Ryan:

I think I lost my appetite after the speech she gave us.

            I barely ate my food aside from taking a few bites of my sandwich and not eating my chips. Lunch went by quickly, the new topic was the exam tomorrow for the freshies and the sophomores who are my age...fifteen. Everyone talked about what partner would match their personality and how they would act. Well, the final choice was up to destinty in the end, not basic assumptions.

            I was glad to feel the rest of the day moving quickly. Sure, I had a load of homework in my satchel but that didn't bother me at all since I knew I could finish it quick and easy.  All I had was science and gemometry, so those should be easy since I already knew how to do half the stuff in the geometry book. (Yes, I got bored over the summer and studied the book, I know I have no life.)

            Once the final bell rang, I quickly left the room along with my classmates. Luckily, none of my other teachers had creepy golden eyes that stared at me like the Mona Lisa. They were the normal ones to me, as far as I was concerned, anyone who ahd golden eyes (besides me) is either a creeper or just plain weird.

             I began to walk out with Alexander, Thomas, and Maria following beside me. They were talking to each other but I wasn't listening at all, I was more focused on getting home and getting onto my work. Once I was done, then I could talk. That was my rule and I stuck with it. Judge me, oh well.

            Just as we were about to exit the school, I was suddenly pushed forward and landed on the tiled floor. Luckily, I didn't hit my nose or damage my face, only skid my hands across the floor as I fell onto my hands and knees. The shove caused all my books to fall out of my bag and get scattered along the floor. Some students at their lockers stopped moving as they saw me. I heard a little murmuring going on as I slowly got back onto my feet.

               Then I heard a familiar voice that made me mad.

              "Hey there, faggot," Connor McBill laughed from behind me.

             I wanted to rush without thinking and punch this guy in the face. Connor McBill was one of those preppy rich kids that thought he was way better than anyone else who didn't have as much money as him. He wore expensive clothes like button up shirts, khaki pants, and dress shoes. His dark brown glossy hair was combed perfectly and he had that Barbi & Ken look that made me sick. He once literally slapped me in the face with a roll of hundreds. His blue eyes told me he meant business and I hated him, but on the upside he hated me just because people liked me and I didn't have as much money as he did. I just loved making him mad.

             He was with his crew, two more preppy guys who looked just like him. They all wore identical blue Polo's and khakis and same dress shoes, but all three had different hair styles and colors. One was black, one was brown, and one was dirty blonde. I didn't like any of them.

             I brushed fake dirt off my arms and grunted. "Same insult every day, Connor? Man, you really are getting pathetic."

           I saw the smile on his face turn into a hate-fuled frown as he balled his fists and came over to me. He bared his teeth and raised a fist.

             "What did you say, you cock-sucker?" he growled in a sort of animalish sound that made me almost laugh.

             I pushed him and smiled. "You heard me, you're pathetic Connor. You've used the same insults on me a million times and guess what? They're old, stale, used, worn out. Just like you. It's really sad, you act like a bully but if you can't get an orphan to cowar before you then you've pretty much failed. I'd try delivering cookies on your bike, let's see how much of a man you are."

            I saw him storm towards me, his fist balled as he swung for my face. I quickly moved to the side and grabbed his forearm, then pinned it behind his back. I kicked his knees in, making him kneel down. He struggled, grunting out and yelling out for help. A group of students made their way and circled us, some cheering us on as I kept Connor on his knees.

             In a split second, I felt a pair of bulky arms grab me from behind and pull me away, causing Connor to fall forward. I realized it was his goonies and struggled to get free. Connor got to his feet and popped his arm, then walked forward, his fist balled again as he swung at my face. I saw his arm caught in mid swing as someone grabbed him from behind. Thanks, Alexander, I owe him one.

            The goonies didn't expect me to kick them in the shins as I leaped from their grasp and ran towards Alexander, once I was back on his side he let go of Connor and caused him to fall back onto his knees. I saw him get back onto his legs and wipe his mouth, his fists were balled again. Just as he was about to storm me again, one of his friends stopped him.

             "Dude! We're gonna be late for practice! C'mon!" he exclaimed.

