If you're reading this, than please don't judge me. After all, I'm only sixteen. That title shouldn't influence your view on me, it's just there to remind me of what started it all.

If you've found this, than I hope that this will make more sense.

Every event that is. Every time a store disappeared, every time that a loved one was sighted after death, or even when reports of teenagers disappearing.

That's right, I said people, mainly teenagers, gone, in an instant. I would know of course, because I was right in the center of it all.

But that's besides the point. You're probably wondering at this point- Who am I, and what exactly do I mean? I heavily advise that you close this story now if you aren't serious.

Have all the people who didn't believe in me leave?

Good. Now we can go down to business. As you may be able to tell, I am not as old as people would normally think that a person who would save the city would be, but that's just a stereotype. I'm almost eighteen after all, only two years. I'm practically an adult by now.

But you all came here to hear my story, not to hear me rehash out what's been going on for the past few weeks.

Do you believe in ghosts? You don't need to answer this verbally, as I won't be able to hear your response. "Ghosts", according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, they are the soul of a dead person believed to be an inhabitant of the unseen world or to appear to the living in bodily likeness, or an intelligent seat of life, and even a disembodied soul.

Sounds like a lot, right?

As a person who has interacted with many... People recently, I can say with true certainty that the dictionary that we as humanity, have been over classifying the word "ghost".

They exist I tell you now, so that spectre that you think that's following you around- Good chance that it's a ghost. A ghost is a spirit of, well... Anything really.

That's too much exposition for you? Or too little? I'm not sure but let's go back to the beginning...

It was near the end of the school year of my freshman year of high school, I remember that day clearly- April 13, 2092. I had gotten up and went to school like a normal kid- And I left the house, leaving Drake, my annoying twin brother, behind.

I walked down the road to the bus stop, where I spotted my best friends Ashley Marie Claire and Travis Ryan Jayne. Travis waved a hand over, and I rushed over to them.

Travis was the first to greet me, "Hey Marcus, how're you?" in a deep voice. He had jet black hair that curled slightly, which fell right above his ears. His hazel eyes sparkled brightly in contrast to his darker skin. Currently, he wore a simple gray long sleeved shirt that he had rolled the sleeves up to his midforearm, and he wore a pair of jeans that were torn near the bottom. His backpack had the strap over one of his broad shoulders, his features made him seem more mature.

"I'm actually feeling pretty good," I responded, "How about you?"

"I'm doing great." Travis replied.

"And how about you Ashley?"

Ashley replied "Amazing." in a sing song voice. She had red hair that fell to her lower back, and she was pretty close to my age. Her baby blue eyes reminded me of the color of cartoon oceans, and a pair of thin rimmed glasses rested on her nose. She reminded me of an Irish doll, her skin was slightly pale from the use of sunscreen, and she was dressed to impress always, and today was no different- She wore a lilac blouse that was paired with a violet skirt that stopped short of her knees, and knee height black socks with a similarly colored pair of shoes. Her backpack was draped over her shoulders.

"Dude, Marcus," Travis began, "You prepared for the test today?"

"Not really. I just want to find out more on the project that Mr. Tanaka keeps on mentioning about."

"That project? I've heard that it has to do with a comic strip of sorts." Ashley replied.

"Is that so?"  I felt myself relax a bit more, "In that case then I've got this in the bag."

"You're just lucky that you're good with art." Travis grumbled. I looked over down the street, and a familiar yellow school bus was approaching quickly.

"Well, I'd love to chat about the upcoming project, but I'm afraid that will have to wait until fourth period." I grinned. I approached the edge of the curb as the bus slowed to a stop.

The door opened and we ascended the steps and sat down in the very back.

The trip to school was about ten minutes, and we went inside the campus. "I'll see you guys at lunch!" I called out.

"See you then!" Travis replied, waving me off. I waved back to him, smiling as I did so.

Looking around, all I saw were flyers about the upcoming dance, and I scoffed. "Can you believe that they are going through-" I was cut off when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

I turned, and I saw Ashley smiling at me, and I immediately shut my mouth. I scratched the back of my head, "What's up Ashley?" I tried to act casually, "Don't you share the same first period as Travis?"

"I do," she replied, "But I wanted to ask you something."

"Alright, fair enough, I'm all ears."

She took a deep breath, and then she met my gaze. "Marcus," she began in a serious tone, "I know that you don't necessarily like any of these social gatherings, but I was wondering if..." she began to trail off, and I leaned in closer so I could hear her.

"I'm sorry, what was that? I can't hear you."

She looked at the clock, which read 7:43. "Sorry," she began, "I'll ask you later. See you at lunch Marcus." She ran off afterwards.

