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Profound Writer
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: I really just wanna see how long a message I can type in here before the words get cut off and you c
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,435
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Bus Number 2500. David. Rena.
Allrighty, here's my newest piece. Any kind of comment/criticism is welcome, as long as you reply something!
PS: I know it's pretty bad... Still, I guess I can improve something on it.
This is the first chapter.
No one can escape the system-
For the fighters, they shot
And the shooters, they fought
Chapter One:
Bus N˚ 2500
An unpleasant ringing filled my head and made me groan. I tried to shut my ears, but the ringing got louder and louder. Finally, I opened my eyes, and bashed the alarm clock with my hand. It fell silent.
Groaning, I fell off my bed and proceeded to find my pants. They were under my bed, mixed with the rest of the pizza I smuggled into my room yesterday and the remains of a ball that’s been under my bed for ages.
I put them on, briefly wondering what that strange bulge in my pocket was, and proceeded to find my socks.
After a long quest through my bedroom, I found a yellow sock in my bed, and another one on my PC.
“I really gotta clean up here…” I said to the computer, turning it on., and munching a stale piece of pizza. It was 7:50 AM, and my school bus got here at 8:20, but I could afford to play a bit.
Just then, the phone rang. Like in a bad movie.
Grumbling, I got up and reached for the phone. “Rick Mannings.” I yawned “Ho-how can I help you?”
“Rickie-Tikkie!” voice squealed excitedly. I grimaced. Bloody nickname.
“Hi, Nicole.” I said.
“Well, up yet?”
“No, I’m still deep asleep.” I said sarcastically “You’re talking to the dog.”
“We don’t have a dog!”
I gave up.
“Okay, Nikki, why did you call?”
“Can’t I say hello to my brother?”
“Sure, hello.”
“So, going anywhere tonight?” Nikki asked interested.
“Sure, I’m going to the graveyard to bury my great-great-great – aunt Dracula.”
“No, I’m serious!”
“I’m watching TV.” I sighed. “Why?”
“Just wanted to know!” she giggled and hung up.
I groaned, put the phone down, and went back to my computer. Nikki lived in thirty minutes up the street, and was adamant to call me every single morning to find out what I was doing that evening. No idea why she wanted to know so badly…. Maybe she would later brag at school about how lazy her brother was.
“What do you want? I’m alone here ‘till Thursday!” I said aloud, talking to the computer while I booted Unreal Tournament – I liked to play classics. I was alone. My parents were in SA, and my sister was looked after by my grandmother. Unfortunately, my grandma had a tiny house, and I wasn’t very good at keeping my things organized. So when I suggested to stay home, everybody actually agreed.
I still had two days to go and forty bucks to blow until the parents would be back.
* * *
After half an hour of shooting different aliens with bullets, plasma, rockets and god knows what else, I took a long look at the clock which displayed the time 8:21. After careful consideration, I panicked, snatched my bag and ran outside, only to be greeted by the departing school bus. Great.
Mumbling angrily, I went back and locked up the house, then proceeded to the bus station. (I did wonder what would have happened to the house if I had gotten the bus). Without it, it would take me an hour to reach the school. Then I also remembered that I forgot to pause Unreal Tournament. So I had lost the tournament!
I groaned, looking at the time table for the buses.
There was a 144 bus coming in ten minutes, and an L88 coming in seven minutes. If I took the 144, it would take me longer to reach the school, on the other hand, if I took the L88, I had to change buses twice.
While I stood there, pondering the mysteries of the bus
universe, suddenly I heard a dull, loud crack.
On my left, out of a side alley, a bus suddenly emerged. The number was 2500.
To my surprise, it was painted completely green, and the wheels… they were made of iron or steel or something like that.
It drove right past me, and veered off into the distance.
* * *
“Mister Mannings, would you be as gracious as to wake up?” as dry voice asked just above my ear. I jumped up, reaching for my laser gun, then realized that this wasn’t Unreal Tournament. I had really fallen asleep during math class. And it was the last class for today, too!
“So good of you to grace us with your waking presence.” Mr Meihoff smiled. Bloody teacher. Thinks he’s so funny.
“Sorry…” I mumbled, shaking my head to get rid of the sleepiness.
“Now then, could you tell me the answer?”
The answer?! I didn’t even know what the question was! I glanced on the board, but it was blank. Meihoff must have asked it without writing it down.
