The Day My Life Ended...
was any ordinary day. For a 17-year-old boy who was working for the government to perfect magic, anyways. My name is Jeron Moore. Pronounced "Share-on", not "Jer-on". I hate it when people get it wrong. I stood, at 17, 6 feet tall with raven-black hair that was always shooting up in random directions. No amount of gel could fix that. I tried having a line of red dye going through my hair and found that I liked it. It was on my right side going from my forehead to the back of the left, kind of cutting a line through my head. I don't know how to explain my except that I wasn't good-looking, nor was I really bad. I just knew it was a face people liked and trusted —that's what my friends said, anyways. I had no pimples, acne, or any thing that comes with puberty, as I used magic to get rid of them, as I have since I found it. On my left cheek is a line that goes from my chin to the center of my cheek. Let's just say, it was an unfortunate accident with a dog. I was of a medium build. I had muscle but I almost never worked out. The only thing scary about me was how my height and my width made me seem like a giant when all it was, was the really baggy clothes I wear. I love clothes like that. Except for the whole pants below the waist thing. That's just annoying. Anyways, I bet you're wondering why the government wanted to help me practice magic. I'll start off by explaining how the world got to where it was then.
The year was 2012. Everyone thought that the world would end because of some Mayan prophecy. I didn't care at the time as I was only 9 years old. On December 21st of 2012, end of the world day, nothing really bad happened. Instead something quite..magical..ended up happening. An explosion originating in Europe, that's all I know about where, spread magic across the world. Imbuing everything with a bit of magic. Suddenly, magic was free game. If you could do it, you practiced. If you couldn't, you envied those who could. That's how it was. Someone like me thought that Chaos would have ensued because of it. Turns out I was wrong. People accepted it and actually used it to thrive. Magic helped save the crashing economy and helped people out if they were hungry. There was no more world hunger.
About six years after, in 2018, I was just out my freshman year and I wanted to know if I could do magic. Some people found it out they could quickly but then again, I never tried. It was the middle of summer and I decided to do all the research I could. If I could do magic, it might give me a head start in what I would want to do with my life. People were already creating schools of magic, that had to be approved by the government of course, and were big. If you got in one, it was like being in Harvard or M.I.T. All you had to do was prove you were good at studies and magic and you were in. There was still tuition, but that was my goal at the time.
I remember it like it was yesterday. I was standing in my driveway on August 21st. It was my big sister's birthday. She had just turned 18 and, already graduated from high school, was moving to the local college's dorms. She had the money saved up and was ready to go. Anyways back to me. I was standing in my driveway next to my Dad's black 1994 white safari GMC. He liked old vans for some reason and never stopped talking about that one. I was standing with my back to our two story house. As I said before, I was curious to see if I could do magic. If I could, that would be one thing that would make my life easier.
I had laid a spare tire for my dad's jeep down on the driveway. To see if I had magic, I had to do a basic levitation spell. Of course, it's not really a spell when it's just how you shape your will. No words were needed so most people didn't call them spells. Reading all I could about it, and watching many videos on YouTube of people doing it, I learned that starting off on something big was easier then small for one reason. When something is smaller, you have to focus your will into a smaller area for the magic to kick in. If you did it with something big you wouldn't have to focus as much.
Staring at the tire with sheer determination, I put both my hands forward and started to focus. I had seen so many people do this easily, friends included, I thought that it would be easy for me to do. I found out that I was wrong by standing there for minutes on end trying to will it to float. Just when I thought I would give up, I felt something snap inside me. Kind of the large crack you hear in movies when Dams break. That's when I saw my hands start to glow blue and, with an ecstatic "Yeah!" watched the tire lift off the ground easily. A little too easily actually. I didn't notice that I was gathering what I thought, and now know is, magical energy, I blasted the tire upwards and forwards. It seemed I had used a lot of energy as that thing flew with a speed that could only be rivaled by jet planes. It seems I had the ability to use more magic than all the people I've seen. My life had changed that day. It was great. That was until all my non-magic friends started to get jealous of me and hate me because of it. Those effects of my getting magic were not so great.
When I turned 16 on December 13 of that same year, about half a year since I learned I could do magic, it seemed like the greatest day of my life since all my friends were here, my family, everyone. That was until THEY showed up. They knocked on the door like nothing was wrong with showing up unannounced. Let me explain something I'd learn later first. The American Government wanted to turn magic into a battle usable weapon. Or, if not able to do that, at least use it to help in wars. Not to fight but for healing or clearing battlefields or things like that. To do this, they had a group of their best casters create a spell used to find the most magically gifted citizens. I had been one of the people the spell had sensed. Now they wanted my help. I didn't really care what they wanted it for, they were offering me a job working for them to help study magic. I loved doing magic, even if I knew so little.
