"Eldwin, breakfast is ready." A woman's voice wafted through his ears. Eldwin moaned and pulled the covers up over his head. He didn't want to get up, not yet. "Eldwin!" She called once more, "Get up!" With a sigh, he grabbed his top sheet and pushed it downward. The sun shone through his windows, causing him to blink and adjust. He forced himself into a sitting position, stretched his arms towards the ceiling, and placed his feet onto the cold hardwood floor. Chills shot up his spin. "Eldwin!" The teen bolted upright and rushed to the door. He knew far too well if his mother didn't sense any life, she would come upstairs.

Rising to his feet, he wandered over to his closet and quickly threw on a pair of jeans with a shirt and a long-sleeved shirt serving as a light jacket. Eldwin rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he wandered toward the stairwell. He stood at the top of the stairs and stared at the bottom, sighing. He began descending the stairs when a cold shiver went up his spine, causing him to step on the next stair at an odd angle. Pain shot through the arch of his foot, causing him to stumble forward, falling head-first and tumbling to the foot of the stairs. Eldwin rested his head against the bottom step as the world swam around him.

Footsteps echoed around as his mother's face appeared above his. "Eldwin," she spoke with concern, "are you alright?" Eldwin moved his lips, trying to inform her he was fine, but his brain was too addled to form any words. He watched as his mother drew in a sharp breath before reaching into her pocket, withdrawing a small flashlight, and shining it into his eyes. "You don't have a concussion, but that's a good sign." She sighed as she shoved the light into her pocket, "you probably just had the wind knocked out of you." Eldwin moaned and sat up with his mom's hand pressed firmly against his back.

"I feel fine. I just missed a step." He groaned as he reached and grabbed a peg from the stairwell and gripped it tight. With his mother's hand firmly against his back once more, Eldwin rose and staggered forward. He noticed his mother hovered nearby, ready to grab him if he fell. "I said I was fine."

His mother's shoulders rose and fell as she breathed deeply. "I'm a mother and a nurse, Eldwin. Just trying to watch out for you."

"All I need is breakfast, and I'll be fine."

Eldwin watched as she nodded before walking to the small hallway leading toward the kitchen. He let off a sigh of his own and followed her close. He walked into the kitchen and watched as she pulled a skillet off the hot stove and dumbed eggs and bacon onto a plate before turning her back on him. He walked towards the island, pulled out a stool, and sat down. He eyed the plate and noticed the egg was darker than usual. His mother must have been cooking before his trip down the stairs. 

His mother turned to face him as he pulled his plate closer. "Sorry, Eldwin. I would make you a new batch if there were time." Her face had taken on a sad hue as she glanced toward the analog clock that hung up to her right on a wall beside the refrigerator. Eldwin shoveled food into his mouth and chewed swiftly, and his eyes wandered over. The clock read seven thirty, causing excitement to grow through his body. 

Today was the long away trip to the museum to see an Egyptian exhibit people thought had been lost from times past. He smiled as images of pottery, sarcophagus, and temples raced through his mind. He had hopes of being an archeologist someday and traveling the world like his father had before his life was taken in an accident. He dared not speak his dreams to his mother. She tried avoiding the subject. It was very touchy for some reason. 

As if in the queue, the sound of tires screeching to a stop before his house sounded through the house, causing Eldwin and His Mother to glance toward the window. "El," his mother cooed, "it's not too late for me to tell the teacher you can't attend if you're feeling unwell." 

"I am feeling fine." He assured her as he rose the stool and headed into the central part of the house to grab his back. "Ik, you're a nurse, and it's your job to worry about me, but unlike other kids, I hate missing school." He stopped before the front door and paused as he took down his bookbag from a hook and threw it over his shoulders. His mother stood before him as a horn honked from outside, signaling him to come out. 

"Can't leave Mr. Del Mastro waiting." His mother smiled as she pointed to the main door. Eldwin smiled, kissed his mom, and bonded out the door. He jumped down the stairs two at a time and raced down the driveway to the bus that idled at the apron with its doors open. With a clipboard in hand, his teacher appeared in the door frame, smiling down at him as he bonded the two steps to jump inside the vehicle. He turned and smiled at his teacher. "Good morning, Mr. Carmicheal." 

"Good Morning, Professor Del Mastro."

The teacher used his pen to point down the aisle. "Everyone is accounted for except one, so please have your seat so we can visit the Damien estate and then head out on our way." Aldwin shivered at the name as he stepped past the teacher. His eyes bore into his. He wandered toward the back and spotted his friend Charles sitting next to a window, his head against the wall and his eyes partly closed. 

