Chapter 1

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River Harrington: 2035

New school year, but the same old thoughts. As he sat in his classroom, he felt an ache. The same ache he had at every significant event in his life.

River missed his dad and also Chester, who’d - stepped in to take his dad’s place (after his dad had left), but then - disappeared too.

It was like everyone he cared about just vanished, leaving him to question, what was the point of him caring at all.

River sat uneasily in his chair. He’d had that dream again. The same recurring nightmare.

He often ruminated about that night - the night he’d heard about Chester Serene’s death.

Most kids would have forgotten it all by now, but six years on, it still lingered in the back of his mind - where it seemed to have taken lodgings.

It was like an invisible wound, embedded so deep into his memory that it wouldn’t fade.

You’ll be next.

The officer hadn’t blatantly said it, but his eyes, those malevolent eyes - full of deceit, expressed more than words could.

As the memories engulfed him like a tidal wave, the tension snaked around his windpipe making it difficult for him to breathe.

River spun the ring on his index finger; a mostly metallic band of retro-blue, splitting himself from his thoughts.

It was the last thing he had left of Liam.

His dad hadn’t even given it to him. He’d found it on the floor in the corner of their garage where his dad had liked to tinker on his classic chevrolet. He guessed he must have lost it, but after he left, River had found it hiding in the corner of the room.

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“Attention everyone!” the new teacher boomed from the front of the classroom. Her tight, salt and pepper, curly locks, bounced in front of her face.

She was new to the school and trying to exert her authority.

The kids hearing her no-nonsense tone turned immediately in her direction and shuffled into their seats like programmed robots.

“My name is Mrs. Gibbons and I’ll be your new science teacher for this trimester,” she said, as her name flashed up onto the electronic board in thick-bold letters – voice activated.

She tucked her curly hair behind her ear, as she walked over to her desk.

From between her coffee mug and electronic diary, Mrs. Gibbons picked up a plastic syringe. She waved it in the air for the class to see.

“Now, just before we get on with names and today’s science lesson, I’d like to talk to you about the vaccination you’ll all be getting when you turn thirteen this year.”

The vaccination? That was this year? River thought. Of course, it was, how had he forgotten?

Last year, from the beginning of the school year, Celeste had warned his brother, Xander about the vaccine for three weeks straight, and then another million times before his birthday - walking him through every possible scenario, so that he was adequately prepared. How had she not mentioned it to him once, or attempted to prepare him. But then again, why was he so surprised? It was amazing that she even knew he was alive.

His birthday was in a week’s time - both of their birthdays – Zara’s and his.

The anger bubbled up inside him. Not a word, not a single word had she said, he thought. What a joke! He scoffed to himself, leaning back in his chair. His dad would have reminded him, but his dad wasn’t here.

“This vaccine is compulsory.” Mrs Gibbon’s words pierced his thoughts. “Your parents would’ve taken it and if you have older siblings, they would’ve had it too. It’s nothing to be afraid of, you’ll just feel a little pinch and you will have to keep a plaster on it for a day, to avoid any infection and that’s it. Understood?”

“Understood.” The whole class echoed, apart for River.

Instead, he had a question, “Why do we have to take the vaccine?” he blurted out more rudely than he realised. His slouched posture didn’t make a good impression either. The class turned in their seats and stared at him with wide eyes.

Mrs. Gibbons raised her eyebrows as her face drained of colour. “And, your name?” River saw right through her. Shock. She hadn’t expected a student to be so blunt.

His leg shook rhythmically under his desk as he looked around the room at the sea of unfamiliar faces waiting for him to answer. “River.” He offered reluctantly.

“Well, River, there are health benefits to…”

“What health benefits? My brother was sick after taking it last year.”

Mrs. Gibbons started to withdraw from the conversation. He could see the enthusiasm withering inside of her, despite the phony smile she wore. River felt like he had tiny thorns prodding his arms, which quickly turned into a burning sensation that ripped through his flesh.

She took a deep breath, “River, I don’t take kindly to your tone…”

He squinted his eyes in disbelief, “My tone? I just asked you a simple question, what’s my tone got to do with it?”

“That’s it, detention after school. I will not tolerate rudeness.”

River furrowed his brows and released a hollow laugh, “You can’t be serious. For asking a simple question?”

“I will not tolerate rudeness in my classroom.” Mrs Gibbons repeated.

After a couple of seconds of staring intently at River, Mrs. Gibbons returned her attention to the rest of the class.

But River hadn’t finished.

“Now,” she cleared her throat, “As I was saying…”

Being ignored was not something River, handled well...