said something to the man before lifting her hand to the survivors, showing her white glove. The water feeling washed over Rodney again, this time causing him to black out.

----------------------------------------

‘Wow, this one’s pretty cute, isn’t he?’ Lizzy said, pulling at a schoolboy’s cheek. She observed his ginger hair that laid messily on his forehead and she opened his right eye to note his emerald irises. ‘Shame for his sticky out ears. But still, I might keep him for myself.’

‘But dear, that would ruin this game, wouldn’t it not?’ A tall woman with black hair cut to her shoulder came up behind her, leaning down to view the boy. Her ash colored eyes and skin made her look older than what she was, but her beauty did not falter by this.

‘Yeah, yeah, I know, Pauline.’ Lizzy stood up and glanced down at her dress to see small speckles of ash littering it. ‘Ew, this better not be people pieces. Pauline, if you would.’ Pauline nodded and brushed off the ash with her bare hands. She worked down the girl’s back then around her skirt.

‘You girls better hurry up now. The police will be here in a heartbeat, we don’t want our faces on the wanted list.’

Lizzy glanced back at the muscular man responsible for this. His white hair spilled down his back and laid in a heap on the ground. ‘Yeah, yeah, we know, Pat. Jeez, while you are at it, would you cut your hair? It looks hideous.’

‘You know I can’t do that, Lizzy. It is my family’s tradition.’

‘Well it’s my family tradition to act posh and sip tea and you don’t see me doing that. I’ve got better things to do.’

‘Like playing this game?’ Pat asked, scratching the back of his neck.

‘It’s important. Pauline, are you done yet?’

Pauline stopped brushing the dress and stepped back. ‘Yes, dear.’

‘Right, now for my favorite part. Giving the powers.‘ Lizzy held out her right hand. Pauline dipped her fingers in her jean pocket and pulled out an empty syringe. She placed the syringe into Lizzy’s snow white glove. The young girl eyed Pauline up and down before letting out a sigh. ‘Why don’t you wear your maid outfit in public? You know I love that outfit.’

‘I don’t want to draw any attention to us, dear.’

'I don't want to draw any attention,’ Lizzy mimicked, taking out a small bottle from her bag. Inside the bottle glowed a dark purple liquid that seemed to suck all light from around it. She stuck the syringe into the bottle and drew the liquid out before injecting it into the ginger schoolboy’s neck. ‘Remind me why I couldn’t carry the syringes with me as well?’

‘Safety,’ Pauline replied.

‘Ugh, you really peeve me off sometimes. You’re lucky that she is not here right now.’

‘Girls,’ Pat said, ‘I hear the sirens. I recommend going a bit faster.’

‘I get it!’ Lizzy shouted, throwing the syringe against train’s floor. It smashed, small pieces of glass flying in different directions. Silence filled the air, the only sound being the approaching sirens. Pauline immediately knelt over and shuffled the glass into her hands. As she got up, she met Lizzy’s eyes. Lizzy mumbled, ‘Get me another.’

‘Will do, dear.’

----------------------------------------

Rodney woke up with a headache that stung more and more every time he blinked. He felt the weight of the duvet on top of his chest first before the rest of his senses returned. The sound of an electric fan and heart monitor, the minty smell coming from his bed, the taste of a dried mouth and finally the glare coming in from the window by his bedside.

From these, he could tell he was in a hospital.

Rodney’s eyes focused on the bed opposite his, a girl sitting in it. She had long black hair that curled at its ends and bright blue eyes that seemed to glow. Her attention was focused on Rodney.

‘Uh, hey?’ Rodney pipped up.

The girl stared in response, finally a blink breaking her sight. Her face was lacking any substance, making Rodney feel uneasy.

Can you talk? Rodney thought to himself. Also stop staring at me like that, weirdo.

‘Hello, can you hear me? Are you deaf?’ he asked. He twisted his lips shut after realizing how mean his last question was. ‘I mean if you are, that’s good and, um, sorry. Wait–’ –why am I apologizing out loud if she’s deaf?

‘I can hear you perfectly well,’ the girl replied with a monotone voice.

The response made Rodney's heart jump. He composed himself and gave her his calm smile. ‘Okay, good. That’s good. Um…’ Rodney picked around in his brain for words. Small talk was never Rodney’s strongest skill so for beginning a conversation, he would wait for the other person to begin. However, this girl had no intention to continue interaction. ‘You good?’