Loud laughter came behind them as he dropped his back and plopped beside his friend. Eldwin dropped his book down between his legs on the floor as a hand came up between the two boys and smacked the sleeping boy in the face. Charles let out a startled cry as he jerked his head upwards and covered his nose. Eldiwn turned and glanced at Kirk, who had doubled over laughing. Sighing, he turned back to his friend and watched as blood oozed between his fingers and ran down the back of his hand. 

Eldwin reached into his back and pulled out a tissue, which he promptly handed to Charles. "Are you okay?" he asked exasperatedly. All his friend could do was nod. Eldwin wished he knew why Kirk bullied them like he did, but there was nothing he could do about the situation, so why even bother getting the teacher involved? 

"Mr. Anderson." the teacher spoke from somewhere close by. All three boys jumped in their skin as they glanced towards the aisle and noticed the teacher standing close to their seats with a scowl. "Did I see you smack 

*Mr. Gunderson?" Eldwin turned and watched as a smirk appeared on Kirk's face as he leaned back and placed a hand behind his head. 

"No, sir." He spat. "He fell asleep, and it happened while we were traveling. The bus rocked, and his head slammed hard against the window." 

Eldwin sighed and shook his head. Kirk lied about everything, and something needed to be done about him. Eldwin turned his attention back to the teacher and watched as his golden irises sparkled as he turned his back. "Somehow, I doubt that, but have your way." He watched as the teacher turned and walked down the aisle. Charles opened his mouth to snap at Kirk when the bus rolled to a stop. 

Silence filled the bus as the door swung open to let a young boy.  And age in. Everyone lowered their heads as the teacher proudly said about his height. "Hello, Mr. and Mr. Damein." 

"Greetings to you, professor," a high-pitched voice said, breaking the silence. I see we have everyone here today. I assume we are the last ones to be picked up."

"Indeed, you are. Please take a seat. The only one left available is beside Mr. Anderson."

"Th-thank yo-you, s-sir." a lower-pitched voice stammered as the boy moved past the teacher. All eyes were facing forward as the boy moved past them. He wore a grey hoodie with a stain on the front, jeans, and a backpack. On his left arm, he carriedore the same clothes as him but looked like an identical twin except for the boy's switched heterochromia of the left eye, an emerald green, and the right eye, a wooden puppet that not only w a ruby red. 

Eldwin straightened his back as the puppet faced him. He swallowed a lump in his throat as they made eye contact. "who are you looking at?" it asked in its high-pitched voice. He glanced at the belly speaker and watched as he pulled out a phone and began scrolling. Movement caught his eye from the side of Ash. He turned and noticed Kirk had pulled closer to the window, took out his knife, and began flipping it in the air. 

Eldwin turned around and watched as the teacher stood before them and began talking into the microphone. He was probably trying to fit in a lesson on the way to the museum, but Eldwin let his mind wander, not paying attention to a word being said. Ash must be more dangerous or at least scarier than he thought to make Kirk not want to try another with him around. 

After hours, the bus pulled into a garden with bushes planted neatly in rows. Some with flowers, others dark green. Different colored flowers and greenery were planted around them in a beautiful pattern. All the kids had glanced towards his side of the bus and glanced out the window as a pure white building that appeared carved from marble stood before them. White pillars shot from the ground toward the roof, spirling with steps, perhaps ten or so, leading from the entryway to the bus. 

Happiness swelled within him. It wouldn't be long before he could get inside and look at all the poetry and relics saved from a world that had been long forgotten. "Now, student," his teacher called from the front of the bus. This particular selection had been donated by an archeologist named Abraxas. Let's show some respect for his hard work and behavior." He felt the teacher stare into him but knew it was aimed behind him at Kirk. 

The bus rolled to a stop, and the children jumped onto the walkway and glanced at the building above them. Rumer had it; this used to be a government building, while others say Abraxas found it in the pantheon and brought it over brick by brick to preserve it. However, it got here, or whatever made it appear overnight, and the city put it to good use. A hard shoulder came into contact with his, causing his body to jerk forward. Eldwin cried in pain and rubbed the joint as Kirk stalked past him. 

Chewing on his bottom lip, Eldwin stormed past him. As he got neck and neck, he felt something tug on the back of his shirt and throw him back behind him. He fell and rolled down several flights of stairs before he came to a stop and glanced upwards. Kirk had stopped and turned towards him with a dark shadow covering his eyes and his lips pulled into a thin line. There was something wrong with him. In all the years they had been classmates, he had never done anything this severe.

"What's wrong with you?" Charles called from somewhere higher up.

