Chapter 2 - Dark Resonance

“Alright, give me your full attention then. I’d rather not repeat this more than I have to,” Willy said, taking a profound breath of salubrious air.  Willy stared critically at Trav, proving he had his attention.

“Well, to start with my story, it’s most fitting to start with his,” Willy said. “Sid and I are both from the future, exactly 23 years from now actually.” Trav’s eyes expanded during Willy’s first statement.

“The future? You’re pulling my balls on this one right?” Trav asked, genuinely taken aback by Willy’s sudden short declaration. Willy shook his head.

“The future is a horrible place,” Willy said somberly, keeping his head up high. His eyes glanced up at the roof. “It’s thanks to K.I; an organization that rose to power in 2015. Or better known in the future as, o B.E.”

Trav chuckled somewhat, an incredibly bleak laughter. “Really?” Trav said, uncertain on how to place his thoughts into words. They were running rampant right now. Most wouldn’t believe Willy’s statement, but with what he demonstrated in the gym earlier, and Willy’s overall posture and tenor, he had reason to believe, he actually wasn’t lying. He wanted him to be lying, but he didn’t think he candidly was. Trav exhaled noisily.

“Alright, so back up,” Trav said, gesturing with his open palms. “Both of you are from the future? Why so? I mean, why come back? You really expect me to believe that?” Trav’s words were completely not in sync with his brain. He believed Willy, but he didn’t want to, simply. Willy nodded slowly.

“In the future, a drug was developed by a scientist known as Edward Reid. It’s called the CPES, or, the Complete Performance Enhancing Serum, for short.”

“You mean like steroids?” Trav chimed in.

“Without the negative effects of steroids, right. They’re even on a superior magnitude than the steroids in this current time. These drugs boost physical, mental, adrenaline, endurance, speed, essentially the body to function as a whole. I was the second subject to this serum. Sid was the third.”

Trav folded his arms heedlessly, cocking his head back faintly. “I see.” He replied simply. “So you two are basically super humans?”

“Right,” Willy said.

“So, what happens to the future then? You mentioned the future being a terrible place to live,” Trav asked.

“As I said, K.I. had risen to power, not long after the serum was introduced. It was still being served under an underground facility in the black market. Even now in my time before I left the future, the C.P.E.S serum isn’t that well renowned. Somehow, a group of people got their dirty hands on it. I suppose it’s in human nature to achieve power, and rule over the peasants, or the unworthy. These guys got it, and became nearly invincible.” Willy explained, as if explaining the origin of K.I. wasn’t enough. Trav was still left confused however.

“Is Sid a member of this organization or what?” Trav asked.

“Yeah. He’s sort of an agent for the organization,” Willy said, refusing at first to take the story any further. Obviously, even Trav could tell, this was a touchy subject for him. Since he was ‘in’ though, he wanted Willy to spill everything.

“Well look man,” Trav began. “As long as I’m in, I want to know everything. Who is Sid? Why are you after him here? You never answered my original questions.”

Willy hesitated at first. He sighed, giving in, “Me and Sid were best friends at one point, before we were tested for the new C.P.E.S. We both had one major thing in common; we hate to lose. We strive to be the best at whatever we do, and never give up. With this trait, his serum affected him a speck differently than mine did,” Willy said. “He became mad. He was spiteful to me. Maybe he was always like that, and I just couldn’t see. I don’t really know, but eventually, it turned into an all out match. We were always so competitive, but now, he had the edge. His serum… it boosted his potential about twice as much as mine did. He’s better than me, in every way possible.” Willy said, stopping with an abrupt sigh. “It’s the first time in my life I’ve ever felt helpless, but, it’s also the first time in my life I’ve been so excited to compete.”

Trav acknowledged Willy’s words. He couldn’t relate to them, but he admired Willy’s personality nonetheless. “If only most people in this world had the strive and motivation you do. What you’re doing is great Willy.” Trav said, patting him on the shoulder in a buddy-like manner. Willy smiled slightly.

“Thanks Trav,” Willy said. “It’s not a game this time though. I have to stop him.” Willy looked up at Trav. “Tell me,” he began. “Do you like to lose?”

Trav removed his hand from Willy’s shoulder, and stared at him. “Huh?”

“Seriously, do you?” Willy repeated.

“Well no, not really,” Trav answered honestly. “But I’m not an assertive person like you. When I know I’m beaten, I accept it. I don’t have much of a drive, to be honest.”

“You’re in now, Trav,” Willy said. “You had better get used to the drive, and achieve the will to win.”

“Are you suggesting what I think you are?” Trav said, backing up slowly. “Me?”

“Have you ever been in a fight before, Trav?” Willy asked, ignoring Trav’s question. Trav’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, in my dumber days I was in a gang at one point; got into fights all the time.”

“I see, that’s good,” Willy said with a polite nod. “It’s time for me to face Sid,” Willy said. Trav stared dumbfounded at Willy. What Willy had on his mind, Trav knew and didn’t care for much. “I need your help.”

“Whoa whoa man, you want my help?” Trav asked in confirmation for the unbelievable. Willy said nothing else and made no gesture, he merely gazed at Trav. Trav inhaled deeply, exhaling in a vigorous fume. “What can I do against you superhumans? And if Sid is already more than twice as strong as you, with you being like five times as strong as me, what do you expect me to do? All I got on me are these gingerbread boxes…” Trav said, fairly teasing at the end of his statement, but it all held true. Exactly what could he do against someone like Sid? How did he get mixed up in a predicament like this?

“Like I said Trav,” Willy began, standing up from his hospital bed. Trav inspected Willy from his meter range. Willy undid his bandages on his head, arm and leg on the injured sectors of skin. They had already began the healing process at an accelerated rate, the wounds already closed up. Willy even seemed to be walking normally toward the door to the room. Willy turned back to Trav with a grave expression on his face. “Once you’re in, you’re in.”

Trav placed his hands in his pockets, walking closer to Willy. Even after Willy’s explanation of his adventure traveling through the time stream with Sid, it still didn’t explain what he truly wanted to know. Trav motioned toward Willy, placing his hand on his shoulder in a brotherly fashion.

“Fine,” Trav said solemnly. “I’ll help anyway I can. But do tell me one thing,” Trav began. Willy smirked slightly, turning to listen to Trav. “Why is Sid here? You followed him here, right?”

