Chapter One: I Fainted in My Calculus Class ans I think I saw the Future

The Gods were believed to have created the world and human beings, and they kept the world and surrounding universe functioning.

When I first heard that, I didn't understand a word of it. I thought it was just something adults would say to keep kids interested in their family's culture. My family is one of these. I love my family with all my heart, I just don't think I should be forced to follow something I might not be interested in. My mother just said she wanted to give me something to believe in, and once I got older I could make the decision to follow it or not. Now that I'm older, I understand everything. And all it took was going to the other side of the world for me to understand it.

To understand that family is everything and true friends are important too. Without friends and family, I don't think I would be here today to tell my story.

It all started last summer. School was finishing up at Rolling Hills High School. Yes, it's summer and I'm still in school. Rolling Hills is an all year long school in Chicago, Illinois. I wasn't too happy at first, but really, it's not that bad at all. It's like regular school. We have the same amount of days, our vacations are just spread out throughout the year.

It was a Wednesday, and I was sitting in my eleventh-grade Calculus class, half asleep from the night before. For some reason I've been having a hard time sleeping. Each night, the same dream kept replaying, over and over again. I had no idea what the dream meant, but it was keeping me awake at night and it was starting to affect my studies.

I'm so tired.

I tried to keep myself awake. I had to. There was an important test coming up that I had to be ready for it. As I started to doze off once again I felt a hand suddenly shack me awake. My eyes shot open and I looked next to me at my old friend Sam Harris. We've known each other since we were five. I consider him like a brother, so I told him about the dream I've been having.

"Are you alright Michelle? This isn't like you to fall asleep in class."

"I haven't been sleeping well lately. The dream I told you about, I had it again last night and I wasn't able to get back to sleep."

"You need to tell someone about this dream Michelle. No sleep isn't healthy. Especially when you're the captain of the basketball team."

"I know, but I---"

"Miss Long and Mr. Harries! Is there something you would like to share with the class?!"

Sam and I looked up to see an angry Mr. Nelson. His glasses sat on the tip of his nose and his pale white face was turning a cherry red, making his oil slick black hair pop even more then is usually did and his plump round belly stuck out slightly from underneath his shirt.

"It's nothing Mr. Nelson. I was just asking Michelle a question about the last problem and I didn't want to disrupt your teaching." Sam quickly tried to cover for the fact that I was the one causing problems.

"Really? You didn't want to disrupt my teachings you say? Then Miss Long, how about you come up here and solve this problem for the class and explain it as you do."

I gave Sam a look of thanks a lot, before struggling to my feet and making my way up to the front of the class. I took the dry erasable marker in my hand and tried to focus on the problem on the board. I could feel myself shaking like a leaf in the wind and everything around suddenly became blurred. I felt sick.

"Miss Long, is everything alright?"

"I-I don't feel so good."

Everything suddenly went black. My legs gave out and I ended up on the floor. Before losing myself completely to the darkness of the rest I desperately needed, I heard the concern voice of Sam calling out to me. I tried to say that I was alright, but nothing came out. I was too tired to actually form the words I wanted to say. I accepted the thought of rest and closed my eyes, knowing that I most likely would be woken up by the same dream that's been keeping me awake for many weeks now.

After passing out in class I found myself in my dream again, but this time was different. It wasn't like all the other times when I was trapped in darkness and hearing voices. No, this time I was able to see a bright light. It was warm and seemed to be alive, and all the voices that were yelling at me before came together to form one voice that I was able to understand.

"You are one of four that are needed to save the world."

"One of four? What do you mean one of four?!"

"One of four to save the world or all will be lost in darkness. A loss of life will unleash the power hidden inside. The one known as Kanghui must be stopped."

"Kanghui? I don't know who or what that is. I don't understand!"

"Find the others, stop Kanghui, save the world."

The warm light suddenly went wild, swirling around before exploding in an even brighter light. When the light settled I was suddenly surrounded by flames. Everything was destroyed, bodies of people I knew and didn't know laid at my feet. It was horrible, but what got to me the most was looking up to see Sam, being held up by his neck by a dark figure. A horrifying figure I've never seen before.

"No!"

"Humanity will fall to me! No one is safe. First Earth and then Heaven. All creation will be mine to command... to control!"

"No! What is this? I don't understand what all this is? Kanghui? One of the chosen four? Someone tell me what's going on!"

I placed my head in my hands as I was trying to understand what was going on around me. My head started to ache, my heart was racing and it felt like I was going to be sick again.

"Mi-Michelle..."