            I saw the fury on Connor's face as he shot me a snarl and nodded to his companion. He quickly ran away, looking back at me with a vengeful look on his face as if he was telling me I'll kill you later, I have to golf now.

             Yes, he played golf, another thing to laugh at.

             The crowd quickly disperesed, some groaning like they expected someone to get knocked out or to see some blood. That entire loud fight, and no teachers came to save the day or come to the rescue? Really?

             Wow, talk about poor luck.

            Alexander kept me on my legs as he patted my back. "Congrats at pissing off Connor, he needed to be taken down a few notches ever since sixth grade."

            I nodded. Connor had been harassing me for four years, this year making it four. He hated me for all sorts of reasons. I was bi, he hated that. I was an orphan, he hated that. I was the only one who stood up against him, he hated that. You name anything he could hate me for and he would hate me for it.

I paid no mind to it of course, knowing his opinions didn't matter. I had enough of his crap and the push onto the ground was going too far. He had done it many times before but I was in no mood to be pushed down today. I was tired, still creeped out by golden eyes, I had to get back to the orphanage, and I needed to finish my work. His pushing me down just made me wanna sock him dead center of his pretty little jaw and knock him flat onto his butt.

Speaking of the orphange, I realized I was volunteering to cook tonight. Sweet, the kids deserved a nice warm meal after a tiring day of school. Okay, sure, they were probably having a blast at school with making new friends, getting to know each other, coloring, drawing, and all that but even kids get tired from that.

Luckily, another talent my mother taught me before she died was the ability to cook a traditional Italian dinner. I knew the recipes by heart and always knew a nice way to spice things up easily.

I thanked Alexander again for his help, realizing that Thomas and Maria were gone. I wondered where they went, but I guessed they left after the fight started. Thomas was a light-hearted and nonviolent guy so I expected him to try to get away from any sort of violence. Maria wasn't a fighter but she was pretty tough for a girl, I knew she had been kicked in the nose a couple times, had a broken leg and arm once, and she once blacked out. I knew she was tough but I had to guess as well that she wanted to get away from all the violence that I pretty much caused.

I turned out and walked out of the school, seeing a large mass of yellow leaving the campus. Great, I just missed the bus. Perfect, I was going to have to walk back to the orphanage on my own. I sighed and kept the strap on my shoulder, Alexander offered to give me a ride but I turned him down. I told him I needed a little time alone to think about a few things (not total lie since the golden eye thing got on my nerves) in which he patted my shoulder and told me to stay safe.

I promised him I wouldn't get myself killed by a poodle, which made him laugh a little. He patted my shoulder and walked to his dad who was driving him home. I sighed and began to follow the bus down the road in a quick sprint.

Thirty minutes of running, walking, and jogging takes a lot out of a guy on a somewhat hot day. I was sweating a river from my body, my hair soaked with grime and salty sweat the made me feel sticky and weird. I was panting loudly and gasped for air, getting into a slow walk as I neared Fair View. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and took in a long breath, walking slowly as I got closer.

            It was a good 4: 06 by the time I got home, the only way I could tell the time outside was the large clock on the  double doors. I walked in and looked around, no one was here. Weird and odd at the same time, and I had a gut feeling something wasn't right. Of course I was right, this was scary.

            Out of nowhere, I was grabbed from behind and tackled to the floor. At first I thought it was Connor getting some payback and I was ready to start wrestling on the cold floor. I soon realized who it really was once I felt warm and wet lips begin to kiss and caress my neck.

            I'm such an coglione. (Dumbass.)

            Nicholas...duh. He began to nuzzle my neck and back affectionately and lovingly, getting a surprised shudder from me. He acted just like a lost puppy, except for the humping part (thankfully he didn't hump me). I really wanted to get up but he held onto me tight and nuzzled the crap out of me. I groaned and saw the other's come out of their hiding places. Of course, I thought, they would be in on this. They just loved Nicholas pin me down and force love on me.