Willy’s eyes expanded. He checked the hallway corridor on the left, heading back to the gym. Willy pondered for a few seconds, which were long as with Trav. “Well, not really. The best way to describe this situation would be an accident.”

Trav’s eyes widened this time. “An accident?”

Willy nodded. “It was Sid’s intention to come here, but not mine. That’s all I can say,” Willy replied. “Since I am here, I might as well act. I must have been sent here for a reason. Perhaps the higher ups in Aura foreseen this situation and had planned accordingly.”

Trav rubbed and scratched his head. “Another new term? What’s an Aura?”

Willy folded his arms. “I’ll explain later. We have a task at hand. Trav, I shouldn’t need to remind you, that Sid is a top-tier ranked criminal in the future. He never acts without a reason, he’s extremely dangerous. For the full on frontal assault, you will leave that to me. You are not to approach him head on, got that?” Willy said, sounding unusually strict. Trav noticed the change in Willy’s demeanor. This situation really was grave. Trav understood that for sure now, just by being with Willy.

“You don’t have to tell me again, believe me,” Trav replied. Willy smiled. “But hey, won’t we get in trouble for fighting in school?”

“Well, truthfully, I think a detention is the least on our worries,” Willy began his walk down the corridor, gesturing for Trav to follow him discreetly. Trav followed behind Willy. Trav could sense that Willy knew much more than he was letting on. Trav didn’t like being kept in the dark. He had no idea what he was getting himself into, all by meeting the boy from the future.

As the two wandered down the hallway, the atmosphere in the school completely changed. Trav thought it may have been his imagination, but the hallways were much darker than they were before. It may have been the emptiness of the students in the hallway, since school had recently just gotten out. Only a few remained in the hallways, packing up from their lockers and leaving through the front door eagerly. Trav couldn’t explain the horrifying feeling he was getting in his gut, the feeling he knew something was going to go down, something intense, that lurked the school. He and Willy were on their way to face an extraordinary young man who exceeds in every way, the extraordinary young man Trav had met only earlier this day.

Willy and Trav approached the gym in the school. The locker rooms before were empty. A strange ominous wind blew in the doorway, a color that was seemingly darker than black pierced through the doorway. Trav noticed the gym’s lights were turned out, followed by a figure who stood out, even in the darkness, by illuminating his own shape of obscurity. Trav could feel the very aura of the young man inside of the gym. It was Sid, it had to be. He never felt anything like this; it was affecting him mentally and psychologically. Trav began shaking inside of his shoes, his face distorted in a form of dread he had never before experienced in his life. Willy turned to Trav.

“Stay cool, Trav. It’s vital you do,” Willy said. “Believe me, he’s not that tough,” Willy said with a smirk. Trav could tell, he obviously was only trying to cheer him up. Trav gulped, and attempted to regain his composure. He looked inside, turning the handle for the door. Willy’s eyes flashed suddenly, walking inside as Trav finished opening the door. Willy walked inside slowly; followed by Trav. Trav’s every step sent a darker echo with each thud against the cement floor.

The inside of the gym, as Trav and Willy both already knew, was darkened. With all of the students gone, it seemed only one remained. Willy turned to the far corner of the gym, staring gravely at the figure barely visible through the dimmed off artificial lights.

“I see you’ve come at last Willman,” the voice said in an apathetic, mocking manner. Willy clenched his fists, glaring up at the dark figure above him, sitting casually, legs across, arms folded, smiling ever so tauntingly.

“You’re going to pay, Sid,” Willy declared. “For everything you’ve done, and will do for sure.”

“Finally have something to make me answer for all of my crimes? Have you forgotten who the real criminal is here?” Sid said, again in the same apathetic, taunting tone he had before. He uncrossed his legs, unfolded his arms, and stood up from the bleacher seat. “You will never truly learn, will you boy?” Sid glared down at Willy in an enigmatic presence. “You are nothing to me. And to think, you could have lived. But for your disobedience to the future utopia of K.I.,” Sid said, leaping down from the gym bleachers. Trav stepped back in alarm, Willy remained strong, yet wide eyed when he realized who Sid was aiming for. Willy turned his head in a 45 degree angle, glaring intensely at Sid, who lost his movements for a second, but caught him back, when he appeared… in front of Trav.

“I deem you dead,” Sid said. Trav stepped back, staring down wide eyed at the super menace before him. Trav gritted his teeth, gathered all of his courage and vigor into one blow, and swung with such bravery and diligence of that of an assertive warrior, which even caught Willy off guard by the surprising nature of his attack.

However,

It was all in vain. Trav felt the impact of his fist, the impact of a palm. Sid grabbed Trav’s enclosed fist, and began to squeeze the very skin off of his fingers, digging into the flesh of his bones. Trav screamed in utter anguish, his cries echoed through the layers of the gym walls. Willy charged for Sid and Trav.

“Trav! Hang on! Damn you Sid, face me you coward!” Willy said, which got Sid’s attention. Sid turned his crimson, piercing eyes at Willy, which pierced through his soul and spirit alone, but he remained strong. Trav however, had already been pierced mentally and physically… as he felt the insidious hand dig into his gut flesh this time. Trav coughed up a batch of blood, spilling on the ground in intense splashes across the gym cement floor. Trav clutched his stomach in agony, with his already nearly disfigured hand. Sid watched down in delight, which Willy could take no more of, it was time to end this now.

Willy charged for Sid, throwing a punch at Sid, who had his attention kept on Trav. As Sid turned, the impact of the fist collided with Sid’s face, transferring force waves through the air from the intense force of the impact. Sid fell against the floor, yet flipped up to regain his balance, throwing off the extreme punch as if it were child’s play. Willy took a stance, his knees bent, arms bent, slanted over forward slightly, ready for any attack and counter attack. Sid laughed.

“You’ve gotten stronger, Willman,” Sid said. “Unfortunately, it’s a shame your friends have been caught up in the mess you created.”

“I created? You must be joking,” Willy said, rather seriously. Sid remained unphased.

“You dare disobey my authority? You only need to be properly punished, BOY!” Sid grinned maniacally, a dark aura began to form around his body, the sheer pressure from his force waves sent Trav spiraling against the bleacher seats. Trav caught his balance on two of the bleacher bars, observing from his sight above, amazed by the sheer volume of pressure Sid’s own energy was putting out. Quite the monstrosity this Sid fellow was, and Willy, was almost no different, yet so different.

