Past Tense

Marcus woke up with a start, panting heavily and sweating profusely. His mouth was dry and his eyes were bleary. He felt the chilling bite of the wind coming from the open window. He shuddered, more from the nightmare he had than the nippy air.

He eyed the window for a second, then remembered that he kept it open that night. He switched attention to the wall clock inside his room, it was still a little past two in the morning.

Hmmm.Milk, He thought, his nightmarish excursion to his dreamland made him a tad thirsty.

He got out of bed, making his way to the door to the corridor of their manor. He walked through the mostly empty passage.Moonlight coming from the windows of the corridor was illuminating his path to the kitchens, as well as casting shadows of the few ornamental pieces they have.

He paused as he noticed the open door of the kitchen and the light pouring forth from it. He approached it slowly with the apprehension and gingerly poked his head to see the interior of the room.

"Hey Dad," Marcus said, his father turned his head towards him while a bottle of milk was pressed to his lips held by his hand. He placed the bottle on the table beside him to address Marcus.

"Why're you still up at this hour, you should be sleeping,"

"Well I couldn't sleep," Marcus said with a frown, disappointed that his restful sleep had been rudely interrupted by a petty nightmare.

"Nightmares?"

"Yeah," Marcus was said, it was apparent to him that nightmares are only a figment of his imagination. As a smart kid intent on studying his arse off in the future, Marcus always treated the supernatural with as much attention as a rock. He had always been fascinated by science that he had scoffed upon every nonsensical myth about ghosts, faeries, etc, etc...

Yet, every night he encounters a nightmare, he can't help himself from getting woken. Seriously, he's had enough of it, but...alas, it seems that it has won again.

"Well you're not alone there, but don't mind that," Marcus looked at his dad blankly,"What? Adults have nightmares too,"

Marcus giggled at his Father's farce. His father was one to soothe and comfort him when he needed it. His father's words alone are enough for him to forget the nightmare from earlier.

"Y'know, tomorrow is your birthday," His father told him, "You should rest now so you can have a fun time at the party,"

"Well it wouldn't be fun at all," He frowned. It was what will probably happen anyway, no need to hope. It was a grave problem for him that all the kids in school were laughing at him for being a nerd. The problem was not with him, as he always tells himself, they were the ones who doesn't have enough brains to care about how their underwear works. But it still doesn't change things, no one can ever relate to his tastes and interests.

His father smiled at him warmly, "Oh I promise, it will be fun"

"Oh, sure" He murmured.

"Oh lighten up, I'm not inviting your classmates tomorrow,"

Marcus perked up at that, "Really!"

"I have something else planned," His father said, "It will be a surprise,"

"You have a surprise?" He said...surprised?

"Yeah... You have to find out tomorrow,"

Marcus was now slightly curious. But no matter the case is, no one might even have fun tomorrow.

"Oh come on, it will be fun, you have my word on that," His father said, "aand...want some milk?"

Marcus smiled then nodded.

Marcus woke up from his sleep only to find that the corridors of the manor were completely empty. The silence inside the manor he was used to, but it being desolate, well that was weird. No servant was up and about doing the chores, the rooms were empty, and no one answered his calls inside the house.

Finally after searching for everyone, he decided to take a walk outside. That was when he noticed the small gathering of kids and parents on the front yard, chatting and seated as they were on several chairs scattered throughout the yard. The kids were talking, as opposed to the expected running and playing. One kid, one Marcus didn't saw actually brought a rather medium-high powered laser to the party, nerds and their toys.

Marcus was still apprehensively looking over the crowd when a pretty girl noticed him, and stared. After another second, their eyes met. The female, being the lovingly sweet and innocent girl she is turned away quickly. A swirl of faint heat danced along under her cheeks, she might or might not have been a little smitten with the boy at first sight.

Well, that is to be expected of little Marcus. He was a bit of an eye-candy for little girls, but alas...if only he was less of a geek and more of a player. One moment, his looks have been a little enthralling to the girls ,but when he spoke his interests, hobbies, etc, etc... 'Sorry not interested'.