I look up at Sam to see sadness in his eyes. Like he finally understood something I didn't. I wanted to go to him. To find a way to get that-thing to let him go, but I was frozen. My legs wouldn't let me move forward.

"Sam!?"

"Michelle, run."

With that simple word... run, there was a loud snap and Sam's body went limp. His eyes still open when his body hit the ground. That thing... that monster killed him. It killed Sam, and all I could do was stand there with tears in my eyes.

"Michelle, run."

Sam's last words kept repeating in my head. I couldn't run. I couldn't leave him there. I had to bring him back with me.

"He was a fool for challenging me. A simple mortal with no special powers. He had no hope in defeating me, and now you,"

The monster grew closer, stepping over Sam's body as he made his way towards me. Tears still pouring from my eyes I looked up at the dark figure that still hasn't taken on a solid form.

"Little one, the embodiment of fire. You are the last one who stands in my why. Once you disappear, nothing will stop me from finding the Yellow Emperor. After Earth falls the Heavens will be mine!"

The dark figure suddenly crashed down upon me. I could feel its suffocating weight sucking the life out of me. I didn't want to die. This couldn't be real. Sam was okay. I'm going to be okay... right?

"Now... die!"

"NO!!"

My eyes shot open as a gasp of breath escaped my lips. I looked around in a daze and realized I was in the nurse's office. Everything was coming back to me before passing out in the classroom, but what stuck to me so clearly was the dream. It was dream. It was all just a horrible dream. Or was it? Was it a dream or was it a warning of what was to come? Everything was going to die, and Sam---"

"Sam?!"

I sat up quickly, causing my head to spin and to feel like I was going to be sick once again. Holding my head in my hands I didn't notice a figure sitting next me. A hand fell on my shoulder, giving a warm feeling of calmness. It helped in a weird magical way.

"Michelle, are you alright?"

I looked over to see Sam. He was here, and he was alive. Tears of joy filled my eyes and I quickly wrapped Sam in the tightest hug I think I've even given him. He was here, and he was alive, which meant it really was just a dream, but it felt so real. The fear, anger and hopelessness that was inside me was slowly washing away.

"I'm so happy you're alive Sam. I thought I lost you."

"Alive? Of course, I'm alive Michelle. What happened? Was it your dream again?" Sam tried to calm me down as he returned my hug with one of his own.

"Yes—I mean, no, sort of. It started out like it usually did, but then it changed. There was fire, and destruction and..." I paused for a moment. I didn't know if I wanted to say it.

"And what Michelle? Come on."

I pulled out of the hug I had Sam trapped in and looked at him with wet eyes full of worry.

"Death Sam, I saw death. But it wasn't just anyone's death, it was yours. This thing had you by your neck. I tried to move to go to you, but I couldn't. I froze. I couldn't help you and you weren't even concerned about dying. You were worried about me and you said to run just as it snapped your neck and—"

I chocked. I couldn't tell Sam the rest.

"Hey, look at me," Sam suddenly clasped his hands on each side of my face and forced me to look at him. "I'm not dead. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere so there's no need for you to worry."

"Sam?"

Once again, I wrapped my arms around his neck. Sam was too good to me, he has been since the day we met. When I first started school at Rolling Hills Elementary, I was the target of bullying because of who I was. On my very first day a girl named Veronica Muller tripped me on the stairs heading out for recess. I scrapped up my hands and knees and started to cry. Veronica was and still is a vicious human being, and just as she was going to continue her crudity towards me, Sam stepped in to my defense. After that, Sam was always there. Through the good times and the bad, it didn't matter.

When we broke from our hug and I wiped the tears from my eyes, I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. I haven't cried this much in a long, but it didn't seem to bother Sam in the slightest.

"Thanks Sam, for everything today. I know I must've caused some problems for you and Mr. Nelson. Was he upset at all?"

"Upset? No, he was actually really concerned about you. I don't think he's ever had a student pass out on him before, and, don't take this the wrong way because you scared me half-to-death, but it was funny the way he freaked out."

"So, me fainting was funny? Is that what you're saying." I knew Sam was joking, but I wanted to tease him about it anyway.

"I said the way Mr. Nelson freaked out was funny, not you fainting. You always do this to me!?"

"Okay, okay, calm down. I was just joking, but still, thanks for everything today, and, I think I'm alright to go back to class." I pushed the white sheets that covered me off and draped my legs off the edge of the bed. Sam jumped up from his chair, prepared to catch me if I happened to faint again.

"Are you sure? We don't have to go back to class right now."

"I'm fine Sam. If I don't go back now I won't be able to play in tonight's game. The game tonight determines if we go to state or not."

