THE KEY (book one)

|two|

"Erra you're gonna be late!" My mother shouts from the kitchen. I quickly pull on my boots, and run down stairs. Eli's already standing at the door, taking up the whole doorframe. Every time I convince myself that he's done growing he grows even more.
I met him when I was eight. He claimed it was an accident when he spilt milk on my books. So I agreed it was an accident when I punched him. We've been  through a few ups and downs, but have stayed friends ever since. He's my only friend actually. Helped me get my mind off my dad at times, now he helps me find his killer. I chuckle at the thought.
"Hey E."
"What's up partner." He smiles.
I hate when he says that.
"Remember we've got that field trip today."
Damn.
I slowly turn my head to look at my mom.
"Field trip? What field trip? I didn't sign any papers. "
She cocks her head to the side.
"To The Pexagon...I might have forged your signature."
I explain cracking my knuckles.
"Errana-"
"I know, I know mama it's fine! It's our government we'll be fine."
Said no one ever. I just have to reassure her so I can get out of here.
"Yea until one of those sick ba-" 
"We'll be fine mom." She presses her lips into a line, and glares at me.
"Love you." I blurt grabbing Eli's  shoulder, and forcing him out to avoid any further conversation.
I close my eyes as the strong wind hits my face. We live on the tenth floor of complex X.
"Explain to me why you picked the highest floor again. I almost passed out on my way up...again." Eli complains, and I laugh pulling my hair into ponytail.
"The higher you are the better the air... and view. Now come on stop complaining, it's easier getting down than up." I explain once again.
"Okay well hurry up before we miss the bus." He mocks.
"Race you there!" I yell, running past him to get a head start.
We both run all the way down the stairs into the streets, and into strangers.
Running pass the market I snatch an apple out of one of the crates, dropping the rest of the apples in the process. "Sorry!"
I really don't understand why they put the food out like that. It's like they want us to steal it.
I spot our school up ahead and run faster, Eli does the same.
"Let's go E!" I yell over my shoulder, bursting out into a fit of laughter at his tired expression. He doesn't miss my reaction and runs pass me but I speed up.
Smiling as the cool air brushes against my skin.
"Five four three tw-" I count down knowing principal Quin is going to stop us.
"Stop!" A deep voice shouts startlingly just  Eli. He collides into me sending us both to the ground.
"Knew it." I grunt and look up to see our aggravating principal. Tall, pale skin, enraged green eyes. I'm not very fond of him. Principal Quin glares at the both of us, and shakes his head in disbelief. As if we don't do this regularly.
"Get on the bus...now!" He demands, and waits for us to do as we're told. I bend down pick my apple up from the gravel and dust it off.
Stepping onto the bus I walk all the way to the last seat; my favorite seat.
Eli follows and sits next to me.
"I can say it was a tie." He huffs trying to catch his breath.
"You say that all the time." I roll my eyes.
"What are we going to the Pexagon for? That's all the way in Main city." I ask taking a bite out of my apple.
"Have you seen that place?" He asks me like it's a sin if I haven't.
"I-I've seen it ...from a distance...at night. It's bright as hell, just like the rest of main city." My parents were never fond of me going anywhere near that place, but I'd always like to admire the lights from afar.
The way it works is there are four outer cities. The North city inner borders starting at South Dakota and Wisconsin, and ending with Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota. It gets cold and snows early, and the people are pretty incognito. A little too quite, but I've never been over there to truly know. East city starting from Ohio and Pennsylvania, ending at Florida. It's opening borders being Tennessee and Kentucky. Never been, but I heard the spring is like no other. The outer borders are completely shut off due to the toxicity in the ocean; but with Eastern people rules don't apply.
The West city, starting at the ends of Arizona, Utah, and Idaho, and ending with the oddest mix Washington, Oregon, and California. The people are completely different depending on where you go. My mother hates Californians. There's supposed to be a beach there too, but that one is blocked off by a wall. Supposedly sixty feet tall because of tsunamis. The South is my city. The inner starting with New Mexico, Texas, and Arkansas. I live near the inner border of Texas. The heat is extreme, so we appreciate cold when it comes. Last is Main City smack down in the middle. My father liked to call it The City Of Sin. It's known for its lights and vibrant colors. The city of lost souls to never be found, to be realized, or just get lost. Perfectly placed in the very center of it all is The Pexagon.
"My mom took me inside two years back m. Everything was huge to me, pretty unforgettable." Eli explains like it's something out of a comic. I chuckle to myself. I'll have to see it with my own eyes.
The bus engine starts, and the seat belts strap us in as we fly into the air.
"Any new leads on your fathers mystery killer?" Eli asks taking my apple, and stealing a bite.
"It's that what we're calling it now?"
He stops mid chew and shrugs.
"No." I role my eyes, snatching my apple back. "I dreamt about it last night. There's a symbol the man had tatted on his arm." I frown as I try to remember the details of my nightmare. "Face?" He questions looking out of the window.
"I don't remember but his voice is stuck with me though. That's something I won't forget. The rest is just one big blur." I end in a whisper. "Tonight sketch out the symbol and send it to me I'll tell you what I find." Eli  offers nudging my shoulder with a comforting smile. I try to contain my mine, but it doesn't work. It never does.
