The Limit [Book 1]

Chapter 1

Gray... the world is gray.

I scratched mindlessly at the dull metal desk I sat at, subconsciously committing the functions drawn on the board to memory. The teacher continued her lecture on tangent lines, desperately trying to prepare the class for the test that would be held this upcoming Thursday. As her voice slowly melted into a form of indistinct vowels, I flickered my eyes out of the classroom window, my mind's eyes drawn to the only colored object that I could see.

The hummingbird chirped quietly as it gazed upon my still form, twitching its head sideways as I filed through a list of baseless facts about the creature. Its flight speed, the main source of food, basic body parts. All as equally irrelevant as they are useless. The bell echoed overhead as the class rose at once from their seats.

Startled by the sudden movement, the hummingbird zipped out of the open window, leaving me staring at its now empty spot on the sill. I rose as well, one hand reaching for my backpack and the other for the laptop on the desk.

"Remember to study, students. There are only two days left and this test will most definitely decide your future."

I tucked the laptop into the smaller flap of my backpack, ignoring the shift of movement beside me.

"Hey, Vera, what's up?"

"Is there something you need, Logan?" I zipped shut the flap and swung the backpack over my shoulders as I turned to face the boy.

"Look, I know you don't do these kinds of things, but I need your help."

"I refuse." I shoved my way past the blonde, pushing in my desk chair as I went. He halted me with a strong grip on my arm.

"Please just hear me out, Vera. The test is in two days and I haven't been studying. Just tutor me for a while, we both know you don't need the extra time to prepare."

I ripped my arm out of his grip, adjusting my footing before glancing at him out of the corner of my eyes.

"You brought this upon yourself, Logan. Don't expect me to clean up your mess every single time, you have to learn to handle the consequences." I passed him with one last condescending look before heading out the door. I whispered low under my breath, "I don't want the blood of your death in my hands nor the burden on my shoulders."

-

Slipping the key silently into the door, I pushed it open and stepped into the house. It was nearly dark now and Saf should be asleep. I dropped my bag onto the couch and trudged into the kitchen, relieved to find the empty bowl of curry in the sink, wiped clean of its contents. I picked up a piece of bread on the kitchen counter and made my way upstairs.

The instant I brushed Saf's door with my fingers, his small snores could be heard through the crack. But Saf never snores. Sighing inwardly, I slipped into his room and sat at the edge of his bed, turning on the lamp that felt warm to the touch.

"Saf, I know you're not asleep."

After a moment, he sat up and turned to hug me around the waist. I adjusted my weight and brought him closer, his trembling form finally calming down.

"I'm scared, sis." He admitted, his voice muffled slightly from the clothing. I released my hold and gazed gently into his eyes, the deepest brown I've ever seen and filled with so much intelligence. Much like my own and much like our mother's.

"I know, but you're going to do great. It's only your first test."

"But you don't know that! You don't know!" He blinked and squeezed out three fat tears. "What if I fail the test and disappear like Sara?" I suppressed a shudder at the name. "Then I won't ever get to see you again and I don't want that!"