Shader

Part One Chapter One: Turning 13

It had been so long since I had felt either of these things. After a couple minutes of thinking, I came up with the only memories of my father that I had. When I was about four years old my father had come home for the first time, so he could be there for Christmas. I remember him holding me in his arms in a way that way so protective, but still gentle. His touch was worm and comforting. Since that day, I've never really known the feeling of serenity. After the memory ended, I felt the burning go away, but the tired feeling was worse than ever.

"Good job, Kid. You feel okay?" he asked.

"I feel really tired and weak, but better than I did when I was on fire." I said.

"Wait, you felt the fire?" he said.

"Ya. Well, in the beginning no, but towards the last couple of minutes yes. Actually the burning feeling was more on my leg than anywhere else." I said.

"I don't think that was supposed to happen." He said.

"I don't think catching on fire was actually supposed to happen. I mean how did that even happen? People don't just catch on fire for ten minutes and live. I mean, I don't even have an injury...I should be dead!" I said.

"I can't believe your mother didn't tell you any of this. I mean that's her job as a Shader parent!" he yelled.

"Hello! You still haven't answered any of my questions." I said.

"Look, for now the people who were just trying to kill us, are gone, but that's not going to last for long, so we have to go."

"Uncle John," I said as I grabbed his arm to stop him from walking away, "I was just engulfed in flames for at least ten minutes, and I don't even have one of those burns you get from nicking yourself with a curling iron. I'm going to need an answer before I go anywhere with anyone."

As if on cue, I heard footsteps coming down the hall. I turned to my uncle and said the first thing that came to mind.

"Never mind, let's go."

"Hate to break it to you, Kid, but the door is still locked."

At that moment the two men in black suits had come back into the room. At the last second Uncle John and I dived behind a couch in the waiting room to hide from them.

"Uncle John, they're back!" I warned.

"I have eyes, I can see that." he said as he frantically tried to open the door.

I scanned the room from behind the couch for answers and out of the corner of my eye, I found a button behind the reception desk that might unlock the door.

"Uncle John."

"Yes?" He said sounding rather annoyed.

"I think I found the button that might unlock the door."

"You think or you know?" he asked.

"I know...I think."

"Okay, but hurry up. If you go fast, you might be able to get behind the desk before they notice you and start to shoot." he said.

"Really? There's a chance that I might get shot and you're going to let me do it?"

"Okay, let me put this in perspective for you. If you don't go we will surely die, no questions asked. If you do go, there is a chance we'll get out of here in one piece."

"Well, why don't you go?" I asked.

"Because I'm going to distract them so you can run across."

"Oh, right."

"Okay, you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."