Program Error

Chapter One

He stands up, towering over me, trying to intimidate me. "Make me." I'm not scared. 

I kick him in the shin with my BioTech integrated leg. I step back and watch him cringe. He grabs his shin, leaning on the bus seat next to him. He looks up at me, the pain completely gone from his face. "No more games, Aza." 

Before I can react, Darren swings at me, full force. His fist smacks into my cheek, sending waves of pain through my jaw. Disoriented, I crumple to the ground. I taste something salty, kind of metallic in my mouth. Blood.  My vison is hazy. I can barely make out Darren's figure, his leg whirling back. Suddenly, his foot smashes into my stomach, making me want to vomit. I sink further onto the ground. 

"Hey!" I hear a familiar voice from behind us. Darren glances behind me, and before he can blink, is punched in the face. He brings his hands to his nose, crimson liquid running down his face. His eyes are angry, searching for his attacker. 

Standing right in front of him is my brother, Calum. "Don't touch my sister, Darren,"he growls. He kicks Darrens in the shins, sending him toppling to the floor next to me. Must be his weak point.  Calum extends his hand out to me, and I quickly grab it, shakily pulling myself to my feet. The area where Darren punched me still burns. I tenderly bring my hand up to feel it.  I can feel the area swelling. The taste of blood is still on my tongue. 

Darren roars, then wildly throws a punch at Calum. His fist connects with Calum's eye. Calum falls back, but I catch him. He quickly frees himself of my grip, lunging at Darren. I hold him back. I saw Darren attacking me coming, but punching my little brother? I won't stand for that. 

Unexpectantly, an ear peircing alarm rings through the air. Darren and Calum are frozen mid- punch as they look towards the TeleScreen. Every head turns, and all eyes, including mine, fall on the sleek, black screen loacted at the front of the bus. The screen lights up, the word "offense" in big, red letters. Three faces appear on the screen. Calum's, on the right, then Darren's, and finally mine. "Offense level three" is written across the screen. All eyes turn to the three standing in the middle of the bus, just as we come up to the school. Just fantastic. The offenses will be recorded in the school database, and then recorded on my status card.

"Are you serious?"Darren says, throwing his arms down.  

The bus doors open with a swish as the bus comes to a stop.  The other students waste no time clamoring of the bus, not wanting to be anywhere near us. And I can understand why. Students witnessing an offense will be questioned on the matter, maybe even pulling themselves into the case. 

Soon enough, it's just me, Calum, and Darren standing on the bus. Saira stands in the aisle, behind us. Blood still drips down Darren's chin, Calum's eye is turining black and blue, and my stomach is tense. I am sure there will be a bruise later. We must look terrible.

Darren turns to both of us, wiping the blood off his face. Calum and I step back.  "Now I've got  seven offenses,"he says sharply. "Don't think this is over." He looks me in the eyes. "Especially you." He turns around, grabs his tab bag, then hops off of the bus.

"You okay?"Calum asks me, eyes full of concern. 

No. "Fine,"I reply. Of course I'm not fine. My face feels like it's on fire. I think I'm going to throw up. "Thanks for helping me out." I try to fake a smile, but it hurts too much. It makes me upset that Calum had to come to my rescue. I'm his older sister. I'm supposed to protect him.

"Good." He simply grabs his tab bag, and walks off the bus like nothing ever happened. Calum has that lucky trait, to brush things off like they are little matters. I wish I could say the same thing for myself.

I remember Saira is still on the bus when I hear her picking up her bag. I turn around, my eyes meeting with hers. "Aza, what were you thinking?"she chides. Her face is a mixture concern and annoyance.

"What?" I throw my arms up in mock question.

She rolls her eyes. "Are you trying to get yourself in big trouble?"

"No,"I murmur. "But Darren really needs to stop acting jerky."

"I know. But you,"she points a finger at me,"need to stop acting stupid. These thoughtless actions are going land you in big trouble with the Society."

"I know. I'm not trying to!" I expel a long breath as a brush past her. I walk back to the ailse seat we were sitting in, grab my tab bag, then join Saira. "We better get going,"I say, ignoring her gaze. We probably have around six minutes until we are to be in first period. Being late will result in yet another offense, and I'm not taking any chances.

Suprisingly, the bus hasn't left the lot. It is programmed to leave the school every day at the same time. That time was three minutes ago. I wonder what is wrong with our bus' Automater.

Other students are still arriving as Saira and I make our way towards the school doors. I catch the sneaky stares of them, probably gazing at my battle scars. I hold my chin up high, ignoring them. Saira glares at the few who are still staring.

"You know,"she says as she turns to me, "you did kick his butt. He deserved that." The corners of her mouth are turned up in a devious grin.

I flash a devilish smile of my own. "I guess we did,"I laugh.

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Hey guys! I had to reupload this chapter because somehow half of it got deleted! I don't know what happened, but I was a little upset because I had to rewrite the whole last half of this chapter. Hopefully that doesn't happen again.

Anyways, I am working on the second chapter and it will be up soon! Please comment any feedback or suggestions you have, I'd really appreciate it! Also, leave a vote if you'd like. Thank you so much for reading, and have a great day!

~DiaDream