            Robyn finally came up to me, covering her mouth in a way of showing she was trying not to laugh at me position. Just you wait, Robyn, I will get my revenge one day, just you wait.  Nicholas finally let me go, after like a million kisses on my neck and cheek. I was beginning to think he was drunk on his love for me, that or he just loved me just plain period.

            Robyn helped me onto my feet while a smirk. "So....how was school?" She asked in a nonchalant way.

            I smirked back and crossed my arms. "You know...the usual. Went to school, sang, shot a bow for the first time, barley ate my lunch, went to history and math, got into a fight, ran home, now I got a hundred kisses from a Flamedramon. So, yeah, just a usual day."

            I explained a few of the details I knew they wanted to hear, like the bow and arrow and the fight. Nicholas and Robyn listened but the little kids decided to get their homework finished, I knew I acted like their older brother but even I had to convince them to go ahead with their work. I pretty much acted like the guy in charge whenever the owners of the orphanage weren't here. I made sure everyone was in check and followed the rules, but I wasn't a cruel dictator. I made sure I kept the peace but I was still calm and cool about it and in return they treated me with respect and love back. I loved them all and they loved me.

            Well, not as much as Nicholas but they loved me nonetheless.

            Once I was done explaining, Robyn nodded and approved. She had always wondered if I had ever gotten into a fight, in which I told her no. So I guess when she found out now she was proud. Eh, it was a fight--a minor fight at that. It wasn't like I was wrestling with Ray Mysterio. Nicholas seemed concerned as he looked for scarcthes and bruises all over my body but I assured him I was fine, yet he remained apprhensive and rubbed his arm.

            "I'm fine, trust me, guys," I said to them.

            Nicholas gulped. "Okay, okay, I believe you. But if I see a bruise tomorrow I will get the guy responsible!"

            I smiled and sighed. "And that's exactly what I expect of you, Nicholas."

            I patted them on the heads and told them I had to head to the kitchen to prep everything for dinner tonight. They finally dropped any questions they had and let me go, thankfully. With haste, I ran to my room and set down my things and went back down to the kitchen to work on dinner tht was usually served at around seven. That was some ways from now but there were a few things to get ready in three hours.

            We already had ten chefs already in the kitchen prepping for dinner. There were only about 40 kids in the orpahange, well below the possible 200 that could live here. So we were never packed. We had so many rooms that were empty and our chefs were usually satisfied by our low numbers since that meant less work and strain they would have to do on themselves.

            Quickly, I joined them in their prepping. We had fresh vegetables, whole grain, wheat, fresh water, and top notch ovens and stoves. I grabbed an apron and greeted everyone, it was Italian night and they had only one other Italian-blood woman with them, so another in their mist could be better. I'm glad we didn't butt heads, otherwise I would have to show her a thing or two (even though she was a good twenty years older than me).

            "Ryan, felice che tu sia qui," she greeted me in a smile. (Ryan, glad you're here.)

            I nodded and began to cut some tomatoes that had already been laid out next to her. She handed me a knife and I began to cut quickly but with caution, for I had cut myself once and I had the scar on my palm to prove it.

            "Sono contento di essere qui, la mia signora," I replied back. (Glad to be here, my lady.) Once my tomatoes were done cutting, I moved onto some onions and began to peel them. I had gotten used to the peeling and never cried now, just because I was so used to the peeling it didn't effect me much.

Three hours later did the whole kitchen smell like cooked meat, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. There was also traces of cooked bread, steaming noddles, and mixed vegetables in the air, and the whole combination made my stomach growl like a Leomon.

I knew it was getting close to time and the kids were beginning to take their seats and talk to each other. The plates were ready and all we had to do was distribute then eat. The kitchen could be cleaned after dinner was over, it made no sense to clean now then have all the dhishes come back in a mess and clean again.

I grabbed four plates, holding two on my arms in a regular professional way. I walked out and saw a few rows of tables set along a large room where the fifty orphans sat. They talked, chatted, giggled, sat and waited. We came out of the doors and began to give them the plates. They thanked up with large toothy smiles that told me that they actually meant the "thank-yous".

