Ash Blackheart: The Blackheart

A Small Surprise

I walked home from school, not bothering with the normal hub-bub of the farmers market on my left. Tomorrow was Saturday, and I had a full day of work at the local Subway as well. Thankfully no homework for the weekend. Unusual for being a junior in high school, but a pleasant surprise. I thought swinging my key chain around my finger before unlocking the door to the mini apartment I shared with my parents and our family dog. Just so you know something about me, I'm not a large girl, pretty average in every way. I like sports, if I have time for them, but I'm not a jock. Almost zero friends, but I'll tag along with people who tolerate me.

"Ashley, a package came for you in the mail. Have you been ordering more action figures again?" My mother called from the kitchen as I headed for my room. She got me in my weak spot. I love superhero action figures. That and stuffed animals. Tease me if you want, but I love my little side hobbies. 

"No, if I did, I didn't mean to have them shipped yet." I called back, shutting my door, and throwing my bag by the closet. On my desk was a small box, shipped to me, Ashley Victor, but with no return address. Pulling out a small pocket knife, I opened it. Inside was a glasses case, like ones I'd seen before. Smooth black plastic, and a tight hinge to keep it shut. Who would have sent me a pair of glasses? My vision is just fine! I thought as I opened the lid, revealing a nice pair of large lens glasses that had a slightly blueish tint to them. Weird. I stuck the glasses back in the case and closed it up in the box. Someone must have gotten the shipment wrong. Now, with that mystery out of the way, I turned to my other desk, absolutely littered in action figures from every movie and book I had ever interacted with. Ones that I couldn't get online, I sent a 3-D model idea to a design company and had the characters specially made. With no homework to do, I sat down with my headphones in, and arranged them into teams, creating intricate scenarios in my head.

"Alright you big child, time for dinner." I nearly left my chair I jumped so hard. My mother stood by my seat, looking at the figures in my hands. I set them down quickly and stood.

"Coming." As I followed her out, however, I thought of the box. "Oh, mom, I'm going to head to the post office tomorrow and see who that package really belongs to." She just nodded and hurried me out to eat. My father works late nights, so I rarely see him. He's normally gone before I get up for school as well. My mother dished me up and sent me to the table.

"Could it belong to anyone you know?" She asked from the kitchen as I started eating. 

"No. It's just a pair of nice glasses, obviously high tech that someone really needs." 

"You could ask Mr. Adams, he has really poor eyesight and is always misplacing his things." She suggested sitting opposite me and eating her pasta quickly. I shrugged. 

"I don't know. Either way, I'll see if I can get them to the right place." My mother nodded and gazed into space, thinking her own thoughts. I studied her. She wasn't a large person, quite small actually and was the polar opposite of my father. Small, dark hair and tan skin, with a slow temper, versus my father who seemed like a giant, white blonde hair, white skin, and a temper that snapped faster than a hornet. "So. . .what are you thinking about?" I asked after a few minutes. Mother just shrugged. 

"Nothing. Finish your food, and then you should get to your homework." I just nodded. There would be no point in telling her that I didn't have any.

Light. I tried to close my eyes tighter, but the light still penetrated my lids. Did mom open the door? I wondered opening my eyes. My door was shut tight, and the blinds were down. The light came from the box. Confused, I checked my alarm clock that was by my bed. It was three in the morning. I sat up with a groan and opened the box. The glow came from inside the glasses case. I opened the case and took out the glasses. The lens were glowing soft blue, so I put them on. 

"Hello." A voice said in my ear. I jumped, tripped over my chair and crashed to the floor. "There is no need for alarm." The voice said again. I nearly had a heart attack.

"Who are you?" I whispered, not wanting to wake my parents. The voice was male, and not one I'd heard before.

"My name is ETAT. Extra Terrestrial Alien Technology." The voice replied.

"Etat? What on earth? Where are you?" 

"I am the glasses, miss. Did I startle you?" I snorted.

"Startle me? I nearly had a heart attack!" I hissed, climbing back into my bed. Etat chuckled. "Shhh you'll wake my parents. . . and now I'm talking to a pair of glasses." I sighed.

 "I am an AI system, programmed to communicate and learn on a human level. And do not worry about your parents, I am equipped with a special sound system so only the wearer can hear me." Etat replied calmly. By now my heart rate had gone down and I could start thinking clearly again. 

"Soooo um, how did I end up with you? Who are you supposed to belong to?" I asked, deciding Etat would probably know better than me. 

"I belong to you miss. If you relieved my package, then I belong to you." Well, at least it gives me someone to talk to. I thought closing my eyes. "I sense you are tired. Sleep would be beneficial at this moment as your surroundings appear dark."

"Yeah, I'm really tired. So um, will you still work tomorrow?" I asked, sitting up. 

"Yes. Inside my case, there should be a small cord. If you could plug me into your computer, or any electronic device I can update to your worlds functions." 

"Wait. . .my world?"