Ash Blackheart: The Blackheart

Derailed Post Stop

When one has a pair of magic talking glasses that claim to be from another world, it's really hard not to be a little skeptic. I was. When I woke up the next morning, Etat was sitting on my desk, light off, still connected to my computer. Why did I let him into my computer! He could have stolen all my information and given it to who knows! I chided myself as I disentangled myself from a pile of stuffed animals, and unplugged the glasses, and put them on. 

"Hello?" I asked quietly, afraid I had dreamed it all.

"Hello miss Ashley. Thank you for allowing me to update, using your computer." The quiet male voice replied.

"Um yeah, no problem. So um why were you given to me? I'm not special. I'm basically a grown up child." There was silence for a few second before Etat replied.

"I was sent here because I need protection. In my world, I have control of almost everything that is a machine or linked to the web, or something like that. Some people tried to get a hold of me, so Tony threw me through the first portal they could think of. I know, it can be hard to understand, but I am trying to speak in a way you'll understand." My mind was whirling.

"Ummmm yeah, that makes no sense. I'm not a fighter or anything. I can hold my own well enough in a fight, but. . ." I hesitated. 

"Ashley, come have breakfast, then you should leave for the post office." Mom called from the kitchen.

"Ok, listen, Etat, or whatever you're called, we need to find somewhere to talk about this. I really don't understand, and I think who ever made you made a mistake sending you to me." I stood. "I need to go have breakfast, so I'll be back in a few minutes." Etat stayed silent as I put him in the case, and walked out for breakfast. My mom had my plate already filled, and was dishing herself up.

"What was all the banging last night?" She asked, seemingly unconcerned. "Your father nearly came in to make sure you were alright." I tried to hide my embarrassment.

"Oh. . .um I needed to use the restroom, and tripped over my chair on my way back to bed." I mumbled, picking up my plate, and sitting at the table.

"Mmmhmmm I thought as much." She replied sitting with me. I need too figure out what to do with Etat. He would definitely freak mom out, and that's the last thing I want. Is he safe, though? He's kind of fun to talk to, when he's talking sense. I ate quickly, thinking of how I could explain why I kept the glasses to my mom. "Still planning on heading out to the post office?" She asked, as if reading my thoughts. 

"Um yeah. I'll work on that after breakfast." I said, getting up quickly. My mother nodded and worked on finishing her food. I hurried into my room, and threw some random junk in a small hiking pack, and put Etat in as well.

"You didn't finish your breakfast." My mom called out behind me as I opened the door.

"I'll finish when I get back. Not really hungry right now." I called over my shoulder. Once out of sight of the apartment complex I put Etat on. "Okay, so tell me how you work." Immediately, little lines of luminescent light shot through the glasses.

"Focus on something." Etat told me calmly. I focused my gaze on a doughnut shop across the street. The glasses zoomed in, and Etat was speaking again. "Lazy Doughnuts, a doughnut chain across the US, primarily in the mid western states. The boss of this particular shop is John Downs, age forty three with three kids, and his wife is pregnant. He has three unpaid speeding tickets, and spent one night behind bars for drunk driving in his teens. He. . "

"Okay, okay, I really don't need to know his life story. Is this what you were doing last night? Hacking the web?" I asked, turning and looking around with new eyes.

"I wouldn't call it hacking miss Ashley."

"It's just Ashley." I interrupted quickly.

"It's more like in depth research. My program allows me into all systems without needing a pass code. I can also measure things, help you identify an object and much more." Etat told me as I continued walking down the street. "This is why I was sent away. I am a very powerful weapon, and if the wrong person got a hold of me, things could get bad." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, and how did they know I'm not a bad person?" Etat chuckled. 

"I'm not sure they did, they used a type of magic that is outside of my system, one I cannot comprehend, but one that is extremely powerful." Etat replied gently. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do fine. Anyway, the being they were shipping me to was supposed to have great power, so I am not worried."

"Power? Etat, I can barely stay awake in class." I protested, still observing my surroundings and taking in all the information I read off the glasses.

"I am not sure what to do to help you, Ashley, but Tony knew what he was doing."

"Tony? Who is Tony?! How do I know you didn't sell him all my information?" I nearly shouted. The glasses buzzed slightly. 

"Run, Ashley. They've seen you." Etat replied in a cold voice. I spun around, searching the crowd. Etat focused my vision on two men strolling down the street towards me. They looked like twins with their sunglasses and long, black coats. A lot of people were wearing similar outfits. It was a bright autumn day. They looked towards me, and out eyes met. "Run, Ashley run!" Etat snapped at me. "They will shoot you if they have to." One man put a hand to his ear and began talking. Then, they began walking quicker. I turned, and sprinted up the sidewalk. Two men across the street shouted, and began chasing me. 

"This is stupid." I growled. "Why couldn't your Tony protect you?" I asked, dodging down an alley way and up the back of the farmers market.

"He might have been able to, but also so he could find out where you are." At this I nearly ripped off the glasses and tossed them to my chasers. "If they found out who you were, then you would be on your own, but now you have me."

"I am not anyone!" I growled, ducking under a table and letting the long table cloth hide me. "I don't fight,  I play with little action figures and stuffed animals while I watch YouTube!"

"We'll seem" Etat said calmly. At that moment, the table was flipped, and I was left looking up into the face of one of the men.