Book One: (The Rat) "One Hot July"

Prologue

The Death of Mahanna Chappell

[Azusa Meyer - East High School - July 23rd, 2327]

Mahanna isin't in class.

I brace my knees on the desk, rocking back. They sky outside is bright blue, a cool breeze blowing through the open window, and clouds float by in their own lazy way.

She's missing her favorite class. She loves History.

My knees slid off and the chair clacks loudly. I stand, making my way to the window. The teacher says nothing. Im too good of a student for him to complain. He clears his throat then continues to talk.

I listen to the music from the classroom above, I already know who's playing. He plays a solo of "Wind" by Akeboshi on the piano every other day. The schools star piano player; Craven Vaughn.

"Cultivate your hunger, before you idealize

Motivate your anger, to make them all realize

Climbing the moutain, never coming down

Break into the contents, never falling down..."

The wind blows my hair back and the world slows to a snails pace.

Mahanna smiles as me falling through the air, her hair flapping in her face.

"MAHANNA!" I scream her name and lunge for her but someone grabs me. I kick at them, her shirt tracing the very tips of my fingers.

She falls past and as I hang half-way out the window the world goes silent then too loud. She slams into the roof of a school bus.

I start to scream.