Chapter 1: Welcome to Eden
I woke up to the sound of my mom shouting my name. I opened my eyes while it quiver because of how the amount of light hits my face directly through the window. I reached for my phone to check the time and it's only 6:30 in the morning. Normally my school is not until 8:00 so I still got time to sleep but I prefer not too as I may not wake up again. So I stood up and went to the bathroom. I looked at the mirror and saw myself. "I look like a mess." I said aloud as I reach for the comb to fix my ridiculously long emo hair. I kept on telling myself to change my hairstyle but I prefer not too because for me it's my distinct feature along with my depressed expression. After I fixed my hair I brushed my teeth then wash my face. I reached for the towel to wipe the excess water of my face, then stepped out of the bathroom. I sat on my chair and looked outside the window like a dramatic person but it has been a habit of mine to do it then think about the mysterious marks in my eyes. No one can really explain what this marks are supposed to be but the doctors say that they are not harmless whatsoever so they just stopped figuring out what even it is. They told me that it could just be a deformity so I just accept it. But the marks look very vicious thou, they look like some sort of an Aztec Symbol. It looks crazy and cool at the same time my friend thought so to as well. One time when I first moved into my current school Pinewoods High school, the teacher thought I wore contacts so they demanded me to take them off as it is against the rules to wear contacts with designs. I told the teacher that they're not contacts and he got mad at me so he sent me to the principal's office. They then called my parents, thankfully they explained it so they understood. That's a very normal occurrence to me whenever I transfer school so it's not a big deal to me anymore. After that reminiscing, I stood up then changed my clothes. I wore my usual white t-shirt, black skinny jeans, black and white sneakers, and a black hoodie. My eyes just gravitated to the colors black and white so normally my wardrobe consist of that type of color scheme. I grabbed my bag then head downstairs. I saw my mom in the kitchen preparing some food. It looks like she's cooking eggs. She then heard my footsteps heading downstairs so her head turned towards me and greeted me with a good morning. I didn't reply back like usual, talk about cold hearted right? So I head straight to the table and sat on the chair laying back while waiting for my mom to serve the eggs. As I lay back I looked around and saw my sister watching T.V. while still wearing her pajamas. Her name is Evie Parker, unlike me she's very hyper and obnoxiously loud but I got used to it. Thankfully she started toning down a bit after she had a boyfriend. Probably to hide her real attitude so that he wouldn't get turned off by her. Thanks to him I guess? I then saw my dad, Roland Parker, while he fixes his tie. He then greeted us two with a good morning but only Evie answers back. My dad then went to where my mom is, Faye Parker, then hugged her from the back and kissed her cheeks. Talk about a cliché romance occurrence. After that my dad headed to the table then sat beside me. He started a conversation saying "So how's school Connor?" "Not much, I still do great no need to ask." I replied back with no enthusiasm whatsoever. Because of that short response that I did, he stopped on talking with that dissapointed face at me as he knows that I am not much when it comes to having a conversation. He then called Evie because were about to have our breakfast so She jumped up from the couch that she's sitting then head towards the table and sat on the chair. Our mom then head towards us while holding a pan with eggs on it then distributed it to us. My mom sat on the chair after that then we started on eating. The three of them started having a conversation while I am here just eating my fried egg. They started talking to me but I just replied back with a very short response. ''Yeah, thats good." I said as I chew my food. Eventually my mom told me "Why are you not having a conversation with us more often?" "Well, I am just wasting saliva talking anyway plus every conversation we have is the same so why bother?" I told them in my very monotonic voice. "But that's not what a family is supposed to be, we're supposed to interact with each other." She said angrily while raising her voice a little. It became awkward so my dad laughed and told us "Calm down sweetie, were enjoying our meal right now no reason to be mad. We all know that Connor is a bit thick sometimes but it shouldn't really get to you. Now, just sit and continue on eating. It will get cold." My mom sat down while she pouts because she thinks that dad is always considering my behavior. "I am done" I said then then walked out with my plate. While I am washing my plate, my sister came up to me and started teasing me "Sup, antisocial brother." "Shut your mouth before I shove this sponge up in your mouth." I said sarcastically while still having that monotone voice. "You're mean, I am just trying to cheer you up because on what happened earlier. It looks like you're about to cry when mom raised her voice up." She said jokingly. "No need to cheer me up because that didn't affect me in any way whatsoever I am already used on getting scolded when it comes to me not talking to them. Plus you're the only one who cries when stupid things like that happens anyway." I said. She then punched my shoulder hard enough for me to flinch. "You should really start on talking to them more often, from mom's looks, she's very sad that you