Rise of Theo

Chapter 2 : A Flat Tyre

I headed out to the front yard and unlocked my cycle from the fence.

'Alright. We're good to go.', I said to Espin as I flashed a fake smile at her.

'Took you long enough.', she replied slyly.

She seemed to read the bad expression on my face.

'What's wrong?', she asked me.

'Uhm, just a stupid dream I had.' , I said glumly.

'Did you dream you were going to the doctor for a vaccination again?', she joked.

'Ha-ha, very funny.'

She was one of the people who knew about my phobia of needles.

We waited outside Freddie's house for a while but no one seemed to be home.

'Where'd you think he went?', she asked me.

'I dunno. Probably still on vacation somewhere.', I teased.

'When do you think he'll come back?', she asked again.

'How am I supposed to know?', I lashed at her.

She seemed to understand I wasn't in a mood for chatting.

The ride to school was still and quiet.

It gave me some time to think.

Usually, when I have dreams, I forget them within the minute I wake up. I mean, everyone does. But why was this one, in particular, staying in my mind?

Were those people really my parents? Were they scientists? They did wear lab coats.

What did they mean by tests? Did this really happen or was it just one of my meaningless dreams?

I kept thinking about these questions that I didn't notice the huge bush of thorns my cycle had hit.

Great. A flat tyre. What better way than to go late to school on my first day.

'You go on ahead, I'll catch up.', I voiced to Espin.

'Not again Theo. You have the highest names in the late comers list and Mrs.Boron would love to punish you for coming late againafter what you did to her last year.', she complained.

'First of all, Freddie and I have been late an equal number of times and Second, I didn't know she was going to come through that door. I expected Molly to.', I defended myself.

'Fine. Come soon, okay?', she said as she sped up in her custom built 'Brenelle' cycle.

'I guess I have to walk for a mile and a half now. Great', I moaned.

I was just about to walk with the cycle when I heard some shaking in the bushes on the other side of the pavement.

I looked closely. I saw a red light inside.

Somewhat like a laser pointer.

And it was aimed directly at me.

My body started trembling.

I couldn't move.

I felt like I didn't have control over my own body.

I was just about to pass out when I heard a beat from a pop song far far away.

It was from a 90's convertable.

A group of teenagers were riding it and they passed me.

I could move again.  Its like the sound distracted whoor what-ever in the bushes.

I grabbed the handle of my cycle and started pedalling. I didn't care about the flat tyre.

I just didn't want to stay in that place any longer.

As I went further away from that place, the pounding in my heart seemed to go back to normal.

As I neared the school metre by metre, I could see a figure with a large chunky body folding its hands.

'Aah, Theodor. Late again as usual. Don't worry about the list. I've written your name already.', sneered Mrs.Boron.

'Sorry Mrs.B, my cycle had a flat tyre.', I said slowly.

But before I could say another word she lept close to me and screamt, 'Detention. 4 P.M. And it's PrincipalBoronTo you.'

Awesome. Detention on the first day.

I let out a long sigh.

I took the first step into the school and I could feel something different.

Did they add Air conditioning?

No, that wasn't it.

I felt something from inside.

Inside my stomach. I felt sick.

I could feel the blood boiling within me.

...And it stopped.

'Woah, what was that?', I asked myself.

I had a feeling I was going to find out pretty soon.