Strange New World

It was a cold Friday afternoon, early in September. August Rush made his way down the rugged, rocky path of Awehul’s central park, the fallen autumn leaves crunching under his beaten, grey Converse. His schoolbag started slipping off his shoulder, and he adjusted it, rolling his eyes as he did so. It always had a nasty tendency of sliding off of him - Then again, it was tattered and beaten up. He’d used it for the past few years without complaint. Most of the other students usually got a new backpack every start of the new school year. He scoffed at them every time the new year began, showing off their brand new bags to all their friends. August didn't really care to get a new one. His own bag did its job fine. He also didn’t have the money for it. But as it slipped down his shoulder once more, he started  to have second thoughts. August continued walking down the path towards the center of the park taking small, steady strides. He wasn’t in a hurry. If anything he was a little early. His hands were deep inside the pockets of his grey hoodie, holding tightly onto the MP3 player which blasted the heavy electronic music into his ears. He let his eyes wander around the park as he pressed on, taking in the lovely sight of autumn which had begun to take its hold. It was early, but all of the leaves on the trees had changed to their new and final colors of the year. The bright hues of the different reds, oranges, and yellows gave the park the feeling of wonder and excitement. It changed the total feeling of the area, bringing life to the blandness of the park at which it was every other time of the year. The grass was always dead and brown. Even the green from the scarce set of trees here were not as green as some of the other more vibrant shades he’s seen. Ironic. Such a wondrous sight, the colors, again, bringing life to the park but, marked the end of the line. End of the year and end of the life of the trees.

He came up to the wooden bench and sat down, now letting the backpack slide freely off of him. He leaned back and rested, taking in a deep breath of crisp air. He stared at the ground in front of him, continuing to listen to the music that flooded his ears. After a few moments had passed, however, he pulled the earbuds out and turned off the MP3, the natural noises returning to fill his head. Birds chirped from the trees and cars roared and honked from all around him.

Just another day in paradise... he thought.

He turned to look down the path he had just walked. Not a soul was there. Then again, not many people entered the park at this time of day. Or month. Well, then again, ever.

Where is she? he thought, once more, looking down the opposite way of the path. Still, seeing no one. She usually beats me here...

He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped off the bench and put up his fists, adrenaline already starting to soar through his body.

“Whoa there, Ali!”

August lowered his arms to his sides, shaking his head.

“Did you really have to do that?”

“What? It’s fun scaring you, August.”

“Just..... not today, Gene.” he said, returning to his seat on the bench. The young girl froze in place, realizing the mistake she had made and came around from behind and sat down next to him. She looked horrified.

“Oh, right...” she said. Gene began to play her dirty blonde hair, biting her lip as she did. August looked up at her and shook his head.

“It’s fine, Gene. I’m alright.” he said, taking her hand.

“How could I have been so stupid! So insensitive!” she grunted.

“Gene, really, I’m ok. You forgot, I guess. It’s fine, really!” August said, trying to reassure her.

Gene just shook her head and continued to stare in front of her, still petrified. Her eyes reddened and began to grow moist, despite the cold. August squeezed her hand. “It’s alright...”

The two of them had been together since summer vacation began, and since then they've always hung out in the park by themselves. It was their place to unwind and speak privately, without any of their annoying classmates hovering over them, waiting for the next juicy piece of gossip to tell their friends. Arrogant pricks... Had they nothing better to do then to just get in other people’s business? It angered August that the entire Junior class knew about them a mere week into the new school year. He wanted to keep the relationship on the ‘down low’ so as not to draw attention. He didn’t like being in the spotlight but, it was already too late.

August and Gene have been friends ever since he had moved from the west side of the city to the east, sharing common interests, such as writing, and subjects at school; English and Science. They grew closer together through projects and class given assignments. It wasn’t completely obvious to the rest of their class but they did give off hints of liking each other. Ultimately, after their Sophomore school year had ended, Gene asked out August.

Throughout their time together, August had hesitated to ask her out first. He wasn’t sure if he was ready for a relationship. He didn’t have much money to spend for himself, let alone someone else that would become a primary figure in his life. Yet, they talked it over and said that money wasn’t a necessity.

There was another factor, however; August wasn’t the happiest of all people, and still isn’t. His parents died when he was only a small boy...

On this day...

Gene had mistakenly forgotten. August didn’t have to tell her, or anyone for that matter, how it had happened either; it was all over the news. A huge pile up of cars in one of the busiest intersections in the city.  His parents had been caught right in the middle of it; a head on collision followed by a t-bone. Investigators were unsure of what had caused such a horrific accident. Many suspect that drivers weren’t paying attention, and ran the red right while August’s parents had a go-ahead green.