‘…’

Damn, given the cold shoulder. Rodney gripped at his bed sheets. Time to move onto plan two. And with that, he initiated his best small talk line. ‘What’s your name?’

He heard his words repeated back to him in sync. Rodney looked at the girl before laughing.  She must have known it was coming because of how shit I am at social things.

‘No, it is because I read your mind.’

‘Are you high on painkillers?’ Rodney asked, continuing his chuckling. ‘Reading minds, ridiculous.’

The girl remained silent, staring straight through Rodney and at the cream painted wall behind him. Rodney rested his head back down on his pillow and allowed the humor to drain out of him. Not looking at the girl, he asked, ‘What am I thinking now, ye’ ol’ psychic?’

‘You are thinking about the girl you have a crush on, Claire, and how you would love it if she was to come into your bed and–’

‘Stop,’ Rodney said, shooting up from his pillow. His heart pumped and sweat beaded on his forehead, the wheezing feeling in his stomach tearing into him. ‘What the–how–when–why?’

The girl did not answer, turning her attention to the window. Rodney felt prickling heat burn his cheeks and ears. ‘How did you do that?’ he asked. ‘Wait, are you a ye’ ol’ psychic?’

‘From when I last checked, I was a normal person just like you.’

That’s priceless coming from a girl who has been robotic this entire conversation. Rodney wanted to do something, but the drips made him tied to the bed. He had to figure out more about this girl. And so, he went back to plan two. ‘Uh, sorry for asking again, but what’s your name?’

‘Charlotte,’ she replied, her eyes flicking left and right. Rodney followed her gaze to see she was watching birds circling in a strange formation. It looked like the infinity sign used in math.

‘Are you doing that? The… bird thing?’

‘No, I can’t seem to control creatures.’

‘Seem to? You say that like you only just got that power.’

A sigh escaped from her lips. ‘As I said earlier, the last time I checked, I was normal.’

‘And when was that?’

‘Before I got on that train.’

He never looked at his fellow train goers. Rodney glanced outside and asked, ‘What are the birds thinking?’

‘Tweet.’

Rodney walked out of the hospital room and down the long white hallway, still wearing the itchy hospital gown. He felt naked knowing that his privates were being covered by a thin sheet of fabric. It then occurred to him that someone also undressed him while he was unconscious.

A shiver shot down his spine when that thought entered his mind. Rodney came to the elevator and pressed on the small circle button present beside it. As he waited for the  ting sound coming from the speaker to stop, he thought about Charlotte.

The doctor said she could leave, and she did so promptly, disappearing from the room about an hour previous. The doctor also said to Rodney that there was nothing wrong with him and that he could leave as well. When he asked him how long he was unconscious, the doctor replied saying it was only for the day.

Lucky I wasn’t comatose for a week. That would really be annoying, especially with the exams coming up. The doors slid open and Rodney stepped in, pressing the button to go to the ground floor. As the plesant elevator-style jazz played in the background, Rodney delved into his memory.

It felt like a dream. Freezing on the spot, watching the train getting slice in half by a lazer–it all seemed a bit too surreal for Rodney to full comprehend. And then, the young girl. How did she just… appear? Along with the taller woman. Rodney knew that people must have witnessed the whole thing, including the flying lazer man. It was early in the morning, but there had to have been witnesses.

The elevator door slid open and Rodney stepped out. A sign hung from the roof with an arrow pointing towards the reception. As Rodney turned to go down the hallway, a thought crept in his head.  Wait, people are going to be at the reception. They will be able to see me practically naked. He stopped in his tracks, feeling his cheeks beginning to fluster. A draft of cold air rubbed against Rodney’s bare behind.

----------------------------------------

‘Hello, what can I do for you?’ the young man behind the reception asked. Rodney could smell the cheap cologne drenched on the receptionist’s neck, making him visibly cringe away from the stench. He clamped his hands on the desk, looking at the young man while nodding his head. ‘What’s the matter?’

Rodney mumbled something in response.

‘Sorry, you have to speak louder. What is it that you want?’

‘Me cleerths,’ Rodney said.

‘Your what?’

