Monsters Beneath.

Today

The drive to school was full of tension, my grandparents were driving my mother and I to school and work. Just to ensure our safety in case something happened and we needed to be rushed to a Shelter.

"Keigo." My Grandmother said my name to get my attention and I quickly sat up straight ignoring the burning sensation across my back. I looked at her, sitting in the passenger seat wearing a Royale blue two piece that was decorated with cranes. It was a custom made suit she said when my mother asked.

"Yes, Grandmother?" I asked playing the role of a perfect son in order to keep my mother's reputation intact. My Grandmother was impressed, it seems I am doing my job well.

"You've grown to be such a handsome boy Keigo. It's unfortunate that your Brother and useless Father had to die. Your Father produced good children and your Brother still had much to learn." She looked back forward at the road seemingly finished with the conversation.

I could feel a deep ache in my chest, my heart was hurting with the slander against two of the most important people in my life. My mother thought it was a good time to start a conversation of her own with her parents.

They talked animatedly, discussing things I didn't care about regarding future events. I didn't want to think about my future right now. I wanted time to mourn the loss of my Brother and Father in peace.

I clutched my additional bag, it was carrying my most valuable items. It was as light as I could make it without sacrificing too much of anything, anything else I wanted to take was fit into my backpack.

What my mom said about people keeping their valuables on them was true. Men, women, and children of all ages all had one additional bag with them. Occasionally you'd see someone pulling a suitcase or two bickering with an officer.

It seems like there's a limit to how much you can pack and the thought made me clutch my bags closed to my chest.

The car eventually slowed down and stopped in front of a large high rise. My mother worked at a place called PharmaTech. They developed several health care related items and even something that was the equivalent to an emergency surgery on the go.

It was a patch that you placed on your skin, it was covered completely in tiny needles that injected microscopic nano bots into your body. The nano bots would travel to the site of the wound and would essentially stitch it together using their own fibers and your cells.

"Keigo." I turned my head to look at my Mother, she was staring at me as she fussed with the belongings in her purse, "you will be attending the training program for children after you finish school today, then you will walk home." Her voice was stern, sometimes I wonder why someone who was so kind and caring would change so drastically in just a few years.

"I understand Mother, thank you." I replied automatically, the habit of making her feel like she was in a position if high power was ingrained into my being. She wasn't always so terrible, it was gradual, I guess my Father dying was the last straw.

I watched her nod and then lean forward and kiss her parents on their cheeks. She waved goodbye to them and shot me a glare.

'Do not embarrass me.' It said, the weight of her unspoken words felt like it was crushing me.

The car door slammed behind her and she walked towards her building. Once she got inside my Grandparents drove off. The silence was thick enough that I could feel it close around my throat and strangle me. My Grandmother kept glancing into the rearview mirror and scoffing in annoyance.

The ride continued like this for several minutes, the invisible noise around my neck getting tighter and tighter until finally the silence was snapped by my Grandfather's voice.