Kirk made a 'tsk' sound with his mouth before shoving his hands in his pockets and turning around. "That dork got ahead of me. He needs to learn his place." 

A strong hand grabbed Aldwin and helped him to his feet before letting go and striding away. Anderson, time to move on." Mr. Del Mastro arrived beside him. Eldwin watched as the teacher stood beside him and passed; now, it was not him. "Mr. Place. Kirk shook violently and whipped his head off to the side. 

Eldwin glanced at Charles and watched as golden light emanated close to Kirk's hand as he turned his back on him. "Did you see that?" 

"See what?" Charles asked as he turned towards the teacher and the bully. 

"It's nothing." Eldwin shook his head as he continued forward. 

Once they entered the building, he noticed the walls were painted white with rock trom beginning halfway down the walls and paintings at the very toppling with drawings of historical battles. He saw that in the middle of the room, a desk was set up where the teacher stood talking to a woman sitting behind near a domed-over computer. 

After a few minutes, the teacher returned, holding papers and smiling, "Okay, class. I have our tickets for today." Kirk grumbled something under his breath as he received his ticket. The teacher glared at him, which Kirk must have caught, for he quickly turned his head away. 

"Here you go, Eldwin," the teacher smiled as he handed him the paper. Eldwin glanced down at the paper and took it from him. Kirk continued grumbling as he glanced at his own. He looked in his direction and noticed the teacher doing the same. "Is everything alright, Mr. Anderson?"

Eldwin watched as Kirk pushed his ticket into his pocket before wandering off to the bathroom. "Between the two of us, Eldwin. Whatever he says or does today, don't hold against him. He's having some family issues." He glanced up at the teacher and watched as he walked and shrugged. Except for beating him to death, there's nothing new Kirk could do to him anyway, so he had no reason to worry.

After the teacher passed out the tickets, he gathered everyone at two lunch tables in the central area to ensure everyone was nearby. Once the teacher averted his gaze from where he stood, he heard Kirk grumble in his ear, "Remember, Branson Pier. Tonight, after dark." Eldwin jumped, unaware of Kirk being behind him.

The teen whirled around and glared at him. He noticed a gleam in his eye he had never seen before. It was cold and harsh, as if he wished to do Eldwin harm. It sent a shiver up his spine. The teacher clapped his hands together, gathering everyone's attention. "Now, students. It's time to check out the exhibit. Stay together, please, and as a gentle reminder, don't touch anything. We don't want a repeat of last time now, do we, Mr. Fabian."

Eldwin and the rest of the class laughed as a boy with blonde hair went pale. The teacher approached the museum section with a sign in front of the door that read, "Egyptian exhibit. The Era of King Tut." Everyone smiled as the teacher held the door open to ensure each individual had entered the exhibit. Eldwin entered with eyes wide and full of wonder. The ceiling was as he imagined it. It was painted a dark blue with stars outlining the constellations that made up the gods of the time, with pottery sitting around enclosed in glass cases, and in the middle of the room rested a sarcophagus. 

On the wall, behind the sarcophagus, rested a golem. It stood about ten times Eldwin's height, with a bare chest and a scientist, and its hair was pulled into a ponytail off to the side of his head; on its neck rested an amulet with a blue gem resting within. The golem's mouth stood open as it stared blankly at the children. Eldwin felt a warm breath graze his neck. He turned and watched Kirk push past him. 

Eldwin bit his bottom lip and walked inside. The teacher started lecturing about everything they saw, but he ignored him, taking in everything he could see. After traveling around the room, he finally made it to the golem. He smiled at him as he took in the intriguing clay artistry that went into making it. Kirk stepped up behind him, laughing. "This is what they called a golem? Doesn't look so mystical to me." Eldwin began to retort when movement pulled him back to the statue. 

Eldwin watched as the amulet began glowing, followed by the golem's eyes. It pulled its foot away from the wall and stepped before the teens. Fear wrapped itself around Eldwin as it reached down. He closed his eyes, ready for the grip of death. "Move!" He heard a man shout. Fingers wrapped themselves around his wrist and tugged on him to move. He opened his and noticed Kirk had grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the way before the golem slammed its fists into the flooring. 

Titles flew up around them as Kirk tightened his grip and pulled Eldwin's arm, which raised him off the floor, before tossing him out of the door to the exhibit. Kids rushed out around him, keeping him from seeing inside. He saw a bright goldish-brown light followed by what he assumed was metal clanging against the clay. He watched as the teacher came out of the room, followed by a bunch of dust. Kirk stumbled out of the exhibit, coughing hard.