‘My clothes,’ Rodney said frustrated, hearing his words echo throughout the room. He glanced around and saw everyone looking at him. He recognized some of the onlookers as students from his school.  Aw shit.

‘Ah, your clothes. Sorry about that, had hearing loss ever since my days in a metal band.’ The young man chuckled. ‘So what’s your name?’

‘Rodney Park.’

‘Okay, Rodney, I’ll be right back with your stuff.’ And so, the receptionist disappeared, slipping into a room behind the desk. Rodney tapped his fingers against the reception table, keeping his eyes focused away from the crowd behind him.

He heard a young child say, ‘Hey, mommi’, mommi’, I can see that boy’s bum.’ The mother hushed the child and Rodney blushed slightly more. This day can’t get any worst, right?

He saw the door swing open with the cologne-drenched receptionist carrying a box. He sat the box on the table and looked inside. ‘School uniform, yes?’

‘Mhm.’ Rodney snatched the box and hurried his way to the bathroom at the other side of the room. He burst through the door and went into the first stall he found. Rodney slipped off the hospital gown and put on his uniform. This had to be the only time Rodney felt relief sticking on his school uniform.

He stuffed the gown into the box. At that moment, he realized something was missing: his schoolbag. He grabbed the box and left the bathroom. Rodney briskly walked over to the desk and placed the box on it. He eyed the receptionist who’s eyes were glared by a computer monitor. ‘Where’s my bag?’

‘Oh, hello again. Your bag? Um…’ The receptionist ran into the back room again and came back out a few minutes later. ‘Nope, that’s all we have under your name. Sorry.’

‘Shit,’ Rodney said beneath his breath. ‘Okay, sorry for bothering you. Thanks anyway.’ Rodney walked over to the waiting chairs and sat on one, opposite the young kid. The kid pointed at Rodney and giggled, to which Rodney returned a small glare.

The schoolboy searched his blazer’s inside pocket and found his phone. He checked the time on it, 18:34. She should be out of work by now. He opened his contacts and pressed for his mother’s number, placing the phone to his ear.

She picked up immediately. ‘Roddy? Is that you? Are you alright?’

‘No, Mom, I’m calling from the dead. Hehe, only kidding. Yeah, I’m fine.’

‘Haah, that’s great to hear.’ She sounded like she was crying. ‘I was worried about you. I heard the news from a coworker that the train line had a terrorist attack and I knew you were on the train so I asked my boss to let me off but she said no, saying that you would be fine and that we have to get caught up on work. I don’t understand why she couldn’t just let me see my son who could’ve died. I don’t.’

‘She’s a bitch, don’t worry about it. I’m fine, the doctor said so. I’m just calling to ask if you can pick me up.’

‘Yes, Roddy, I can. I’m in the car now. Where are you?’

‘I’ll be waiting outside–’ Rodney’s eyes flicked out the nearby window to see dark clouds forming. ‘–I mean in the waiting place indoors. Did you tell Dad?’

‘No, I haven’t had the chance to call him. Oh crap, there’s police checking each car on the road. I need to drop the phone. Okay, don’t go anywhere, alright, Roddy?’

‘Yeah, yeah, bye.’ Rodney ended the call.  And stop calling me Roddy, it’s a horrible nickname. He slipped his phone into his side pocket and felt a sheet of paper against his fingers. Rodney did not remember putting anything inside that pocket, in fact he rarely used it. The only use for that pocket was placing water bottles and he never really went to the cafeteria for that thing.

Rodney felt a pain in his stomach, followed by a loud growl. He reached for his schoolbag for his lunch, then realizing that it was no longer in his possession. His focus slipped from the piece of paper to a vending machine that sat beside the reception. He fumbled about in his pocket for the cold feeling of coins, only to be disappointed by empty sweet wrappers.

He sighed and slumped in the metal chair, allowing his head to fall over the back.Today just got worst.

‘Hello,’ an unfamiliar voice said behind Rodney. Rodney looked at the person, his perception of them upside down. It was a boy about his age who had a slight stubble and brown hair that draped down between his eyebrows. His eyes matched the clouds outside and his smile produced a dimple in his left cheek. He wore a black loose t-shirt and cargo pants. ‘Are you one of the train survivors?’

