Chapter 1
My name is Fabian Callus and I'm here to explain how you humans ever found out about us. To tell the truth it's actually my fault, as is the end of the world; but we'll get to that. In order to understand what happened you need to start at the day I found out who I am. So lets start at my absolute best day at St. Christopher's School for Insolent Children right outside Reno, Nevada
St. Christopher's is a school for "different" children, really it just means we're all trouble makers or unwanted. Its sort of like a juvenile correction facility, but without the solitary confinement. Located in the middle of nowhere there is absolutely no escape. Even prisoners only have to share a bunk with one person, they group us 4 to a room. I was stuck in dorm 372 with twins named John and Jack Gutimer, and Gavin Free. It was a horrible set up, because the twins were nine years old while Gavin and I were both fourteen. Needless to say there were plenty of arguments.
Gavin was a funny British kid who had move to St. Christopher's about the same time I had. He was a little weird looking. He was skinny, but really tall. His eyes are almost a navy sort of blue. Though sometimes they changed to bright turquoise. His hair and eyebrows are both very pointed and blond.
Our dorm was really just a small attic room with two bunk-beds and a single closet. The lack of things actually helped keep down fight since there was nothing to steal from each other. Each of us had a set of pajama's and two school uniforms. We also each had a backpack with a pad of paper, a book of our choice, and an eraser. That just about sums up all that I had owned my entire life.
I had live at St. Christopher's since the age of 8. The police found me alone when I was 3 in a park with only a jacket that had "Fabian" embroidered on it. Since then my parents were wits and discipline. I have lived in different foster homes, but each one ended up kicking me out. Once I was abandoned about 10 times my social worker moved me to St. Christopher's. It wasn't until about a year after I moved to St. Christopher's that I realized why no one wanted me. It was my eyes. They are I mix of different metallic colors that tend to put people off.
My last day at St. Christopher's was definitely my best and happiest. It started out like any other day. I woke up, woke Gavin up, went to the bathroom and got ready, and went to class. The school rooms are kept between the gender assigned wing s for easy access for both boys and girls.
Class is the only part of the day that I hate, but its the longest and the most boring. Our teacher is Mrs. Phang, a fat bipolar lady. She's always evil, but she can change moods and/or personalities on the flip of a coin. I think she is out to get me. In class I am the first one she calls on, or swats on the hands for being late. I'm pretty sure its illegal, but we weren't in a position to complain.
As soon as I enter class, three minutes early I might add, I hear "So, look who has finally thought to join us class. Mr. Callus in the future please be reminded to come to class on time tomorrow."
Guess who said it. Yep, the evil toad is sitting at the front of the class, and of course everyone except for Gavin and I were there 5 minutes early. As soon as I sat down she came over and had us lay our hands flat on the desk. She took a yardstick from behind her back and gave us both a swift rap on the knuckles.
Safe to say after that class didn't get any better. When I went to take out my notebook I realized that it wasn't in my bag. How could I lose one of the three things that I am supposed to carry around at all times? Then it hit me, when I took it out and went to sleep last night the Gutimer twins were still awake. Those stupid little ingrates had stolen my notebook.
"Ma'am?" I asked "I do not have my notebook, I seem to have misplaced it."
She turns around with the biggest grin on her ugly face. "Well Mr. Callus we both know the consequence for being unprepared in class. Now go to the closet and grab the cutters."
Maybe I should explain the "cutters". The cutters are just some hair clippers. When you come to class without supplies once in a week you get your head shaved. My hair had just began to reach a good length. I went and retrieved the cutters and stool from the closet. Something very strange happened when I did. When I reached past a piece of wire for the clippers it stuck to my hand. Unfortunately, when I tried to pull my hand away from it saw it.
"Mr. Callus put that down this instant!" She croaked "You were told to retrieve the cutters, not vandalize my property."
"Sorry its kind of stuck to me, if you haven't noticed." I said sarcastically "Here if your so strong you try to get it off then."
She came over and slapped me in front of the whole class "Do not take that tone with me Fabian. GET THAT OFF YOUR ARM!" She screamed "I am your teacher and you WILL listen to me!"
Suddenly my vision went black as my rage built. I felt a tug in my stomach and I could see again. The sight I saw was not a pretty one. Mrs. Phang was on the floor screaming insults at me, while the wire was wrapped around her enormous torso and stuck to the ground. I could here my classmates whispers all around me.
"I always knew he was strange, since day one." " How did he do that?" "Did you see it? It just lunged at her."
I just stood there and stared at Mrs. Phang wondering what had just happened. Gavin came up to me and started speaking to me. It took me a while to figure out what he was saying. "Come on mate, let's get you to the room."
While he led me to the room I just kept thinking what had just happened. Somehow that wire responded to me. Just moments before I blacked out I imagined Mrs. Phang locked up and stuck somewhere. Strangly, I was kind of happy to have hurt one of the horrible teachers that govern this school. Vaguely I could Gavin asking questions.
"How did you do that? That was the coolest thing I have ever seen. The wire just jumped off your arm and tackled her. What blows is now what are you going to do? You assaulted a teacher."
That brought me back among the living. "What do you mean what am I going to do? They won't kick me out will they?"
We both knew the answer to that. I was feeling oddly happy about this. The only part that I was particularly sad about was leaving Gavin. He had been my best friend since we were eight. For those of you who can't subtract that's 6 whole years. We walked the rest of the way to the dorm in silence. When we got to the room Gavin left and said that he "wanted to see the old toad let free" as he put it.
After that no one came to the dorm that night. I couldn't sleep, so I just lay down an looked at the ceiling. The question now was where was I going to go? After this no school in the country would want me now. The answer to that question came at about three in the morning, when I was looking at a map the twins had hidden. An answer that could solve all my troubles. All I needed was some food and Gavin's help.
