Chapter One

I bolted through the forest, my heart pounding as fast as it can be. The reason for their relentless chase remained a mystery for me, and all I craved was the tranquility of a normal teenage life. Dashing through the dense thick foggy forest, I sought refuge among towering trees, their branches providing a feeble shield from those who wants me. Concealed in the eerie silence, broken only by my labored breaths and the gentle rustling of leaves, I strained to discern the distant sounds of those who are chasing me. The forest hid me, but their sheer numbers posed a formidable challenge, knowing that these trees are only a moment before they find me again. Fatigue clawed at my limbs, but weakness wasn't an option, exhaustion will only fueled their advantage.

Realizing I had outdistanced them, I sought myself behind a colossal tree, its mighty trunk shielding my ordinary frame. A loud silence engulfed me, broken only by the rhythmic dance of leaves in the breeze and distant murmurs of the relentless chasers. As I still struggled to wonder why they hunted me, an unsettling realization gnawed at my mind. I had no recollection of how I found myself in this scene.

"He's here!" The abrupt shout pierced the quiet, a blinding light from a flashlight revealing my face. Panic surged, propelling me to escape, but a force seized my arm, restraining me. "Stop! Let me go!" I pleaded, but the pressure on my arm is hard to handle, making myself trapped, with these people. Another figure advanced, gripping my chin, their strength eclipsing my feeble resistance. "Do you think you can escape us? No," their leader declared.

I keep moving myself, hoping that it would release me from them, but no. Something else releases from me when a surge of pressure engulfed my head, a boiling rage building within.

"Let me go!" I screamed, unleashing a torrent of energy. The ground trembled beneath me, trees swaying in the tumult. A deafening noise echoed – a symphony of roots torn from the earth, cascading trees in a domino effect. Seconds later, an eerie calm replaced the chaos. I cautiously opened my eyes, greeted by a surreal scene – fallen trees and the once-pursuers now shrouded in their own crimson demise, their headless bodies sending shivers down my spine.

A bloodcurdling scream erupted, tearing through my consciousness. Abruptly, I jolted awake, gasping for air. My surroundings shifted from the haunting forest to the familiar sights of my bedroom.

It was 8:45 in the morning, and the echoes of that nightmarish chase still lingered. I can still feel the pressure on my head, a pounding heart trying to escape, and a sweat dripping down on my face.

Bathroom, bath, breakfast. A normal morning routine facade of normalcy concealing the enigma that was my existence. The mundane activities masked the inexplicable gap in my memory, a void I yearned to fill.This was my life, a surreal blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary.

However, today, May 16, 2042, is different –

,my 16th birthday.

A day I spent trapped between memories and oblivion, existing for only three of the sixteen years I ostensibly lived. Why? I don’t know. I can’t remember. They said I was involved in an accident that made me erase my memories. But I know something more had happened to me, I just don’t know what it is. As I navigated through my routine, a startling eerie unfolded – the dream. I can’t still forget the dream. It is different from the dreams I used to have, this time it feels real, it felt like it was a memory. The forest chase, lingered like an ominous specter. The allure of my birthday beckoned, yet the unsettling dream clouded the day with an air of uncertainty.

I pulled into the garage to start my car and head to Willington Academy, where I study.

The academy stood where an Amusement Park built before, once thrived in Friday Harbor, Washington, before letting it’s momentum disappear to an unexplained fire that left only ashes in its wake, eliminating the joy it once brought. The fire raged just before the anticipated Independence Day celebration. It was part of the history, many had died there. I heard a prince died there, but it was a myth of course. How could a prince celebrate their independence in Washington? Except if you are gullible enough to believe them.

Turning on the radio, giving me a diversion from the enigmatic events surrounding me. I sigh and my indecisive thoughts are stuck in between the options of whether immersing myself in music or staying informed about the world, the radio served as my companion during these contemplative moments.

The news anchor's voice infiltrated my thoughts, reporting an astonishing tale of a missing blue whale from Ocean Park in Friday Harbor. They suspected foul play, suggesting the possibility of a kidnapping or theft orchestrated by someone within the Ocean Park staff. The guard's prolonged slumber fueled speculation of a nefarious plot involving a drugged beverage.

Stupid, I thought.

A blue whale, size compared to a ship, being kidnapped, and no one noticed? Ridiculous. Why would they even want to kidnap or steal a whale in the first palce? Do they want to pet a Whale? I doubt that a scientist or a researcher was the one who plan it all out, it is rare to have a blue whale, size like a dolphin. It has a rare condition, making that blue whale famous and a tourist attraction here in Friday Harbour. They said that that whale is special because of its rare condition in its’ brain and nerves that makes it different from the other whales. That Blue Whale is the only Whale inside the Ocean Park. The marine saves that Whale ages ago, and they decided that they will send him to the biggest Ocean Park in Washington once fully healed. The move aimed to protect the whale due to potential dangers in its natural habitat, reason why they are not bringing it back to the ocean. In the present day, sharks, whales, and various sea creatures have found sanctuary within Ocean Parks as Earth undergoes a healing process. Regarded as a miracle, this rehabilitation is attributed to the aftermath of a global virus that swept across the world between 2019 and the middle of 2021. Despite the positive impact on the Earth's recovery, there is a somber acknowledgment that the pandemic claimed numerous lives during its course.