Willy clenched his fists yet again, and took a charge for Sid. Willy threw a dynamic punch for Sid’s chest, which Sid managed to dodge easily. Using the easy opportunity, Sid leaped up from Willy’s view, baffled by his sudden movement, was kicked in the chin. The force of the impact once more echoed throughout the gym, even Trav could feel it, and he wasn’t delivered this time. He held his stomach in writhe, groaning in intense pain. Willy was amazing, but Sid, he knew, he was a whole different league all together. Trav wondered, if Willy really could win. Despite his clear disadvantages, Willy absolutely would not back down. Trav couldn’t understand why he participated in a losing battle. He sighed solemnly to himself, watching from the bleachers.

Willy caught his fall, falling back in large steps from the impact, but refused to go on the ground. Willy remained back on guard, but eyes widened when Sid appeared behind him in an amazing burst of speed.

“Looking for someone in particular?” Sid said mockingly, grabbing Willy in a sleeper hold with both arms. Willy reached for Sid’s arms, attempting to force himself free. He struggled endlessly, but could not anticipate what Sid would do next. Sid raised his knee, forcing a powerful knee into Willy’s back. Willy gasped, and then shrieked in pain, causing even Trav to cover his ears, causing blood to soak on his right ear from his bloody hand. Trav squinted his eyes, attempting to see through the thick darkness.

Willy panted, his back nearly cracked in two. Sid threw Willy against the bleachers, causing the two sides to collapse into the floor, while Sid over him and watched calmly, his hands tucked in his pockets coolly with a mad grin. “What’s wrong Willman? Feeling a little sore?”

To Sid’s surprise, the rubble beneath the broken bleachers sprawled up, Willy leaped out, exploding in a seemingly mad rage. His eyes were infuriated, he slanted slightly, probably due to his nearly destroyed back, and he charged Sid at a vastly increased speed. Sid watched on in interest. Trav watched as well.

“One hundred… ten percent!” Willy exclaimed, his muscles slightly got bigger, hardly noticeable, but the increase was a tad noticeable. Willy threw a punch at Sid’s face, nailing him severely in the right cheek, causing Sid’s face to distort on impact. Sid flipped through the air, being lifted up by the power of Willy’s punch. Trav watched on in amazement, simply sheer amazement.

“Holy snot… what are these guys man?”

“One hundred fifteen percent!” Willy’s speed boosted once again, and which once again, probably so did his power. Willy ran for Sid as he fell from midair. Sid used his falling momentum to place himself in midair, flipping madly toward Willy, aiming a mighty kick for Willy, which Willy was able to counter by sheer power. Sid’s eyes widened as his attempted attack were to fall; Willy caught him in a powerful spin-kick, whirling him through the entire wall of the gym in a mass crater. Willy began panting slightly, watching Sid fall beneath him as he boosted his power in impressive increments, and percentages.

“… What is that power? Their attacks are out of this world,” Trav wondered to himself in amazement, which Willy, being so far away and occupied, could not hear him. Willy watched as the crater in the wall simply exploded with pressure from Sid’s energy. Willy shielded his eyes from the falling debris, but when he looked back up, was in for a rude awakening.

Sid appeared in front of Willy, kicking Willy strategically in the stomach. Willy coughed up a good amount of saliva, and as Willy was falling, Sid caught his foot in midair.

“You still have one more chance to redeem yourself,” Sid began with an arrogant, yet level headed smirk. Willy glared up at Sid, his head planted against the floor. Sid clenched his other fist in a symbol of power and authority. “Surrender your allegiance, and kneel before me, I will set you free.” Sid said cruelly. Willy’s hair covered his eyes, his face a blank nonchalant expression, blood splattered and battered before his arch enemy, he seemed completely helpless. Willy nodded his head slowly, Sid let go of his grip, allowing Willy to drop fully to the ground. Willy stood up slowly, staring at Sid in the face, face to face, his expression turned much grim.

“Go to hell,” Willy chained a barrage of punches and elbows skillfully for Sid’s upper body, for which Sid was able to escape rather easily. Sid grabbed Willy’s right hand as he swung for his face, causing Willy to draw back, and Sid to sinisterly smirk.

“That’s my line.”

Sid threw Willy against the ceiling, taking out one of the overhead artificial lights, causing little flickers of light to rain upon the gym. As Willy fell back down, unable to defend himself, Sid placed his right hand on the ground, swung with the momentum sideways in a pure 360 degree circle, kicking Willy against his right rib cage. A crack resonated through the gym walls, along with Willy’s anguish cry.

Trav could hardly take this anymore, this fight was too intense. The walls were even crying from the massive onslaught Willy was doomed facing. Trav knew though, Willy could not go down alone; he always knew that from the moment he told him. As Willy crashed into the remains of the second level bleachers, Trav approached Willy, helping him up (with his good left arm). Willy shook his head, attempting to batter out his fatigue. Trav watched almost apathetically, but many thoughts were still racing through his head, as Sid was approaching, fast, but he was walking. They had time.

“Trav,” Willy began weakly, battle worn. Trav turned his attention to Willy.

“Yeah man?”

“I know this is a lot to ask,” Willy started, spitting up blood. “But I need you to distract him.”

Trav’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Excuse me?”

“I have one technique that I think can beat him. Downside is I need time to charge it,” Willy said bluntly, obviously knowing now was not a good time to mince words. Trav reluctantly, yet seriously, nodded. He stood up straight, facing Sid as he approached from within the never-ending darkness.

“How long you need?” Trav asked with a grim, solemn on his face, as if he had already accepted his fate in this battle, and his time was now.

“Two minutes.”

Trav glared timidly, but remained his serious demeanor, back at Willy. “Here, that’s a lifetime.”

“Two minutes, Trav,” Willy repeated. Trav slowly nodded.

“Consider it done. Get it charging right now,” Trav said, almost orderly. Willy nodded with a smile. Willy stood up, bent one knee and stretched the other in front of him, held above one hand over his head, the other pointing toward Sid. A white aura began to form around Willy, giving a leeway of light across the room, contradicting Sid’s dominating black aura.

Trav walked toward Sid, staring gravely at his opponent. He swallowed bravely, staring at a serious Sid who was looking for blood. Trav’s face began to twist suddenly into a smug grin.

“You can make this much easier on yourself,” Sid said. “But it seems the chronological fear and pain in your nerve receptors damaged the input in your brain?” Sid asked smugly, a manic lit widened in his crimson acute eyes. Trav swallowed down his fear, and approached him slowly.

