Hybrid: The Awakening

Chapter 5-Asher

Date on Earth: Tuesday, October 3

I hated Coco Puffs.

Actually, that's a lie. I loved Coco Puffs. They were probably my favorite food ever. In fact, if I could, I'd probably eat it for all three meals of the day. If it offered any trace of nutrition.

But anyway, that's off topic. Maybe I was feeling some detestation towards Coco Puffs, but it wasn't the cereal's fault for being the cause of my dilemma.

What I really hated was the sense of uselessness.

You know, that emotion you get deep in your gut when everyone around you is doing something, and you are off on the sidelines. People think you can't do anything useful, so they exclude you entirely.

I had always tried to avert the feeling as best as I could. Like not asking for help. Pretty much depending on myself.

But not feeling that way when I had been confined to a wheelchair for fifteen years was kinda impossible.

Especially when I had managed to drop the cereal box onto the floor right under my feet. And unfortunately for me, flexibility was most definitely not my strong suit.

I reached down as far as I could, which was somehow even farther from the box than the last fifteen times I had tried to grab it. I started to feel the strain in my back.

Shaking it off, I tried one last time.

Almost got it, almost got it...

I felt the tips of my fingers graze it before a sharp pain erupted in my back. I groaned and sat back up, silently cursing the box of Coco Puffs.

"Need a hand Ash?" I heard the voice of my best friend say from behind me in his usual snarky tone.

"Nope, I'm all good. Just give me a sec and I'll have the cereal good to go in no time."

"You sure?"

"Yup, I-hey!" I exclaimed as Dion completely ignored my statement and moved me to the side to pick up the cereal. He walked over to the dining room and placed it on the table.

He laughed as he saw my expression.

"Aww relax bud," Dion teased, resting his hand on my shoulder. "Everyone here knows how big and tough you are."

"Haha," I laughed halfheartedly. I went to the table and dumped cereal into my bowl as I yawned. A minute later Mrs. Nancy, our foster mother, walked into the dining room.

"Good morning dears," she said, carrying a pile of washed clothes in her hands.

"Good morning Mrs. Nancy," me and Dion responded. I gave her a forced smile as my mind flashed back to the dream I had last night.

Fire creeps up the walls and smoke covers me like a blanket. Screams of kids pierce my ears. A feeling of failure washes over me as I watch the flames consume everything in its path. And in the midst of it all, a sweet voice echoes in my ears. "Never underestimate anyone. You never know what secrets that person may hold."

I always kept my dreams to myself. No one needed to know how crazy I was. That my dreams would warn me about the future.

And that I was almost one hundred percent certain that something horrible was going to happen today.

"Oh sweetie, don't worry about school. I'm sure you'll love it and make plenty of friends!" said Mrs. Nancy, probably misinterpreting my grim expression.

I decided to play along. "Yeah, I guess you're right." I gave her the biggest grin I could muster. She smiled back and kissed me on my forehead. It was funny how she treated everyone as if we were five.