B.O.N.D.E.D.

5. Ernest: Rules

Ernest had been breaking many rules lately.

This was his first mission as a representative. He had wished for this mission to be perfect, or so close to perfect that it would give him a good enough reputation among the officials.

Well, so much for the positivity.

He texted Chenna and told her everything— mostly everything, since he didn't want to make her too worried. Her suggestion was to simply hide all the messes that went down in that escape room and lie about it if necessary.

Ernest didn't want to lie, but he couldn't help but agree that hiding the truth was probably the best option for him.

He also texted his brother about the incidents. His brother didn't respond to his text.

Now he was sitting in the driver seat of his white van. The school board thought it was best for a Bonder to bring the other beginning Bonders to school. They said it was to prevent "Outburst Incidents," in which young, inexperienced Bonders gathered together for school accidentally use their power in front of the general public. Ernest just found it quite strange that they care more about the secrecy of Trust Bonding than the actual safety of their students. After all, it was a lot safer to have full-fledged adults driving kids to school than Bonders, a primarily young population.

Ernest, unfortunately, was one of the youngest representatives on the school board. Although he was only 17, he was now responsible for safely bringing four other teenagers all the way across the county to Los Angeles.

He couldn't describe how much he wished this trip would turn out okay. Not good, not great, just okay.

One by one, his attendants came— Nestor, Owen, Darissa, followed by Blaise. One by one, he helped them stuff their luggage into the back of his van.

As he sat back in the driver's seat to start the car, he couldn't help but pray that he wouldn't mess up again.

He simply didn't want to break any more rules.

Chapter 5 End

End of First Arc: Superhero Origin Stories