Time of Destruction-Crossing Worlds

Ch1: In a World of Wonder

Blair

"Okay class!" I jolted awake as my teacher, Mrs. Taronio's scratchy, high-pitched voice rang out into the rather large classroom. "Listen please!"

I, Blair Belsito, the sixteen-year-old society reject and first-class teenage dirtbag of Able Art Academy, blinked as I slowly raised my head from where it was resting on my arms. It took me a moment to realize, Oh right...I'm still at school...

Damn, I thought to myself, as my bleary vision cleared. And I was having a good dream, too. I managed to turn my attention to Mrs. Taronio for a few seconds, long enough to hear her say

"Class, please welcome to our classroom our very special guest today...Dr. Cato!"

Oh boy, the snooze-fest. Dr. Cato is a famous scientist here in "Wickbrunswen: The City that Flies High!" In fact, he created the community. But he's overrated, honestly. I mean, yeah, he saved humanity from extinction by building a flying city, but that was years ago. We've all heard the story of how Wickbrunswen came to be about a million times, the only new thing he talks about are the inventions he has planned for the future. He may be the hero of the human race, but his presentations are boring as hell.

Apparently, I'm the only one in the class who thinks so. A rupture of applause erupted through the classroom as soon as the man's name left Mrs. Taronio's mouth. I rolled my eyes. These mindless drones of students are actually excited to listen to this guy blab on and on about digital fireworks or robotic massage therapy, or some other pointless shit that we don't need. 

"Hello class!" Cato said, trying to sound enthusiastic about talking to a classroom full of sad excuses for high school art prodigies, and failing so miserably that he looked like he wanted to throw himself off the edge of the city. "I am Doctor Conrad Cato. I am sure you've all heard of my company, Afilahx Incorporated..." I began to zone out, as his monotone voice was the perfect way to lull a sixteen-year-old to sleep on a dreary Monday morning like this one

Oh well, I thought as I felt myself drift off to sleep. Guess this means more nap time for me...I'm sure no one will notice...

Not even five minutes later, I hear "Young lady!" Cato's voice raised in volume, but not in pitch. "In the back left corner!"

Dammit, I thought, raising my head up for the second time in a few minutes. Busted...

"Miss Belsito," he began, catching me off guard. I remembered my parents taking me to a meet-and-greet science event that Cato and some other Afilahx employees were hosting when I was five or six years old. I barely remembered it, but I met Cato and had a picture taken with him. How did he, a busy and hardworking scientist, remember my name?

"Sleeping during my presentation," he continued. "quite disrespectful." He gave a couple of tsk's and shook his head in disappointment. The entire class stared at me in shock, like they couldn't believe I would ever dare be rude to a scientist, and my teacher gave me a piercing stare from where she sat at her desk.

"Blair," Mrs. Taronio said through gritted teeth from the side of the classroom. "Apologize to Dr. Cato, right now."

I knew better than anyone that nothing good could come from sassing someone like Dr. Cato, a man so high up on the social pyramid that he even exceeds the president of Wickbrunswen in popularity, so I kept my long list of snarky remarks to myself and just apologized.

"You are forgiven," he nodded reluctantly, as if he wanted to get me into more trouble. "But if another incident like this happens, you will not be let off so easily."

"Yes sir," I said quietly as he continued with his presentation while I pretended to pay attention.

It was in those few moments that I began realized that Wickbrunswen may be a lot less of a paradise and much more of a prison than I thought it was.