“So man, what exactly is your beef anyway?” Trav asked, rather casually surprisingly, which even caught Sid off guard. Sid widened one of his eyes while folding his arms coolly, twisting his head slightly.

“What’s that you say? My beef?” Sid questioned. Trav remained serious.

“I mean, why are you out to get Willman? And why are you kicking my ass too?” Trav wondered, but cut himself off before continuing another question. “Judging from what I’ve seen so far, you don’t seem like the type who reasons anyway…”

“I can reason,” Sid replied, walking toward Trav, pinning Trav by his right wrist against the gym wall, digging his fingernails into Trav’s skin, cutting through easily like butter. Trav bit his thumb to hold in his scream of pain. “I’m only doing the world a favor. In the future, say, thirty years from now, you’ll be begging for my forgiveness.”

Trav glared up at Sid. “Not gonna lie… I highly doubt that’s gonna happen you psycho!” Trav attempted to headbutt Sid, who merely caught Trav’s head with his left index finger.

“You know,” Sid began cruelly, yet casually. “If I wanted to, I could drill a torrent right through your skull, right into the core of your brain, then split your head in two. You should be honored, that I have let you live this long.”

Trav shook with fear. He knew by now, he wasn’t playing around. He glanced over at Willy, noticing a highly rising white aura around his body, a large flow of energy was building around Willy, that even Trav could feel it. Sid didn’t seem to notice however, but he did know that Willy wasn’t quite ready yet, he needed more time. Trav glared up at Sid, and used his quick wit to distract him just an extra minute longer.

What he thought of, probably wasn’t the brightest idea though. Trav lunged forward for a solid punch to Sid’s jaw. Sid dodged easily, taking Trav aback. Sid watched with slight amusement as Trav ran for the ruins of the bleachers. He cowered along inside, as Sid walked closer.

“All you’re doing is delaying the inevitable, boy,” Sid said calmly. “So why don’t you come on out of there? You can at least spend your final moments as a man of honor.”

“Yeah Sid?” Trav leaped out of the bleacher ruins, carrying a large piece of a fragmented seat. Sid looked up in a little wonder. Trav grinned mightily, glancing up at the ceiling. Trav twirled the seat fragment once, twice, three times, threw it up at Sid. Sid kept a swift glance at the seat, seeming to be more focused on Trav himself, what he was up to. Trav smirked as he glanced up. A light shattering sound echoed through the gym, causing Trav to look up in terror and disappointment.

“I… I missed…! Shit!” Trav exclaimed as fragments of glass rained on the floor below Sid. He glared up at the artificial light he was aiming for, but missed, instead shattering one of the rooftop windows. Sid smirked.

“You really attempt to distract me this long?” Sid glared, turning to Willy, but was in for a rude awakening, as his eyes widened, Willy remained in his powerful kung-fu style stance, aiming his two finger open palm for Sid.

“Justice…Cannon!” Willy unleashed a vast amount of pure white energy, almost invisible, aimed for Sid head on. Sid’s eyes widened as the energy blast approached him, and as it did, it changed shape. It turned into a piercing beam with a rigid stance… and then, it broke apart into five different beams, all aimed for Sid. Sid leaped back, back flipped up, to avoid the first three, colliding, and piercing through the gym floor and wall, respectively. Sid kicked off of the wall to avoid the last, but the last one, came from behind. Trav groaned, and began to panic to himself.

“No… it missed… it’s all over-“

“Not… yet,” Willy panted heavily, completely out of breath. Willy pointed forward, Trav following his gaze. Sid grinned and landed stylishly, until his head was impacted with a large artificial light bulb from the ceiling. Trav looked as the seat fragment landed harshly on the ground, while Trav’s intentions all along became a reality, in a sudden twist of fate… the last beam approached Sid, piercing through his chest.

“G… Gah… no goddamn way…” Sid fell against the ground, soaking in his own blood as the gaping hole in his chest deepened. Trav watched in amazement as Sid fell against the ground, clearly defeated. Willy panted heavily, holding his chest. Trav ran over to Willy, supporting him up by his left arm.

“You did it man…” Trav said with a soft grin.

“No Trav… we did it,” Willy said with a thumbs up, still panting heavily.

Suddenly, in a large bolting movement, Trav felt a swift impact to Willy’s head. Trav’s eyes widened as a mysterious figure stood over a now defeated Willy. Trav clenched his fists as this new challenger beamed its heavy, yet piercing soft crystal blue eyes at Trav now. He/she wore a white scarf that flowed along invisible wind patterns, shimmering through his face. Trav gulped, standing back away from the apparent new enemy. He backed against the wall, staring epically at the new challenger…

Chapter 1 - Homecoming

“Travis, since you care to sleep soundly during my class, obviously you must have already formed your own opinion on the matter of time?” Mr. Phase announced widely in front of the class, pacing around his classroom, ruler in hand, slipping his hand through his pure black hair. Travis sat up; his eyes peered across the room to the teacher glaring at him. He didn’t care, he was half asleep, and he had been awoken from his nap. Nothing made sense in front of him, at least for another 10 seconds.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your naptime, but you do realize you need this course to progress and get out of this school for good?” Travis looked up, his eyes fairly bloodshot, vastly visible red forearm marks across his forehead. Travis rubbed his cheek, slapping himself on the cheek to awaken from his slumber. He missed the dried drool on his chin unfortunately.

“First, call me Trav,” Trav said, as nicely as he possibly could stand to utter. “Second, of course I do. In fact, I have already formed my own intellectual response to this so called issue here,” Trav said with a lenient, gentle grin. Two boys from across the classroom looked at Trav, the two who knew him well enough to know he was completely bullshitting.

“What a tool, but he’s always been a good liar,” Andy said, leaning back in his chair casually spinning his pencil between his thumb and index finger. The other boy sitting next to Andy chuckled.

“Remember when he gave Clara that dead raccoon in elementary? That was one of the best days of my life,” Vince said, tapping on his desk trying to hold in his laughter. Andy was on the verge of chuckling hysterically, until the teacher’s harsh gaze finally pierced through their insightful conversation.

“You guys can enjoy your conversation in detention, if you wish to keep this up,” Mr. Phase said with a stern look. The boys stopped, leaning casually in their chairs, Andy continued to play with his pencil. Mr. Phase turned to Trav again. “Now, would you care to elaborate?” Trav stopped, glancing across the classroom quickly.

“Now?”