It was cold that day... just like today... the same.

But, August has come a long way from that. For the longest time after the death of his parents, he was very quiet, shy, keeping to himself; not allowing others to budge into whatever he was doing (or, as he calls it, life). Again, he’s come far. After meeting Gene, he began to open up more and interact with the people around him, whether if he despised them or not. And he had just recently pondered about this, back in July; almost a mere month of the two of them being together:

What if Gene hadn’t appeared in my life? Would I still be a lifeless sack of nothingness? Would I still be slouching around, caught up in my own misery...?

August let go of her hand and wrapped his arm over and around her, pulling her closer to him. A silence fell upon them. They sat close together and listened to the noises of the park. A few minutes passed quietly until August spoke,

“Soooo..... did you catch last night’s game?” Gene sat up, glaring at him. She gave him a quick jab to his arm. He flinched. “Aghh! What?!” She pointed a finger at him.

“That’s not funny!,” She slouched farther down the bench. “I feel like crap now.”

“I’m just trying to lighten the mood!” August said, forcing a smile and a slight chuckle.

“Yeah, well, it's not helping.”

“I’ve already told you, I’m fine, really!” Gene sighed heavily and looked up at him.

“You’re sure?” she asked, still holding her sad look on her face; a tear in her eye. August nodded, sincerely.

“I’m sure. I took no offense. You forgot, oh well. No harm done,” He smiled at her, taking his hand to her chin. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

“Yeah, well,” She sat up. “I can’t do that. I can’t even imagine the thought of you walking around here, having to bear this terrible burden... You’re too important to me, anyway...” August cocked an eyebrow.

“You know what would be great..” he started, Gene turning towards him, “If we could really stop talking about this subject...” Gene rolled her eyes.

“Ok, fine. What do you want to talk about?”

“Uhhhh.... I don’t know.” August shrugged. Gene laughed.

“Well, how was school?” August’s face turned sour.

“Really? You couldn’t find anything better to talk about other than that bore-fest?” he asked, giving out a groan. Gene chuckled. “I’m beginning to believe that my dead parents might become an interesting topic...”

Gene gave him another quick jab, this time to his shoulder. He gave out a laugh as he caressed his shoulder.

“That’s not funny, one bit!” She folded her arms into her lap and shot him an angered look. “I’m serious, August!”

“Haha.. Really? Well, let’s see......hmmm..... Well I got a 94 on my Science test...”

“HA! The cell unit? I got a 96!” Gene poked August in his ribs.

“Ooohhh! A whopping two points better!” he said, poking her back.

“Two points better than you.” she returned, snickering.

“‘Look at me! I’m Gene and I’m better because I got two points higher on my dumb science test!’ Mweueh!” August mocked.

“Well, if you would’ve studied, maybe you could’ve beaten me.”

“Oh, wow! You studied for that ridiculous unit?!”

“Hey, if you actually tried studying for once, then maybe you could do better in the class. Heck, you’d be doing better in all of your classes!”

“You know very well why I don’t study for things.”

“Oh, here we go.” Gene said, under her breath.

“Just this past year, my stupid English teacher said one day, ‘This is a very important quiz, so I encourage all of you to study hard for it.’ Trying to be a ‘good little student’, I decided it would be a good idea to study for it!...” August started wailing his arms around, emphasizing on certain points.

“Here it comes...”

“So, I studied and studied and studied, all throughout the night! Next day, take the quiz, get it back, and I freaking flunked it!!!” August shouted.

“There it is...”

“I mean how do I fail a simple English quiz which I studied hard for, the previous night?! Please, somebody tell me how!”

“By being you?” Gene said, sarcastically, her head resting on her hand. August shot her a dirty looked than sighed.

“Well, you know darn right why I don’t study for things anymore. I do WAY better when I don’t.”

“Ok. Sure. Whatever you say, Einstein.” Gene played.

August rolled his eyes. They both sat and stared at each other. Gene gave him a playful glare. August returned with one, and they burst out laughing. Then the two of them then sat together, very quiet. They sat for quite some time, listening to the wind blow through the trees; whipping up the dead leaves as it blew. Gene soon stood up from the bench and stretched out. August smiled as she did.

“Walk me home?” she asked, turning to face him, her hand reaching out.

“Certainly.” he said, taking her hand and standing up.

“Seriously?”

“What?” August grabbed his backpack and slid it up on his shoulder, tightening the strap to make sure it didn’t fall off of him again. Gene just laughed.