two are not having a conversation as well as dad." She said in a very worried tone while crossing her arms. "What's the deal thou? It's only talking. Plus we're always talking about the same things over and over again. Nothing new." I asked Evie while putting the plate back in the shelf. "It's because you're not telling her things you like and dislike. Mom doesn't know you at all even thou you're her son you should really open up to her more. There's no one knowing if this is the last time you can ever talk to her." "You talk as if she's going to die what the hell is wrong with you?" "I mean it as hypothetical." She said "Whatever." I replied back. I then grabbed my phone on the counter then checked on what time it is. It's already 7:00 so I grabbed my bag on the couch then told my parents and Evie that I will head to school now. "Take care son listen to the teacher okay?" said my dad "Alright, whatever." Then I closed the door. I then stepped outside then breathe deeply while I grabbed my earphones inside my bag. I then started walking towards school, it's a good 20 minute walk so I can still listen to this album fully I thought to myself. Let me tell you something thou, there's nothing that can make me smile except for music. It's like I am addicted to it, whether it be rock, pop, indie, rap I will listen to it with a smile on my face. Come to think of it, my mom doesn't even know that music can make me happy I thought to myself, then I remembered what Evie said on how mom doesn't know anything about me and I questioned myself about that. I then wondered, what if this is the last time I will be able to see my parents. That thought did not leave my head and it's giving me goosebumps. I couldn't even hear the lyrics of the music anymore as I kept on wondering. Lost in my thought, I realized that I am already in front of the school building then I snapped out. I then shook my head like I am trying to go back to reality then started walking inside. I saw the usual setting, different cliques of students with different interest gathering in one spot, students bullying other student for entertainment, and girls gossiping about parties and stuff, it's a very cliché school setting. While I walk on the hallway I heard my name being called in a very out of breath voice. I then looked back and saw my friend Jake Mason. "What's up?" I told him in my usual monotone voice. "Headed to class? Let's walk there together." He told me while he's breathing deeply. "How are you out of breath? You're a part of the school's basketball varsity right? Aren't you suppose to have a much higher stamina?" I asked sarcastically. "It's not usually like this, maybe it's because I ate a very heavy meal?" he asked me like I know. "Stop making excuses, you're just really out of shape." "Are you picking a fight huh?" he said sarcastically. "I am afraid you're going to lose thou" I replied back while grinning at him. "Let's just settle this in a streetfight then." "How immature you're really going to settle things like that?" I told him. We arrived at the classroom and took our seat. I sat on my chair the best spot in my opinion since I am beside a window. "It's unusually rowdy today, what's happening?" I wondered like I give a damn. I sigh deeply then plugged my earphones again and stroll through my library of music wondering what album or song I will play. I decided to play the album of fall out boy "infinity on high" and listened to it while reading a book. As I read the paragraphs, I stopped and a random thought went inside my head. "What if I can't hold this book?" I wondered, I chuckled for a bit thinking on how ridiculous my thoughts are but suddenly the book that I am holding with my two hands went right through them and fell on the desk. I saw the edge of the book sink in my palms like its being submerged in water. I look at the book while it thudded on the desk in a very puzzled expression. After I realized what happens, my face became flustered and I sweated profusely. My eyes widen as I try to comprehend what happened but I just couldn't until suddenly after that incident, my eyes throbbed and it felt really bad. I felt like that needles are poking my eye balls roughly and it left me screaming in pain while I cover my eyes. Random noises went inside my head, probably the sound of panicking students as well as Jake's concern for me. But because of the pain, I couldn't understand what they're saying. Not only that, my vision went blank for a moment then everything subsided, like nothing happens. I acted like I snapped out back to reality while my classmates look at me with a puzzled expression and Jake is on my right side, caressing my back probably to comfort me. "Are you okay?" he told me but I couldn't reply back from the shock. I then stood up slowly and took my bag. I exited the classroom while Jake is following me and kept telling if I was okay but I just ignored him. I then arrived at the school's washroom and looked at the mirror to see what happened to me. Nothing seems different I wondered so I opened the faucet and washed my face while I stare at the mirror. "You can go to the school's clinic if you want, I will just tell the teacher." Jake offered. "No, I am alright no need to do that, it's just that something happened and I couldn't explain it but as long as I am okay now, nothing to worry about." I told him. "If you say so then I guess I'll just have to believe you. You're a very stubborn person anyway so there's no point in trying to persuade you anyway." He replied. We went back to the classroom and saw that Mr. Cain is already having a lecture with the whole class. As I opened the door, the whole class turned