“Now.”

“Sure no problem man just let me remember what you were lecturing about,” Trav said, rubbing the back of his head carelessly. He looked down on the floor. “Let’s work together, see, we were talking something that involved paradoxes or something right?”

“Not really, but you’re on the right track, I guess,” Mr. Phase shrugged, annoyingly.

“Paradox huh? Does it involve a box of any sort? Like, you know those gingerbread boxes? That sexy chocolate gingerbread?” the class turned to Trav, most of the class laughed, the few ones with more sense remained vigilant and shrugged him off. Mr. Phase was among the few not amused.

“That is completely inappropriate language for my classroom,” Mr. Phase said harshly, placing his hands behind his back. “One more crack like that and you’re out of here. Understood?” Trav nodded. “Now, we were talking about the issue of time. Viewing time in a realistic sense, how would you say time changes our lives? Are we trapped in the margins of time? Do people bound and limit themselves, and make time their mortal enemies above all? Is time of the essence?”

Trav cleared his throat, staring seriously at his teacher for the first time. He took a deep breath, folded his arms, and began. “Time is not of the essence, and realistically, it does not have to be.” Trav stepped forward in front of the classroom. He turned around, facing his fellow peers, who now seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say on the matter.

“Time flows on, people are restricted by time, but they do not know that time is not the limitation placed on them, they are the ones trapped in the illusion of time, and they muddle up that with the reality of now. Maybe they have a deadline to meet, perhaps they have a curfew of nine, they think of the university they wish to attend, or they think out their long term goals for a successful future, so they can be satisfied during that future. Eventually, it will all end and it will all come, but what is happening right now, is the present time. This is the time we should be concerned with. This is the moment we are currently living right now. You are listening to me speak; we are in this classroom at this very moment. Take this time, use it wisely. It is fine to look back and reflect, and it is great to think long term, but right now, how do you feel, being in here? Bored as hell? Yep, me too. It’s fine to think of what you’re going to do after class, on a Friday night!” Trav ended his speech, raising his hands in the air fashionably. The whole class cheered at Trav’s speech, Mr. Phase looked on completely dumbfounded. Vince and Andy stood up from their desks and cheered Trav on.

“That was beautiful man! I have been blessed to hear the words of a God!” Vince said, kneeling before Trav. Trav stared at the entire classroom, somewhat bewildered by the cheers of his peers, but nonetheless he raised his hands back into the air proudly, like a true leader. It would only be their luck that now, the bell would ring, and Critical Thinking class was over.

At 12:00 pm, it was time for lunch, which excited Trav. Eating only a pop tart and tarter sauce for breakfast, he was hungry. Every day for lunch he always carried either a ham sandwich or a bean burrito for lunch, depending on his varying mood. If people left him alone most of the day, and things went his way, things looked up. Trav was for the most part a social solitude of the school, only keeping a handful of friends. Trav would find that trust was not something easy to come by, throughout his harsh life on the street at as early an age as 7, he was able to discover this mentality quickly.

Trav sat down outside at the picnic tables of the school, heedlessly taking large bites from his burrito. With the cold draft breezing by, Trav was for the most part alone outside. He swallowed his last bite heavily, nearly gagging for his overlooking of chewing his food. Trav slowly took a deep breath, inhaling in the chill air.

Trav turned his head to the right, noticing a girl no older than him sitting at the edge of the last picnic row on the last row. Trav examined the girl, noticing an odd aura about her. She had a book in hand, by the appearance; Trav would only guess it was a comic book of some sort. She flipped the pages, and adjusted her glasses. Her cold grey eyes scanned the colorless pages of the book, however, she seemed to be reading from right to left, as opposed to the traditional left to right way of comic books. Those clues led Trav to believe it was possibly a Japanese manga. Trav wrapped up his burrito in its wrapper he brought with him and stuffed it in his pocket. He snuck up behind the girl, attempting to catch a peak at what she was reading. The girl didn’t notice Trav in the slightest. He turned his attention toward her.

“Hey girl,” Trav said with no signal of respect. The girl did not turn to face Trav, or even acknowledge he was there. She flipped the page of her manga book. Trav turned to the book, noticing the manga was probably a genre of romance. Trav didn’t much care for the book however, he wasn’t sure why, but he was attracted to this girl. He felt he needed to talk to her, for whatever reason, he wasn’t sure and he didn’t care much. It’s not like there was anyone else around to talk to or observe. It was more complicated when she didn’t seem to have the mutual feeling. Trav raised an eyebrow, walked around her, and studied her face. She was delved into the black and white ridged world of the manga. Trav examined her again, and came to a possible solution to gain her attention, a cliché one, but one that always worked with the smart girls.

Trav reached for the girl’s glasses, and swiftly nudged them down her nose. The girl, as Trav had planned, looked up. She stared blankly, yet innocently, into his eyes. Trav cocked his head back a little, looking back in return, unsure of what to say all of a sudden. After recollecting his thoughts, phased from the memorizing gaze by the girl, Trav spoke. “Why you sittin’ out here alone?”

The girl closed her eyes, cocked her head slightly to the side, and smiled naively, in contrast to her smart appearance. “Why are you lounging out here all alone, Travis?”

Trav stood back, folding his arms, staring at the girl puzzled. “How the hell you know my name?” Trav said, pointing to himself for unneeded emphasis. The girl’s face twisted back into a nonchalant, blank gaze, as if Trav’s question had virtually confused her.

“I’m in your Critical Thinking and Gym classes,” the girl said as if it were common knowledge. School had just started back two weeks ago, and Trav made no intent on picking up anyone’s names. Trav grinned slowly; he felt he was right to approach this girl.

“Right, you’re the girl who never participates in gym?” Trav questioned, met with a civil nod.  “I thought I recognized you somewhere. Maybe it was your little book you carry there. You always got it, you know.” The girl’s lips curved into a small smile. She turned back down to the manga book, flipping the next page. She wasn’t the talkative type, which was cool with him. He knew way too many girls who talked and gossiped way too much. “Well then girl, wanna tell me your name?” Trav said as politely as he could, but naturally he came off as a slightly smug jerk. At least the girl didn’t seem to think so, or saw through his rough exterior.

“My name is Yuki. It’s nice to finally meet you Trav.”

