The Dark Day

Chapter One: Tyler

Tyler stood in the middle of a winter wonderland. Piles of white snow covered the ground, snowflakes fell from the cloudy sky, trees were hunched over from the weight of snow on their barren branches, and children were running and throwing snowballs.

He shuddered from the bitterly cold gust of wind. His hands were shaking, and his fingertips were numb because he was dressed for summer, not winter. In his khaki shorts and a T-shirt, he would freeze to death if he was outside much longer.

After studying his snowy surroundings, Tyler realized that he didn't recognize anyone around him, and he didn't remember what he'd been doing. He was lost.

Who am I? He concentrated and dimly recalled his name. Tyler Worth. Unlike everything else, his name was familiar, comforting even to him, but that was all he knew.

Where am I? He was unable to answer his second question. The only piece of information in his head was his name. I'm Tyler Worth, but why can't I remember anything else?

Tyler scanned his unfamiliar surroundings and guessed that he was in a park. He had to be in a large city because skyscrapers encircled the park.

He took a few steps forward through the snow, trying to determine his exact location. Panic was beginning to flood his senses when someone yelled, "Bombs away!"

Out of nowhere, a snowball nailed Tyler in the face, showering him in snow.

"What the hell?" Tyler exclaimed, alarmed. He brushed snow off of his face and shirt.

A boy who looked to be about fifteen years old jumped out from behind a snow pile. He was grinning broadly. "I gave you a warning, buddy," he said. He had brown, Latino skin, thick black hair, and a narrow shaped face. His gray eyes were brimming with excitement and energy.

"Why did you do that?" Tyler asked. He didn't recognize the boy, but the boy definitely knew him.

The boy had a puzzled look on his face. "Dude, calm down. You were hit with a snowball, not a brick. That was a joke, Tyler. You were supposed to laugh." He wasn't wearing a jacket, hat, or gloves to protect himself from the cold, but he didn't seem to be affected by it.

"Who are you?"

"You're acting strange. Are you alright, buddy?"

Tyler couldn't recall a single thing, not even one teensy tiny detail from his past. This isn't right. This person isn't lost like me. "No, I really don't know who you are."

The boy tucked his hands in his pockets. He seemed immune from the cold while Tyler was shivering. "Of course you do. Is this supposed to be a joke?"

Before Tyler could respond, a snowball soared through the air and struck the boy in the back of his neck.

"That's cold!" the boy yelped.

Tyler spotted a girl the same age as the boy coming in their direction.

"Take that, Luke!" the girl exclaimed victoriously. "You're too easy of a target."

Luke was still grinning even though snow was in his hair and down his shirt. "Nice shot, Hazel. But I hit Tyler right in the face. He didn't see it coming."

Hazel was the only person properly dressed for the weather. She had on a black jacket and a dark blue hat. Her nose and cheeks were bright red, and her dark brown hair that rested just above her shoulders had tiny flakes of snow in it, and her murky green eyes met Tyler's. She seemed to recognize him just like Luke.