District 1
...
"A law was enacted at 1:00 AM that compels all able-bodied individuals to report for mandatory military service. This law includes a critical modification stating that everyone aged 23 and older must comply, and it extends the requirement to all individuals aged 16 and above. The enforcement of this law has faced considerable backlash, with many asserting that enlisting children under the age of consent is unacceptable. The rapid implementation of this mandate has raised serious concerns among the public..."
A lady in a white lab coat smiled at the new she taped he watch to let the holographic image to disipate. Suddenly, the watch began to beep incessantly, tapping on he left side, she picked up the call.
"We caught one," a feminine voice announced from the watch.
"Alert the pilot, I'll be flying there tonight," she responded before tapping the watch twice to make the image disappear.
An unsettling smile appeared on her face
********
District 4
......
The shrill sound of an alarm clock echoed through the small apartment walls.
Jim stared at it in annoyance before harshly tapping its screen to silence it.
He always woke up before its insistent beeping—money wasted.
He lazily sat up, alarm in hand. He picked a new melody for the alarm.If it was going to interrupt his morning silence, it might as well do so with some entertainment.He had paid a steep price for it, after all.He ended up choosing Ring of Fire by Rone, a soft rock song that had been trending lately. Jim liked it a lot.
With a reluctant sigh, Jim rose from his cosy bed, his worn sheets rustling beneath him. The patterns on them had begun to fade.There was no denying it; this time, he needed to buy new ones.
Stretching, he surveyed his small room. The place had been slowly transformed to suit his taste.A forty-inch transparent television sat mounted on the wall just above the foot of his bed.The wall to the left of his bed was fitted with white shelves protruding from it, as well as a small study table at the farthest corner.The three top shelves had several novels arranged neatly on them. The corresponding two middle ones held school books, while the bottom one held various stationery, all neatly arranged.The bed itself was fitted with shelves at the bottom sides where his few clothes and shoes were stored, in their respective areas, of course.He preferred his home to be neat. It gave him peace.
To the right was his small open kitchen, relatively well furnished with even a small dining table and seats.And directly opposite his bed was a small door leading to the bathroom.
Despite its modest finishes, it felt like home.
The walls were decorated with posters of his beloved video games and framed books that were a testament to his reading passions.
But today, his gaze was fixated on the offending alarm clock.
He couldn't help but imagine the pleasures he could have otherwise enjoyed: a new video game to indulge in, a gripping book to become lost in, or perhaps a set of beautifully made stationery—at least they would be useful.
The thought of better choices turned the morning from tedious to restless.
The idea lingered unpleasantly in his mind, adding to the burden of his day-to-day life.
He prepared himself a light breakfast of scrambled egg and toast, along with black coffee.
Having eaten, he cleaned up the kitchen.
He took his bag and, after switching on his phone, music started playing over his headphones.
He walked to school, knowing he would likely be among the first pupils to arrive, as always.
Each day, he woke up before the earliest light peeped into his window, enjoying the silence and solitude that came with an early start.He never liked crowds; he especially detested the chaos that came with them.
Turning the corner, he slowed for a fraction of an instant, sensing the peril ahead.
Then, suddenly, a wildly bouncing red ball shot through the air, straight at him.
It was Jason—the notorious neighbourhood troublemaker, renowned for his blatant use of telekinesis.
Jim could do nothing but watch as the kid taunted him.
A mixture of irritation and jealousy boiled within him.
Jim forced a half-hearted smile at the furious Jason, who was seething with anger after missing yet another shot.
The usually lively boy turned around, dejected, and hurried home, his footsteps echoing with irritation along the pavement.
Jim shook his head in exasperation. A mix of self-pity and frustration churned in his stomach.
He wondered why this kid was so determined to annoy him so relentlessly.
In a world where power was equivalent to wealth, it was not uncommon to encounter individuals like him—those who had been denied extraordinary abilities—being mistreated.
