"Well, class," the teacher was saying. "Today we will learn about the effects of remnants in games."
It was a normal day in Programming class at Aviano High School. Matthew Jessup was sitting next to his friend Michael Taylor. They were actually listening to the teacher, unlike most of the rest of the class.
"Remnants are not good," the teacher continued. "If things are taken out of the game incorrectly, remnants can be found by exploits that occur when hexadecimal values are corrupted or called into play."
Matt started drawing on a piece of paper. It looked like a backwards L with half a face.
"What is THIS?" the teacher roared, suddenly looming over Matt.
"Well, erm…It's…a remnant from a certain game that severely glitched the data."
The teacher stared at it for a second.
"Ah…" the teacher breathed.
The bell rang, and the students jumped up to get to the buses. Matt and Michael ran out to their lockers to get their things.
"So, Matt," Michael said.
"Yes?" Matt asked.
"What were you drawing?"
"I told you! I told the whole stupid class! It was a remnant!"
Michael sighed. He knew he wouldn't get anything more out of Matt when he was angry like this. However, he tried again.
"What's wrong, Matt?"
"Nothing! I'm just thinking!" Matt burst out angrily.
"OK, OK," Michael replied, backing off.
They walked in silence to the buses, and said goodbye.
Matt walked toward the clinic, looking at the ground and thinking about nothing in particular. It was because of this that he bumped into someone.
"Sorry," he mumbled, staggering.
"Oh, it'ss nooo problem!" said the strangest voice Matt had ever heard.
A man in a top hat and an extremely large coat was standing in front of him. He was about eight feet tall and had a whip tucked into his belt. On his face, he wore a pair of smallish sunglasses and the biggest smile Matt had ever seen. It was so big, it covered the part of his face the didn't have the sunglasses on it.
"I-I-I-I'd better get going," Matt stuttered.
"Oh? So soooon?" the strange man asked, leering at Matt. His smile seemed to get bigger. "We've onnnly just mettt!"
"Yes, I know," Matt said. He really was in a rush. "It's just that there's an appointment I have to go to, and…"
He stopped. The man held out his hand.
"I'mmm the Millennium Earrrrl!" he proclaimed, gripping Matt's hand and shaking it.
"I'm…Matt," Matt said, warily.
The Millennium Earl released Matt's hand.
"I doooo hope we meet again!" the Millenium Earl cried. "Tally ho!"
Matt squeezed past him and went to the building where he was supposed to have his appointment. He never looked back.
The Millennium Earl watched him for a while, thinking. A voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"He'll do perfectly, sire," a deep voice said to the Millennium Earl.
"Yesss…" the Millennium Earl breathed. "He will be perfect, Leo."
The demon standing behind the Earl gave a cold laugh. He would have a host at last.