‘Who’re you? The press?’

‘Nah, nah, nothing like that.’ The boy jumped over the metal seat and sat beside Rodney. ‘You don’t recognize me?’

‘Nope, sorry.’

‘The name’s Shaun. I was also on that train when the whole thing went down.’

‘Sorry, I never pay any attention to those who get the train with me.’ That goes for Charlotte as well. ‘My name’s Rodney.’

‘Well, Rodney, nice to you meet you. Hey, I just wanted to ask, do you remember anything from the train?’

‘Yeah, why?’

‘I just wanted to check if I’m not crazy. I’ve told the doctor what I remember, and he looked at me in a strange way, as if I’ve gone mad. Wasn’t there a man with laser shooting out of his hands? And another two people as well?’

Rodney nodded. ‘Yeah, pretty much.’

‘Thank god, I thought I finally lost it.’ Shaun glanced down at Rodney’s uniform. ‘You go to Morgan High?’

‘Yeah, I’m lower sixth.’

‘Yeah, technically I’m also a student but maybe zero attendance this year so far might get me the boot.’ Shaun rummaged his pockets and brought out a packet of cigarettes. ‘Hey, you wanna smoke?’

Rodney shook his head. ‘Not my thing, sorry. Also,’ Rodney darted his eyes towards an illuminated No Smoking sign, ‘you’re not allowed.’

‘Ah shit, fair enough.’ He stuffed the pack back into his pocket. ‘Well it’s good talking to you. I need to get home or my parents will be scared shitless.’ Shaun stood up and walked towards the glass doors.

‘Aren’t they picking you up?’

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Shaun froze up. In a hushed voice, he replied, ‘They don’t have a car and live outside of town. I’m gettin’ a taxi. Right, see you.’ Shaun pushed through the doors, bumping into a lady by accident before disappearing in the rain. Rodney looked ahead at the mother who was covering her child’s ears, glaring at him. ‘Sorry.’

He allowed his head to lean on the metal seat and stared up at the ceiling.

That was when he remembered the paper. He shoved his hand into the pocket and took it out, unfolding it and reading its contents. At first, he was taken back. With black ink, a paragraph of German sat in the middle of the A4 piece of paper.

The message read as followed:  ‘The ten chicks are ready to fly, but one must die.’ Rodney reread the message over and over again before swearing beneath his breath.

‘Mommi’, mommi’, what does shit mean?’

Rodney’s back crawled. He glanced behind him to see the reddening face of a mother. She looked ready to kill him.

----------------------------------------

Fuck me, Rodney thought, raindrops slapping against his head. The cold wind shot through his clothing like they weren’t there, causing him to shiver. The water soaked through his thin white shirt, sticking it to his chest like tape. I’m hungry, I’m cold and I’m tired. Nothing can make this day any worse. Almost immediately after thinking that, he slapped himself. He knew he jinxed it.

‘Hello, Rodney.’

He jumped away, raising his fists. He lowered them after seeing the one responsible was… ‘Charlotte? You’re still here? Wait, how do you know my name? I never…’

She raised her umbrella above Rodney. ‘Here, you will get cold.’ Her face was still mannequin-like, remaining expressionless.

‘Ah, uh, thanks.’ He locked his fingers around the handle, above Charlotte’s snow white hand. He looked ahead, watching the cars past by. In the distance, over the lines of houses, a pillar of smoke made its way towards the sky. They stood there for what seemed like decades in silence, not paying attention to each other. Rodney hated the awkwardness. ‘So, uh…’

‘I saw it on the clipboard attached to your bed.’

‘Ah, of course.’ More silence followed. Rodney’s eyes fell down to see her wearing Morgan High girl’s uniform which was a light blue blazer and skirt compared to the boy’s navy color code. ‘You go to my school?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you in my year?’

‘Yes.’

Can you say anything that isn’t just yes?

‘Yes.’

‘Wait, ho–oh yeah, mind reading. Wait, why am I accepting the fact you can mind read?’

Charlotte did not respond. Her eyes focused on the small kid’s park that sat in front of the hospital, as if she was picturing playing in it. Rodney shrugged it off. He thought it could be just that the levels of bullshit he experienced earlier on could have made him insensitive to idea. If people can fire lasers out of their hands, what stops the ability to mind read to exist?