“Nevermind.” she said as the two walked together, hand in hand. They made their way down the beaten path and up towards 21st Street. It was just starting to get a little busier than usual.

Must be just past four. August thought. He looked up towards the sun as it started to dip behind one of the taller skyscrapers.Gene and August waited then crossed the street, and rounded the block, still hand in hand, not speaking as they walked.

It wasn’t everyday that August walked Gene home. they usually parted ways from the corner of 21st and left; they typically never spoke. To them, it was normal, only speaking if it was something important. Actually, they didn’t really speak to each other much at all. Sure, they would have delightful and fun conversations but, normally they would stay quiet around each other. To other people, especially the other students at their school, it was seen as very strange. Even as they walked through the hallways to their classrooms, they never said a word to each other; again, only truly speaking if it was something very important. August was confronted by some of his fellow students, even some of his own friends, saying why, when they had seen the two of them together, he and Gene never spoke. August replied with a simple ‘I don’t know.’ August pondered this for a while after, though. Just why did the two of them never really speak?

Are we just really shy around each other? No...that..that can’t be right... Are we just shy enough not to speak when there’s other people around? Well... no. I really wouldn’t care. I’d talk with her if she started something...but..she doesn’t... Then...why? Ugh, its so confusing.....

Maybe its Gene just relating to August. She noticed that he was shy to everyone around him and... knowing about his parents... Maybe she just wants to take things very slow, for August’s sake. Then again..... that’s awfully slow. Then, what could it be?

August and Gene made their way down a few more blocks, through busy intersections, and crowds of people, before arriving at an apartment complex on 34th Street. August walked Gene up the front stairs and turned to her.

“Well, here we are Milady.” August joked. Gene rolled her eyes, letting out a short laugh.

“Thank you, August.”

“You’re welcome.” he said, smiling.

“Don’t be late tomorrow.” she said, turning towards the keypad on the front wall. She punched in a few numbers and the door unlocked. August stood confused. Late?

“Wait, late for what?” he asked. Gene turned back to him. She stopped just inside the doorway.

“The Museum, silly! I’m having my dad take us to the Natural History Museum tomorrow. What? Did you forget already?” she said, sarcastically.

“Oh...! Right! Yeah, I’ll be here... at..at...,” August started snapping his fingers, trying his best to remember. “Noon! Noon! I’ll be here at Noon.” he said, smiling at Gene, embarrassingly. The two let out a laugh.

“Alright, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Gene said.

“I’ll be here. I promise.”

“Don’t be late!” Gene called as she ran inside the building, waving back as she did.

“I promise!” August yelled after her. He stood on the front steps until he could no longer see her through the glass door. He smiled and chuckled to himself. He turned, headed back down the street. It was a long way from his own home, but he couldn’t care less. He was in a good mood. He hadn’t been this happy since being with his parents. He smiled all the way home.

I promise...

August reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He was just outside his uncle’s apartment; headphones back in and music blaring, and with the same smile he had on fifteen minutes ago. He found the tan key that read ‘24B’ and unlocked the door. He entered the apartment, flipping on the light switch and pulled an earbud from his ear. The musty smell of the apartment crept into his nostrils.

“Uncle Alex? I’m home! Sorry I’m a little late..,” August slid his backpack from his shoulder and onto the floor near the door. He walked over to the kitchen counter in front of him. “...I was with Gene and I walked her ho...” August spotted a note laid out on the countertop. He picked it up and read the messy handwriting:

August,

Went downtown to fetch some Chinese. I’ll be back later. Please get any homework you have done.

~Alex

“Sounds good...” he said.

August kicked his shoes off next to his backpack and passed through the living room; which meagerly boasted an old couch and a small television set parallel to it. He continued down the hallway and opened a door to his left. His bedroom wasn’t much - a bed, a small closet, a desk and nightstand with a lamp and alarm clock. He pulled out his MP3 and set it onto the desk. He fell on the bed and laid there, letting his mind wander back through the events of the day. Back to school. Back to the park. Back to Gene... August turned to his alarm clock. It read 6:39 and the alarm was set for 6:30 in the morning.

Noon...

He reached over and set it for 10am. He usually slept late on the weekend and didn’t want to oversleep and miss his... date... with Gene.

It is a date, isn’t it? Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, a bit... he thought. He rolled back over and stared up at his ceiling. He sighed. Then... he smiled. He was excited about tomorrow. He was excited to see Gene again, even though they had parted ways only twenty minutes ago. Nevertheless, he was still excited. His favorite subject, or rather his easiest class, happened to be History. August closed his eyes, still smiling as he began to dream...

