Chapter One: Awakening

Who am I? Where am I? Where am I from? I have been asked so many questions...and there are no answers that I can give.

They found me on a deserted road. They say I had appeared out of thin air after a lightning strike. But they couldn't answer my questions. I have no identity.

The so called "investigations" continued. The police continue to try to find my "parents." I doubt that they will ever succeed. There are no people with naturally white hair in this world. My "DNA" does not match any known person's. I am alone in this place; all alone.

There are men, dressed in black suits. They carry these strange looking instruments called "guns" that can supposedly kill from a distance. The fact that I knew none of these things only vexed the men and alienated me even further from them.

Why am I being kept here? I haven't done anything wrong, have I? The authorities say I am here because I have no where else to go, and I look different from the others. How do I look different from the others? I don't understand...I don't understand anything.

The man they call "Superintendent" thinks I am mentally ill and dangerous. He is keeping me locked in here so that I won't escape and harm the people outside. I wish I could tell him myself that I mean no harm to anyone or anything. But by the looks of it, he probably won't listen to a word I say. He is too stuck up and arrogant.

The authorities gave up searching for my "parents" and "family" in no time. After all, who could help a boy who doesn't even know his own identity. They threw me in a dark cold cell, constantly guarded by the armed men in suits. There was no escape; I was not allowed out. I am destined to stay here forever.

Officer Ian Balza had been in his superior's office several times before, but today it seemed strangely cold and bleak. Ian struggled to answer the questions with the little evidence he had at hand.

"Are you sure this boy just appeared out of nowhere?"

"Apparently so, Sir. According to Robert and Kari Keyes, the boy materialized out of thin air after a lightning strike that totaled their car and nearly killed them."

Superintendent Archibald Thompson gave a sigh of defeat. He had no intention of locking this boy up in a cell guarded by armed men. But this boy had no identity, had appeared out of thin air, and seemed almost...alien. Even the guards that Thompson had hand-picked to guard the child were given the heebie-jeebies by the child's cold, desperate stare. The Superintendent was against it...but he felt as if he had no choice in this matter.

"Very well, Officer. Keep him under guard constantly. Who knows what he could do to Great Britain if he manages to escape. It seems wrong to keep a seemingly innocent person in a jail cell, but we don't know if this is a innocent person. I am taking no chances. This is my decision."

"Yes, Sir. The captive is currently being guarded by the best men the Armed Forces could garner up. I myself will check on him ever few hours. Is there any other information I should be aware of?"

"No, officer. You are dismissed."

"Yes, Sir." The Superintendent watched him leave the office. Officer Ian Balza. He had personally picked him to be in charge of the guards that were assigned to watch the boy. Ian was strong, brave, and intelligent. He had a near perfect career record. Nothing could possibly go wrong in his hands...

"Sometimes...I hate this job." Thompson mutters idly to himself.

Here he comes. The one they call "Chief" or sometimes, "Ian". He seems to have authority over all the people who guard me. Out of all the men I have met, I fear him the most, even though I've never talked to him before. He looks so...intimidating.

Officer Ian Balza entered the dimly lit cell. The boy instantly scampered off into the nearest corner.

"Stay...away...from...me!" the boy hoarsely whispered. From a glance, he was malnourished, bruised, and battered. Ian instantly felt sorry for the poor child cowering before him.

"Come now, there is no need to be afraid." he said in a gruff but gentle voice. "Would you like something to eat?"

The boy stopped squirming in the corner of the cell. He looked up into Ian's eyes. Instead of a bone-chilling desperate stare, it was a stare of warmth and...thanks, even? Ian smiled; maybe the boy wasn't so bad after all.

I never thought these men could have any amount of kindness in them. It's funny that the one I feared most was the kindest to me. I will make sure to not judge people by their appearances from now on.

The Superintendent is the one who I fear most now. He seems to have authority over even Ian. He listens to no one, only himself. Who knows what devious plans could be going on in that head of his?

Ian will protect me from this harsh world. Ian will be there. He will always be there.