I made two trips and set the plates while the other chefs told me to enjoy the food and eat, even though I wanted to help them out. The head chef smiled at me and told--well, ordered pretty much--to enjoy myself and eat sicne I looked a bit tired. I wanted to protest but the loud growl my stomach gave told me I needed food, plus the sound made them laugh.

I quickly took a seat next to Nicholas and Robyn, in the middle of them, and began to delve into the food. This was really good, still warm and steaming which made it even better since it wasn't cold at all. I took a bite and fell from heaven, I forgot how long I had gone without some real Italian cooking and it brought me right back home once that food slipped into my stomach. I took more bites and smiled, enjoying the zesty food on my plate witth a newfound urge to eat the food without a fork or spoon and just shove my face into the plate. I kept my controll and ate it accordingly, filling my hungry stomach quickly. I talked with Nicholas, who wasn't nuzzling my shoulder furiously, and Robyn. I just loved to sit by them, they always had such interesting stories to tell.

And I listened carefully.

Once dinner was done and everyone was full, the chefs and I rook up all the plates and began to clean the dining room. I washed a quarter of the dishes with three other chefs to my right and left then dried. The other chefs mopped the floor, checked inventory for new supplies they needed, wiped the tables, swept the floors, and turned in their aprons for the night. Once I was done, I felt wiped and dazed after such a long day. I didn't feel full to the brim but I knew I was satisfied and made my way up the elevator after drying and turning off the lights. I quickly showered just to get the smell of onion and peppers out of my skin then changed into my PJ's and hit the hay without a second thought on anything.

Gold ...Masters... Creed...

Jason... Assassin... Time...

World... War... Shadows...

I woke up with a minor headache, and with a loud sneeze that I hope didn't wake the whole building. I coughed to clear my throat before doing anything but the cough only helped to make my headache more painful.

            "Man," I said silently to myself. "My head is pounding."

            I rubbed my head and checked the time. It was only 6:31 in the morning. A good night's sleep in my book, but there was something wrong with the sleep. I kept hearing the same words again and again, with weird images following them. There was this weird insignia that I kept seeing and if I were to draw it I'm sure I could get every detail right. I also heard this name again and again. Jason. I knew no one by the name of Jason, in fact, I've never met a Jason in my life I don't think. The other words were a blur to me, I knew we were in a war, I knew who the Shadows were but what the heck was up with assassin, creed, and  time? I had no clue what those words meant to me but for some reason...they felt familiar to me in a sort of weird way.

            Just couldn't put my finger on it.

            I decided to put it in the back of my mind for now and think about it later, if I had the time. I yawned and got out of my bed then stretched. It was a little early and I knew Nicholas would be around my room in the next ten minutes to wake me up then go and pick out his clothes for the day.

            I decided to get my own ready. Basically, the same thing yesterday but in different colors. I grabbed a black jacket with my sleeves pulled up, a white T-shirt with "Guilmon" on the front in red bold letters, black jeans, and white Converse. I went through my usual routine: brush my hair, brush my teeth, lotion my face, pop my neck and back, then clamp my hair into it's wolf tail. I sighed and grabbed my locket once more, willing myself not to look into the picture inside and get back into my deep thought and sadness being.

            Quickly grabbing my bag, I wrote a note on the outside of my door and went down the elevator to wait on the bottom floor. Once there, I saw Robyn up and ready waiting at the door. Okay, in all my 7 years of knowing her, I never knew she was this much of a morning person. She was leaning against the front double doors  with her arms cross over her chest, breathing slowly with her eyes closed. I wondered what she was doing up so early, even the sun was barely up on the horizon and she was up before andyone else was. I walked up to her and gently pushed her so she could wake up.

            "Yo, Robyn?" I asked, shaking her a little bit. "You okay?"

            She looked up and opened her eyes slowly, yawning as she did. Before she made contact with mine. She looked tired and droopy, which wasn't her usual self and it felt a little odd to me seeing her like this.

            "Hm?" she mumbled before realizing I was there. "Oh...hey, Ry, didn't know you were up already." She yawned.

            I crossed my arms. "Yeah, didn't feel like sleeping in today. I didn't know you got up this early."

            She shrugged. "Well, I couldn't sleep so I just got ready and waited down her for the bus. Guess I dozed off while I waited." She made a weak smile.