Then it hit him. Does that mean I have powers as well? Rodney’s face stretched into a smile. He stuck his hand out and shouted, ‘Fire.’

…

Nothing came from his hand. Rodney allowed his arm to fall to his side and hid his embarrassed face from Charlotte. ‘I guess not,‘ he muttered. He took out his phone and checked the time, 19:02.  Where is she? Come on…

A car rolled up to the front of the hospital, blocking the entrance. It was a red two seater with dirt growing up the bottom of the sides. Immediately, a woman flung herself out of the car, leaving the door hanging open. She had long brunette hair a few years back, but a sudden rise in her paycheck and the realization of being almost half a century old made her dye it red and shorten it to her shoulders. You would think a bigger paycheck would mean a new car, but the woman would not dare to, saying, ‘My mom bought it for me, I can’t get rid of it.’

Her skin looked plastic and her light green eyes were accompanied with black eyeliner. Her black suit and white shirt were clashed with a small pink tie that laced her collar.

To anyone else, she looked like an extravagant business woman, but Rodney knew her as his mother. when Rodney noted the coal black streaks down her cheeks, he readied himself. As the woman ran his way in the rain, he stuck his feet into ground, keeping one against the wall.

But the woman leapt onto Rodney, pulling him to the ground. Her sobs echoed the hospital carpark. Rodney’s face matched his hair as he tried to push the middle age accountant off him, but her arm wrapped around his chest, restricting his arms.

‘Charlotte–ergh, help me.’

The girl glanced down at him before returning her gaze to the road. ‘My parents are here now. Bye.’ And like that, she walked away from the scene, disappearing around the bush beside the road.

‘No, don’t leave me.’ Rodney could only watch as purple lipstick shot onto his face like a machine gun. He stopped struggling, allowing his mother to squeeze the life out of him.  Is this how I am going to die? he thought to himself, his stomach letting out another growl.  Or starvation. Either way, not funny.

----------------------------------------

The trip home was just as suffocating. Rodney’s mother would not stop going on about how life would be terrible if he had died. That if he didn’t make it, she would have been locked up in a mental hospital. Rodney thought to himself that if doctors got a hand on her, she would be on her way to a shrink.

When they arrived home, they had a quiet dinner and Rodney went up to his room. He fell into his bed and thought back on the day. Rodney found it strange how calm he was waking up. Although he was almost killed and met a mind reader, the only thing he felt was drowsy and hungry.

Maybe the shock hasn’t settled in, he thought. His phone in his pocket vibrated. Rodney took it out and read the name:  Dad. He accepted the call and placed his phone to his ear. ‘Right, Da’?’

‘Rodney, I just got off to your Mother. You feelin’ alright?’

He was taken back by the question. ‘Yeah. Perfectly fine.’ Then, Rodney knew why he asked. ‘Fine enough to go into school tomorrow.’

‘Good to hear. You have to keep up your grades or you’ll end up like–’

‘–your bro. Yeah, got it.’

‘Right. I got most of the news from your mother. Anything else you want to ask?’

‘Uh, ye–no, I’m fine.’

‘Okay, bye.’ He hung up.

‘Bye…' Rodney mumbled, setting his phone on his bedside table. He tucked into bed and closed his eyes, sleep following short after. He dreamed of nothing but the color purple.

----------------------------------------

Lizzy sat on her bed, staring down at the dark floorboards. Tonight,  she will return. The thought of going to asleep left a pit in her stomach, but after working so hard all day, a girl must get her beauty sleep. As she laid down and shut her eyes, the burning began from her feet. As if she was being dipped in fire, Lizzy felt the pain grow up her legs, through her torso, and ending in her crown.

After that she felt nothing.

Pauline was on her bed: the couch. Her eyes were on the television, with the sound turned down low so Lizzy could sleep. The local news program was talking about the terrorist attack that occurred on the train. Witness testimonies said the same thing: ‘The train split and half of it blew up.’ No mention of anyone suspicious at the wreck.

Time Pause worked then, Pauline thought. She remembered Lizzy’s explanation of her power.