“Nice as I am, I will give you an A if you answer it correctly.” Meihoff smiled.
And he’d probably give me an F if I answered it incorrectly.
“Uhm… uh….” I looked around the classroom, vainly. No one was helping or whispering the answer to me. Thanks a lot, guys.
“I think the answer is obvious to us all,” I began “So instead of answering it, and wasting precious seconds, let me tell you another story. It is a story of a sad, lonely teenager. A teenager who was abandoned by his parents, left with an empty, dirty house and some forty bucks to spend on food. A teenager who’s solemn companions is a dirty old computer which isn’t even capable of running any game whatsoever!”
Drawing a deep breath, I continued the bullshit: “The teenager is depressed. The only thing he looks forward to is the calls if his dear sister every morning.” I sniffed loudly.
“You know what I spend the whole night doing?!” I yelled “Studying maths! I was so bloody tired that the numbers got mixed up in my head! Of course, I slept! How couldn’t have I? Oh god…” I sobbed “I… I try so hard… why do I keep failing?!” I wailed.
Meihoff looked at me, seriously troubled.
“Er… maybe it would be good for you to go outside for a while…” he said, opening the door. I nodded, sobbed and ran out.
As I entered the entrance hall, I whistled with pleasure. Something told me that I had just avoided an F. The bell rang ten minutes after that, and school was over.
“Way to go, man!” someone exclaimed behind me. I turned around – it was David. Ah, David… big, fat, stupid…
…my best friend.
“Good one!”
Ah yes, David. Using the same tired clichés over and over again.
“Thanks.” I said.
“Sure!” he said.
We walked outside. As we neared the bus stop, someone suddenly appear behind us breathing heavily.
“Rick!” I turned around. It was a girl.
“Uh… yes?”
“Here.” She handed me a folder “Meihoff said it’s for you.”
I opened the folder, at the same time trying hard to remember who the girl was. I couldn’t.
She was ‘round my age… Long, black hair. Wearing a black jackets, black jeans and even black sneakers. Her face was what you’d call ok – not extremely pretty but nice.
I looked.
Inside the folder, a small booklet lay with the title “Help in Distress – where to turn”.
Groaning, I turned to David, showing him the booklet. He didn’t reply, though. He was staring at the girl in a kind of awe, and I wouldn’t have wondered if he would have started drooling.
“Who’re you?” I asked, seeing as David was incapable of speech.
“Rena. I’m new.” She smiled.
“Ah yes, I remember.” I nodded. Of course, Rena. She was only at school for a week, and I think came from somewhere in Europe. What amazed me was that she lived here in Australia for two month, and yet spoke perfect English. Must have learned it in Europe… talk about education.
“I’m David.” David smiled, baring his teeth. Rena looked at him, a little uncertain of how to react.
“Uh.. hi… We met this morning, remember?”
“Huh?”
“Well, we’ll see you around.” I said, grabbing David by his arm and pulling him towards the bus stop. Unfortunately, Rena also was waiting for a bus, and David found nothing better than have a cross – interrogation.
“So, what do you like?”
“Uh… what do you mean? I like many things…”
“Like, what do you eat?”
Rena stared at him.
“Well… I like everything, I mean, but –“
“How old are you?”
I groaned silently.
“I’m sixteen,” Rena said “Why do you-“
“So am I. What a coincidence!”
What a coincidence indeed. Considering we were all in the same class. Meanwhile, David plowed on:
“So, you like school?” I could have died of shame, but David wasn’t even blushing, just staring at Rena. What was wrong with him, anyway? He had no problems talking to girls!
Thankfully, Rena was spared from the answer as our bus arrived. We got it, David looking back over his shoulder.
“Are you an idiot?!” I hissed when the doors closed “Why do you behave like a clown?”
“But-“
“I doubt you made a good impression on her.”
“But… I did what I was supposed to do… talk about stuff I know!”
“Uh-huh. You sounded like an adult talking to a ten-year-old
kid, like you got no idea about kids.”
“Oh… Oh gee…” David blushed “I dunno what happened! I
mean, she’s nothing special, right?”
“Right.” I sighed “Forget it.”
* * *
I opened the door of the house, and we went inside. David was still finishing his sandwich, and responded to me with vague sentences. I don’t know what was wrong with him.
First thing I did was to check the computer, and with disgust found that it was off. So not only had I lost the tournament but also all my saved data.