            I smiled back. "Exaclty what I would do. Mind if I join you?"

            She shook her head and pulled me into her arm, I found her arm draped over my shoulder as he smiled with her eyes closed. I felt her warm body press against mine, her soft, smooth fur rubbing against my skin.

            "Wake me up at seven," she mumbled, already back asleep.

            "You got it."

? ? ?

"Ryan! Ryan! The walls are caving in!" I heard a voice yell over a loud crumbling sound that came from the walls and ceiling.

            I looked back and saw a girl screaming, coveringing her head as small stones rained from above on top of us both. I could hear a loud rumbling emitting from the darkly lit cave around us. I looked up just in time and jumped back, avoiding a large stone from crushing me into a pancake.

            More and more stones rained from abaove like hail, pounding against our bodies as I heard she and I scream in pain. I grabbed her arm and pulled her alone the dark corridor towards a light at the end. It was our only hope to survive and that was the only thing I could think of.

            "Follow me! Come on!" I yelled back over the loud rumbling and crumbling that went on and on. A stone fell onto my neck, casuing me to stumble and cry out in pain.

            She followed my lead and let me pull her along; I looked back, which made my blood turn into ice. The floor was falling to pieces from behind us. I cursed and pulled her harder without intending to, making her fall forward, taking me with her. My arm was jerked down as I gripped onto a stone block that was still in place, I looked back and saw nothing but a dark mass of nothingness. She was screaming her head off as I held onto her wrist as tightly as I could.

            "Don't let go!" she screamed.

            "Wouldn't dream of it!" I yelled back as I felt my grip loosening on the stone I was holding on to.

            I felt more and mroe of my hand begin to slip off, making me curse loudly as I used my fingernails to claw into the stone. I gritted my teeth and yelled out, trying to keep my grip on the stone. This is the time where I wished I was Mr. Fantastic and stretch out of this situation.

            My body went stiff once I felt the stone move.

            "Piper!" I yelled.

            "What?" She yelled back.

            Before I could answer her, the stone gave in and I yelled loudly as we were sent falling into the darkness.

? ? ?

"Ryan? Ryan! Wake up!"

            I jumped awake and this time hit my head against the roof of the bus. I fell onto my butt rubbing my head and groaning. I cursed and hissed, wondering why someone had to wake me right at that second.

            I groaned again once I found out it was Travis, eating a Snicker's bar. Okay, dude, I love you to death but you seriously need to stop eating junk food. I felt sorry for the guy or girl who had to sit next to him, I even felt worse for the teacher if they had to tie him to his desk just to keep him from jumping around the room. How was he skinny as a toothpick? That was a question I asked myself.

            "Ow, Travis?" I groaned. "Did you seriously have to wake me up?" I asked, rubbing the top of my head, expecting a small lump to form.

            He hissed and touched my bulls-eye, making me hiss and yelp. I saw him cringe and go "Ooooooh!" which didn't make me feel better.

            "Oh, dang, man," I heard him say. "Sorry about that, just wanted to tell you we were almost at school and that...I was kinda hoping you could help me with some homework before we got there. Just some history stuff."

            I sighed and nodded, punching him on the shoulder just for making me jump.

            I rummaged through my backpack for my books then groaned this time from my own stupidity. I had forgotten to do my homework, dang. Great, not only was Travis going to get mad at me (along with Alexander) but I was going to have to convince my teachers that my dog ate my homework. It would be convincing, if I had a dog to begin with.

            Just perfect.

            I took out my books and found some paper in-between the pages of my books. I tilted my head and cocked an eye, flipping to my pages and finding my chapter assignments done! They were neatly written and detailed with the work perfectly done right down to my name in the upper left-hand corner. Exactly how I write my name, in a sort of curvy yet readable by anyone handwriting. I saw a note on the bottom of my geometry paper and read it to myself.

Ryan,

            Crept into your room last night to make sure you were asleep and found your books with no work. Shame on you! Nicholas and I did you a favor and did your work for you, but now you owe him big time for it.

            Sincerely, Robyn and Nicholas.