Time Pause collects a certain time point in a sphere that can be seen from the outside. That point masks what happens inside the sphere like camouflage. Too much exposure to the sphere can cause people new to the feeling to pass out. The big weakness is that too much exposure can mute the effects, allowing them to move within the sphere. It is handy of doing things in the public space with no witnesses. Lizzy is the only person who can use Time Pause.

The door to Lizzy’s room creaked open. Pauline flicked her eyes to the small clock sitting on the mantelpiece, noting that midnight has passed. She pushed herself up from the couch to look over at the door.

Standing there was Lizzy, now dressed in her pink nightwear. ‘So did she do it?’

‘Yes, Ma’am, the game has begun.’

‘Good and has the messages been given to the birdies?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good, good. Now we may rest. Morning comes, we have a lot more work to do.’ And with that, she shut the door to her bedroom.

Pauline fell back into her couch and flicked off the television.  Elizabeth’s right, she thought to herself as she slid her eyes shut.  We have a lot more work to do.

----------------------------------------

Rodney awoke to the sound of his alarm. In an immediate fit of rage, he flung the clock to the opposing wall in his room before falling back into his bed. Throughout the entire night, not a single dream came. Purple, purple, purple. That was all he could think about.

He sighed and fell out of his bed. Looking down at himself, he realized that he fell asleep in his uniform. He groaned. Slipping on his shoes, he walked out of his room into the bathroom right beside it. He brushed his teeth, licked his customary hair spike back up and went down stairs.

Turning into the kitchen, he found his mother packing his lunch box.

‘Morning,’ he managed, extending word with a yawn.

‘Good morning. I’ll be driving you to school today.’

‘Huh–oh yeah.’ Train’s gone. Rodney reached down beneath the table for his bag to find it not there. ‘Huh–oh yeah.’ Bag’s gone.

‘I’ll get you a new bag today after work. Did you have any coursework in your bag?’

‘You know the late hours I did for the last few weeks?’

‘Oh, right?’ She closed the plastic transparent lunch box. ‘I’m sure the teachers will understand.’

They fucking better. 

----------------------------------------

Rodney waved bye to his mother as he shut the car door. He looked down the long path up to the school and another groan escaped his mouth.

Morgan High was a school with a campus that needed rebuilding. The old main building had been standing for one hundred years when Rodney passed through its gate. The exterior walls had cracks waving up towards the mossy roof. White paint flaked away to reveal the rain-worn brick that held the place up. Occasionally, Rodney would see its old fluorescent lights flicker before dying completely. Students have protested about the building nearing its death bed, but the Principal kept saying 'No' to renovation, saying, ‘It has stood a century and should stand a century more.’

Rodney despised the Principal as she reminded him of an old witch character from a kids’ program. She was also arrogant, talking to pupils like she owned them. He had always wished she was caught doing something that would get her the sack, like getting drunk on the job or having illegal drugs.

Rodney walked up two flights of stairs, passing the occasional pupil or teacher. When he reached the corridor to his homeroom, he saw that someone was standing in front of his homeroom.

It was Charlotte. Her eyes met his. She brushed her black hair off her shoulders. A chill shot up Rodney’s back, causing him to freeze on the spot. She walked over to him, grabbing his wrist and pulling him the opposite way.

‘Huh?’ Rodney glanced down at the hand wrapped around his. ‘Wait, what?’

‘Just follow me.’

‘Weren’t you taking a day off?’

‘Just follow me.’

‘… right.’

----------------------------------------

They ended up behind the P.E. building, away from prying eyes. Another girl was there, someone Rodney did not recognize. Alike Charlotte, she was wearing the school’s girl uniform. Unalike Charlotte, her hair was blonde and bunched up to her shoulders. A braid fell from the side of her head.

Who did her hairstyle, a clown?

‘Rodney, meet Janice.’

‘Hello,’ Janice said, nodding her head at Rodney.

‘Uh, hi,’ Rodney replied, awkwardly repeating her nod. He turned to Charlotte and asked, ‘Why?’

‘You don’t recognize her? She gets the early train as well.’

Rodney flicked his eyes between Janice and her before letting out a small chuckle. ‘Sorry, I never really pay much mind to those around me. You said your name was… Janice?’

‘Yes, it’s my grandmother’s maiden name.’

‘Ah, okay.’ Rodney turned to Charlotte. ‘Wh–?’