"No need to wait I have a sketch." I announce looking through my com. Finding the meaning behind this symbol can change everything. I pull up the picture on my com, and send it over to him.
"Whatever you do just keep it between us." I beg him pouting a little. If my mother finds out I'm still looking for my fathers killer it would drive her mad.
"Yea I wouldn't want Francis finding it on your tab." He says with a smirk. I scowl at him and shake my head. I hate when he calls my mother by her first name.
"Eli I told you to stop calling my mom by her name." I explain for the hundredth time, he doesn't seem to care though. He never does. "Yea and I ignored you." He chuckles.
"Everyone! We are here, stay in your seats until we land please." Our teacher Mr.Mas instructs then begins to do a head count.
"Jesus." I huff looking out the window. This place is more gigantic then I thought it would be. The Pexagon stands like a giant over the rest of the buildings. Has to be more than a thousand feet tall. Its oddly shaped wide yet long, made out of one way mirrors reflecting the city. The best part is at night it glows reflecting all the colors of the city. The bus slowly lands on the ground in front of the tower.
Eli is speechless leaning over me to get a better look. "E let's go." I say taping on his back, and we walk out the bus behind the rest of our class.
"Come on class this way." Our teacher calls and we continue walking. We both stop in our tracks when Mr. Mac stands in front of us. What is with these teachers today?
He takes in a deep breath closing his eyes in the process. I'm tempted to keep walking but I know it won't make things any better.
"Yes?" I question trying to keep my attitude at bay. "Don't try anything here." He demands looking right at me.
"Stay with the group, don't make me regret taking you here."
"You won't." I reply forcing a smile then walk right pass him.  "He's always on my case." I say once Eli catches up with me.
"Well I mean you always give him a case to be on." Eli snaps back and I stop.
"Shut up." Once we catch up with the group we're greeted by what seems to be one of the workers. She's wearing a white pencil skirt, with a black button down, white blazer and black heals. Her hair is dirty blonde, and slicked back into a bun. Bleak looking if you ask me. If it's one thing about main city, the people here have a very unique choice of clothing the one thing I admire about it. I supposed that doesn't apply to The Pexagon.
"Who picked out here outfit my gosh." I scoff  and Eli nudges me. "Welcome to The Pexagon. My name is Liz and I will be your tour guide for today showing you guys around The Pexagon." She taps a few things on her tab then turns on her heel.
"Just follow me." She announces and we do so. "The Pexagon has been standing two hundred years now. Every eight years there is a reelection for our new leader." She mentions as we make our way inside. It doesn't even make sense to have new elections anyway. The same people get chosen every eight years from the Claw family. It's like a tradition now.
I drown her voice out as I take in my surroundings. From the black marbled floors, to the white stainless walls, and an amazing three sixty view of the city when you look up.
"Keep up Paxon!" Eli yells and I notice the group is way ahead. I jog up meeting them at the hall of our founders and past leaders.
"Leading up to our leader now Edith Claw." The tour guide informs.
"They're all Claws." Eli mentions admiring all of the paintings of the family dynasty.
I take a look at the large painting on the wall. Edith Claw; there's something off about her with her ice blonde hair, grey deep eyes and smug look. "You don't seemed too pleased to be here." Eli speaks up and I scoff.  "I'm not, I wanna look at this place on my own terms not listen to this... tour lady." He laughs and shrugs his shoulders. He's always wanted to work here, to be one of them.
"Tour lady huh? Just one day Erra follow the rules." He chuckles and I glare at him. He acts like he's any better, if anything he's worse than me. "You're one to talk." I huff and we share a laugh making our way into the elevator with the last group.
     XXX
"My god how many more rooms can we go through?" We've been here for hours just walking and listening to the most boring things I've heard about all week.
"Where are we going now?" I ask looking down out of the glass elevator.
"Science lab, where we do most of our testing on new medication." Our tour guide answers. "Can't wait." I say sarcastically.
When the elevator opens I wait for everyone to walk out then make my way out with Eli by my side.
We walk into a blinding white room. Expensive machines are built in on every side taking up most of the space. Some scientists walk past us with their white suits and blue gloves.
"If you want to touch the materials you must wear these." The tour guide informs us passing out the thick blue gloves. I take a pair, walk to the left side of the room and look into the microscope just to act like I'm interested. Not even a moment later distant screaming fill my ears. I raise my head to see if anyone else can hear what i hear but everyone seem preoccupied.
"What the hell." I mumble and try to listen for it. The screaming gets slightly louder. Am I the only one hearing this?
I laugh at the fact that I might be crazy.
Am I crazy? I pull away and start to feel the wall to see if there's an opening. Definitely crazy. "Errana Paxton is everything alright?" I jump out of my skin and turn to see the tour guide.
"I- yea.. I'm fine thought I heard someone screaming just now." She pauses and frowns. I curse myself realizing how insane I sound. She doesn't take her eyes off of me gives a reassuring smile.
"Your class is this way come on." There's slight shift in her voice but I don't question it. I walk past her keeping eye contact and throw my gloves out in the bin.