            I wanted to cry then and there, they had just saved me from some major embarrassment and now I was the one who had to pay them back. Hmm, I knew an easy way to pay back Nicholas but Robyn...that might be tough. I guess I'll just have to do something and wait it out until she makes her conditions made. (If she makes me her maid again, I'll seriously flip a table.)

            I handed my work to Travis and smiled. "Come on, let's see what you need help with."

            "Everything..." he mumbled.

One bus ride later and we were at school in class.

            One other thing I had forgotten, the P.D.U. My freaking luck. I was seriously spazzing out with all this forgetting stuff. I was never this bad at forgetting, never. Ne-ver! Never ever! I sat in my seat in the back, Thomas and the rest of the Digi-students weren't there, most likely somewhere else where they had to wait for exams to be finished. All the human students, including the spy kids. I sat with the Twins in the back, waiting for Mr. Hendrix to begin exams.

            The bell rang and it was at the time that Hendrix closed the door and locked it. He slithered over to his desk and began to pull out papers, sending one to each and every human student in the room. I caught one and set it into my lap. One thing I didn't worry about were the golden eyes that he had, he didn't look at me as far as I knew and I was fine for the moment until I looked at the questions.

            "Alright, students, you each will have 45 minutes to complete this exam," he explained. "Remember: answer truthfully, no lies. Understood? Good. Now, there is no right or wrong answer on this exam, write what you think is you. You are the exam in a way, but you have to fill in the blanks about yourself. All right then, if there aren't any questions, you all may begin."

            All our heads went to our papers as we started scribbling in answers from the exam.

1 Name:

2 Birthday:

3 Gender:

4 Likes and dislikes:

5 Favorite Physical Activities:

6 Favorite Country/ Language:

...

20 Happiest moment in your life:

...

25 What would you fight for?

...

30 What angers you the most?

...

35 What is true to you?

...

40 What do you think should be permitted?

            I had lost track of time after answering the final question. Forty questions? I hadn't even realized what the time was until I noticed that everyone else had finished. I was the last one to finish, which caused Hendrix to slither over and begin to take up our exams. When he took mine, however, I noticed that he looked at me from the corner of his eye while turning away. Then, I saw him smile.

            Oy, here we go again.

            "All right students, I need to send these to the gymnasium for full analysis and once I am back the bell should ring and you should go to second block. There, you will finish the P.D.U and unite with your partner. Until then, please stay as quiet as possible until I return, there might be a few others still taking the exam. Until I return, stay safe."

            With that, he was gone and we were left alone. We dispersed and began to practice on some of the instruments for a while. Some of my classmates grabbed some guitars and began to rock it out, a few girls found the new auto-tune feature on the microphone cool and interesting, about four to five students were singing A-Capella with some pretty sick beats. I sat by myself in the back and watched them, even though some of them asked if they wanted me to join in. I just needed some time to think to myself and work out the things in my mind. Those words again went through my head and I thought about them. Assassin...a person who kills a specific target for a reason. Creed...um, maybe some sort of rule or moral code someone abides by? I have no clue. Time...that could mean pretty much anything. Still, I felt like those words had more meaning than what I was giving them credit for, it made my head hurt more just thinking about the whole damn thing.

            I was glad when Hendrix came back a few minutes later and told us to follow him for the "ceremony" he called it. He wanted me to follow him by his side as he slithered, which frankly creeped me even more out. I wanted to be far away from him but I can't just be mean and tell him I want to stay in the back. I gulped and walked beside him, my body stiff as a pole.

            "I know you're a special boy, Ryan," he said to me without taking his eyes off the hallway.

            I shrugged. "I'm not that special, just a regular orphan that goes to school."

            I heard him chuckle. "You may think that now but...give it time and you'll see you're more than just what you think you are."

            Time...he said it like it was a good thing.

            I stayed silent for the rest of the way. For some reason, I could hear lightning outside the school. There was a loud thudding sound coming from the roof, was that rain or hail? It looked bright and sunny earlier, not a cloud in the sky. I could hear the loud whir of the wind outside, I couldn't see the trees but I'm sure they had turned into old people canes from the way they bent over.