“Finally?” Trav said, shrugging it off the second he said it. He thought she probably recognized him after the first day, so he didn’t ponder on it. Trav waved. “Aight then, I’m heading back to class. Lunch is almost over. Guess you’d better get ready too.” Trav walked off, throwing his burrito wrapper in the trashcan, and pulling out a cold one straight from his backpack side pouch.

The bell after lunch rang. After the first bell, students had five minutes to get ready and head to their next class. Trav leaned casually against his locker, drinking the cold beer he dug out of his backpack after leaving lunch. Trav couldn’t help but keep thinking about the girl he met at lunch outside, Yuki. She was different than most people he’d met before. Trav wasn’t one to hold on to thoughts dearly, but she was unique. Trav took another sip, before getting the back of his head impacted against the locker from vigor in front of him. Trav dropped the nearly empty can of beer, choking on what he had attempted to gulp down. Trav held his chest coughing hysterically. After finally catching his breath, he panted heavily, looking up to see a furious black-eyed girl with red hair tied in two ponytails. The girl grabbed Trav by the collar of his shirt after he finished his business, pinning him against his own locker. She glared with a blind rage into his eyes. Trav glared back angrily.

“Clara, girl, what the hell is your beef?!” Trav angrily declared, raging. “You have any idea how close I was to dying?!”

“You think you can make a fool out of me? Where do you get off doing these third grade pranks?!” Clara irritably said, her voice calming down, but her eyes still blazing with an inferno Trav knew all too well, and nothing good was to come out of it. Trav coughed again, catching his breath once more.

“You know, I really don’t know what you’re talking about?!” Trav asserted, genuinely confused. A case of mistaken identity, but Trav, being an average delinquent, was used to being the first blamed for, basically anything bad that happened. Clara loosened her grip on Trav, sighing deeply. She placed one hand on her hip, glaring at two boys laughing and giggling making gestures at the opposite end of the hallway.

“It must have been those two imbeciles,” Clara said. She walked to her locker, which were only 4 lockers away from Trav’s. Trav observed from where he stood, as she turned the combination to open the door. When she opened it, it revealed a locker, completely covered in foil, including all of her stuff. Trav tried his hardest not to laugh, and managed to hold his laughter well. As Clara’s eyes glanced toward Andy and Vince on the opposite side, however, their laughter busted open at that moment. Clara knew then. Clara ripped the locker door off of its hinges, ran up to Andy, and struck him on his head. Andy fell down, face first, on the hard floor with a loud thud. Vince stepped back, cowering in fear. He crouched in a fetal position. Clara turned to Vince, an unstoppable rage bursting through the hallways. Trav watched from afar.

“Please Clara we didn’t mean to we won’t cover your locker in foil again!” Vince begged, staring hopelessly up at Clara. Clara looked down, and laughed slightly, which Vince feared even more.

“I know you won’t,” Clara turned away with a rather polite smile. Clara walked out of the hallway casually, as if nothing had happened. Vince looked up, and sighed in relief. Too bad for Andy though.

Three minutes had passed since the insignificant scuffle in the hallway. One minute was to pass before the bell rang. In that time between the classes, Trav already got Andy a near concussion, a suspension in Clara’s future (granted entirely it wasn’t his fault), and collected the homework a smart boy by the name of Jon in exchange for a free pass of not being thrown into the dumpster for two weeks. With the hallway clear, there was no one there but Trav, who was drinking the beer he nearly choked on three minutes earlier, what was left of it anyway. Trav heard footsteps echo across the hallway. He turned to look at the source.

A young boy about Trav’s age with a much smaller figure, with thin, casual features, crystal pool eyes, walked through the hallway, holding a schedule in hand. Trav examined the boy from his locker, about 20 feet away, closing in. Something about the boy perplexed him. He was all alone in the school, holding a schedule, looking around the doors and corresponding corridors, on the second week of school. Obviously he was new, even Trav could tell that about him. Trav decided to do the right thing, for once, and approached the boy, patting him on the back, as if they had a lifelong friendship since the day they first met, which was three seconds ago.

“Hey man, what’s the happs’?” Trav asked coolly, tucking his free left arm casually in his pocket. The young man looked up at Trav with a certain composure about him, he was completely relaxed on the outside, if Trav didn’t know any better, as if he had reached a certain level of tranquility. For being a boy lost in a large school that was an odd sight. The boy didn’t seem to mind the gesture, or at least made no visual sign that he didn’t appreciate it. He simply smiled slightly, yet politely. “You know you gonna be late if you keep wandering the halls like a blind bat, right?”

“I seem to be lost, perhaps you can help me out?” the boy said. Trav looked at his schedule, taking it from him without permission. The boy stood aside as Trav examined his schedule.

“Room 32B, that’s right down the next corridor on the right, take the nearest left and it’s the first room on the right,” Trav answered, handing the boy back his schedule. The boy examined the schedule, his puzzled expression finally dispersed.

“Ah yes, makes sense. Thank you,” the boy said, but as he began to walk away, he was met with a yank on the back of his shirt. The boy turned around slowly, turning to Trav smiling at him.

“English, ya know, we have a pop quiz in there today,” Trav said with a noticeable wink. The boy watched Trav, with a minor priority. Trav dug around in his backpack, the first thing he came across, a scantron with answers to a test already bubbled in. Trav nudged the boy. “Eh man? What do ya say? I mean, since it’s your first day and all, you can probably get out of the quiz anyway, but man, imagine the look on Mr. Rawkinhos’ face when you ace a quiz you weren’t even there for.” Trav said, his smile getting goofier by the end. He got closer to the boy, pinning him in a small headlock, which the boy seemed to detest due to the odor most likely. “Think about it, get a 100 on your first day, or maybe you can miss an answer or two to make it seem like you’re not a know it all, ya’ know?” Trav gestured with a small cackle. The boy broke free of Trav’s grip and stared back with a firm, confident smile, standing tall, despite Trav completely taller than him by at least a foot.

“No worries, but no thanks. I’m not a cheater,” the boy said. Trav smiled back at the boy with a generous nod.

“I hear you man. That’s respectful of you,” Trav said, holding out his fist for the boy to bump. “Names Travis, but call me Trav.”

The boy smiled, bumping fists back. “Names Willman, but my buddies call me Willy.”

“Sounds like a gesture to me Willy-man,” Trav said. Willy smiled. “Well Willy, we’d better get going. I got English too, so follow me.” Willy nodded, following Trav down the corridor into the English room.

