A metallic clang, then a massive, green and red mech slammed into the Beast. Muscle, bone, and exoskeleton spewed across the black pavement, blood spewing out like a fire hydrant. A girl screamed and ran away as her car got drenched in the innards of the Beast. The blood from it was melting away at the metal and paint. Warden didn’t stop there. He took the Beast in his metallic hands and shoved one, pointed hand into the Beast’s stomach, green, acidic liquid running down his arm, smoke rising from the mechanical bits. Warden then threw the Beast down again into the pavement.

  That’s where the video cut, and Dani’s mother grumbled over the corporatized pop-punk playing in the car, “You really gotta stop watching that stuff, Dani.” Dani sighed and listened to the music a little, realizing it was one of the new bands, Social Fracture… an AI band, at that. “You really gotta stop listening to AI music, mom.” Her mom said something along the lines of ‘Oh, honey, it’s just music’ around the same time Dani had already tuned out.

  The path to her high school was coming to an end, and when it did, Dani remembered she was already running late for school as one; it was light outside and two; her mom brought her to school.

  When she pulled into the parking lot, Dani hopped out of the passenger seat, heard the beginnings of “I love you,” and said something along those lines back. She walked up to the front door of the school, rang the bell to be allowed entrance. “Dani, you forgot something!” She turned to see her mom jogging up with her admittedly light backpack in hand. She handed it off with a smile that was too warm for how late Dani was, then pulled her in for a hug. Dani let it happen. A flicker of social embarrassment washed over her, even though the only people who saw it were probably the office ladies watching the door camera.. Even though the only people who saw this would be the office ladies on the door camera. “Y’know, Dani, this is your 4th time being late this week.” Mrs. Duhammel said over the intercom. “Yeah, I know. Can I come in?” She said, her mom heading back to the car as the school door unlocked.

  Walking in, Dani repeated her now established ritual of signing in with the attendance lady. Ms… Dani wasn’t really sure what her name was. Today was the same. No check ins with her, nothing, just a slow draw of the lady’s eyelashes as she blinked get to class, kid. Mrs. Duhammel saw Dani and gave her a concerned smile. “Kiddo, your grades would be better if you actually attended your classes.” Dani shrugged “You guys push us through anyway.”

  Mrs. Duhammel opened her mouth as if to speak, but didn’t say anything, and the next door clicked open, and Dani walked through it.

  The day moved on as normal. Her 8 classes, Lessons of former-USA History into the Heartland Pact Modernity was her favorite. Learning how the USA lent itself to corporations was really an interesting story, and how it caused it’s own downfall.

  But it was also the one Dani was always late to. Mr. Keener was in the middle of a lesson “Does anyone remember two weeks ago when I taught about Neo-Louisville, where we are now, after the reconstruction, how we joined the Heartland Pact?” Dani knew, but Dani was trying to hide.

  “I know, Dani, you weren’t here for that bit. You tell me.” Mr. Keener said as she slumped into her seat. She didn’t know, but somehow she said what she truly believed to be the right answer, as if it were implanted in her brain. “The Heartland Pact wanted a trade city. That’s what we are today. The Ohio River, as you said, ‘controlled river access to the west after the bombs fell.’”

  "Guess you been doing research outside of class, huh Dani?" Dani shrugged, "Guess so, Mr. Keener." I forced a laugh. What was that? Dani asked herself. She tensed up. I wasn't here for that. I didn't know that. Why do I know that?

  "I'm sorry Mr. Keener, I really have to go to the restroom," Dani said, not giving much time for him to respond, she stormed out the door. On her way down the hall, she tried to get her bearings straight. The halls didn't feel any different. Same white lights, old, busted lockers and same "Easton Bears" sign down over the windows. But she felt different. She was different. She didn't know why she was different, but she just was different. Once she made her way into the restroom she found it was empty. She went straight to the sink and splashed some cold water on her face, and at that moment her world went black for but a moment and she saw the word "RECALL" when her eyes were closed. She let out a scream and clasped her hands over her mouth tightly, and sat down in the stall, locking it. She heard the door of the restroom creak open, slowly but surely, and heard footsteps. She heard a familiar voice, one of the janitors. "He-Hello?" The voice called out. It was June. "I'm sorry June. It-It's me Dani. I just thought I saw a spider and screamed. Scared the shit outta me! It was just a dustbunny." June laughed, "Watch your language, Dani." The door closed. She heard the footsteps recede out the door. She was alone. She sat down on the toilet seat, and brought her feet up in an almost cradle position. She closed her eyes again, expecting to see those words again. Nothing. Nothing except that distant reality behind your own eyelids.

  After a moment she did start to see something though. A scene from a movie? No, no. Maybe it was an ad from her Linkup that hadn't fully loaded. She opened her eyes. It was gone. She closed her eyes, it was there. An... alley. A dark night, rainy. Rain trailing down the alley. Mixed in with something thicker. The scene was so staticy she couldn't tell what it- It was blood. She tried to open her eyes again but was compelled to keep them closed. By what she did not know. She felt like she was out of her body. Whatever point of view she was seeing this through, it was ridiculously immersive. Too real.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  It feels too real. She felt blood and rain drip off her fingers. The scene shifted, and she saw a reflection for a moment in some cracked glass. It was her. Not what she went to school like today. This was her but... rougher. Older? No, had to be the same age as her now, 18. She killed somebody. She relished in it. This version of her looked at the reflection, almost as if she was looking at Dani as she is now. The reality between this Dani and the other Dani was slipping. It was shifting. That Dani felt... powerful. Like she could lift a truck or move a building. And she was aware of it, too.