My parents tried to decline to them and said that I was to young to make a choice like that. I told them that it was my choice no matter what they said and that I wanted to go. "I love magic," I said with a serious tone in my voice. "This is what I want to do, why not start early?" My Mom didn't like the tone I used but she couldn't do anything right then as I walked out of the house with the two agents following me. That was supposed to be a good day, but instead it led to me and my Mom not talking again. Stupid is what your thinking of. Yes, what I did then was stupid. Out of spite for my Mom, I broke all contact with my family and friends. I regret it now but the past is past.
As I left with the two men, I was told that the government would provide everything I needed for as long as I worked for them. I didn't care, I just wanted away from my family. I should get something straight. Me and my Mom were already at each other's throats. I never really liked her, and she never really liked me. My sister was the one she loved. She gave her everything. She bought her the clothes she wanted, she bought her a car, she got her anything she wanted even if it put it behind on bills. I knew it was stupid but if I said anything bad about her my Mom would come raining fiery hot death upon me for saying anything about her daughter. She didn't even care about her son. Dad didn't really care for either one of us. He was to busy partying with his friends to care. At least they had the decency to be at my birthday party that day. Usually it's just my friends setting it up for me at their house. Good, now that that's out of the way, I can get back to the main reason I'm writing this.
So when I left, it turns out that they were either expecting me to go with them instantaneously or say no straight up. Seems that was the choice they were gonna give me but didn't have the chance since I had gotten in a fight with my mom when they were about too. They were driving one of those straight black old cars that no one could tell what model it was unless they studied cars. I didn't hate vehicles but I didn't really like them. I didn't care either. You might think me crazy for just leaving with two random men calling themselves federal agents. I actually wasn't as I could tell that they couldn't do magic nor were they armed. It seems that I actually could see what they meant when they said I was one of the most powerful spell casters when I remembered that fact. I had created certain spells that detected things like weapons and I created spells that could help me fight. Now I knew I would be perfect to weaponize magic. I have to tell you, it wasn't a good thought.
We made our way to the local airport in our city. During the whole car ride they gave me the basics of what would be going down for the next few years. I was to be given a codename, one I could make or choose as the place I was going to be living in made sure not to use real names. I asked them if my education would continue and they said that I would be using online classes. I've used them before and they're not the best. However, I guess I should be happy that I'm getting out of having to sit in a place for six and a half hours. They said that everything else will be explained there by whoever was assigned to guide me around the place. Of course they never explained it but I guess that was just how it was.
When we arrived at the airport, the car was stopped in front of a private plane that you knew was the type either the government or rich people used. The two men got out and I followed suit. Standing at the entrance of the plane was another man dressed in a suit but he wasn't wearing sunglasses and he had a friendly face on. The two men didn't move but they motioned me to go. With a shrug, I trudged forward anxiously wondering who this man was and why he looked so friendly.
"Well hello there!" It seems this man has the decency to talk to me like a normal person unlike those two robots. "I hope your ready for a short trip. I mean, the flight from here in Florida is not that far from Virginia."
I nodded and said, "Your right, it's not. So that's where this place is huh?" I smile and walk up the stairs to the entrance of the plane. "What are we waiting for? Let's go."
The man laughs and, after patting me on the back, said, "We will. Right now. Your right by the way. That is where we're going. I mean it's not like I told you like that just to tell you."
OK, now this guy was creeping me out. The cryptic words, the weird closeness he seemed to show, it all pointed to wrong. Perhaps I was just paranoid and this was the only way he could show any kind of social abilities. I just went along with it as he led me down the plane and towards the cabin in which we would be relaxing in while the flight took it's time.
If there was one thing about this guy I liked, it was that anything I asked for, he brought. Soda, food, movies. Just about everything except alcohol. Then again, I never asked for it so I wouldn't have known if he would have gave me it. It seemed that this might just make up for the ruined birthday party. It would have been better with my friends. I didn't think that at the time but I was shallow then. My anger for my mother was clouding every bit of loyalty and friendship I had in me. We had a fun trip to Virginia. Movies galore. It was a great day.
The day didn't end there though. We landed in Shannon airport in the city of Fredericksburg. When we got off, both of us got into a helicopter right next to the plane and started flying to an open area. That's where I got a little suspicious. When we started to lower, the only thing I could see was a lone road and a small building that was a gas station and a motel in one. Why is a motel out this far? As we landed, the man motioned for me to step out. I opened the helicopter door and, when the engines died down, said, "Is this where I'm supposed to live for the next few years? I think I wanna change my answer."
The man laughed and, while in the helicopter still, said, "Don't worry, this is only a front. I won't be going in with you but you'll be well taken care of, don't worry." As the engines started up again, he said, "When you walk in, tell the man in front your new code name. Just go with a nick name. That's what most of the casters chose to do I hear."
As I was about to say a smart remark to him, he shut the helicopter door and the engines had to fully start up at that moment. I quickly ducked and backed out of the way so the blades didn't accidentally hit me. With the man, who's name I forgot to ask, gone I had no idea what to do besides going into the motel. I guessed that was what I was supposed to do. With that decided, I made my way to the motel entrance. It was a basic set up. The main office and the rooms being separated. The rooms were set up in a u shape around the main building. When I entered, there was only one other person in the room. A man, shorter than me, who had a bald head and you could tell was over 60 was standing at the counter. He was currently wiping it down with a clean washcloth in his right hand and a bottle of Windex in left.
