nguyenkid's Blog

Kyle. Sleep left my body just as I noticed I was doing so. Too lazy to fully wake yet, I felt the sand had a grainy texture. Sand? The sun scorched my sleepy eyes as I opened them. Am I at the beach? I don't recall arriving at the beach.
I dazedly sat up, mentally too tired to stand. I had a throbbing headache. My vision cleared I could see tall wild grass all around me. I wasn’t at the beach. It took me a few seconds for reality to hit me. I was in a desert!
Confused, I steadily stood and spun all around to see if I was deluding
"Where the hell am I?" I spoke under my breath as I add it to my currently unanswered question list. How could I forget if I got here? Apparently I was unable to stop these questions. Did I get amnesia? I still remember my name, right?
“Kyle.” Relief flooded through me as I confirmed my name. One down, several more to go.
Let’s think logically, Kyle. What could possibly explain this situation? Abduction? Then where’s my abductor? Maybe I was kidnapped by aliens, experimented on and dump back on earth and now they're watching me. Well, there goes the closest logical thing I could think of.
I became conscious of a wall that was looming over me. Not a wall. More like Uluru. Dad showed me a picture of the Uluru once. No, this looked more man-made. Probably a defense system built like a circular rampart. Guess his books really do come in handy. A man-made structure meant men. Usually. Half of a mile away and it was still covering most of the horizon. It was in horrible state but Pyramids probably had a few cracks here and there.
Heat waves were sprouting out of the ground like transparent plants. I shouldn’t stay out in this kind of sun to long or I was going to dehydrate. So that answered another question. I’m going to the Uluru thing.
The field of grass that went on for yards was around five feet tall. They were yellow and looked like they would’ve crumbled into dust if I had touched them.
I didn’t bother check if my cell had signal. I had a feeling it wouldn’t or this would have been too easy. Whatever “this” was, I didn’t know.
What if the people there didn’t speak English? What if they were cannibals and would trick me into a boiling pot? Why push my luck; there might not be anyone there at all if you look at the state of the
Uluru. I slapped my self a few times. No time to get paranoid. But, would I keep walking till I was nothing but a sack of dry sandy bones?
While I was walking toward the Uluru, I heard a rustling sound. Before I could check it out, the suspicious sound stopped. My Paranoia gauge went to the max and was about to explode. I felt the hairs on my back stood up. Something was watching me. I broke into a sprint, running for my life.
I heard the sound again but this time it was in front of me. An Animal Planet documentary flashed in my mind; some creatures were smart enough to lure their prey into a corner. Now I realized that I ran into a trap. I turned immediately and started backtracking but I lost my balance. I fell, rolled a 450 degree and landed flat on my face. Blood was flooding down my face nonstop. Coughing sand, I turned onto my back quickly to see the thing jump out the grass. Before I could react it professionally pounced on my leg. I struggled and grappled but the thing wouldn't let go.
Now that the creature was closer, I could see that it was a lion. Its fur was light blonde in the sun. It was as big as a car and nothing like the ones I saw in the zoo. As big as it was, I should have been scared as hell, and I was, but I was also partly calm inside. Some instinct inside me was making me calm. Like as if it was telling me softly that life was meaningless. It was only a small voice so I was still screaming and rolling and obviously conscious of the pain. My ears closed off and all I could hear was inside my brain and my heart massively pounding.
It was unbelievable how strong it was when only one paw was on my leg. I screamed bloody mercy when it pushed harder and broke my femur. I felt the excruciating pain as the lion moved forward and tore a hole in my stomach.
Pain and blood clouded my vision and I was left blind for my death. Again it tore all that was left of my stomach. With no spine my body went limp. I stopped breathing yet I was still alive. Blind, deaf and probably dead. The pain stopped. There was only darkness but I could still feel my body bleeding on the desert floor. This was what death was? At that moment pain left my mind and the instinct before began to take over my mind. I was conscious of how my body this whole time was tensed up. I relaxed and just knew that everything would be okay.
A deafening, and thought-interrupting, roar popped my ears and left it ringing. My eyes flipped open. My heart began to beat faster and faster until the space between the beats was unidentifiable. I felt the energy flowing through my body trying to explode free. Something was happening. Something hopefully good.
Vision and hearing back, I could focus back to the more dangerous topic at hand. The roar had not come from this lion gnawing at my lower and upper intestines altogether. Another lion had peered out of the grass. This one was tiny compared to my lion but I could tell it was starving. Starvation cleared fear out of the mind. My lion stiffen. It felt threatened. Great, apparently death was not enough. I had to be pathetically fought over like a toy? Aren’t I becoming a bit possessive? My sadistic mind was becoming more and more masochistic. My lion leaps over me, hanging in the air. At that moment the lion looked majestic. His mane flittered in the air like wild yellow fire.