"Alright, alright. The game is important. I have your things here. Let's just get a note from Nurse Baker and then we can head to class."

I slipped my shoes on, took my bag from Sam and made my way to see Nurse Baker. Nancy Baker, she was a pretty thirty-something-year-old Hispanic women that came to this school in the middle of my freshmen year. Many of the students and teachers would talk about how pretty she was. Even I though she was beautiful. I watched as she carefully signed my pass for my missed classes and one for my coach to let him know I was alright to play.

"Alright Miss Long, you're all set and ready to go. Please take better care of yourself and good luck in tonight's big game." Nurse Baker handed me my two passes, her pastel blue painted fingernails stood out against the white paper forms.

"Thank you, Nurse Baker, for taking care of me. All I needed was some sleep. I haven't been sleeping well the last couple of weeks, and I hope to see you at the game cheering us on."

"I'll try. Now, off to class, both of you."

Sam and I said our last thank you and good-byes before leaving the nurse's office and making our way down the hall to class. I ended up missing two whole class periods; English 11 and Anatomy, two classes I actually enjoy going to, so now I was stuck going to gym class. I wouldn't mind going to it if, you guessed it, Veronica Muller is in the same class as me.

"I really don't want to deal with Veronica today. She most likely heard about what happened and it's going to be all she gonna talk about. I really don't want to deal with it."

"Just ignore her. Besides, I heard that the girls are playing basketball today. You'll totally smoke her, and it'll be like a warm up for the big game tonight."

"I guess so. Anyway, this is where we part. You head to World History and I'll go deal with the Queen of Mean in gym. Meet up here after class and we'll head to French?"

"Yeah, but first, I have something for you. Close your eyes."

"What are you up to?"

"Just do it please. It's a surprise."

I decided to entertain Sam, just this once. I closed my eyes and held out my hand. It only took a few seconds for me to feel something cold and metal hit my chest and wrap around my neck. What is he doing? was the only thing running through my mind. Sam always did things like this, and usually it ended up with me getting something... cheesy.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now."

I looked down to see a heart shaped gold locket hanging from my neck. It was the one I had been looking at in the mall a few days before. I wanted to see if my parents could get it for me for my birthday, which was only a few weeks away.

"Sam, did you really buy this? You didn't have to."

"I know. It was going to be for your birthday, but after what happened today I thought you needed something to cheer you up a bit. I'll just get you something different in a few weeks. Do you like it?"

"Like it? I love it! But it was so expensive. How did you—"

"Oh, you know hours and hours of babysitting the Martin twins. Those horrible...horrible twins. So many hours."

The Martin twins really are the worst siblings to babysit for, and the fact that Sam put so many hours of babysitting those two devils just to get me this, I had to find a way to make it up to him. He really is the greatest friend I could ever ask for.

"Thank you, Sam. I love it, I really do. But we really need to get to class. We're going to be late."

"Alright, but first, open it. There's a picture inside."

"A picture?"

I opened up the locket to see a picture of Sam and I from when we were kids. It was when he first came over to my house. My parents were so happy that I made a friend that they had to take a picture of the two of us.

"See, it's the picture your mom took when I first came to your house, and then on this side we'll put a picture of us on our graduation day. From start to finish of our school career."

"You just thought of everything, haven't you?"

"I try. Anyway, get yourself to gym alright. I'll see you after class."

Sam gave me a goofy smile before running off to World History. I took one last look at the picture before closing the locket with a smile. Sam really was the best. I'm lucky to have someone like him in my life.

I was late getting to gym, but thanks to my pass I got from Nurse Baker, I had nothing to worry about. When I reached the locker room, I quickly changed and made my way to the gym. Everyone was already in the middle of their activities, but when they noticed me everything seemed to stop. Everyone was looking at me like I was the new kid in school.

Quickly I went to find Coach Moon. Not only was he the P.E teacher, he was also my basketball coach. A man of short stature and old age, Coach Moon didn't like it when you were late. But I hoped that since I was captain and his star player, he wouldn't be too hard on me. I did have a reason after all. I fainted.

"You're late Miss Long. You know how feel about that." Coach Moon's voice whistles out from the gap between his front teeth.

"I know sir and I'm sorry, but I have a note from Nurse Baker explaining what happened.

I handed to note to Coach Moon which a quickly took from me. He read the note carefully and looked up at me with eyes that read he was concerned about his star player.

"Are you sure you're alright to play tonight? Fainting from a lack of sleep isn't good and I can't have you fainting on the court in the middle of the game."

I was touched by Coach Moon's concern, but I knew I was fine, at least for now.

"I'm fine sir, I promise. All I needed was some sleep."

