SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA…
6:32PM. SEPTEMBER 7TH 2043…
The sky outside the car was a little bit cloudy, from the looks of it, it would rain, but there was nothing about rain in the weather forecast that morning, just a bit of cloud and a chilly atmosphere so everyone went about with their usual evening activities.
"Hey mum. I would really like to get a book from the library, mind if I drop here?" Dorian, a skinny looking boy with short blonde hair and grey eye color finally broke the long silence in his mother's car. "Alright dear, but make sure you meet me at the store so we can get all what you need before it gets dark, okay?" A tall woman with long black hair also with grey eye color and a surprisingly small lip with a long neck replied Dorian. She slowed the vehicle down and came to a halt near the pedestrian lane so Dorian could alight from the car. "Okay, love you", he replied closing the door with a soft thud and watched his mum drive off when the traffic light turned green.
"How may I help you sir?" A C.E.R (Civilian Efficient Robot) flew towards Dorian. C.E.Rs are spherical robots that fly around the city to assist civilians. Although they are very helpful, Dorian thinks they are a blot to the beautiful city. "Um… I just need to get to the library and I know the way, thanks", Dorian said hastily and walked away before the C.E.R could say any other thing, "I don't need a robot telling me what to do", he sighed and turned at a corner. Walking along a new street, he saw few robots flying ahead and he increased the pace at which he was walking because he didn't want to be stopped by another C.E.R. 'I hope they finish the upgraded version of this annoying things soon', Dorian thought to himself. The upgraded version of the C.E.Rs are going to have a face recognition system whereby you don't get stopped by another C.E.R within the time frame of four hours if a C.E.R has previously stopped you. The makers of the robots are putting a lot of hard work into this project to the comfort of the civilians because they get at least twenty messages a day with complains about the robots stopping people at regular intervals and usually delaying them.
"Hey Mrs. Brown, can I borrow this book?" Dorian brought out his new phone which was just released last month by a company called Xeno. The phone is completely transparent and comes with a special ear pud which only works with the phone. Dorian showed her the picture of the book on his phone. "Oh… sorry Dorian but a kid just came by and borrowed the last copy the library has". Mrs. Brown straightened her glasses, "by the way where are your glasses?" She asked him now walking towards a shelf. "Well… I wear contact lenses now" he removed them and placed them in their case. " It's cool because the AI in them makes your sight normal for about an hour when you take them off and it also has the ability to magnify things just by talking to them" he finished speaking with a grin plastered on his face. "Well I better get one of those, I'm sick and tired of getting the handle of my glasses broken every time I'm in a hurry or when they fall down", she said looking slightly frustrated and adjusting her glasses. " I better get going. My mum's waiting for me at the grocery store nearby and I don't want to keep her waiting", he waved at Mrs. Brown and wore his ear pud as he walked out of the library and made his way to the store.
The sky was now dark. The stars were visible and the streetlights were on as they automatically do when it gets dark. The streets were also brightened by the lights coming from various stores along the roads. Few minutes passed by and Dorian was at the store. He saw his mum waiting by the car at the parking slot. He waved at her and she waved back. "I'll meet you inside", Dorian called out when he heard his phone buzzing in his bomber jacket's pocket. "Alright sweetie" his mum said as he approached her and she walked into the store. At that same time, a man walked out of the store with a small device in his right hand. A device which Dorian couldn't help but notice. It was a bomb detonator. Dorian knew this because his father was an officer in the U.S army and he was sure they don't sell bombs in a grocery store. 'It's none of my business', he thought silently. "… as he walks in", the man said. "sorry?" Dorian asked facing the man. The man tried to hide his face by pulling the face cap over it but unfortunately, a car drove in at that moment and his face was revealed. Dorian saw the communication device in his ear and realized he wasn't talking to him. "oh… sorry", he smiled and picked the call which was from Amanda. The man walked away very fast and Dorian thought maybe he wasn't okay mentally. Dorian pushed the glass door to enter the store but remembered he had to pick up something from the car, after walking few steps away from the door, he heard a loud bang behind him and the shattering of glass. Those were the last thing he heard before be passed out. "Hello, hello… Dorian you there?... Well call me back when you're ready, the party's about to start" a soft voice came from the other end of the call.
"I think we'll have to go to the party without Dorian because he's not responding. He didn't speak so I hung up". An average height girl with nice wavy brown hair spoke to her friend who was the complete opposite of the girl standing beside her. She had straight blonde hair with the tip dyed purple and she's quite tall because her parents are. She looked muscular and had black eyes. "Let's get going then", she replied with a masculine voice and they got into Amanda's car, the girl with the wavy hair.
"Nice party!" Amanda told Josh as he brought she and her friend a drink. "I can't find Dorian", she peered over the heads of those who were at the party. "Me too", Hannah replied sipping her drink too. "I hope he's okay", Amanda was starting to look worried now because Dorian has never missed a party unless something unpleasant came up. "What do you reckon could have happened?" Hannah asked, "his mum always let him do whatever he wants doesn't she?" She continued after having another sip from her cup. "Yeah, she does, so that's out of the list". Amanda replied now pacing. "C'mon girl calm down. Nothing has happened to him, he just doesn't want to come cause the party is here at Josh's house. They had a fight last week you know", she said the last few words in a whisper. "Well… I hope that's why he didn't show up", Amanda replied looking slightly calm.