The Larger lion landed with a thud and gave the smaller lion a threatening growl that seemed to say "he's mine."
The fight began over my dead body. Literally. With lighting speed the little lion, for less confusion let’s call him Small, ran forward to attack. The bigger lion, Big, with faster speed whacked Small. Persistently he got back up and charged again. He dodged another of Big’s swipes and headbutted Big. As if it had no effect, Big slammed Small’s belly with his head. Small flew out of my view. I was secretly rooting for Small since I kind of pitied him. Also that it would take him longer to eat me.
I could tell the fight continued but since I was paralyzed, I couldn't turn my head. I decided to stare at the sky to pass the time. It was the same kind of blue as home. The sun is about to set in an hour or so. Here I am lying just like I was when I woke up. Besides the fact that my lower half isn’t connect to me like it was the first time.
Then I was angry. What the hell was I doing here? Where the hell did the lion come from? And why do I have to die now? All my emotions were flowing out. Tears were flowing. Why did Dad have to go back to war and die? Why did he have to leave us?
After a few moments, my inner emotions subsided. Then I noticed that there was no more noise, the fight had stop in the mist of my wild emotional confession. I laid there and continued to stare at the sky. The sky at the very edge of the horizon was beginning to turn into a light hue of red.
For the first time, I wondered why I was still alive. I've been torn in half and paralyzed. Also the fact that I'm already dead wasn’t crossed out yet.
My body jerked into the air as if I just had a dose of electric shock. I felt an excruciating pain as I heard a loud cracking sound coming from my where my stomach was supposed to be. Another shock and I regained my mobility and shot up. A Strange crackling sound directed my attention to my stomach.
My body was regenerating at a very impossible speed. So fast that I could see the cells dividing and growing. My skin was reaching out in a creepily manner, desperately trying to reach the other half. My body wanted to connect! I reached out to grab my cold pair of legs and stuffed it back to where it belonged. My skin reconnected and in a few seconds there was not even a scar left. Another shock and I landed with my air punched out of me. Really, what the hell is going on!?
I was extremely tired but I couldn’t go to sleep. Big and/or Small would be coming back and I don’t want to here when that happens.
I stood up and brushed of most of the bloody sand. It stung because some of the sand happens to be in the path when the regeneration happened. I took off my shirt, if it could still be called a shirt anymore. A blood-stained rag was all that was left. My belt also gnawed off in the process was now an useless accessory. My pants sagging like a gangster so I also toke that off. I was lucky that today, at home at least, it was a chilly day and I manager to wear decent trunks.
I felt empty and weightless with nothing on. That’s when I remember my backpack. I had totally forgot about it all the while I was here. I backtrack and looked and found in perfect condition. Searching through it content sent pain to my heart. The events that had happen were so distant from my regular life and it made the current me feel like a stranger.
I found a pair of Rayban and put then on. It humored me that I looked like a regular kid on a vacation minus the blood that was in my hair, face and several parts of my body. Unsuccessfully finding a water bottle, I wonder if I should keep my bag. More afraid of the fees of lost books than death, I decide to carry it with me. In addition, it would be a reminder of home and keep me sane.
Just as I started on my journey, a kid popped out of the grass. I was just as surprise to see him as he was to see me.
"What the Fuck!? Are you okay" I heard him say as he rushed closer. I believe he was regarding the mass amount of blood.
“Oh, It’s okay I’m fine now,” I kind of shrugged it off. Somehow it didn’t bother me.
His blonde hair reminded me of the lion's fur. He was carrying some baseball equipment. Last thing I remember now was the time I disappeared. It would be close to when schools’ activity would end. Meaning that we came here at the same time. I'm guessing that this would prove that this isn't a dream and that I'm not alone. Now would there be more people? And with them, answers?
"What the Hell?! There’s a something sticking out your back!" The kid screamed and pointed at my back. Confused, I look and saw that a stick the size my arm was fused into my body, too. And why did I not notice that?
"Oh." I said as I pulled it out, wincing a bit. Now I guess I freaked him out.
“That’s cool” he remarked as the wound healed. So I guess he isn’t. ”Can you do this though?” He snaps his finger and his whole hand burst into flames?”
No. No, I can’t. The instinct inside me again was angry. My heart was beating faster as I looked into the flames. The adrenaline was seething through my body. I forced myself to calm down.
“No. No, I can’t.” I repeated out loud this time.