He stared for a moment longer than he was supposed to, his own cheeks developing some blush. The girl in question was a sight to behold. Long flowing hair, cream white complexion graced by her youthful facial features. Her lithe body was currently seated on a chair near another group of huddled kids that were currently confabulating.

It took him a moment to pull himself out of his stupor.

Everyone was staring at him rather expectantly.

He wilted under their gazes, becoming smaller and smaller each moment. No one was calling him down to the yard, that silence was deafening for him. He had birthdays before, no doubt about that, but he never was fond of them. Most of his classmates from school usually attends his birthday parties, and most of them bully him like they do at their school.

He snapped out of it and started towards the front door of the house. After all, he will attend his own birthday party on one way or another.

Let's just get this over with.

Marcus was having a terrific time

His presence was greeted by songs of celebration and joy. The greeting he received on that day alone was warmer than all of his other birthday parties combined. By far this was the best birthday he ever had.

His day was going ever so smoothly. No words were able to express the sheer amount of joy he had, he spent the morning playing board games, discussing about interesting topics, and other games that really made Marcus laugh and smile like a kid that found out that Santa was his father or something along those lines.

Before he mingled with the kids, he felt one thing, trepidation. As soon as he stepped out the door towards the open, he realized one thing.

He knew no one among the crowd, at that moment his feeling changed. From that of apprehension to a swirl of emotions that are as broad as the electromagnetic spectrum.

Apparently, almost everyone was either a co-worker of his dad or their children. Only very few of them were acquainted with Marcus. No bullies, many geeks. It was definitely one party to reme—

"Hi" A sweet voice, not unlike that of glass gently struck by a spoon to produce a fine tune, cut through the air into his ears.

His head spun, trying to locate the source of such melody. He soon found himself face to face with the girl he laid his eyes upon before he stepped out of the door. As predicted they both blushed a little.

"Uhm...h-hello" Marcus greeted, suddenly sounding a little goofy by that time. She giggled at that.

"So, uh...happy birthday"

"Thank you"

"I'm Roxanne by the way... happy to meet you" Roxanne offered her hand to Marcus which he gently shook, albeit gently as one would shake that of a fair madame...that she is.

"Marcus."

They chatted after that, growing little by little inclined to each other for each passing moment.

"HYUUUUUUUUURK" Marcus woke up from his flashback, a headache ravaging the back of his mind. He was lying on the floor of a moving vehicle, that he can discern. The wound from earlier still hurts like a bitch, as it was supposed to. He was wet, both from sweat and river water. Dazed and vision bleary, he sat up, leaning his back against the wall. He took a deep breath.

"Oh look its awake" The voice came from his left, he swiveled his head to face the speaker. There, seated on a crate was the least Marcus expected to see.

It ran the whetstone it was holding in its right claws along a falchion it was holding in its other left claws. The griffon's face was etched in a grimace, despite its apparently hard beak.

It was not a good sign for Marcus, griffons were the federation's spawn. These constructs were made to tear flesh of soldiers. Genetic mutation was a wonder of the modern age, since the possibility of developing new species that can serve under their military masters, the alliance and the federation was racing in developing the perfect construct that will be able to make a huge difference on the battlefield. The alliance went on with developing equines, genetically mutating them to be able to incorporate magic into their sets of abilities. There were pegasi who were fully equipped with melee weapons, dive bombing the enemies. The unicorns that were given affinity for the use of magic, being able to cast spells. The enhanced ponies that were used to carry ammunition and weapons to the soldiers on the field.

They were given partial sapience via genetics, allowing them to be able to de—

wait a tick

Did it just talked?

"Biiiits...it's staring at me!" It called towards the front of the...wagon?

"The hell?!" Marcus sweared, loudly might I add.

"AHHHH, BITS, IT TALKS, BITCH TALKS" The griffon screamed

"WHAT THE FUCK!?"

Marcus lost his bearings and grabbed a nearby plank, intent on hitting the bird by the head. The griffon screamed and evaded the plank, it twisted and brought the whetstone it was holding down at his head, full force.

Welcome back to unconsciousness Marcus.