I walked over to him and, when he looked up, said, "Hi."
He stared at me and said only one word. "Name?"
That's right, I was supposed to give a codename. No last name, no first name, just a name. As I sorted through the nick-names I had either chosen or been given, I decided to go with the one I was most used to people calling me. I went with Daemon. Like Day-men. Wow, Day men. That sounds so weird when I think about it. When I told him, he asked my how to spell it.
"D...A...E...M..O..N." I said with the utmost patience a teenager could have.. Which is almost non existent.
He wrote down the name and, after putting the pen down, said, "Go into room 7. Your expected."
If that was where I was to go, I didn't argue. I stepped away from the counter and went outside. From where this place was, all you could see around you was large plains. It was just flat land all around. I loved this. I took a deep breath and realized that the air here was dryer than in Florida. That was good. I hated the humidity. As I made my way towards Room 7, I put my hands in my pockets. That's when I realized that my ipod was still in my pocket along with my head phones. I pulled it out and, after putting my head phones in, put on a band I just got into. Of course they were based of the t.v. show Doctor Who, but they made good music. The band was called Chameleon Circuit and I started off with one of their old songs. It was called The Sound of Drums. Loved it. The Master was my favorite character.
When I got to the door of said room, I grabbed the handle but didn't turn it. My heart was pounding greatly. Something told me that when I opened the door my life would be changed forever. More then what I was told. It was like my instincts said that I would almost never see the world the same again. I had already came this far, why not all the way? Might as well see what surprises this job has in store. With a deep breath, I opened the door. I did it so quickly that if anyone had been on the other side, I was sure I would have broken their nose. Luckily, there was no one there. It was just a basic motel room. That was quite the anti-climactic moment if you ask me.
I stepped into the room and let go of the door. Right when I let go, the door slammed itself shut. I jumped away from it thinking it might attack. A crazy thought, but you never know if some one's pulling a prank on you with magic or not. I turned away from the door to inspect the room. If I was supposed to help research magic then is this where I was supposed to stay? All it had was a basic T.V. with cable. Two beds. One bathroom with shower. That was it. It was a two star motel at best.
If I was gonna wait, might as well watch t.v. I grabbed the remote off the stand next to the bed closest to the door and pressed the on button. Nothing happened, to the t.v. at least. The space between the two beds changed instead. The floor split apart like a trap door revealing a platform rising towards me. I stepped around the bed and stopped at the edge of the opening. The platform looked big enough to hold a group of 6. It even had a hand rail around the edge for people to hold. With a deep breath, I stepped onto the platform and, with the remote, pressed the power button again. With a quick jerk, the platform started to go down slowly. When my head was lower then the floor, said floor closed up again causing the platform and everything I saw to turn to darkness. I wasn't claustrophobic but if I had to stay in here for a long time, I was sure I would go crazy.
After a little bit, I started to realize that the platform was speeding up. Kind of like it was falling. Then it started to stop. I was really confused now. Why was it stopping already? Now I love the rides in amusement parks but his one beat everyone I've been on before. It just fell. I thought that slow was agonizing, but that was before I realized that falling down a small elevator in a pitch black shaft was the worst thing ever. I thought for sure I was gonna die. I held onto the rail like it was the only thing keeping me alive. Then the platform started to slow down. Someone was obviously messing with me.
When the speed changed to one that was acceptable, I just stood straight up and, with one hand still on the rail, said, "Just where are you taking me?"
The answer appeared in front of me as if it wanted to be found. I left the dark shaft and found myself surrounded by a forest! Well...a forest with scattered buildings. The first thing I noticed however, was the mini sun in the middle of the sky. This place was huge but did they really have someone powerful enough that they made him or her make a sun? Was there a moon to match? I averted my eyes downwards towards the 'ground' and saw certain things I would like to point out. In one section of the forest, I saw what looked like a magic duel. There was fire blasts, ice blasts, storms, any thing you can think of that could be used as a magic attack just flying everywhere! The section of land next to it was devoid of trees but filled with moving dots. I activated my own magic senses to see what they were doing in that section. Little did I know that doing that would overload my sense. There was so much magic floating around that I literally had to stop breathing just to focus enough to shut off that sense. I started to breath again and, reluctantly, looked around again. It seemed there was a section for everything. Building, offense, shape changing, anything you could think of. Perhaps the section I tried to investigate was the healing one. Makes since that it would be next to the offense magic section.
The platform I was on led into the tallest building in the center of everything. It seemed that the building was built around the elevator. The building I was going into was shaped much like a four sided pyramid. It was much bigger though. I didn't have much time to take in this building as I entered the top. It stopped quickly as the elevator was only for the top of the pyramid. The platform stopped in a room that was pretty small. It was a basic rectangle with another proper elevator on the other side. In this room stood two people. A woman and a man.