This world was ruled by those who could manipulate reality to their advantage.
It was rare to meet people without powers in a lower-class area like his, where one in fifteen people was powerless.
Most of those without power could only find simple jobs, which paid poorly, resulting in a higher concentration of them in poverty-stricken neighbourhoods.
Jim knew there were enough people like him in the area to keep a dozen Jasons entertained, but for some reason, it never seemed to divert the little troublemaker's attention.
Sighing in defeat, Jim accepted his bad luck, whispering prayers of gratitude to heaven that at least the boy's aim was still atrocious, sparing him any real danger.
He arrived at school forty minutes early, a welcome bonus of time that filled his heart with an ecstatic sense of joy.
The usually chaotic hall was still, empty, and he was free to indulge himself in the tranquillity of it all.
He walked past, appreciating the familiar sight—the walls painted soft colours, filled with colourful posters promoting upcoming events, and the highly polished floor reflecting dancing fluorescent lights above.
He walked over to his locker, the metal floor cold to the touch as he ran his finger over the lock mechanism, the soft click echoing within the room.Having just checked his timetable, he put his textbooks down carefully, double-checking each one was in its rightful place.
Having plenty of time to himself, he decided to replace his headphones with a book he had been waiting ages for: Revenge of the Damned.
The cover, which had colourful artwork, welcomed him in, and he wished the pages within would transport him to an exciting world he had not yet encountered.
Shutting his locker, he walked to his homeroom class, eager to read as soon as he could.
Two girls sat next to each other in the front row of the classroom, debating passionately about the new exchange students.
They were so engrossed in talking that they didn't even notice him entering the room. Not that they ever did, anyway.
He sat down quietly at his desk and began reading. He didn't even realise that the other students had arrived until he looked up from his book and noticed the room was full.
The students were split up into their respective groups, the room echoing with a chorus of voices.In this chaos, only three people stood out.
Dan, a good-looking guy with trendy glasses and wise eyes that twinkled behind them, sat studying—lost in a thick book, his eyebrow slightly furrowed in concentration.He had a reputation as the most perceptive and serious of students in class. He kept others at arm's length, creating a near-reflexive solitude that he appeared to embrace.
Behind him sat Fray, the second oddball.She contrasted sharply with her surroundings, looking like she had been summoned straight out of a black-and-white movie from centuries ago. Her waterfall-like, inky black hair spilling over her shoulders made her marble skin stand out even more, while the enigmatic look on her face gave an aura of mystery.Her dark clothes and her solitary nature served to make her stand out even more.All this gave her an almost otherworldly quality amongst the brighter personalities of her peers.
And then there was Jim—an ordinary boy whose presence didn't even make a dent amidst the bright weave of talent that surrounded him.He was defined by his lacklustre features: unexceptional dark hair, ordinary clothes, and a manner that merged so easily into the background.
His grades were generally middle-of-the-road, and there was nothing particularly remarkable about him. But somehow, he felt a quiet connection with both Dan and Fray—the other two misfits who stood out for their uniqueness.
He glanced down at his phone, the screen flashing with light as it reminded him that class would be starting soon.He sighed and set the book aside, casting a glance out the window at the gleaming school grounds.The campus truly was lovely for a public school.
The structures stood tall, their facades glowing with proper maintenance and trimmed with colourful flags flapping softly in the wind.The grounds were covered with green lawns, interrupted by vibrant flowerbeds that lent an air of beauty.
It was difficult to complain about the standard of education provided in such a well-maintained setting.Its design may be a bit outdated—after all, it was still a public school.
However, there was one thing he despised about the school.
He considered the meals served at the cafeteria. A scowl spread across his face at the thought.
The food there was a culinary disaster—each dish resembling a foul concoction that would be dangerous to taste and health, an actual threat to the culinary image of mankind.It was no secret he deeply resented the food here, but it was cheap, and he couldn't afford to be picky with his limited funds.