Broken Genes

Chapter Ten

 I woke early the next morning, to the horrific squeak of my alarm clock. I don’t remember it being so high pitched, and I groan and cover my ears in protection. I slap the clock until I hit the button to shut it off and pick up my phone to check the time. Seven A.M. I only then realize that I had my alarm set, to wake me for school. I let out a sigh and decide, within a second, that there is no way I am going in after yesterday. That’s when the memories of what had actually happened yesterday flood back and I have to physically stop myself from shaking.

I sit up in my bed and see that I am still in my clothes from yesterday. I let out yet another sigh and stretch my arms behind my head and my legs out in front of me. A sharp pain ripples from head to toe and all of my breath escapes in a gasp.  I realize I will have to phone into the school to tell them I’m not going in – and I will have to pose as my dad. I sigh again and pick my phone up once more and ring the schools number.

“Hello, this is Spring Valley High school, how can I help.” The smiley woman who sits at the front desk in reception – who I believe to be called Ms Parker – says.

“Hello,” I reply putting on a deep voice, “I’m calling to inform you that my son, Sebastian, will not be coming in today.”

“Okay then. We weren’t expecting him anyway, but thanks for the call. Best wishes.” she says and hangs up. I let out a sigh. Posing as my dad is oddly depressing, and although I use fake ID’s, this feels much worse.

I’m about to put down my phone when a text comes through, it’s Jase: You have some serious explaining to do.

 I read it over a few times, debating whether I could even explain it to myself. After a while I give up and turn my phone off. I head to the shower and clean myself. Once I’m done I pick out some old clothes and crawl back over to my bed. I settle myself under the covers, deciding that a little bit more sleep never hurt.

My eyes snap open. I’m in a small white room, with walls that are so bright, they hurt my eyes to look at. I squint at my surroundings, how did I even get here? I look around for a door but don’t see one anywhere. I start to panic. Just when I’m about to start pounding on the walls, a voice speaks, the raspy voice, and I found myself slightly calmed.

“Sebastian, what I say, you must listen to. You must do it for your own safety and the safety of the others. What happened will be explained, but not yet. You aren’t ready and things like this can’t be rushed. You must try to act normal, to act as though nothing happened. I know what you think what you saw was impossible, but it happened. Although it seems unlikely, what you can do is what others consider impossible. You have power beyond what you know. But, I ask of you only small things, lie low, tell no one and stay hidden. This is for your protection. Be prepared.” I am momentarily stunned, then the world goes black.

I am back in my bed, and I never thought I would be so happy to be back on this manky old thing. I am shaking and barely breathing and I can’t get out of my head the vision. Did that just confirm what I think happened yesterday? Although, it’s still early, with adrenaline pulsing through my veins, I sprit towards the kitchen. I run in and lean against the table for support as I stumble. The room spins dizzily but I push away my light headedness, and grab the fruit bowl.

I put it on the table and sit myself down onto one of the little chairs. It takes a while for me to build up the courage, but at last I lift my dark eyes and focus on the small apple the sits on the top of the mound of fruit. I focus hard, harder than I ever had in any class, but nothing happens.

Of course it wouldn’t! I think to myself, what am I thinking? I can’t make anything float, let alone an apple! I find myself getting angry at my idiocy and stare angrily at the fruit bowl, and it starts to float. I am stunned for a second, but as I lose my concentration the bowl drops towards the table, so I force myself to focus. I think for a minute, not letting my astonished eyes leave the fruit bowl for a second, and decide to use an upward sweeping gesture with my hand to try and control the fruit bowl. At first nothing happens, but as I force the power into the rest of my body, the bowl shoots up to the celling and makes a large dent in the old plaster. The bowl drops to the floor – fruit going everywhere - as I lift my arms to protect my head from the shower of plaster raining down from my old celling.