The paradox of this situation prompts an awareness that everything, even the tragedies, unfolds for a reason. The delicate balance between the ecological rejuvenation and the human toll is a poignant reminder that our world is intricately connected, and every event, whether perceived as good or bad, contributes to the intricate tapestry of existence.

Arriving at school at 9:56 AM, I cared little for my tardiness, knowing my teacher shared my indifference, she does not care if a student is late or early in her class, as long as you are listening and learning, she does not bother at all.

My life isn't perfect to be honest, but I have everything when it comes to money and things that the others don't have. That's why a lot of people are jealous of me, some see me as their enemies, some see me as their friends, some… See me as a charity. But even though everyone looked after me, judged like they know my story, they know my struggle, they don’t. Because in the first place, I do not have a story to tell. But you know what? Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll remember then I’ll be proud to share my life before that incident, I have everything, they would listen, they would gather, the only thing I don't have that everything have is a family, and a memory.

The school day passed routinely until the bell marked its end.

Greetings of "Happy Birthday" echoed as I navigated my way out of this academy. The weight of my surname, Brenner, a very known family name in this town, draws attention, making more students ended up greeting me, as if they care.

Every single person inside the school greeted me and the whole town knew my family name. The reason behind it is because knew Fajardo Brenner. My uncle. He is the "so far, so great" mayor here in Friday Harbor, he is also doctor before he become one of the local mayor in Friday Harbour, he is the President's best friend, but no one knew his name and appearance, we just know that he is a good person.

In this newly modernize world, 2 important Local Government stand beneath the people, Local Mayor, and a Local President. Those 2 Local Governments wasn't controlled by the real Government of Washington. They are only the government existing here in Friday Harbour, a city, hidden in the east around Washington. The local president has more power than the Local mayor, but no matter how powerful they are, it didn’t save their life as my uncle and the President died with too many people when an unknown atomic bomb exploded somewhere here in Washington, year 2036. I don't have the exact date because people had a selective memory loss after the event, making the reality shuffle with their own beliefs and imagination. The explosion is the biggest mystery of all time here in Washington because until now, the place where the explosion came from is still unknown, and the reason behind its’ explosion, is still unknown.

Almost everything was destroyed, but after a year, things goes back to the way it is…

In the midst of the birthday wishes, my friends – Justin, Max, and Maxine – surprised me with a cake, their camaraderie momentarily overshadowing the intricacies of my complicated life. As we savored the cake in the cafeteria, the curious eyes of fellow students scrutinized the supposed perfection of my life.

"Blow the cake Jack." Max said, so I did. They clap their hands like it was a big deal and sang me a birthday song.

This is what it's like to be a Brenner. If you are a Brenner, you have the attention of everyone and the whole town knows you. I don't want it. I don't know why, but I just don't. Being a Brenner, assume that you will always have an enemy. Why? Like I said, they are all jealous to you.

"You don't look happy." Justin said. "Aren't we used to it? We're like friends for three years now, as if we don’t know each other." Maxine mock. We sat down inside the cafeteria and ate the cake they bought. "What's your plan for tonight Jack?”

"I don't have a plan for tonight." I answered.

"You don’t always have a plan for your birthday Jack. " Maxine added.

She is right, I don’t. The only thing I am planning for every birthday that I haad, for the past two years is to remember who I am. That’s what.

"Jack!" I shifted back here in the cafeteria when Maxine called my name. "Are you upset?" She asks. "Why?" I ask her and look to my friends.

"The table is shaking." Justin said. I apologize and calm myself down, making the table stop from shaking.

I take a deep breath and a crazy idea slipped in my mind for today.

Why would I waste thinking about the past that is probably now gone when I can make a new memories, right now, right here. I stood from the tables, getting everyone attention. My friends tried to stop me, and the students starts to give me the attention I want. I declared a birthday party at the mansion, not a kiddie party, but a real party, with liquor, music, and everything they asks for, inviting everyone to partake in the celebration at 7 pm. My friends, initially bewildered, eventually embraced the idea, setting the stage for an unconventional birthday gathering.

As the day ended, a dichotomy persisted – the allure of normalcy and the call of an extraordinary destiny. The mansion, witness to the intricacies of the Brenner legacy, stood poised to host a celebration that would transcend the boundaries of a typical birthday bash. The stage was set for an unforgettable night, where the intricacies of my past and present would collide under the guise of revelation.