"Alright. Take a lap around the gym for your warm up, do your stretches and then join group a by the doors. That's your team for class today. Oh, and please try to get along with Miss Muller today."

"I can't make any promises sir, but I'll try."

I took my lap around the gym and then started my stretches like I was told. But I, of course, not thinking about it chose the wrong spot to do my stretches. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Veronica Muller giggling away with her friends. It was obvious who they were talking about. Word had gotten around rather quickly. Which meant things were going to fun for the next few days. Veronica would make sure of that.

"Did you she fainted in class today after Mr. Nelson called her out for talking in class." Veronica whispered, but it was obvious that she was saying it loud enough for me to hear.

"I bet she did on purpose to get out of class. Totally not fair. You know Coach Moon will still let her play because she's the captain and his star player." Cassandra Fisher, one of Veronica's mean girls, whispered back.

"You're right. Totally unfair." Jackie Whitehead was the last to whisper.

I ignored their gossip because I knew the truth. They knew nothing about what happened. They weren't even there to begin with, so if I was to responded to their taunts, it would only give them the satisfaction of them knowing that it bothers me.

After finishing my stretches, I joined the group Coach Moon told me to join. Lucky for me it wasn't Veronica's group, but I was facing her on the opposite side, which was fine with me. It just meant I didn't have to deal with her trying to trip me up. I could go full throttle against her. Lucky me.

"Michelle! I heard what happened in Mr. Nelson's class. Are you alright?" Deja O'Brian asked with concern once I made it to my group.

"I'm fine Deja. I just needed some sleep. I haven't been sleeping well lately."

"Really? I hope you're okay to play in tonight's game."

"I'll be fine. I got a note from Nurses Baker saying a can play. Now, what's the score?"

To my relief, P.E. wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was able to shut down all the rumors Veronica was trying to start before they even had a real chance to get around. Explaining that while yes, I was called out by Mr. Nelson, I didn't faint on purpose.

"Wow. That sounds scary. Passing out like that. I'm just glad you're okay."

Deja was still asking all sorts of questions about what happened as we walked out of the locker room and was making out way back to our main lockers. I didn't know how to make it any clearer then I already did. There wasn't much to tell to begin with. I fainted due to the lack of sleep, that's it.

"Thank you for your concern Deja, but really everything's fine. Sam took me to the nurse's office, and I got some rest there. There's nothing to worry about now."

"Say, Michelle," Deja suddenly sounded hesitant. Like she knew I was getting irritated with all the questions, but I had this feeling that this had nothing to do with what happened.

"What is it Deja?"

"Well, um, you and Sam, have the two of you ever-"

"The answer to that is no Deja. I'm sorry for interrupting, but Sam is like a brother to me. I don't see him in any other way."

That question got old so fast. In Junior High I was constantly asked that question and I never understood why a guy and a girl couldn't just be friends. Why did everything have to be sexual when it came to things like that?

"Really? The two of you just seem... the two of you just seemed like a good match."

"We do?"

Sam and I, a good match? Where people really thinking that? I've been around Sam so much that I never thought of it that way. He was just someone who came to my rescue when I was little when I needed someone. I wasn't looking for someone to be a good match with, in fact, I don't need anyone like that. But I guess if I was it would be someone like Sam. He's kindhearted, sweet, funny, and he puts others before himself but of course he's not without his flaws as well. He can be childish when doesn't get his way, absent-minded when he isn't paying attention, a tease when the time is inappropriate, and thick headed when he doesn't want to listen to reason. But I loved him anyway. But having Deja point out that we made a good match, it now got me thinking.

"Michelle, ready to go to French?!"

I snapped out of my deep thinking to see none other than Sam, standing at my locker, waiting for me. I didn't have to think about all that good match stuff right now. I'm just glad to have Sam as a friend.

"I got to go Deja but see you tonight at the big game." I said my goodbyes to Deja before quickly making my way over to Sam. When I reached my locker Sam right away went into conversation about his World History class and that word had gotten to the students about what happened to me.

"I swear, people can't mind their own business. Anyway, how was gym?"

"Better than I expected actually. I shut Veronica up right away before she could do any real damage," I opened my locker to grab my French book and then quickly closed it. "You ready to head to French?"

"Do I have to?" Sam started to complain rather quickly.

"Yes Sam, now let's go."

I grabbed Sam's hand and started pulling him along with me. Sam's mood on French can vary, depending on how he's feeling that day and I could tell that today was one of those days that he was going to be difficult. While pulling him along Deja's words suddenly started going through my head again.

'The two of you just seemed like a good match'

A good match, huh?