𝒮𝑒𝒸𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓈 𝒜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒟𝒶𝓇𝓀

Chapter 1

               When Stephanie Nob was a young child, she barely even noticed anything wrong or off about Apsconditum. Why would she have had any reason to believe so?

               Stephanie was 16 years old, and her parents had died when she was less than a year old. Stephanie lived with her uncle Jerry. For some absurd reason, Stephanie had never been told anything about her parents. Whenever she asked anyone about them, they either changed the subject or said, "Never mind that now."

               Stephanie Nob was an intelligent young girl. She had dark skin and was considered tall for her age. Her long dark hair was always pulled into a singular braid and her eyes were an aquamarine-colored blue.

               In Apsconditum, children became adults at the age of 20 and couldn't drive until they turned 18 years old. Children, legally, had to go to school until they were an adult. Stephanie attended Impetus Academy, an esteemed school, as all schools were required to be.

               "Steph! It's time to go to school!" Uncle Jerry shouted from across the hall. "Okay Uncle Jerry!" Stephanie left her bedroom and hurried down the stairs. She picked up a waffle from the table, stuffed it into her mouth and walked up to the door.

               As required by Apsconditum, Stephanie looked up to the doorway as the camera above it scanned her eye. Eye scanning was just one of the many "security" features that the law required in every household. However, Stephanie knew that it was just a way for the government to spy on everyone.

               Stephanie and Uncle Jerry's house sat on top of a hill that overlooked, what was Los Angeles in the Initium Era, a beautiful city.

               The streets were clean, not a single leaf or can could be seen lying in the street. Beautiful cherry blossoms, bleeding hearts and lily of the valleys lined the sidewalks without a single wilt or droop. Lights shinned everywhere, there was not a single shadow or sign of darkness. Apsconditum placed pride in "extinguishing" darkness.

               As Stephanie walked the shimmering marble sidewalks, she came across an alley with flickering lights. Malfunctioning never happens here. What's happening? thought Stephanie. She decided to tread into the dark and ominous alley.

               Stephanie didn't notice anything else that was absurd, but as she was turning around, Stephanie heard voices.

                "You need to cover this up! Don't leave a single detail that could be noticed! Do you hear me?!" the first voice said. Then the second voice began to say, "M-M-Mr. Higgins, I will do my very best!" Jeremey Higgins's replied, "You better..."

                Stephanie gasped and quickly ran away, hoping that no one would realize that she had overheard their conversation. "I'm going to be late!" Stephanie said, as she heard the first out of two school bells ring. With that, Stephanie fled the alley on her way to Impetus Academy.