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Prologue
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[Start Chat Server 15027539]
Ranger101: Hey people, is Johnny online?
XxTideTurnerxX: No idea.
JohnnyBoy1673: Right here.
Ranger101: Oh, hey. So what’s up you guys?
JohnnyBoy1673: Nothing much, just taking a break from my homework.
XxTideTurnerxX: Ha, I have no homework. Finished it all in 6th hour Gym.
Ranger101: Lucky. So anyways, you guys up for a game of Dungeon Stalker?
XxTideTurnerxX: Yeah, you guys wanna take on this one Level 207 Boss?
JohnnyBoy1673: Can't wait, see you guys there. Also, try not to be noobs.
[JonnyBoy1673 has left the server]
XxTideTurnerxX: Bye.
[XxTideTurnerxX has left the server]
[Whisper119 has entered the server]
Ranger101: Hey Whisper119. You need to talk to me? If not, I've got to go.
Whisper119: Oh, no, I really need to Joshua.
Ranger101: Wait, do I know you from somewhere?
Whisper119: No, not yet. I'm looking forward to meeting you Joshua.
Ranger101: How do you know me?
[Whisper119 has left the server]
[Chat Server 15027539 has been shut down]
"See ya, whisper," I said as I shut down the Chat Server. "Creep." I started to log into Dungeon Stalker but I heard some sort of noise, almost like static. Ignoring it, I typed in my account information. Suddenly, the static jumped up to an ear piercing screech. The world started to grow dark. I fell over into unconsciousness.
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Chapter 1: "This is your home now..."
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I awoke with a start in a strange room. Head still a little foggy, I sat up and looked around the room. I heard a creaking sound, like someone slowly opening a door. I turned and saw a figure silhouetted against the light pouring in through the open window. He raised his hand and something glinted in the light. Expecting the worst, I prepared myself for a fight. I lunged at the figure, and a flick of the wrist later, I was knocked back, pain shooting through my right arm. The figure stepped forward and retrieved the object he threw, a paperclip.
"Sorry," he said as he stepped from the light, "I thought you were someone else. I just heard a noise in here and grabbed the first thing I could." He looked about sixteen and was six foot tall with a strong build. He had jet black hair and seemed to be of a Spanish background. He was wearing a generic yellow t-shirt and faded worn jeans. "I'm Tyler. I got here about thirty minutes ago. Where ever here is..."
"It's ok," I replied as got to my feet, rubbing my sore shoulder "So we are both new here. You've been here a bit longer do you know anything about this place?"
"Well, I think it is some form of a school. When I first got here, I noticed a lot of people in uniforms walking in between the different buildings, some carrying textbooks."
"Wait," I interrupted, "This there is more than one building here? Also, how did you get here? To this place I mean."
"Which answer do you want first?"
"Either one, doesn't matter."
"Okay, to the first one, I saw about five or six different buildings around here. Some look like old gothic buildings, others look a bit more modern. To the second, I was laying on my bed listening to music while chatting with friends on my laptop after dinner when I heard something like static. I guess I blacked out, 'cause when I finally woke, I was here, sitting in that sofa by the window, with a splitting headache. How'd you get here?"
"I was also chatting with friends online after I finished my homework. We were just going to go tackle this insane dungeon on Dungeon Stalker when someone named Whisper something joined the chat server; they said something about how I would soon know them or meet them or something. It was kinda creepy so I shut down the server. Then, like you, I heard the same ear piercing static and then I was here."
[Whisper 119] Orientation begins in 30 minutes.
I ducked and quickly looked around the room searching for the source of the voice. Tyler just stood, arms crossed, laughing.
"Don't worry about that," said Tyler, "I heard that voice earlier. It is the school's warning bell or something. It tells you how long you have to get to class and stuff like that."
"Well we aren't going to learn anything waiting around here. I want to head to orientation and see what else we can find about this place..."
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1 Hour Later...
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"Do you seriously believe that our parents know we are here at this, Tower Prep? I mean, seriously, all that garbage about our parents willing sending us here is just as unbelievable as that we all have some sort of abilities." I said, as I walked across the grounds next to Tyler. "Oh, by the way, we are you from?"
"Me? Well, I'm from California. I used to live in a small town called Deep Valley. But, yah, I do kind of think that my parents would send me here." Tyler looked down "They always wanted a challenge for me. From what I’ve heard of this place, it seems challenging enough. So, what now?"
"Well when we were dismissed from orientation, they said that the school day is over and dinner isn't until another three hours, how about we go check out that gym they were talking about."
