Beginnings

Gio is sitting on his bed with a napkin in his hand. He is sitting there reading the words that are on the napkin. He is slowly reading down the napkin with a red pen that Raymond gave him in his hand. He crosses out a word on the napkin and sighs.

Gio: Just one more. I should be able to get this later.

Gio falls back in his bed and tucks the napkin down the neck of his one-piece.

Gio: [What is Kyle going to do when this is all over and done with? What is Sarah going to do? Is Raymond such a bad guy that I can't tell him anything they are planning?]

He was worried and he didn't realize it at the time, but Gio wasn't worried about how mad Raymond would be if he caught them or if he would get punished or not. Gio was worried about Sarah and Kyle. He was worried that they would move on without him. That they will forget him.

Gio: I am just tired. That is what is wrong. I will feel better in the morning.

Gio closes his heavy eyes and drifts off.

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???: You must find me.

Gio: Huh?

Gio found himself floating in an empty space. He could see his breath every time he exhaled but he didn't feel cold at all. He didn't feel warm, cold, hot, or tired like he did before. He didn't even feel confused or curious about where he was. It was as if in this space you weren't allowed to feel anything without permission. He didn't feel anything at all.

No ... that is wrong. All of this was something. It wasn't the fact that Gio didn't feel anything, it wasn't even the fact that he couldn't feel anything. Gio was feeling something, and it was a feeling that he was sure would never truly leave him.

Emptiness

???: You must find me Gio.

Gio: Okay. Where are you then?

When Gio spoke, his voice echoed. And the voice he was hearing sounded like multiple people were speaking simultaneously.

???: You must find me.

The voice started to get quieter and farther. Gio began to look around the void to see if could see anyone but in the end, he saw nothing.

Gio: Where are you?

He got no response. Whatever was talking to him disappeared without a trace. Gio continued to look around. Whatever force that was preventing him from feeling anything disappeared. He felt curious about his predicament. And curiosity was the only thing he felt. He didn't feel fear, confusion, or loneliness in this empty space. Gio's mind started to race with possibilities.

Gio: Is this a dream?

???: "Whenever you are scared, confused or feeling any negative emotions just make sure you take a deep breath and think about your next steps carefully. Choose a path where you and everyone you love can be happy. Become a better person, than I was Giovanni. If anyone can find happiness in a world like this, it will definitely be you. I love you and I always will."

A voice he did not recognize echoed in his head. He was met with the feeling of warmth. This feeling made Gio's racing mind slow down. It was at this moment Gio stopped questioning where he was and how he got here. He couldn't however figure out where this feeling of warmth and safety came from. This feeling was new to him, but it still somehow felt familiar.

Gio looked down at his hands. When he saw them, they were transparent. The transparency began to spread all over Gio's body. His body slowly became harder and harder to see until his consciousness began to drift. He closed his eyes as his body became nothing.

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When Gio awoke his head was throbbing. He also felt much heavier than usual. His eyes felt heavy and it felt as if he was going to vomit. All the warmth and safety that he felt before completely disappeared and was replaced by pain and exhaustion.

Gio: Do I have enough time to go back to sleep?

Gio then heard his door begin to open when he asked that.

Gio: I hate my life.

Raymond: What was that?

Gio: Nothing.

Gio sits up and swings his feet off the bed. He began to massage his forehead with his middle finger and his thumb. He closes his eyes and slows down his breathing.

Gio: Is it time already?

Raymond: Yes, it is. Are you okay?

Gio stops massaging his head and opens his eyes to look up at Raymond.

Gio: Yes, I am fine. Just a little headache.

Raymond: Well, if you say so. Let's get moving though.

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Gio walks out of the warp into the classroom. He then walks over to his seat. Gio was excited for the lesson, but he just couldn't seem to overcome this terrible headache. And it only seemed to get worse the longer the day went on.

Gio: What are you teaching me today?

Raymond: Well since you have been more intrigued by technology, we will be learning about another piece.

Raymond pulls out a white sphere as big as a soccer ball from under the desk and rests it on the desk.

Raymond: This is a Lift.

Gio looks at the sphere and squints. His curiosity was rising fast. And the pain in his head was slowly starting to cease. He smiles as his body begins to feel lighter.

Gio: how does it work?

Raymond then reaches into his lab coat pocket and pulls out a circular piece of sky-blue glass that was the size of his palm. He grabs the sphere and slowly brings the piece of glass and sphere closer together. Gio sees and hears the crackling of lightning when they are brought close enough together. The crackling then stops when the glass and sphere are about one inch apart. Raymond continues to try and push the glass closer to the sphere but it completely stops before they can make contact. Raymond lets go of the piece of glass and it begins to float close to the sphere.

Raymond: Just had to make sure it was close enough within its field.

Gio: Field?

Raymond: Yes, field. For the glass to be within its field it needs to be about 1 inch close to the sphere. If you take it out of this field-

Raymond grabs the piece of glass and pulls away from the sphere. He lets go of the glass but this time instead of floating it drops to the floor.