Trav and Willy entered the English room, seeing as the door was shut and the hallway was empty, class had already begun. Trav chuckled. “Might wanna get ready for a scolding. Just hope you get off lucky cause you’re the new kid on the block and yeah,” Trav said. Willy grinned with a gesture nod. Trav walked inside next to Willy. Mr. Rawkinhos stopped mid-sentence to see the two. He folded his hands behind his back.

“Travis, decide to join us?” Mr. R said with a stern glance. Trav waved carelessly.

“Yeah, sure. Meet Willman guys,” Trav turned his gesture toward Willy, who looked at the class in a positive stance. Mr. R cackled slightly.

“Well then Willy, it’s nice to meet you. Choose your friends wisely around here though. Travis here has a habit of tainting certain newcomers with all the wrong ideas,” Mr. R said, glaring directly at Trav as he said it. Trav scolded and turned away silently. Willy nodded with a generous smile.

“I’ll do my best,” Willy replied. Mr. R motioned for Trav and Willy to take their seats. Willy took the lead, walking in front of Trav down the second row of desks lined up in the classroom. Willy’s eyes wandered around the room, Willy occasionally turned his head. At first, Trav thought nothing of it. Judging from Willy’s solemn demeanor all of a sudden, he began to get more suspicious. By the looks of things up front, Willy appeared to be searching for someone. Trav cocked his head to the side in wonder, but did not question Willy’s newfound suspicious curiosity. Willy took a seat on the third row, second desk, Trav on the fourth row, fifth desk, aka the final row and column. As Trav sat down, someone turned around to face him. Trav looked up, seeing Vince tap on his desk.

“Hey man, who’s the new kid you been hanging out with?”

Trav looked up oddly. “The new kid? How could you know? I just met him.”

“You walked in with him. I’ve never seen him here before, so, whazzup?”

“Your prying is annoying. He’s just the new kid that was lost. Probably a transfer student, that’s all,” Trav said, pushing Vince’s hands rested on his desk aside. Trav rested his head on his desk. “Wake me up before the quiz, or if the room spontaneously combusts.” Vince shook his head and turned back to face the front of the classroom, while Trav dozed off.

The bell rang for the end of 3^rd period. The 4^th and final period of the day, for Trav, belonged to gym. Trav walked out of the classroom with a loud yawn. Despite how interesting his day had been so far, to meeting Yuki, getting Andy slammed in the face by a locker door, and the most interesting of all, meeting the strange newcomer, Willy.

Willy walked out of the classroom, his schedule in hand. He looked nonchalantly down the hallway, glancing back at his schedule, a small hint of bewilderment in his eyes, still new to the school, realizing this Trav walked up to Willy again. “What’s next?”

“Gym,” Willy replied. Trav beamed a smile.

“Same here again dude. C’mon.”

Willy followed Trav toward the gym, walking down the hallway packed of students. Trav lead the way, he turned his head around slightly to face Willy as they continued to make their way. Willy glanced at Trav, signaling he had his attention.

“Trav, may I ask you something?” Willy asked quietly, but he had the sort of tone that, despite what Trav said, he would ask anyway. Trav nodded in confirmation.

“Well, have you noticed any new students around here within the last week?” Willy asked seriously. Trav’s eyes beamed in curiosity, even more so than before. His assumptions were now much more accurate. Willy wasn’t just here for an education or whatever they do here; he was in a search for someone. Trav shook his head.

“Well man, you gotta know that school just started back two weeks ago. Still early September here, ya know. I haven’t noticed a thing out of the ordinary.” Willy nodded in understanding; his eyes were flaring with a newfound confidence, a need to operate. Whatever was going on, Trav was sure he had beef with someone, by how serious Willy was.

“I see. No one at all eh?” Willy said, pondering deep in thought. Trav turned his eyes back around to Willy, who was now blindly following him, lost in his own cesspool of thoughts. “A sign of his appearance for sure.”

“Who, what? Did you come here with someone?” Trav asked, as he stopped to turn the corner, approaching the hallway with the boy’s and girl’s locker rooms respectively. Trav made a turn for the boy’s locker room, Willy followed.

“You could say that.”

“Kay students, line up,” Coach Keltz blew his whistle; the high pitch shrill reverberated across the gym. Coach Keltz, with his clipboard in hand, went down the line of students dressed out. Coach Keltz went through the list of students, marking them present and so. Trav stood next to Willy, staring at him from his angle.

“Next time, you might wanna bring your own gym clothes. You’re lucky I had a string,” Trav said, examining Willy in another pair of Trav’s gym clothes, which fit Willy hardly, as the shorts were baggy, and the T shirt spread down close to his knees, the sleeves of the shirt leaving off much excess sleeve.

“Yeah, but I kinda like this actually. It’s loose and comfortable,” Willy said, performing a sly hamstring stretch across the floor with his legs. Trav chuckled slightly. He bowed forward, noticing Willy’s attention rapidly fixed as Coach Keltz went down the list.

“Yuki… not dressed out again I see?” Coach Keltz said, looking up from his clipboard. Yuki held her manga book close, sitting on the bleachers in her casual clothes. Coach Keltz made a mark on his list and continued down the line. “… Vince, here… Andy, absent… … Clara… suspended it seems,” Coach Keltz made another mark on his list. Willy stood up straight, staring at the next young man down the list.

“… Sid?” Coach Keltz gazed down at a young man who was Willy’s height, appeared to be his age as well, with pure black hair that was slicker than Willy’s. He wore pure black clothes, chains on his pants. “Not going to participate today?” Sid stared up at Coach Keltz nonchalantly, with a cold grin, Sid nodded. Trav put two and two together, and realized it was Sid who he was staring at. Trav turned to Sid, examining him. His eyes widened slightly, as he turned back to Willy.

“You know him?” Trav asked. Willy didn’t answer right away, simply leaned against the closed in bleacher.

“Yeah.”

“He’s the one you were talking about? Funny, I talked to him about a week ago. He seemed cool,” Trav shrugged. “You got beef with him or something?” Willy turned away, and began examining the gym as the coach turned away. Willy turned toward a basketball rack at the right corner of the gym. Trav followed Willy’s stare to the basketball rack, and grabbed Willy’s shoulder. “Look man, I’m probably the last person who should be tellin’ you this, but don’t start anything on your first day,” Trav said, unusually more serious than usual. Willy smiled at Trav, patting Trav on the centre of his back.

“No worries Trav, it is all under control. I’m just playing along with his game.”