their attention to me maybe to find out who entered the room. I then saw Mr. Cain, walking towards us and out of the blue, he told me to stay after class because he has something to tell and it's really important. After that he smiled at me and continued on lecturing while he made me and Jake to go back to our seats. I sat down and pulled out a notebook inside my bag. I opened it to a blank page then grabbed my pen and started listening so Mr. Cain's lecture for a while until I started remembering what happened earlier. I couldn't stop thinking about it since it got me intrigued especially the part when the book went right through my palms I just couldn't believe it. Wandering deep inside my thoughts I lately realized that the class is over and it's already lunch time. Jake and I headed to the rooftop but as we went up the stairs, a large warning said, "Do not enter" for some reason is hanging on the door's handle. Knowing Jake, he could care-less about warnings so he disregarded it and removed the warning from the handle. He opened the door and we saw an empty space. Jake got excited because no one is in there so the whole space is ours. We sat on a ledge facing directly to a setting of students walking back and forth like the ones you saw on those time lapse videos of busy streets. I crossed my legs and stare directly at the students while Jake is eating his peanut butter sandwich for lunch, like seriously how can you get full by eating that? While he's eating, he asked me about if I am interested in having a girlfriend. "Why suddenly ask that?" I asked. "I don't know, it's just that seeing you with a girl is like a dream to have." "And why's that?" "Because, every girls either distance themselves to you or not even bother to approach you. Probably because of that lifeless expression of yours they think your dead." "You're over exaggerating, besides Evie is already annoying I don't want to have another person to deal with." As he listens to my explanation there is a huge lump on his cheek probably because of the food inside his mouth then continues on chewing. He then grabbed something inside of his bag, 2 bottles of sprite which is my favorite drink. He offered me a bottle of sprite as he reach his arms in front of me. Knowing how ungrateful I am, I instantly extended my arms to reach for it but as I do that, a random thought went inside my head. "What if this bottle of sprite go right through my hand." After that thought, I remembered that that's the same type of thought that I had when the book incident happens. I instantly stopped on reaching for it and froze for a second. Jake asked me on what was wrong and told him it's nothing like usual. I then laughed it off and continued to reach for it. As I grab the bottle of sprite, Jake turned away to look something in his bag then the same incident happen. The bottle of sprite went through my hand, it did not slip I swear it's like my hand did not exist for a while and nothing was grabbing the bottle. The bottle dropped and Jake heard the thud it made enough for him to turn around to check what happens. He saw the bottle of sprite rolling towards him while I stick my arm out and look at it with a shock at the same time. Jake grabbed the rolling bottle and placed it in between us then just told me that "You dropped it", then continues on what's he's doing with his bag and he left me staring at the bottle of sprite with fear. Suddenly, we heard a large bang coming from the door where we entered that startled me. A guard wearing his traditional long sleeves, black pants, black shoes, and a hat whistled and told us to go down. We did not heard what he said so he thought we're disobeying him so he run straight to us. Putting us in shock, we left our trash and the bottle of sprite on the spot where we hang out and quickly grabbed our bag to make a run. We circled around the guard for us to get an opportunity to exit to the door. We ran down the stairs through the hallway while shoving students aside as we run. We looked at our back and saw that the guard is still chasing after us while having that exhausted look on his face. We took a turn and luckily, there is a washroom on our right side so we went inside then hid inside the stalls. We heard footsteps entered the washroom probably the guard looking for us. We then realized that the footsteps became more and more quitter so we thought that the guard left the washroom. We went out of the stall followed by a high five while we catch our breath from all that running and still having a bit of adrenaline left. After the chase, we head straight to the class for the next subject then as time goes by, school is over. Everyone is packing their things pens, books, notebooks you name it. Mr. Cain called my name as he told me that I need to stay in the room because he has something to tell me. Jake told me that he will wait for me but I told him that this might take a while so just go home first. He then agreed and exited leaving us two in the room. Mr. Cain walked in front of the door then locked it as if he's going to do something to me. I alerted myself and formed a fist if he ever do something bad to me. As he looks me straight in the eyes the following words "It awakens" are the last things I ever heard. Everything went blank and my hearing is lost. My body felt extremely light and all of a sudden I realized that something is not right.
YOU ARE READING
PROJECT: Eden
AksiIt takes place in the city of New York, for decades the exploration for a certain item is still ongoing, this item is known as the "Divine Chalice", an item rumored to be a part of Mayan's possessions and possibly one of the reasons why the entire c...