Raymond: The glass will no longer be affected by the sphere's magnetic field.

Raymond picks up the glass off the floor and brings it close to the glass again.

Gio: How does the glass float close to the sphere?

Raymond: Small fragments of an extremely durable metal called Cytonium were put into the glass. It is these fragments that allow the glass to be affected by the Lifts magnetic field.

Gio: Hm.

Raymond: What is wrong?

Gio: I mean, is that all that it does? Make Cytonium float when it comes close enough.

Gio's smile fades as he looks down at his desk in disappointment.

Raymond: Of course, not.

Gio looks up and sees Raymond smiling.

Raymond looks back into his lab coat pocket and pulls out a remote with several buttons, each one being a different shade of blue. Raymond presses a button that is sky-blue, and the glass then begins to glow. Raymond lifts the sphere in the air with the piece of glass facing the ground and lets go of it. Gio watches in amazement as the sphere does not fall towards the ground but levitate in the air.

Raymond: Want to see something else?

Raymond presses a button on his remote and the sphere begins to lower down until it is eye level with Raymond. Raymond spins the sphere in multiple directions, but the glass continues to face the ground no matter what direction the sphere spins.

Raymond: That is why we made it, so the glass doesn't touch the sphere. If it did then we would be able to move without flying a certain direction. Instead-

Raymond presses an ocean blue button, and the glass moves, so instead of facing the ground it faces the wall to Gio's right. When the glass faces that wall the sphere flies into the wall on Gio's left.

Raymond: We use the lift for mainly moving. Boxes, elevators, and we are working hard so we can use it to drive vehicles through the sky.

Gio's eyes light up as his smile returns.

Gio: So-

Before Gio can ask any more questions, a voice.

Masculine voice: A heavy blizzard is close, begin to prepare now.

A surprised look appears on Raymond's face.

Raymond: Sorry we are going to have to cut this short.

Gio: Oh ...

Gio's smile faded again, and his smile turned to a frown.

Gio: [Oh! I almost forgot.]

Gio: I want to remember this lesson for the rest of my life. Can I have that glass? So, I can remember and make sure you finish the lesson.

Raymond: I don't know. It is a very important piece of technology, Gio. Cytonium is very rare.

Gio: Please? Just until the next lesson.

Raymond looks at the lift and then back at Gio.

Raymond: Fine

Raymond walks over, picks the glass off the ground and then hands it to Gio. Gio smiles and looks up at Raymond.

Gio: Thank you!

Raymond: Only until tomorrow

Gio: Okay!

Raymond uses his remote to activate the warp.

Gio: Those assistant professors will be here soon, right? And you still have to answer all the questions that I have.

Raymond: And I will. Trust me.

Gio smiles and nods.

Gio: I always will.

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Gio walks through the warp and when he gets through, he finds himself in the hallway. He turns around and sees Raymond.

Raymond: Go straight back to your room.

Gio: Okay.

Gio turns around and begins to walk to the lobby.

Raymond: Gio ...

Gio turns back around to see Raymond.

Gio: Yes?

Raymond smiles and gets that mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Raymond: See ya later.

Raymond turns around and walks back through the warp.

Gio is confused by what Raymond said. After all, he has never said that to him before. Gio decides that Raymond did not mean anything by it. Gio walks back to the lobby and walks to his door. He almost goes through it until he remembers something. Gio lifts the piece of glass up to his face.

Gio: [A piece of glass is the last thing he needs.]

Gio walks over to Kyle's door and slides the piece of glass under the door.

Gio: I hope Raymond doesn't get mad.

Gio walks into his room and closes the door behind him. He then jumps on his bed and the pain in his head returns. He also began to feel heavy again, like he did before. Gio closes his eyes and drifts off.

Gio: [I am sure I will feel better in the morning.]

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As Gio was in a world of darkness. He was curious if this was the same darkness as before, but he knew it wasn't. He was simply asleep. While Gio was asleep he began to hear noises. He heard the sound of metal hitting against metal. He heard a humming sound. The sound began to get louder and louder until it was put to a stop. The humming sound was replaced by the sound of metal hitting something solid. In this world of darkness, he saw multiple flashes of azure blue light. He heard multiple voices screaming but he could not make out what they were saying. He heard a high-pitched sound and then he heard the sound of glass break and hitting the ground. Gio's eyes began to slowly open. His eye lids were too heavy for him to fully open them. He turned his head to look at his window, but he only saw a silhouette of a man. The silhouette came closer to Gio until Gio saw his face.

Gio: K ... Kyle?

Gio almost didn't recognize Kyle because of all the red on his face. Kyle also now had a wound on the left side of his face. The wound went from his cheek to his jaw. And through this scar you were able to see Kyles teeth. His teeth were also red now thanks to the red that was coming out of his new wound.

Gio: What are you doing in my room at this time?

Kyle: I am here to save you Gio.

Gio: Huh?

Kyle: Me and Sarah are leaving right now. And you are coming with us.