He looked left, then looked right, he wasn’t supposed to be there and he knew it. Ash let out a sharp exhale and sprinted across the streets of the abandoned city. All around him lay the crumbled buildings, destroyed vehicles and general destruction of a city that once teemed with life. The teen leaped over any and all debris that lay in his path, careful not to make a sound. As he ran, there was the sound of a deep growl behind him and then a howl.
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Shit.
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Ash’s heart pounded loudly in his ears and for a moment it was all he could hear. The noises of many clawed beasts clamoring around a corner and hurrying after him was enough to make him run even faster. His lungs burned as he inhaled the dirt and ash in the air that was kicked up by his feet. Not only am I late, but I might die here, what the hell??
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Exerting what was left of his energy, he gave one last push to jump and slide across the ground beneath the small hole in the fence that he had originally snuck out of. That would need to be fixed soon. As the beasts got closer he could see them dig their claws deep in the ground to grind to a halt. If they got any closer they would surely be fried to a crisp, or at least mostly.
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Wheezing, Ash got to his feet slowly, clutching his chest. “Barely… made it…” He looked up at the blue sky with a small smirk. It was so different inside the safety bubble than outside in the remnants of the old city.
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“Ash Starwind,” a voice not far from him shouted disdainfully. “What in the heavens are you doing out here?? Shouldn’t you be in class?!”
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With a roll of his eyes, and a deep exaggerated exhale through his nose, he straightened up to look directly at the owner of the voice. It was Madame Sunweaver, one of the Innercities’ Keepers.
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“I…” He paused to continue to catch his breath, bending over with his hands on his knees for a moment. “One moment…”
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“Don’t you ‘one moment’ me, young man! Not only are you late for class, but you were out in the ruins, weren’t you?!” The woman scolded.
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Ash grimaced as he stood up straight once more. “Yes ma’am,” he said obediently, not wanting to anger her further. The youngster looked his elder dead in her hazel eyes with his own emerald green ones.
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For a moment, she said nothing, just stood there as if she was about to say something but was not moving at all.
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“Um… Madame Sunweaver?” Ash moved cautiously up to her as she stood motionless. “Ma’am?” He waved his hand slowly in front of her face, she did not move. It was clear she was still breathing and blinking, but for a whole minute or two she did not move or say a word.
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The teen’s eyes widened and he stepped back with his hands behind him as she cleared her throat. “Yes, right, well, you should be getting to class now, shouldn’t you?”
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“What…?” Ash blinked in surprise.
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“You’re late for class, right? You should get going before your teacher starts to worry too much.” She gave a small smile and a pat on his shoulder before sending him on his way.
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Wasn’t she just about to scold him for being outside the walls? That was… definitely strange. It was almost like she had forgotten what they were talking about in the time she was somewhat frozen.
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Not wanting to question his good fortune further, he scurried to class. He was sure he had ash on his clothes and for sure in his lungs and throat. It was stupidly fitting, given his name.
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Once he arrived at class, he entered as quietly as he physically could so as not to interrupt the teacher during his lecture.
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“Ah, Ash Starwind, nice of you to finally join us, you look a mess, what have you been getting up to this time?” The male teacher in his early 40’s asked. All of the other students fixated their attention on Ash as he sat down.
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“I uh… I fell down.” His words were almost a question. Not very convincing, at all.
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“Hm… I’ll have to ask you to stay after class today, Mr. Starwind.”
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Ash gave a slow nod, trying not to groan in displeasure.
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“Now, class, back to what I was saying before…” The teacher’s words trailed off as Ash’s mind wandered elsewhere.
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