While turning on the computer, I turned around to see David crawling from under my bed.
“Dave, what the heck are you doing?”
“Me?” David seemed confused.
“Yes, you!”
“What about me?”
“What are you doing under my bed?”
David looked around, puzzled.
“I dunno…” he finally confessed “I.. I forgot.”
“Is this about Rena? Are you still in “shock”?”
“Huh?”
I shook my head, and went to the kitchen. There, I poured some water into my cup, went back, finding David staring at my computer in an awe.
“What, you forgot something again?” I asked. He shook his head.
“No, look!” he pointed at the computer screen. I looked. A window appeared, saying “Please enter your username and password.”
“What’s wrong with that?” I asked Dave. He looked at me, his eyes misty.
“Rena.” He whispered “Can’t you see her? She’s right there on the screen.”
At that moment, I seriously started to wonder about the mental well-being of David. I looked at the PC screen again, but there was nothing.
“Ok Dave, take it easy.” I said “I’ll go and call-“
“She’s coming.” David purred.
“Who? Who’s coming?”
“Rena.” He turned and left the room. I ran after him, catching him just as he was going out the door.
“Come on now, let’s-“
“Hi Rick.” Someone said. Familiar voice. Very familiar. I looked to my right.
There, on a rock, Rena was sitting. Smiling.
“Hi.” I said cautiously “Er.. what are you doing here?”
Rena got up, and stood before me.
“Rick.” She said again. Her gaze was piercing my eyes, but I couldn’t turn away. What the heck was wrong with me?!
“So… You like my name?” I heared myself say, against my will, purely automatically. I was shivering, shaking. I had no control whatsoever. Even more, I was terrified for some reason.
Rena drew closer. I dropped the glass that was still in my hand, and it shattered on the concrete. Something inside me seemed to shatter as well, because Rena suddenly smiled, a very different smile. I couldn’t quite place it.
“Good luck.” She whispered in my ear. Good luck?! What for?
Then, in a swift movement, she pressed her face against mine. For one second, I was stunned, completely stoned. Then, a sharp pain suddenly banged through my head, and I fell on the ground gasping. The world began to drift before my eyes, and I coughed, gasped, my lungs burning. I couldn’t breathe.
The last thing I remembered was Rena’s smile. I finally realized what it was.
Bloodlust.
Then I passed out.
* * *
Groaning, I opened my eyes. I was lying in my bed. The alarm clock was ringing nastily, so banged it silent, and looked at the clock. 7:50 AM.
I stood up, rubbing my eyes. God, what a nightmare.
I put on my socks, my clothes, and turned the computer on. I could afford to play another half an hour.
Just as I sat down, the phone rung. Nikki, of course.
“Rick.” I said, picking up the phone.
“Rickie!” a voice giggled.
“Nikki. I’m watching TV tonight, is that what you wanted to
know?”
“Yea… how did you know?”
“Nicole, you always ask me what I’m doing in the evening. You
have for the last six days.”
“And I will for the next two.” She giggled again “It’s just so unfair, you living alone and stuff! Granma always tells me to go to bed at nine!”
“You’ll live.” I said. Nikki snorted and hung up.
Munching a piece of pizza that I ate last night, I sat in front of my computer, shivering when thinking about my dream. I wonder why I had dreamt it…
As I booted up Unreal Tournament, I realized one other thing.
It was impossible.
But it was there.
All my stats from playing UT while my dream. I had beaten the “Assault” and “Deathmatch” tournaments.
It was stupid, of course. It was obviously a dream. I looked at the watch – and there it was. Tuesday.
So, the dream had been a dream, no worries… But why were my stats mirroring the ones I got in my dream…?
Shaking my head, I started up the “Capture the Flag” tournament. I probably just played it last night, and forgot about it.
After I had beaten the “Overlord” map, I leaned back, smiling smugly. Perfect. Three captures and not even one death; I was going to be the greatest UT player the world had ever known.
Something then hit me, a memory, and I looked at my watch.
8:21 AM.
It was a coincidence, of course… But as I ran outside the house, I caught a glimpse of the bus turning around the corner.
Great. Mumbling unpleasant words, I went back and locked up
the house. Then I went to the bus station.
While sitting there, I though about the dream. I usually didn’t have such dreams, in fact I usually didn’t dream at all.
Just then, my thoughts were interrupted by a strange, green bus turning out of a side road. The number of the bus was 2500.
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