Principia Rerum

Chapter 2

A cloud of dark smoke engulfed the whole room leaving no oxygen for the people in it to breathe. In the middle of the chaos, a young boy was crying. Fear enveloped him when he could not find his mother, father and his siblings.   Flames were everywhere. Burning down the walls of their beloved old home, and the pictures of a happy family. He searched again despite of the heat and the excruciating pain. When the boy saw a familiar door he opened it and saw his parents. He reached his hands but a huge flame fell down on them. Everything blacked out and all the boy could hear were screams...

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It was already 8 in the evening and Shane was already late. He got up, washed his face then got out the window. He knew better than go out the front door. The old man would seriously give him a long boring lecture for going out again. Shane skated to the usual abandoned swimming pool resort to see his friends.

“An hour late man.” Said a familiar voice. “Hooked up with a chick again?”

Shane gave his friend a satisfying derp face and shook his hand.

“Sorry dude. I overslept.”

“Yeah. Your eyes look like they were swapped with the walking dead.”

“C’mon Ian give him a break.” Said another

Ian’s facial expression changed when he knew that it happened again. At first it was hard to believe Shane’s story but when he saw it for real, it became a serious matter. The dark bags under the eyes, sweating, cold hands it was horrifying to see his friend like that.

“Shane I’m serious.” Ian started, “You don’t have to do their bidding.”

“I already told you, man. I have to.” Shane replied. “Besides I’m doing them a favor and at the same time they’re helping me-“

“Like what? Helping you with your insomnia? Your nightmares? Look man, whatever it is you guys are doing in that place it ain’t doing you any good.”

“Trust me Ian, I know what I’m doing.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Ian threw his friend a helmet and looked at the skating obstacles. “Now do your stuff and make sure you execute the stunts perfectly. That’s your penalty for being late.”

Shane put on his safety gear and scanned the whole area. He got on his skateboard, closed his eyes and waited for the cool breeze. Waiting for it just made skateboarding more exciting like waiting for a perfect wave to come in. When he felt it, he let go and felt the sensation of adrenaline rush. It felt good in high speeds and then slowing down to jump on the bars. The slope was next and it was time to perform the stunts in the air. He was picking up speed when all of a sudden he saw flames and heard a scream.

The next thing Shane knew, he was on the ground wimping. His friends came to him trying to make sure he was okay. Blood was trickling down his right leg and man he bruised it up pretty bad. Great! Now how was he supposed to explain that to the old man, he thought. Shane stood up when he heard the foot steps. Shit.

“Haha! Nice one Kiser!”

“Shut it Briggs.” Shane said. This was not the time for a douche to come in and ruin everything. This is his last time to be normal and be with his friends. “You’re not allowed to be here anyway. This ain’t your territory.”

“Actually this is our territory.” Briggs started. He puffed up and signaled for his crew to stand behind him. “We heard you guys are going to disband. So why wait for that day? I’m going to speed it up for you guys so your sorry asses can rest.”