Willy turned quickly toward the coach, who still had his back turned. He turned a quick glance back at Trav, then back at Sid. Trav looked on in bewilderment at first, but that would soon turn into a look of plain shock. Willy darted toward the rack, at a speed that clearly track record breaking. Willy’s form alone was incredible; his speed was an entirely different matter. Trav looked on, completely befuddled. The entire class stared at Willy in amazement. Vince’s mouth dropped open. Even the coach turned around, completely in awe.

“Holy god, what the hell did I just see?!” Vince looked on, his eyes as round as teapots. The only two in the crowd not impressed, were Yuki and Sid. Sid watched Willy from afar in his casual clothes, his pure black eyes glared at Willy. Willy turned to Sid with a confident smile. He began dribbling the ball, picking up the pace over time. Willy dribbled toward the goal, held the ball, and performed a 360 spin toward the goal, completely nailing the twisted power drive. If anything, it seemed he was attempting to show off, for those that didn’t know any better. By his amazing form, the rest of the class was in admiration, for him with his size to perform such a technique so gracefully, was hardly heard of.

Sid folded his arms with a small conceited smile visible on his face. As the ball bounced slowly behind Willy, he turned to Sid, and grinned. Willy and Sid exchanged glares for a solid minute, before any other action was taken. The coach stepped in, finally.

“Uh… everyone, run 10 laps around the gym to start off the day,” Coach Keltz blew his whistle. The class took small steps to recover from what had just struck them in the face. Even Trav was dumbfounded. Vince tapped Trav in the shoulder.

“Nigg, did you just see that shit?” Vince said in awe. His eyes slowly wandered back to Trav. “You um, you got him on that super adrenaline or what?”

“I didn’t give him any drugs… besides, that’s definitely natural talent… it’s just,” Trav said, shaking his head. He couldn’t piece together what was going on. On the way, Willy refused to spill out any important details. Trav thought it must have just been an intense rivalry. “But man, maybe those are the work of drugs. I dunno anymore.”

Willy flashed a smile as Sid stepped into the front line of students, casually had his hands tucked in his pockets. He released his hands, clenching his fists with a silent vehemence.

“Sid? What are you doing? You can’t participate,” Coach Keltz announced, but was only met by a bitter glare by Sid. Coach Keltz’s eyes wandered for a minute, his eyes dilated. At the same moment this happened, Yuki clasped her manga book. Trav’s throat tightened, but Willy simply stared at Sid, his sights set on him only. Sid beamed back at Willy, walking up next to him. The Coach nodded. “The floor is yours Sid; everyone, get ready.” The coach blew his whistle, the race began.

Willy and Sid both ran together. They started out with a straightforward pace, and at the beginning were already lapping the regular group. Trav and Vince ran together, watching the two from their restricted locations. No one else stood a chance at keeping up with these super humans. Trav watched on, his eyes widened, teeth gritted together. “What the hell… are these guys?!” the endless conversations going on behind Trav made no mind to him, not even Vince existed right now, his best friend since 6^th grade. He was focused entirely on Willy and Sid’s competitive race.

As they ran, side by side, Sid picked up his pace, running out, and his arms flailing effortlessly behind his back. Willy ran with full support, neither breaking a sweat. Three laps around the gym, neither one let any sign of stopping, in such a short time. The pure velocity of their dash was astounding, and in such perfect form. Their speed was nearly three times that of normal human capacity. No one could keep up. Yet the coach, this entire time, watched on.

Despite Trav’s distance, as they made the turn, he began to hear a conversation take place between the two.

“You should not have come, Willy,” Sid said with a cool tone.

“Not happy to see me again?” Willy said. Sid smirked slightly, closing his eyes.

“You are so foolish, to lead yourself to me. Once a fool, always a fool,” Sid was about to impact with the wall. Trav’s eyes widened at the sight, even Willy was caught off guard at first. Sid flipped up into the air, kicked off of the wall, using the gained momentum to land stylishly on his feet, even ahead of Willy, not losing his running pace at all. Willy sneered confidently.

“You won’t win this time,” Willy said, the next curve was coming. Willy attempted to use a stylish turn around Sid to pass by him, but what happened next even Sid didn’t seem to predict.

As the curve motioned forward, Sid positioned his feet for the turn, which Willy did not anticipate as early as he did. Willy tripped over Sid’s feet, the momentum from his current pace now backed up with the full power as he slipped across the gym floor, rolling at  an unimaginable speed across the gym floor, his skin scraped the cement. Willy’s body burst out of the gym double doors, clashing with the supporting beam from outside. The whole class stopped. Trav watched on in horror. Sid kept running, simply staring back at Willy, almost in pity. “What a fool, I pity.”

“Willy?!” Trav ran outside of the gym, finding Willy face down on the floor, bleeding from his scraped up knee, arm, and the back of his head. Trav ran toward Willy, crouching down beside of him, holding his head up. Willy looked up in slight fatigue from the sudden fall. “Shit… that looks bad! Hang in there man…”

Willy finally awakened in the nurse’s office in the school. Bandaged from the top of his head and around his left arm and right leg, Willy looked up in exhaustion.

“Finally awake?”

“I think so,” Willy sat up, grunting in pain.

“Should take it easy man. I wouldn’t reopen those wounds. That was a nasty fall you took there.”

“I lost huh?” Willy said, his eyes gazed eternally on the ceiling. “Damn.”

“Can’t win them all, I guess,” Trav said, unsure of what else to say. After witnessing the events in the gym, seeing Willy in the nurse’s office was the last place he expected him to be. Trav turned to Willy slowly.

“Who are you, Willy?” Trav finally asked after an awkward moment of silence. At this moment, Trav wasn’t in the mood to play games. He knew something was going on, and he wanted to know what. Willy looked up at Trav.

“I’m Willy,” Willy replied vaguely. “I don’t like to lose.”

“I realized that,” Trav sighed. “I mean, who are you? Who is he? What are you doing here? I’ve seen the way you’ve been acting lately, you came here for him. Why?”

Willy did not reply right away. Trav felt he was going to hold things back. Whatever was going on, it wasn’t simple anymore. Things were real. “If you really want to know, I will tell you,” Willy replied, staring up seriously at Trav. He cringed in pain as he sat up straight. Trav stared back seriously into Willy’s eyes. “But do know one thing.”

Trav nodded, listening.

“Once I tell you, you’re in. When you’re in, you’re in.”

Trav nodded in confirmation. “I’m in.”