            I heard the clap of thunder as it echoed through the school, causing some of the students to look around in a scared kind of way. I scratched the top of my hand, it didn't itch but it burned a little bit. I don't know why but it just burned like someone was using a cattle brander to burn me. I couldn't stop fidgeting or stop moving, my body just didn't seem to allow it.

            What was going on?

            Hendrix led us to the gym for the ceremony to begin. Already, dozens and dozens of students were waiting and talking. Some looked just as jittery and excited as I looked, but I wasn't all that excited. This whole day had just been weird and kinda aggravating with all the things that were going on. I woke up early with some strange words, I had a weird dream on the bus, the exam was very personal, Hendrix was being his usual weird self, and now this weird feeling in my body was going on. I sat down and rubbed my hands together, but the burning feeling mark made me rub the top of my hand. I gritted my teeth and waited for everyone to come and start so we could get this over with.

            Only ten minutes later did all the human students get inside the gym and wait patiently for the rest of the ceremony to go on. There was loud talking, laughing, gossiping and all that crap.

            Coach Vladmir and Calvin stepped out of their coach booth wearing some different clothes: both of them wore white tuxedos with a gun strapped to their thighs. They had on no sunglasses so their golden eyes were showing all over the place, like they were looking for me. I kept my head low and pulled up my hood, which was a dead giveaway maybe but I just didn't want to be seen right now.

            They both carried clipboards, most likely with student's names on them to go first. I didn't want to go first, please, don't let me go first...

            They started calling out three dozen names, and you can only guess who the last name they called out was. Guess, I dare you.

            Correct! You catch on quick! Me...

            "...and Ryan Masters!" Coach Calvin yelled out so everyone could hear. "Please, come to the middle of the auditorium for the ceremony to begin!"

            I felt a dozen pairs of eyes fall onto me, but I noticed that they were also looking at the others who were called. So, at least I wasn't the only one who had the spotlight. I felt someone pat my shoulder, realizing it was Hendrix a few seconds later. I sighed and got up from my seat then made my way down the bleachers and walked to the coaches.

            We made a neat three rows along the basketball court and stood. Gladly, I wasn't dead center in the front or else I knew I was going to faint from the embarrassment. I stood a waited, gulping a few times as I looked over the student covered bleachers. I could see some students pointing fingers at certain students on the court, some seemed to be looking at me as well. I felt my cheeks flush dark red, thankfully I was far away so no one could notice it.

            I looked some ways over the small pond of students surrounding me to see the coaches carrying two large black suitcases. No doubt the Digivices were inside, waiting to be picked by us. They went from two directions opposite of each other along the rows then met at the middle at the final student, then they moved over to the next row of students and did the same exact thing.

            I kept rubbing the burning feeling on my hand, it was really beginning to hurt badly and the top of my hand was beginning to turn fed from the rubbing. I bit my lip and cursed in my mind from the pain, it felt like someone was seriously burning me with cattle-brander. My muscles tensed up and I felt them tighten from the pain I was feeling. Even my head was pounding, the same words I dreamt this morning were repeating again and again in my head with strange voices saying them in a sort of hushed whisper, I shut my eyes and clenched the back of my head, grunting softly. The voices...they just kept repeating themselves over and over...my mind was beginning to get filled with images of things even I didn't understand.

            The weather seemed to be getting worse as well, so I wasn't the only one having a literal bad day. I could hear the whirlwind slam against the walls of the gym like a rhythmic pound and slam, hell, I could even hear the wind blow. Thunder clattered through the skies and echoed all over the city. I felt it rumble the ground like a wild stampede. I, all the sudden, could feel the vibrations tingle against my skin--rattling my body and mind. It made me shudder once more, wondering what the heck was going on. The rain seriously began to sound like bullets being shot against the roof and walls of the school. It could be hailing or it could just be rain droplets hitting the school with a powerful force that I had never felt before.

