Dawn of Dreams

Chapter 2

They rounded the last turn on the trail. Sapphire Pool appeared, gleaming with blue ice and breathtakingly beautiful. The overhanging glacier, feeding the waters lurking beneath, glittered in the sunlight and bounced gleeful rays of sunshine over them in welcome.

The six of them jockeyed for better positions on flatter rocks and places with less snow to rest their weary bones as they spread out along the pool's edge. Then they opened their packs and shared food whilst chattering about their upcoming summer vacation plans.

Jaden leaned against a boulder as he listened. He had scarcely relaxed when he felt it: an evil presence, skulking on the periphery. His danger level spiked to DEFCON ONE, and he jerked upright. A claustrophobic cloak of imminent doom descended, suffocating him, a weighty warning of something terrible to come. Jaden sat, poised for flight, every muscle tense. But nothing happened. Sheesh, I have to get over this ridiculous obsession.

Leaning back again, he sipped his energy drink. He forced himself to concentrate on the group's conversation. But his mind wandered.

Their group had been together since entering Life Training, a much-needed revision of the old education system. Under that antiquated approach, every kid had to suffer through every subject, regardless of interest or ability. In Life Training, the system zeroed in on each child's natural talents, gauging their abilities from a young age and then placing them into the ideal life stream. It was a sweet system; you loved everything you learned.

Regrettably, the old system's cliques persisted in the learning centers (or LCs), circumventing a total educational evolution. Social groups still revolved around the sports stars, the academics, the cheerleaders, and the "popular" kids, with the majority still not fitting into a set niche. And the groups still sparred with one another.

But even these tensions hadn't torn their friendships apart. Instead, their little group had banded together, stepping out of their naturally assigned cliques and supporting one another against the inevitable ragging that went on, forging unbreakable bonds between them.

Jaden's mind registered the conversation, now a lively debate about whether the LC's cafeteria food would improve after several students had done a nutritional analysis and proven that they were eating cardboard. The educational system may have changed, but some things never would.

"Well, it's good-tasting cardboard," Stovan said, in a misguided attempt at placating Shianna.

"Yeah,—and doing nothing for you or your body. In fact, all those things that make it so tasty are what make it worse for you!"

"Do you think they'll ever change the food they dish out?" Jaden interrupted, getting an accusing glare from Shianna.

She tossed her head. "Haven't you been listening at all?"

"Nope, sorry, tuned out to take in the view." Jaden grinned.

Shianna's tirade stalled as she took a few seconds to process his tone. Then she reached over and slapped his arm. Tension easing, everyone chuckled.

"I guess we should admire the view and forget about the cardboard," Stovan said, and the conversation veered towards lattes versus frappuccinos when Bree produced a flask of coffee.

Who would have thought there were so many things to say about coffee? Jaden's eyes closed again as his friends' voices buzzed like merry bees.

The pain slammed into him. Sharp and insistent, it pierced his closed eyelids. He bolted up, eyes flying open. Blinded by the hot light searing his retinas, he almost toppled from the rock he had been so precariously balanced upon. Jaden averted his eyes, but the pain squeezed him tighter, driving him to face it.