We walked toward the gym in silence. Drawing nearer to it, we started to here cheering and screaming. We headed through the front doors and found ourselves in a massive sports arena. Fans were everywhere, cheering and shouting, watching some game being played. It was a strange mix of hockey and la cross. Players on two, no three different teams were skating back and forth slamming into each other, hitting something. We found two empty seats and decided to watch the game.
A twenty minute break was scheduled in between each quarter. After the third quarter, this break came with relief. Tyler and I decided to try to get up to the announcer box to ask some questions and see if we could figure out what was going on. After dodging fifteen odd fans, we made it to the announcer box with seven minutes left in the break. We approached the glass door and knocked. A girl walked up and opened the door.
"Yes, what do you want?" She asked.
"Oh, well I and my friend, Tyler, wanted to ask what this game is.” She stared at us like we were idiots. “We're new here." I added quickly. Her face instantly changed from disbelief to a knowing look.
"Ha, you guys really are noobs if you don't know a great game of Buffer when you see it. Come on inside and I'll explain the game. This booth is sound-proof so we don't get the fan's voices picked up in the mikes.
She led us over to a small sound board with a two microphones and a lot of flashing colorful buttons that I didn't understand. I then got a good look at her. She appeared to be about my age, sixteen, and the same height. She had short, brown hair and blue eyes, which shined when she spoke. She was also wearing the same uniform that everyone else here, (except me and Tyler) was wearing (that being, a red jacket or sweater, with the school’s symbol emblazoned on it and gray or khaki pants or skirts). She explained the rules to us, occasionally stopping to say something over the speaker system.
"... So that is pretty much the basics of Buffer. I'm Emma by the way. I’ve been here for two years. I know that you guys are probably a bit overwhelmed right now, trying to understand and process everything. Got any questions or just want to talk, you can find me outside the stadium at this little park area just to the left of it. It's quiet there, so I can focus on studying, or drawing. You also might want to check around your room for your uniforms and class ‘textbooks’,” she tapped a small laptop on the soundboard next to her. “Classes start first thing after breakfast, which is at 7:00. Whisper should keep you informed about class change and such." She then picked up her phone and checked messages. "Oh! I got to go! Forgot about the group project in Science class. See you guys later." She waved and exited the room.
Tyler and I decided to explore around the booth before leaving. We found a schedule for the season of Buffer and a couple of dead batteries. Tyler pocketed these, commenting on how “you never know when these things like this will come in handy.”
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Back at the dorm building
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"Hey, Tyler, you go ahead and head back to the dorm room. I'm going to go see if I can find this Head Master guy." I turned and walked down the hall, following the signs posted on the walls. A few minutes later, I was outside Head Master's office. I knocked on the door, and a tall, grey haired man in his late forties answered.
"How can I help you?" he asked looking down at me, "Oh, you’re one of the new students here. Let me be one of the first to welcome you to Tower Prep. Now, I know you have a lot of questions, most new students do. I'll try to answer them the best I can. Come in and have a seat," he gestured toward an empty seat in front of his desk. He then sat down in his chair and put his elbows on the edge of the desktop and leaned forward, waiting for questions. “Ask away.”
"First, do our parents really know we are here? I seriously doubt that they would willingly send me here. Besides, my parents couldn't afford a private school like this."
"Oh, your parents know you are here Joshua Conners. They know and are completely fine with it. Besides you are here on a scholarship grant. You can call them after you are done with your questions if you would like."
"Trust me, I will. Second, at orientation, you said on the video we have some sort of talents."
"Abilities,” he corrected me. “Yes. Everyone here has a special ability, a power, if you will, that sets us apart from everyone else. Here at Tower Prep, we know that and are trying to help you learn to control these abilities." Head Master typed something into his computer quickly and started reading what was on the screen. "Let's see... Joshua Conners. Age sixteen, height five foot seven inches. Not normally a team player. Prefers to work alone. Will fight if provoked. Likes Science Fiction novels. Hmm..."
"Were did you get that information? That’s not info you can get from any of my old school records.”
"We here at Tower Prep have our sources..." He said, still staring at the screen. "Here we go, Ability Summary. Ah, it seems you have the talent of enhanced hearing and natural stealth skills. That some handy abilities to have. Any other questions?"
"Just one more, am I a prisoner here? From what I've heard so far, there is no leaving this place."
"You can try to leave. I don't really encourage it though. Besides, if you manage to go back home, you'll just be sent back here. This is your home now. I-" he stopped and put a finger to his ear and looked away. "Ok, yes, I'm on my way." he said to no one in the room. Turning to me, he said, "Sorry, to cut this short, but I've got some business to attend to. Please, see yourself out and head back to your dorm and get a good night's rest. You'll need your energy for tomorrow..." He then stood and left the room. I left and headed back to the dorm. That’s when a voice I'd never thought I heard again spoke out...
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Chapter 1 End
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