The beginning
“No Courage!”
I say while laughing like a maniac. “Stop” I try again but of course he doesn’t stop licking me. I was trying to relax, just me and a good book. When all of a sudden Courage, my tiny fluffy dog came running at me and started licking me. Still laughing I hear mom in the hallway “is everything alright?” She sounds concerned, like always. At least sense we found out I was a ‘unknown’. Unknowns are people with abilities. Not everyone is a Unknown though. They estimate about 1 in every 100 people are. Moms been worrying about me because if they wanted to they could take me away, to experiment on me. ‘They’ are the NITS (National Incorporation of Technology and Science). If they really wanted to they could take me and experiment on me, whenever they chose. Some people have telekinesis, some can read minds, and there are so many more. I myself can see the future. Not long from now just 5-15 minutes.
“No Courage!”
I say while laughing like a maniac. “Stop” I try again but of course he doesn’t stop licking me. I was trying to relax, just me and a good book. When all of a sudden Courage, my tiny fluffy dog came running at me and started licking me. Still laughing I hear mom in the hallway “is everything alright?” She sounds concerned, like always. At least since we found out I was an ‘unknown’. Unknowns are people with abilities. Not everyone is an Unknown though. They estimate about 1 in every 100 people are. Moms have been worrying about me because if they wanted to they could take me away, to experiment on me. ‘They’ are the NITS (National Incorporation of Technology and Science). If they wanted to they could take me and experiment on me, whenever they chose. Some people have telekinesis, some can read minds, and there are so many more. I can see the future. Not long from now just 5-15 minutes.
“Yes mom, Its just Courage,” I say still laughing a little. Then mom shows up at my door. I forgot how much she and I look alike, fair skin, dark brown hair, the only difference is that I have green eyes instead of brown. “Okay honey, dinner will be ready soon, take courage for a walk before dinner okay?” She says. “Okay mom” I respond. I put down my book, so much for relaxing. I get up and get ready to take Courage for a walk. Its mid-fall and the leaves are all different colors, red, orange, yellows. We live in sunset California. Me, mom, dad, and Courage. I go to SHS, and I wouldn’t survive there if I didn’t have my two best friends. Jade and Liz. We’re walking through the neighborhood and Courage sees a rabbit and tries to chase after it, but I won’t let him go I learned my lesson last time. He ran away from me and didn’t come back until a week later. I’m heading home I walk into the house and her mom and dad fighting. Again. I quietly head up to my room. To hide till their done talking.
“I’m sorry I’m not home all the time. At least I have a job” says, dad
“Well, I’m sorry that I take care of and give love to our daughter. Take care of the house and every problem that happens” mom shoots back.
“Do you realize that I’m the only reason why we even have this house”
I don’t hear what mom’s comeback is and stop listening. When I was 12 I realized how much mom and dad fight. Mom says it’s normal for couples to fight. I don’t think it’s normal to fight this much though. A couple of minutes later mom passes my room. “I didn’t realize you were home, how long?” Mom asks. “About a half-hour”. She looks surprised, worried, and sad all at the same time. “Okay honey, why don’t you go downstairs for dinner I’ll be there pretty soon okay? Then we’ll eat”
I head downstairs to the dinner table. I turn expecting to see dad there but no. I look out the window and there’s dad in his car pulling away I shouldn’t be so used to this happening but I am. It’s not the first time dads left after a fight. When mom finally gets downstairs she passes out the food and saves a plate for dad. Whenever this happens there’s an unspoken agreement not to talk about the fact that dads not here. So we talk about school, her day, my day, anything but the situation.
“So how was your day sweetheart?”
“Fine, you?”
“Oh, I had a wonderful day, what did you do in school?”
“Same as every day,” I say
“Is there anything different going on? Anything fun?”
“No nothing besides track”
Yep, I’m on track. I do it because of two reasons, Jade bagged me and so mom didn’t have to deal with me all the time. “So sweetie, what do you want for your birthday?” My mom asks. Oh yeah, my birthday. I’ll be sixteen on November 10th. I don’t want anything... well that’s not true. I’d like my parents to stop fighting but that doesn’t seem like its gonna happen anytime soon. What I want to say is ‘well let’s see I would like you and dad to stop fighting, that would be the best gift!’ But instead, I say “nothing really” she raises an eyebrow at me.
“Really? Nothing at all?”
I nod my head yes
“well if you think of anything tell me, okay?”
We finish eating and I go back up to my room and let Courage in. I look out the window and see dad pulling in. I go to my desk and think. Think about how I’ll be sixteen in then two days. I think about my abilities and how they’ll probably change my life forever. At 1:30 am I get a text from Liz.
Liz: sorry if I wake u up but I need 2 talk 2 u as soon as possible.
Me: how about 9:00 I need a little sleep before
Liz: ok see u.
Whatever it is it must be serious. Liz hates texting unless it’s an emergency. At about 2 am I fall asleep.
I dream
I’m on the road to Liz’s house. I’m about to knock on the door when someone grabs me, puts a pillowcase on my head, and drags me to what I assume is a car.