  Dani finally opened her eyes, she was crying, and there was blood all over the collar of her shirt. Soaked. Warm. She felt her face, thinking it was another nose bleed, but the blood trailed up to her ears. It was seeping and oozing out of her ears. She took a breath. The blood clung to her neck and jawline.

  Other voices were heard outside now. Other kids. She kept quiet. She flicked open her Linkup and sent a text to her friend, Raleigh.

  'Can you get the hoodie from my locker? You know the code. Had a nosebleed. Restroom 3'

  Once the other kids left the restroom she ran out there and washed the blood off, and rinsed out her ears.

  She received a message back from Raleigh,

  'Comin' girl. Mr. Keener was asking what's wrong.'

  Dani responded,

  'I'll tell 'em later.'

  Raleigh arrived in the restroom and gave her the hoodie "Still got Brett's old hoodie, huh?" She chuckled.

  "Yeah, it's comfy as hell." She put the hoodie on. It was green and had a bear paw on it, with a faded "Easton Bears" on it, now only saying 'E TON B RS'.

  Raleigh looked at Dani a bit, up and down. "You good?" Dani nodded. "You been crying. You sure?" Dani nodded again. "Just already can't wait to go home." Dani chuckled. "Same," Raleigh responded. Neither of them said anything else. They both walked back to class together, though things just felt different for Dani after this. It felt like the world was shifting around her. Glitching, almost. The lights were still humming quietly overhead. The floor was still concrete linoleum. She smelt the same old school smell. Dirty but also sterile and clean.

  Once they arrived, Mr. Keener looked at them. "Well, nice of you to really show up, Ms. Moss! Thanks again for answering that question earlier." Dani nodded and sniffled a little. She sat down with her hood up. Markus, her best friend since she was a little kid leaned over and asked if she was good. "Yeah, I'm good."

  "Stop lyin, girl." He said. His drawl and charm both coming through.

  She sighed a little "I'll talk to you later about it."

  He let it go. "By the way you got blood on your fingernail."

  Shit! She thought and looked at her cracked white-painted nail and saw the red smear on it. She started scratching at it with her other nail.

  But she was sure she cleaned off all the blood from the "nosebleed".

  Is it mine? She thought. Or is it hers? The other her. The one from the vision she had. It's definitely mine. That just had to be some really good prank, hacking AI or some shit.

  Right? She tried to force the thoughts out of her head, until the ring of the bell broke her inner monologue. Like clockwork, she got up and grabbed her things. As she began walking out she heard Mr. Keener "Dani I gotta talk to you after class!" Fuck.

  She sighed, and waited for everyone to leave. Everything felt heavy. She looked at Markus, and shrugged. The room was empty now, just the two of them. "What's going on, Dani?" He asked. "What do you mean?" She responded, knowing exactly what he meant.

  "You been late for 4 days straight. It's Friday. You missed my class on every day this week except Monday and missed Tuesday and Wednesday last week. What's up?"

  "Everything's fine, Mr. Keener." No it's not.

  "Listen, Dani. You do amazing at every class, not just mine. But you're never here. You have one grade above a C right now. You got 2 months. I've met with people about you and we're all willing to pass you if you just get here on time." She felt annoyed, "Met with who? You think the admin's really gonna let me do that? Just pass cause I look good?"

  "Yes, I do, Dani. You just gotta show up. Your mom knows about this, too. I talked to her about this." She pulled away at that. "You been talking to my mom?" He nodded.

  "You're not alone, Dani. Ever since your father went missin-" She stood straight up, angry "You don't talk about my dad." She shook her head. Tears welling up.

  "Dani, please. I'm not trying to rile you-"

  "Stop!" She screamed, the resonance echoing on the walls. The room... reverberated around her. Everything in the room look like it had shaken. Not the physical objects but the air. The air shook with her words. It shifted anything not nailed down, like desks. Mr. Keener sat there stunned. Not hurt, just surprised. He wasn't scared. More caring than anything else. Careful, though.

  "I get it. You can leave now, Dani." And so she did. The air still trembling. She still hadn't caught her breath, but the pressure released when she opened the door to the hall. Markus and Raleigh were both waiting for her. Markus looked more confused, and they seemed to both be gossiping "The hell was that, Dan Dan?" Raleigh asked. "Brought up my fucking dad. I know I'm not doing well, but he does not need to talk about my dad. He's gone. And not coming back. I wish people would just let me grieve." Her voice cracked. They both brought her in for a hug. It wasn't some scripted affection or intimacy. She broke down in the hug. She let the tension from the last 30 minutes break free in their arms. Slowly, she melted into them. She knew people were looking. She felt it. She heard the words people were saying as they passed. The girl with the missing dad. That's who she was. They've already asked if they can talk about her at graduation, as a token of this class's "Grit". How we grew up with the advent of the super-powered, the Signalites.

  I just want my dad. She thought. They still held onto her. They didn't know what she'd been seeing. What she did in the class. She couldn't tell them, there was no way she could. How could she? She felt eyes on her. Not from the hallway. Not from the confused teachers thinking they should do something. But something or someone is watching this unfold.

  She got herself together, slowly. And brought her friends in for one last hug. She went on now to her next class, The Signal and Signalite Contemporary Issues. She didn't thank her friends for that, but at the same time she didn't feel like she needed to. They knew where she was at right now.