Core: The First Step

Chapter 2: My Roommate Is A Guy With A Scary Baseball Bat ( Ethan )

( Ethan )

Please, for my sake, don't reveal her and yourself.

Please protect my daughter.

Those words echoed my head as I walked towards Sam. Sam waved at me as he called out from a distance, " So, how was it, Ethan?" " Um, good. I'm a...," I hesitated. I remembered Hera's warning. " Don't trust anyone but your family, me and Tia."

" Level 2. A lizard of some sort," I lied. " Really? A Level 2? Damn, you're a Level higher than mine," Sam exclaimed. " Wait, you're a Level 1?" I questioned him. He puffed his chest in pride. He cheered, " Yep! My Core is called ' The Bird of Truth.' A neat name, huh?" Honestly, I'm amazed. With Sam's personality as an honest and kind person, why is he a Level 1? Or is he hiding his true Core like me? " The Bird of Truth? Sounds like you can use telepathy," I mused. Sam laughed, " Nah, I can't. It's actually enhance vision. You know, able to see things from a distance or see through walls. It's actually cool. Now, I can watch a movie from outside the cinema and simply enjoy it!" " But, you don't have enhance hearing, right?" I chortled. Sam smacked his forehead, realising the flaw of his idea. " Crap! You're right! How can I enjoy the movie without hearing it? Damn it, I was hoping I can make people think I'm a crazy lunatic who needs to go to asylum," he chuckled. We both had a good laugh. It's hard to imagine not to trust him.

" By the way," Sam managed to stop laughing, although still grinning, " a lizard of some sort?" I scratched my head. What must I tell him? Even if he's not a bad guy or whatsoever, I don't think it's right to put my best friend in danger, or my only friend as a matter of fact. " Um, the test wasn't exactly clear. All we know is that my Core is a lizard and it's a Level 2. Unfortunately, this lizard had to be annoying," I sighed.

"I'M NOT A LIZARD, RETARD!"

I jumped out when I heard the voice. Sam stopped his tracks as he stared at me. " You're okay, Ethan?" " Hang on," I told Sam. Telepathically ( or so to said thought to it ), I said, " Is that you?"

" Of course it's me, dimwit. Your Core. I told you I'll speak to you telepathically." Yep, it's that Dragon. Well, I'm having such a wonderful life ( not ). " What's wrong?" Sam  wondered. " Nah, this lizard is able to speak to me through thoughts," I said. It's not really a lie, especially the lizard part. " Don't call me a lizard, damn it!" the Dragon growled. " Well, it's either that, or we're going to be hunted down. You know what situation we got ourselves into, right?" I thought back to the Dragon. The Dragon sighed, " I know, something about you having me is rare, and Level 4s and 5s. But it feels insulting for you to call me a lizard," the Dragon complained. " I panicked, okay? I have to follow what Hera says," I cried out to him, through my mind.

" Man, for you to have your Core speaking to you like that already, that's cool. My examiner said that it'll take two or three days for your Core to start speaking to you," he informed me. " Yeah, really cool, except this Core of mine is goddamn irritating," I implied. " I heard that, Ethan," the Dragon scolded me. " How irritating?" Sam asked. " Trust me, you don't want to know," I sighed.

Sam and I continued walking to the train to go to Zone 3 along with everyone else. Before we entered the train, I saw her. Tia was walking into the train along with the same girl with punk rock hair. Please, protect my daughter. Again, Hera's plea echoed my head. Protect Tia? How am I supposed to do that? And protect her from what? The governments or generally everything that tries to harm her?

" You're thinking about her, right?" the Dragon talked to me. " Isn't it obvious?" I thought to it. " I can tell reading your thoughts about her," he informed me. " Great, what else? You're going to dig for my deepest darkest secret?" I frowned as Sam and I entered the train. " I promised I won't. I swear on my life, and yours," the Dragon vowed. " Really? I don't trust you," I doubted it. " Well, you gonna have to, Ethan. You don't have much choice," it said. I sighed. " I hate you," I growled at it.