Chapter One

Golden rays of sunlight filtered down through the trees as we walked along the sidewalk of Central Park.The sky was clear of clouds and it was a wonderful day for a stroll.Which meant that everyone from my high school would be chilling outside at the park just being teenagers.Evan,my best friend,walked beside me and I had to practically run to keep up with his long strides.

"Why did I have to be the short friend?" I complained and Evan shook his head chuckling.

"Oh,stop complaining you're in the track team for Pete's sake!"He gives me a playful shove.We were an odd pair of friends,almost completely different in looks and personalities. While Evan was dark skinned tall,and well built,I,on the other hand was scrawny pale and short for my age. Most girls in my grade were taller then my little 5'6'' self,which was kinda sad but I couldn't change that.Evan was the calm thinker while I was the reckless hot head,in the words of my father.

"Being on the track team doesn't mean I have to be so short!

I haven't had a growth spurt in ages."Evan shakes his head and then grins at me pointing over towards a little cluster of girls.

"I've heard that growth spurt or not,that miss Karen Willard has a thing for you." I roll my eyes at that,Karen had been my long time crush since like third grade.She was the classic popular girl but not at all a jerk,so if course every other guy in school wanted her.

"Please,why would she ever want someone like me?" I said looking at the cluster of girls.Karen and her friends seemed to be giggling about something,they kept pointing at me and Evan.Was it really that ridiculous?

"You're special Nathaniel,how many times do I need to tell you?" Evan sighed and I rolled my eyes once more.He was as bad as my father with the whole you're "special" subject.I didn't see how a person who's so normal was special,yah,I could run pretty well and was captain of the track team but did that make me special?I sure didn't think so.

"Why do you guys keep saying that.Seriously-"A deep voice cut me off and I clenched my teeth together.I already knew who was behind me as I slowly spun on my heel.

"Well,look who it is the little thief." Zach Timber growled and I shook my head my hands clenching into fists at my sides.

"You're still not over me taking your place?" I snarled through my teeth and felt Evan place a hand in my shoulder.It was a good thing too because I was ready to lunge at him.Zach used to be the star player on the track team and was captain for all three years of his high school career.Let's just say the senior didn't take kindly to a freshman stealing his spotlight and job.

"I should have been captain but you came along and screwed it up.Now,the scouts are not looking at me but you,a little freshman who can't tell left from right." Hatred and jealousy blazed through his eyes.I felt a small warm glow of pride,the whole team had hated Zach mostly just because he was a bossy jerk.His dad was the coach and people were so happy when the spoiled jock was taken down a notch.

"If can't tell left from right then your father emits have really screwed up now didn't he?" I raised my eyebrows at him standing tall against the older boy.I wasn't the kind of person to get intimidated by side considers my best friend was about six inches taller then me.Evan could practically feel the air crackling with hatred and he wisely stepped in before Zach lunged at me.

"Nathaniel I think it's time to go.Your father wanted you home earlier remember?" That was a complete lie but Evan was always there to keep me out of trouble.He was helpful like that and I would have probably been beaten to a pulp about a hundred times that year of it hadn't been for Evan.I don't back down from a fight,even the ones I know I'll lose.I'm just a bit stupid and reckless like that.

Without another word we left a very triggered Zach behind us. As we walked along the crowded side walks of the Big Apple Evan was very oddly quite his brown eyes filled with a deep look.I knew that he was thinking and what ever he would say headlight as well be life or death.I had never seen him so I needed by a Zach encounter before.

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid when dealing with Zach." he suddenly said as we reached the entrance to my apartment complex.I paused and looked at him wondering if he was serious.I shrugged reaching into my bag for my house key not understanding why it was such a big deal.

"Sure,of course." I said and Evan grabbed my shoulder before I could open the door.His brown eyes seemed to be staring straight into my soul and his words made me shudder.

"Nathaniel,please don't do anything stupid.A storm is coming and I have this horrible feeling that you're in the middle of it." I rolled my eyes trying not to let it show how much those words actually unnerved me.

"Got it,I'll see you tomorrow at school I guess." Evan shakes his head but doesn't argue and instead spun on his heels and walked away.I watched as my best friend disappeared into the crowd of people leaving work,my brow raised in confusion.What was that about?A storm is coming and I'm in the middle of it?I almost laughed shrugging it off,Evan was just probably scared Zach would beat me bloody or something.

I slipped inside the building and headed up the stairs my footsteps echoing around the empty halls.I stopped at my apartment and went to open the door with my house key,but I stopped the key centimeters from the lock.I blinked as a chill ran up my spine as if there was someone watching me.I looked up and down the hallway finding it empty still,I shook the feeling off telling myself it was just Evan's silly warning getting to my head.

I slipped into my apartment as the door opened with a click and I closed the door.Dad wasn't home yet from work so the house was eerily quiet which was strange,usually there was the sound of my father humming an 80's song in the kitchen as he cleaned My father was a defense lawyer making sure people were innocent until proven guilty and such.Usually though he didn't work in the courts but behind a desk writing out case stuff.I didn't really understand what he did all I knew was that he worked sometimes for only two hours and others all night long.I set my backpack down on the table and sat down at the table wondering if I really wanted to do my homework.

Well,it's Friday-

Suddenly my own thoughts were exit off by another,but not my own.It sounded famine and has a strange hissing sound to it well,the thought was more like a voice making me jump out of my skin.

Hello?

I looked around but there was no one near by which meant this voice was defiantly in my head.My headquarters pounding in my head and I almost convinced myself it was just my imagination.

I should probably go to bed,especially since I'm imagining there's voices in my head

I can't believe it!You're not just a myth,which means...The propechy shall be fulfilled!

What?

I blinked half of me screaming that it couldn't be real the other half trembling in complete terror.I was so scared and confused that my mind had been turned into ice unable to process anything around me.Then,like every great hero my mind went complete blank and the table rushed up to meet me as I passed out.