Old Works from the Old Blogspot

Valentine's Special 2017

11/17/16 - 2/14/17

ARGUS

I turned back and readied my knife. A man in a business suit stood behind me. Alright, play it cool. Maybe the guy's not an asshole.

Boy, was I wrong. He dragged me to the nearest school and reported I was ditching. "Hey, man, I've not enrolled anywhere," I said and still I was put in. I was given an assignment and looked it over. The first teacher said it was an assignment.

Across the room, I saw a girl. I recognized her. Oh, what's her name? Dia, did 239 (Joey) mention? Yes. Yes, it is. I pressed my tongue against my molars as the teacher rambles on. Dia looked up and scanned the room momentarily and her eyes widened at the sight of me, then darted her face back to the paper. She pressed her lips and continued working on her work. I focused back up at the teacher. "Are we clear?" he said.

"Yeah, sure... " I said mindlessly and scanned the paper. I finished and was placed in the class. I met my shadow. I didn't think they had them anymore. I found his name was Michael and eventually left after we passed the lunch room. I didn't think he noticed. I glanced down at the newly scrawled outline and time frames. I went out to Home economics, next. The hallway was full of advertisements of the Friday dance and Show. One, in particular, got my attention. It had my face on it (How the fuck did they even GET a picture of me?), next to an empty space, silhouette of a human. "Speed-dating?!" I read aloud.

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" I shouted. I got the attention of several students closest to me and tore the flyer off the wall and tore it up, tossing it the trash can. I saw Dia and 242 and I reeled a fist back. I felt a jab in my gut and flinched. 239 behind me grabbed a bone of my shoulder and squeezed until I was reduced to my knees. "Ah, fuck," I cursed. I hated that weak spot. "What the hell is this for?" I demanded.

"What?" 242 asked. I rolled my shoulder and went to the next flyer.

"This! A speed-dating advertisement? Jeez, and to think you guys couldn't get any lower!"

"Oh, no, I can go lower," Dia said. I tore that poster off and tossed it in the trash.

"Is my love life a joke to you?" I hissed.

"Sorta," 239 admitted. 242 stomped on 239's foot, causing him to jump and tend to it. I was caught in the gaze of a teacher as I reeled back a fist. I left them in a huff to the next class.

The school ended, maybe too soon, when I realized I actually had to show up for the speed dating. I think the only things I could remember before my mind shut down on me was when Michael came forth, which made me confused. He was the farthest I got, asking most about music, offerings, and many challenges. He didn't make it past the first one: If he could handle watching me tear half the school population apart. He asked why and I showed him a picture I drew beforehand. He went out to vomit.

The next person up and she ran, screaming before I could put it away. Another one came up. She had the surly look I recognized in my History class. Her hair was in braids, tied into a ponytail and sprouting like a fountain. I think by far the tattoos on the left of her face; they matched a spider-web and I wondered how long that took.

"Joni, right?" I recognized her. "Alright, first question. How do you handle this?" I held up the picture that most reeled back at.

"Gnarly, dude," She droned. She was completely Nonchalant.

"You are familiar with the Government and their rule over the hidden twins trained to adjust and part take in animal DNA injections and or implants?" I asked. Joni rose an eyebrow. She lifted the hem of her shirt just above her kidney, revealing stitches. I scribbled her name down. Joni Heisenberg. The timer went off and she got the memo. She up and left out the door.