He saw her...

He saw her in the distance; in a bright field full of white and nothingness. He stepped forward, unsure if he would fall or how the ‘ground’ would hold him, but, if was to reach her, he stepped anyway. He continued to smile, as he walked towards her. She was some ways away, but he didn’t mind the walk. He was happy to see her. Happy to see her once again. He quickened his pace, from a small jog then to a full run. His smile grew as he lessened the distance between himself and her. His heartbeat quickened as his stomach turned. He laughed.

“Gene!” he called out.

She heard him. She started to turn towards him, he still running towards her. He couldn’t have felt happier; not anything would make him feel anymore grand than to see and hear her again.

She had turned to face him...but she a saddened expression upon her face. She was pale and her hair didn’t shine as bright as he remembered.

“Gene...?” he said. He lessened his pace back a bit, still analyzing the girl before him. The feeling of great happiness was gone.

“August...” she whispered.

Then it came. A great blackness emerged from behind her, sweeping far up the white wasteland and stretched out across the mass. It veined through the sky and through the ground. It pulsated and continued to grow, until was just behind her.

“Gene!” he yelled. He reached out his hand, but he was still far from her. It was as if regardless of how far he ran towards her, she remained the same distance away from him. The blackness swept behind her, in a thick black, condensing around her.

“GENE!!!” he screamed. She took another look at him and blinked. The blackness shot at her, twisting around her and held her in its clutches. It pulled her from her stance and she disappeared within the darkness.

He screamed as it, too, swept forward and swallowed him.

August screamed. He shot up, panting; sweat dripping from his forehead. He covered his face with his hands, wiping away the sweat. He breathed slowly, trying to calm himself.

A dream..... It was just a dream... he thought.

“Just a dream...” he whispered.

He lifted his hands away from his face and stared into the white wasteland in front of him. He froze.

What...

His eyes widened. He could feel his heart thump harder from within his chest. It rocked him from the core. His breathing was short and fast. He slowly rose to his feet, taking a look around the area around him. There was nothing... just white.

What...what is this?

August spun around, trying to look for something...anything else in the area. Nothing. Just white.

What’s happening?

He stood in same place he was when he was in his dream. He was still standing where he stood when he..... when he saw... her. He blinked and slowly turned.

Then he spotted it.

August froze once more and held his breath. There was a figure in the distance, but too far away from him to tell who or what it was. August gulped and took a step forward in its direction. He stepped cautiously, staring at the figure before him, still trying to figure out who it was. Unlike in his dream, the figure grew closer as he stepped forward.

Much time passed until August finally stood a mere fifteen feet from the figure. It was cloaked in black with a hood to hide its face; sliver jewelry hung from the neck lining. It wore black gloves on its hands and black boots on its feet. Its arms were folded across its chest. August stopped walking.

“Glad to finally meet you,..... August Rush.” he said. His voice was deep and hoarse. He nodded in August’s direction.

“How do you...” he hesitated, and peered at the man in front of him. “How do you know who I am?”

“I know a lot about you, August.” he said.

“Really?” August challenged the man’s knowledge.

“Indeed. You were born on January 15th, 2096; a Wednesday if I remember correctly..... Your parents..." The cloaked man hesitated, "Your parents died six years ago, on this day... You now live with your uncle on your father’s side, Alex Rush; Apartment 24B on the East side of Awehul... Do I need to continue?”

August, blindsided from the information the man portrayed, merely gasped. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How did he know this...? August hesitated once more.

“Wh..Who are you?”

The man just waved a hand, evading the question.

“All will be revealed soon, son.” he said.

“What the hell does that mean?” August raised his voice. The man raised his hand into the air and snapped his fingers. August stood there dumbfounded.

What was that for?

“Good luck and be safe...”

“What the hell does that mean?!” August screamed. The man pointed at him.

“..And don’t get into any more trouble than you already will.”

“WHAT?! You’re not making any sense! Where am I?! How did I get here?! Who the fu-” August stopped. He was unable to speak anymore. He grabbed at his neck, then looked up at the man. The man just stood there, unmoving, as he watched him struggle. August began to feel uneasy, shaky . He fell to his knees. The uneasiness grew and began to overwhelm him. His strength was draining from him. His vision blurred and his head felt an immense pressure. August moved his hands to his head and clutched it. He tried to scream but nothing came out. His ears burned and he was deafened.

August fought for no longer. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell to the ground with a thud. Darkness crept into his mind.