Gear: New World

Pancakes and Giants. Wonderful.

     The smell of fresh bacon and pancakes made its way into my nose, fluttering my eyes open. As I looked around, I could tell I was in my room. Posters of famous football players hung around, along with my collection of accolades from my football career in high school. For a moment I thought it was a normal day.

     That's when it all flooded back. The fight, my powers, my life. All of the reality hit me like a freight train pushing me back into my bed. I lay there, looking up at the ceiling wondering if it was even worth it going outside. I knew that the moment I did, I was a target for some creep after my Gear.

     "Ethan! Breakfast is ready, come downstairs now!"

     And there's my reason to get out of bed. I unwillingly remove the covers and put on my slippers as I walk downstairs and go to the kitchen following my nose to the source of the fragrance.

     "Your plate's on the dining table and next time make sure you call when your school is getting destroyed."

     Believe it or not, this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Back in middle school, my school had a huge fire due to the laptops somehow catching on fire. The whole school was evacuated, but instead of running out of the building, I charged further into the fire, helping a kid who was stuck between a shelf that fell. Realizing it was Mark, I ran to help him. Instead of thanking me, he slapped my hand away and told me I should've just let him die, and that this was the whole point of the fire. It dawned on me that he was the one who set fire to the laptops, and in his twisted way, was trying to commit suicide.

     The fire enraged further, soon collapsing the ceiling. I tried to push him out the way, but before I could get him away, someone pushed me away. I looked up just in time to see another Mark standing there, waving at me just as the ceiling crashed down on both of them. The school didn't know about his suicide, Mark's body was burned past recognition anyways.

     Thinking back to what happened that day, Mark must've had a Gear just like me. I wonder how he was able to learn to use it so fast.

     I chow down on my pancakes, thinking back to the fight. How did he know where I was, maybe not down to the person, but the general vicinity of where I was he knew? Was it Cain, did he tell them where I went to school? Most likely. As I continue to ponder these thoughts with my breakfast my mom kisses me on my cheek from behind.

     "There's food in the fridge, don't be late for school again and no partying, I'll be home late tonight, love you" and with that, she was out the house leaving me with the dishes.

     I finish up my food and dishes, get ready and go back to my room. Classes were online following yesterday's destruction. Police are still trying to figure out what exactly happened, but with the explosions and dead kids piling up, I'm sure they're thinking domestic terrorists. The teachers tried to act as normal as they could, but with tensions so high after the passing of Jalen and Darnell and now this, kids were either not online or not paying attention. As I drowned out the sound of my teachers, it was finally 2:30 and classes were over. I immediately grabbed my bag, stuffed some clothes, bottles of water, and energy bars, and headed out. I called Julia praying she would pick up. Against my luck, she didn't and so I left her a voicemail explaining that I want to talk with her and thank her in person. I went to the garage to grab my bike, unlocked it, and headed for the viewpoint. It took a while, after biking up roads and going through a shortcut in the woods, I finally made it to the top. As I park my bike and breathe in the fresh air I hear my phone ring.

      "Hello? Yeah hey, Julia. I'm doing fine. Can you meet me at the viewpoint? I'll be waiting. Thanks, see you then."

     Before I hang up, I hear a familiar voice, one that I wish I didn't.