Chapter 1


Charlie."Class, quiet down now." Ms. Pierre said demanding. She was a teacher as old as the Velociraptor at the museum.

"Your science projects are STILL due next week!" She announced as she passes out homework. Her horn-rimmed glasses just added to her teacher profile. I totally respect teachers and all but they got to cut us some slack. I also pity them since they are forced to be strict and will have to correct all the work. The worst nightmare; stacks of illiterate adolescent nonsense.

"Man! This sucks!" Leaning back so far in her chair, Sam who sat in front of me whispered to me upside-down.

"We don't have time for projects when we are practicing all next week for the match against Heights!" I whispered back.

Being a sophomore takes a lot out of people particularly for a lazy guy like me. Life at Monument high, Boston (Home of the pilgrims and currently 4.5 million people) is tough for any hormone-filled teen. In this diverse city, the rules of high school are always changing. Say good bye to jocks and cheerleaders and hi to gangsters, Goths, hijabs and random clichés. No popularity contest here.

Samantha has been my best friend since fourth grade. More known as Sam due to the fact that it is more fitting to her tomboy personality. The only person who called her by her full name was her mom.

Our meeting was weird but it was something of this sort. A chubby kid steals my Kit-Kat in the midst of my time with precious and rare red clay-do (Red clay-do ruins easily). I tried to get it back. Sam interfered and punched him right in the face. We were sent to the principal's office and I got my Kit-Kat back. Sam told me how she always hated that chubby kid who always stole things. she finally found a reasonable excuse to repay him.

That was how we came to be and still are. I’m not saying I let a girl defend me. Sam isn’t a normal girl and won’t hesitate to stand up for anything she thinks in. I’m more than capable to defend myself and so is Sam. We’ve been close all the time and have always helped each other out. We’re closer then family at times.

Sam was a rebelous person as well as she was a tomboy. Her eyes are brown with a slight hint of yellow and they never focused on the details. Just matter of facts. Logic was her specialty. She would sort everything in logic and answers would come to her. Possibilities was her escape when matters of her mom was brought up.

Sam's always wearing some somewhat cherry red top that would matches her fall-colored scarlet hair. Her hair was neither straight nor curly at times but always absurdly, naturally tidy. If the situation was right, and usually it was, with Sam’s hair hidden by a cap, she would be mistaken as a boy. It could be her fault since her posture and even her walk were both boyish. These days no one wanted helpless girls. Cinderella’s days would end when they met Sam.

I was putting in my locker combination and getting the supplies for next period when Sam came up and asked, “Have you even started your project, Charlie?"

“Maybe" I said sarcastically. This is a game we play. the routine of a perfected skit used at school.

“Well of course not. You're going to procrastinate until the very end. Then you're going to ask for my help"

"Oh, you know me so well, Sam!" She knows very well that procrastination is my own specialty. I still get an A- which is incomparable to the effort I put into it and that’s perfectly fine with me. Sam gets an A+ when she spent hours on and I find that illogical.

Contemplating, I walked into the classroom and sat down. How am I going to waste away my weekend? I can’t misuse this valuable time I am only given twice weekly. Being lazy takes incredible effort! The teacher started to write something educational on the board, I subconsciously copied it down and continued to think. I weighed my options, science project or pizza and movie? The responsible thing to do would be to get my science project done. But I'm not a responsible person, so movie it is!

Than again, I already watched the entire list of good movie that came out this month. You see? This is what I get for not being time efficient. I’ll probably just go over Sam’s house and re-watch something.

I popped back into reality as the last period bell rang to find Sam was now staring intensely at me.

“It’s very surprising that you can completely ignore the teacher and still look like you're paying attention." She commented.

“I know you're jealous." I retorted with every ounce of pride. I trained my mind very hard to accomplish this mindset.