"Wait up, what do you- And she's gone." I scoffed. And with that I began my last school day for one and a half months.

First and second periods went by quickly, and in any case that I tried to even approach Ashley, she'd run off to her next class, and I was worried. Had I done something wrong? I had asked my brother about it during second period.

"Hey Drake," I asked, "Do you know what's up with Ashley?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, have you asked her?" He opened his notebook and began to write.

"That's the thing. Every time I try to ask her, she just runs away from me."

"Well then, I guess it's a good thing you guys sit together at lunch, she possibly can't avoid you then, not unless she has made some new friends of course."

"Drake," I began, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be okay?"

"Good. So you're not upset about this morning, are you?"

"Nah, Mom took me to get breakfast anyway, so I didn't really miss anything."

"Really?!" I looked at him.

"You see Marcus, sometimes it is better to wait sometimes." Drake then proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the day.

Lunch was... Interesting to say the least. I sat next to Travis, and Ashley sat across from us. "Anything new in physics?" Travis asked me.

"Just the usual." I replied.

"And the test?"

"Easiest part of my day so far. Pretty sure I aced the test."

"Good to hear. What about you Ash?" Travis turned to her, "Your day going well?"

Ashley nodded slightly. "Pretty much the same." she replied.

"Ashley?" I grabbed her attention, and she faced me, "I've been meaning to ask you all day so far, but what did you want to ask me this morning?"

I could hear Travis choke on his water, and he coughed a bit. "Are you okay Travis?" Ashley frantically asked, and he nodded.

"I'm fine. Just went down the wrong pipe is all." He reassured us, his face red from his lack of air.

"Ashley, you haven't answered my question." I reminded.

"It's not that important, I can wait." she smiled at me.

"Okay then..." I mumbled. I must've had done something wrong.

I don't really real what had happened during third period, but there it was. I was in Mr. Tanaka's classroom, where I sat in a group with my two friends and my brother.

"Afternoon class," he began, "Today is the day I assign you all your final project. This is the final in my class."

A wave of groans rang throughout the classroom, and a clear "I don't want to." could be discerned.

"However," he continued, "I am assigning this as a group project,  and the people you're currently sitting with is your group. I want each group to create a story, like you were making a movie. This project is split into four major parts, and this will test the limits of your collective film knowledge- A full on typed script is needed, as well as a short one to two minute trailer of your plot,this must be done in the realworld. In addition, I want a theatrical poster, this can be drawn, or a photoshopped picture, as well as a storyboard related to the story you make. This will be followed by a five minute presentation explaining a your process. This is all the class will work on for the rest of the year. Your time starts now."

Immediately chatter began, and I turned to face the others. "So..." I began, "What're we gonna do?"

"Well, the genre is a good place to start." Travis replied.

"How does an adventure story sound to you guys?" Drake offered.

"Sounds good to me." Ashley replied.

We then spent the rest of the period discussing what we could use. None of us had paid attention to the clock, and before we knew it, the bell had rung, and kids began packing up their things so they could go home.

I however, was packing up my stuff when I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turned to see my familiar red haired friend, who had been avoiding me for the most part. "You got a minute?" she asked.

"Uh yeah, I do." I replied, setting down what was in my hands. Keep note of this reader. I put my backpack on a shoulder. "What's up?"

We began to walk out to the curb in front of the school.

"Marcus, I need to be upfront with you."

"Nothing wrong with that. Go on."

"You know the dance?"

"Yeah, I do, why?"

"Do you want to go, with me? As friends of course."

My eyes widened at this. "I, uh... Man this is sudden." I rubbed the back of my neck.

"I know, but I had to ask."

I thought for a moment, "Sure, I don't think I have anything else going on."

She beamed at me, "Thank you so much!" She pulled me in for a tight hug, and then I remembered something.

Yes dear reader, we were outside, and I had forgotten my homework related to the final project. "Crap."

"What is it?" She released me from her embrace.

"I forgot it."

"Forgot what?" Drake replied.

"I forgot the assignment. I'm going to get it, head on without me!" was all I said before I bolted back inside Mr. Tanaka's class,and grabbed the paper from my desk, and I put it away properly.

"You alright Mr. Gardner?" came Mr. Tanaka's voice.

"Yeah I'm fine, nearly forgot the assignment is all." I replied.

"Well then, be safe, and good luck."

"Of course, Mr. Tanaka." I exited his classroom.

I didn't get too far from the front gate, because as soon as I had stepped around the corner, I was grabbed from behind.

I struggled against them, but they shoved a rag in my face, and I felt my consciousness fade to black.

And that was the beginning of my adventure.