Parallax

Chapter 1- Darren

Another day.

No, another mundane day, watching the gentle autumn wind carry up fallen leaves, making them billow out in a cloud, a myriad of colours- red, orange and yellow.

The fading blue hue of the passed

summer, giving way to a gradually darkening autumn sky.

The monotonous drone of the teacher in the background, pushed out by the daydream that was playing out before Darren's eyes. The dream was like he was actually in it, like he was inside a totally different world- a place where... he strangely felt at home. The nostalgia was broken by a huge figure blotting out his dreamland. "Go away..." he murmured groggily, one foot still anchored in fantasy. "Nice daydream, mister Shelton?" A rough, familiar voice, laced with malice, made Darren start. The cold claw of reality clenched his heart as he looked up into the scarred, craggy face of his geography teacher, Mr Crewe.

"So, Darren, since you've been so attentive, could you please tell us the definition of an extra- governmental society?" Mr Crewe asked, a mad glint in his eye. Out of the corner of his eye, Darren saw a totally pokerfaced Sean, who was seated next to him, rapidly gesticulating under the table- there were some words that could be expressed with a single finger. Darren looked at his watch- ten seconds to the end of school. He could do it.

Darren cleared his throat. Eight seconds. He looked at Mr Crewe straight in the eye. Seven seconds. Then, he puffed up his chest with utter confidence. It even made Mr Crewe's smugness waver, his expectant smile turning into a scowl. Six seconds. Darren then announced, voice brimming with confidence, "I don't know."

The whole class was frozen there for a second in stunned silence. Its was broken by Mr Crewe, Who grinned triumphantly. "Darren Shelton, I hereby give you two hours of-" "BRIIIIIIIING! " His sentence was cut off by a sudden and loud bell, signalling the end of school. In that long second, Darren grabbed his already packed bag and vaulted off his table, hiding a smirk from a surprised and angry Mr Crewe.

Darren hit the ground running.

"I didn't quite catch that, sir! " Darren shouted at Mr Crewe over the din, "Guess you'll have to tell it to me tomorrow!"

As the crowd of students funnelled out of the classroom after Darren, Mr Crewe, his face a mask of cold fury, balled his hands into fists. Rain, without any warning, began to pour. He glared after the last of the students, his eyes strangely glowing a sinister red, and as the light cast off his rock-like features, he seemed to grow bigger, his already large clothes straining to hold in the extra mass.

"Soon, Darren Shelton," he growled, "Soon."