I went to my locker to pick up my backpack and walked to the baseball diamond. I have been playing baseball since fourth grade when I was introduced by Sam. She was the ace pitcher in the baseball team. Sports would obviously be predicted in her personality. I started out as an outfielder but gradually over the years I became a really great shortstop and first baseman. I’m always praised with my intense analysis and reaction.

I caught up to Sam, we did our warm-ups and put our equipment on. Baseball season had just started and we were intensely training to defeat Dorchester Heights, our rival. We can’t allow anything to get in the way of our victory, especially science projects. Baseball is intense even when we are just practicing. I fell in love with it the instant my bat made that beautiful earth-crackling sound as it connected to the ball. I became addicted to sweating and the smell of sand kicked in the wind. We practiced for half and hour before we changed and met outside.

I breathed out a refreshing sigh, leaning on the wall, I said, “I finally decided. Tomorrow, Let's see what we can watch over your house.”

“Yea, sure” Sam responded while in the process of fixing her boy look; Tying her hair up with cap and hood. We started walking.

While we were walking home we talked about what we were going to do over the weekend.

"I thought you had this master list of all the movies to watch” She did that finger-quoting thing around master. ”and couldn’t afford to do anything with me.”

“I miscalculated and now I have the spare time. Got anything on your mind you want to watch?” I asked.

"I think we should watch--" She paused and squinted "Hey, is that Claire and Rick? I wonder what they're doing here." She pointed at the people walking towards us.

We ran up to them and I ask “Hey, Why are you heading back to that mad place?" I’m talking about that place where we are insisted on sitting and learn.

"Claire forgot her study guide for the math test tomorrow" Rick answered.

Here’s Claire, she is Sam's girl bestfriend. Remember how I mentioned the extinction of Cinderellas? Claire had only managed to survive because she’s a hybrid. She uses make-up, she’s boy-crazy and she wears skirts. She is the total opposite of Sam. That’s a big thing. Pigs would not only fly but also levitate if anyone saw Sam wearing skirts. Claire's hair is long and blonde. Her eyes are multi-colored, mostly grey but they sometimes change to blue or green.

Claire’s hair had more freedom than Sam’s. Always let down and forced into shape. With a skirt nowhere near her knees but still borderline appropriate, Claire likes to tease guys that way. Surprisingly, Claire doesn't do cheerleading but she does track. The fact that she has more chests are solid proof that Claire and Sam couldn’t be more different from Sam. It still surprises me till this day that Claire is Sam's girl best friend.

Of course Sam needs a girl to talk to about those things they desperately need to talk about in the bathroom. And I truly have the gratitude that she does.

The guy with Claire is Rick. He is Claire's boyfriend. Very tall and tough, he’s the perfect match for the quarterback in the movies. He is the typical hero I'll-save-the-day Kind of guy. Which nowadays make him a bit sexist. He believes girls should be innocent princesses and saved by guy knights. His dirty blonde hair and blue eyes make him and Claire a perfect couple. He also does track.

Claire and Rick are the fastest sophomores in the school. They met on the track team and since they shared a common interest, I guess, they started dating.

"Just got out of practice?" Claire asks

"Yea. Catch up with you later." Sam said

"Kay, Bye!”

“Shoot” I said, “ Out of practice. I just remembered that Mom order me to clean my room right after I got out of practice! Let me do it really quick. Go on after me! Sorry” I apologized as I started running down the street.

"Sucks to be you! Better hurry, you're going to miss the good ones!" Sam yelled from behind me.

I really saw no reason to clean up a mess that would later be accumulated again into a larger size. You don’t want to anger the monster. I’ll just quick stash everything and head towards Sam’s house. Just as I split from Sam, sprinting home, I began to hear a small buzzing sound, almost like a Cicada. Suddenly, the buzzing sound got louder and faster. I slowed to a walk and was looking around for the source of the annoying sound, only to find that it was coming from everything. The buildings, trees and sidewalk were all screaming. Everything started to become distorted like far off images in a heat wave. The sidewalk was being swirly and I started to walk more off-balance then a drunk. My heart was beating so heavily in my chest I could hear it pounding. I bumped into someone in an attempt to walk. He looked familiar, like someone at school but I couldn't tell with all the craziness. Everything was looking more and more like a kaleidoscope and less an anything by the second. What’s happening? I thought. After that everything flashed white....then it was black.