            During the whole "taking in" of things, I almost didn't notice Coach Vladmir stand before me, holding the suitcase in front of me. I could see just about three just about three Digivices inside. They were shaped like plus-shaped cellphones, except they didn't slide or flip open. They were all colored aqua blue and had a little square screen in the center with a black button and red button on the bottom. One to turn on when you bond with your partner, the other to turn off when your partner dies and you can only guess which is which. Red is live, black is death.

            Once caught my eye however, I saw this engraving along the side of the screen that didn't appear on the other's at all. I squinted my eyes and tried to read it but it didn't look like any writing I had ever seen before and, truth be told, I don't think it was even a language in my book. It was an odd one, perfect for an odd ball like me.

            I generously took it, realizing my headache and burning feeling had subsided once I had taken the device. I saw Vladmir flash me a toothy smile with his perfect while teeth. His golden eyes told me everything I needed to know, but then he moved on to the next students quickly.

            Once he and his partner were finished, they went back up to the front of the group and set their cases on the ground and placed their hands over their hearts, folding their ring fingers (and claw) inward for some reason and closed their eyes. I saw them mumble something but their lips were to low that I couldn't see. When their heads came back up, in a creepy synchronized kind of way, they looked at all of us.

            "Everyone! Please press the red button on your Digivices and meet your new partner!" they both chanted in a weird way.

            Without a second warning, my thumb fell upon the red button of the device and pushed it. Instantly I was engulfed but a bright white light that forced me to cover my eyes for a brief few seconds.

            That wasn't the only weird thing however. There was much more to come. The device radiated with a warm golden glow that spread up my forearms and made me howl out as I felt something burn into my skin, this time it felt real. The light stayed engulfed around me as I felt hot metal press against the skin of my forearms. I looked to see both of my arms wrapped in a sort of metal bracer with leather gloves covering my hands with the fingertips cut off.

            "Porca puttana!" I cursed out loud, hopefully unable to be heard. (Holy shit!)

            I turned to see the place on my hand that had been burning earlier begin to glow a strange aura. I hissed and cursed as lines began to trace themselves over the top of my hand into some sort of shape that I couldn't see.

            My attention turned back to the Digivice, it began to mold and shape into an entirely new Digivice. It was shaped like a white oval, but heavier on the screen end. It had yellow rubber grippers on the left and right sides while an aqua blue almost empty circle stayed around the square screen. An antenna sprung from the right side with a black tipped end.

            For some reason the light around me didn't hurt at all, it felt warm but it was in a reassuring warmth. I could feel a light breeze fly over my body, whisping my air to one side but it felt good. The warmth welled over my body and comforted me through the whole experience, it was like the pain was dulled and lessened and my tension that I had been building up had been eased. I let out a sigh of relief and smiled for some reason, it didn't feel weird at all.

            It actually felt relaxing for a change.

            The light began to swirl around me then dissipate into thin air into tiny sparkles that circled me. I had my eyes shut maybe a little after the burning but slowly opened them to let the light of the gym welcome me back. I gripped my newly created Digivice and looked around. The bracers on my arms were definitely metal and they had these sort of designs on the top of them with some sort of eagle design around the whole forearm bracer. It caught me off guard but at least I didn't scream like Nicholas might (which is exactly like a little girls' scream).

I saw the students around me with their new Digimon partners, some I though seemed appropriate for their personality. Others, well, only time seemed to tell for me if they could become in synch.

            However, everyone, even the students and faculty in the bleachers, were all staring right at me.

            I was about to ask why but I heard a voice right next to me that made me jump out of my skin.

            "Um, excuse me?" The voice asked. "Are you my partner?"

            I looked to my left and nearly passed out. Instead of doing that, I gulped and felt my body grow cold until I felt like I had been touched by a Jack Frost.

            Standing next to me was Veemon, who was just above my waist but only by half a foot or so. He had green emerald eyes, with a white stomach and snout. He looked fit and thin but I knew I saw muscles all over his body. He wore nothing more than a pair of black soccer shorts that went past his knees. He was bare-chested--his flat chest and arched back that revealed his flat stomach was easily visible.

            But it wasn't the body that got me cold. No, not even (well, maybe) close. The feature to his body that made me go cold and stiff was the color of his skin.

            Pure gold.