All That Remains

Day 1

Grr... I hear the growl as I desperately try to put distance between myself and the thing chasing me. I steal a look behind me only to see a formless black shadow with red eyes. I somehow put more energy into my steps and manage to increase the distance between us. Just as triumph takes its place, I see that the creature is now gaining on me. Suddenly, I trip and fall hard to the ground.

I scramble back to my feet, but I'm instantly pushed back down. I flip over to see that the shadow was a massive jet black wolf, with glowing red eyes and gleaming white teeth. Just as it is opening its giant jaws, I scream...

"Ahh!" I jolt up, still screaming from the nightmare. I look around, thankful to see the bedroom of my apartment. I try to remember anything else about the dream, but all I can recall is the chase through the woods. I glance over at the clock and groan as I see that it reads 5:43. Knowing I won't be going back to sleep, I slip out of bed and into my meditation room. There, I clear my mind of all distractions and focusing on relaxing. The next thing I know, there is a desperate knock on the door. I heave myself up to my feet and walk swiftly toward the door. "Good morning," I began, still slightly dazed. "I'm sorry if you are looking for Janet Bur-" I stop short when I noticed no one standing there.

"Just your nerves Chase," I mutter to myself. I head back inside and get ready for school. I check the calendar and silently curse my forgetfulness. I hadn't realized that the city council had scheduled my evaluation this week.

When my mom died thirteen months ago, I asked to be able to live on my own. At first, everyone up top disagreed. But then I went to court with the case and won. Beat the third best lawyer in the state by myself. The judge was so impressed that he granted me my freedom.

Now, however, a new judge is in charge. While the first one was pretty cool, this one has it in for me, I swear. He ruled that I had to have a monthly "comprehensive psychological and social evaluation", a.k.a., living Hell. Seriously, they make me miss school for one day to take a whole bunch of stupid tests and talk to a shrink to determine if I am suited for independent living. Luckily for me, the tests are scored by a non-biased third party. Otherwise I would have been in an orphanage for the past year or so.

I'm never behind in school, it's just that I hate the tests and missing my friends. Okay, friend. I only have one real friend. The others are technically acquaintances. I sigh, finally resolving to just go down to the council hall and see how long it takes the shrink to throw me out. Maybe I can beat my record of fourteen minutes...

When I finally arrive at the hall, I am met by Joe, the tight-lipped bodyguard. When they first told me that I would be getting a bodyguard, I imagined some sort of secret agent in a black suit who wore sunglasses no matter how dark it was. Instead, I got Joe, a slightly obese man with a bald spot and a permanent scowl. The only thing threatening about him was the fact that he used to be a top marksman and still carries a gun. Joe leads me to the testing hall and shows me where to sit. While I wait for the test to arrive, I decide to count the ceiling tiles. I only get to twenty when an old woman walks in with more papers than really necessary. I swear, every time I come here, they give me more tests. I'm sure now that they are trying to see how long I'll go before I snap. She drops them on the desk I'm sitting at and walks away.

In thirty four and a half minutes, I am being led to the shrink's office a building over. His name is Dr. Phillip, but I call him Philly because it drives him up the wall. Once, he got so mad that he threw his clipboard at me. Thank goodness it missed. Philly's not that good of a shot, if you couldn't tell. When I am finally seated in my favorite spot in the room, Philly looks at me with a look of pure venom in his eyes. "Mr. Chase, how are you today?"

"Well, I've been better. This rain hasn't really helped though," I answer.

"Was that supposed to be a joke? You know I don't have a sense of humor Mr. Sarden."