1 CHAPTER 1

Today is Friday of September 26. Funny. Usually I used to be happy for this day. Actually, I used to be excited. It was the day I had always wished would come every day. But things have changed. No, let me rephrase that: the world has changed. And me? I admit, I'm not the same. But at least I'm better than the others. And it's weird how confident I am about this but I'm an honest guy. I say this stuff because I don't regret it later. I know that if they hear me then I'll regret it. But I'm not there 'minion'. I'm not stupid. Teenager, yes, but not stupid. They're trying to make us all forget. The world. Our homes. But I won't let them. At least not to myself. He will never forgive me. I'll never forgive myself either.

"Happy birthday, Harry." The words came out soft, but stung me like hell.

I turned my face, slowly away from the view-less window, to see Helen, standing at the door with a tray in her trembling hands. I quickly rushed to her, grabbing the tray from her hands. It was sad to see an old woman like her to do so much work. But I wasn't the one to have appointed her. Only god knows who did.

"Oh, dear," she smiled as I gently put the tray on the table, "I managed with the stairs, didn't you think that I could put down the tray myself?"

I smiled but my eyes never met hers, "If you would have done that, Helen, then I swear I would have felt very guilty. And I hope you don't want that?"

"Alright you win!" she laughed, heartily, making me smile the first time in the day. "But tell me something, if you don't mind me asking, that is."

I flopped down on the bed.

"Ask away. But please, if you want me to feel any better, then you'd sit without my permission."

She gave another one of her warm smiles, as she sat down on the study chair, before she started, her brown eyes turning serious,

"It's been almost two years, Harry. Two years! Since you have gone in the building. when will you step outside this room? Whenever I see you it's either in the library or your room. To be honest with you, this place has become quite gloomy without you. I was hoping that... since it's your birthday, you'd-"

"Come outside." I finished for her, unwillingly.

Her face lit up with hope, "That's exactly it. I thought that-"

I hated to do it but I interrupted her again.

"I'm sorry, Helen, really I am. But I... you know that I can't." my voice was coming out weak. It was cracking, "I won't until he replies. Anything. Even a small hello would work. I... just want to know if he's out there. He is. I know it. But I want Alex to know it too. I want her to stick with our deal. Is that too much to ask for? I'm sure for a woman like her, it'll be a matter of seconds to make the impossible possible."

Two things you should know before moving ahead: He. You're probably wondering who that is. Well, it's simple. Who will I cry for? A loved one. And who is this loved one? My father. The world in crisis, so he had to left me in here. A boarding school? An orphanage? I really didn't know. And why would I care? I knew he'd come back. So I didn't care even if this was a prison – which it isn't. Obviously.

The second thing you should know is about Alex. Ms. Alexandra Lynn, in respectful words. She was the whole freaking reason why I was here. Like every other kids in the world, she 'stole' me away from my dad. Well, okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit. She was head of one of the institutes in this wrecked world. Manor of Education and Future for Youths. The name was a mouth full so the kids made it short; MEFY. It sounded stupid that way. Maybe that's why they named it. To make their whole purpose sound stupid. Didn't they get it? We didn't want their help. We kids were way happier even when there was no world. When we were cowered in our houses with fear. At least we were with our families! What made them think that they made us feel safer? Every day I wake up to realize that there won't be any knowing laughter, no arguments. Just strangers. No one to talk with, to fight with.

"I'm just waiting for her response." I continued, my fingers digging in the blank sheets of the bed, "And I swear if Alex answers me back, then I'll step outside. Be social and all. I admit it's been a long time since I had talked to anyone except for me and you."

Helen smiled, her dark skin glistening from the light.

"Well, then maybe, I'll be the first to be giving you this news."

"What news?" my eyebrows rose as I asked.

"I should leave," she had a grin on her face, "But I really think you should start eating you breakfast before it gets cold. It's filled with surprises."

For a glimpse second, I thought she had winked at me before scurrying to the door.I opened my mouth to ask her what she meant but she went as suddenly as she came. I would have ran outside to call her back but my eyes darted toward the tray which was surprisingly still steaming hot.