‘I did not tell you yesterday, but when I got my uniform back, I found a note in my blazer’s side pocket. It was written in binary.’

‘Binary? What’s that?’

‘It’s unimportant what it is. What it said is important. Before going any further, did you get a similar note?’

‘Uh yeah, except it was written in German. Said something about chicks or something.’

‘Do you have it on you?’

‘Uh, yeah, hang on.’ Rodney pulled out the piece of paper and reread the message out loud. ‘ The ten chicks are ready to fly, but one must die. Makes no fucking sen–’

‘That makes sense,’ Charlotte said, snatching the paper from his hand. She scanned the paper over and over again, remaining emotionless while doing so. ‘Similar handwriting. Must be the same person. Janice, can you give me your’s?’

‘Y-yeah.’ Janice took the piece of paper from her front pocket and just like Rodney, had it snatched from her fingers.

Charlotte glazed her eyes over the paper before concluding with, ‘Yeah, same handwriting. You said it was written in Russian?’

‘Mhm.’

‘What did it say again?’

‘Uh, If you like to live, you have powers to fight with.'

‘Yes, yes,’ Charlotte mumbled. ‘Makes sense.’ Charlotte shoved the papers back to their owners before pulling out her own. She read from it, ‘Regroup.'

‘… that’s all?’ Rodney picked his paper from the ground. ‘How the hell does that make sense?’

‘The ten chicks are ready to fly, but one must die is referring towards the ten survivors of the train crash. If you like to live, you have powers to fight with refers to the powers we have been given due to the crash. And  Regroup…’

‘… means that all ten survivors should come together to fight,’ Janice finished.

Charlotte nodded. ‘Someone or something is out to kill us. The only thing is when? Now? Tomorrow? A year’s time? I bet the rest of the survivors have similar notes to us. But to find them…’ Charlotte glanced at Rodney. ‘You seem confused.’

‘C-confused? More like overwhelmed.’ Rodney stuck his hands into his pant’s side pockets. ‘What do you mean kill? Someone? Why? How?’ Rodney leaned closer to Charlotte. ‘What the fuck is going on?’

‘I just explained it.’

‘I know you did, and I listened to every word of it. Just a small problem: Where did this come from?’

‘Janice and I are close friends. So as close friends, I called her last night to ask if she was alright. She told me then that she found a note in her blazer pocket and read it to. I made the connection then.’

‘That?’

‘All the survivors of the attack got a note. And adding yours to the mix gives my theory more proof.’

Rodney stared at Charlotte for a few seconds before laying his eyes on Janice. ‘And you believe this?’

‘Yep.’

Rodney stepped back from both of them. ‘You’ve both lost it. Right, I’m out.’

‘Rodney,’ Charlotte said, grabbing his blazer sleeve, ‘you can’t ignore the pieces of paper. My theory–’

‘–came out of your ass.’ Rodney shook her grip from him. ‘I’m going to class. See you girls… never.’

‘Why is it so hard to believe?’

‘Two reasons. One, the whole theory sounds straight out of a fiction novel. Two, you can’t even put emotion into your act.’

‘Act?’ Janice asked.

‘Yeah. You planted that piece of paper in my uniform.’

‘When?’ Charlotte asked.

‘It doesn’t matter when,’ Rodney shouted, turning his head around to glare at them both. ‘Live in the real world you two or I might call the doctors to get you some help. Right, bye.’ And with that, Rodney stomped around the P.E. building and back into the main building.

The rest of the day went without a hitch. Rodney thought after a few hours, what Charlotte said would turn to sand and blow away from his mind like the other small things in life. However, his class was plagued by the three notes presented to him.

The ten chicks are ready to fly, but one must die.

If you like to live, you have powers to fight with.

And, Regroup.

He even met Charlotte every time he moved class, who’s eyes would follow him as they passed as if he was the crazy one. Rodney glanced ahead and saw his mom waving at him, standing beside her trusty old car. Well, I’ll talk to them tomorrow. Another chance, and heck, she might even convince me to join in their game.

----------------------------------------

‘Janice’s dead,’ were the first two words spoke to Rodney when he approached Charlotte that next morning.

‘D-dead?’ Rodney’s mouth was agape. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Do you believe me now?’ she asked, staring at Rodney without a hint of sadness in her eyes.