"So let me get this straight." I repeat for what seems like the thousand time. "There are at least three most notable weed variant: symbiotic, parasitic and dormant. Symbiotic are the good ones and they have smooth leaves and shouldn't be removed unless to be transplanted. Parasitic weeds have the sharp spiny edges and should be saved for the mulch. And... what are dormant ones again?"

"They're the ones we mark and leave for a few weeks. We then check on them to see if they develop any mutations and judge wether they become parasitic or not. They're the ones that look like mini eggs with no leaves."

"Oh, that's right." I smile before filling in the craters left behind by the removed parasitic weeds. The knowledge Bull man has been giving me seems more concentrated than some of the 100 days of science and after having him repeat some of the facts more times than the weeds I've extracted I'm guessing that he must be getting slightly ticked off.

Some of the stuff he's been telling me is actually quite interesting like how in the past people would only eat meat because they thought eating plants was vegetation cruelty but after scientific research was done they found that although animals can't speak to tell us that they're in pain they still release the same pain hormones that we do. So eventually we genetically modified all plants and animals so that there internal pain system shuts down after a while and they change color as they comatose to show that they're ready for a painless harvest.

Another interesting things I found out was that The Worm has bestowed upon us other types of micro worms that can literally eat anything - they can change the chemical composition or something along those lines. The only danger is that sometimes people might lose a few fingers or even an arm when dealing with them but with the medical treatment now growing back a few limbs isn't a problem. Nonetheless, having these micro worms be able to devour everything and excrete it as mulch means we don't have any waste products at all. Even though I find these facts interesting and I can, for the most part, identify different weed species, I still have only managed to remember a few of the things Bull man has told me.

"Hmph! If it isn't Mr. Berlioz himself." A voice says in the distance, gradually getting louder.

"Ah," Bull man Berlioz sighs, wiping the sweat off his brow, "From the sound of that voice ye must be Penelope amirite?"

Officer Penny gives me a wink before replying, "Only if you finally gotten as strong as your fake accent."

What? Fake accent? I look between Officer Penny and Bull man Berlioz but both are staring at each other intently until Bull man Berlioz blows a raspberry.

"Your no fun Pen, ever since we graduated I've been trying to prank people but whenever you show up you always ruin it."

I feel a headache coming along and I slowly start to faze out of the conversation. Weeding in this weather has already made me feel slightly woozy and learning about different plants and roots on top of the fatigue makes it hard just for me to concentrate. Now I'm learning that Bull man has a fake accent! How many other people have fake accents? What if Officer Penny is pulling a fake accent too?

"Now look what you've done!" Office Penny grabs my wrist and pulls me to my feet, "You've worked him to sleep. Don't you know I need him for other things today?"

"Other things?" I gasp as Officer Penny pulls me away from Bull man Berlioz who's laughing as he waves us off.

Officer Penny rolls her eyes. "Come on Kid. You can't slack off on the first day of the job."

"But-"

"No more talking." Officer Penny shoves a sandwich into my hand. "We'll be at our next station before you know so eat while you can."

Not wanting to make a bad reputation on the first day, I do as I'm told. Peeling back the seaweed gelatin wrapper, I scrunch it into a ball before tossing it to a nearby flock of birds before watching it get devoured almost immediately. Watching them peck at it ravenously I suddenly realize how hungry weeding has made me and even though I'm sure that the sandwich doesn't taste much different from the ones at school as I shovel it into my mouth it tastes almost edible.

Finishing the sandwich is a few bites Officer Penny puts a hand out stopping me at a street corner so abruptly that I almost lose the lunch I just ate. Feeling my stomach growl I lick the crumbs off my lips wishing that I ate the gelatin seaweed wrapper instead of giving it away but without a word of complaint my hunger decreases inversely proportional to my interest as I see a shadow come around the corner.

"Sorry I'm late," A woman in mail delivery pants as she places her hands on her knees. "I had little trouble finding the right address as so many people have moved today."

"No worries." Officer Penny pats me on the shoulder. "This here is Aegis, he'll be helping out with mail delivery."

"Oh?" The woman says looking at me for the first time. "Hello Officer Aegis, nice to meet you. I'm Lina by the way."

I shake Lina's outstretched hand. "Umm, Aegis is fine."

"Alright then Aegis. So what have you been up to just now? Knowing Pen she's probably set you up with a job already, hasn't she?"

"Yeah," I nod. "I've just finished weeding with Berlioz."

"Berlioz, huh?" Lina says looking at Officer Penny. "He's not still talking in those weird accents is he?"

"I'm afraid so. He actually managed to trick Aegis the whole time."

"And I bet you spoiled his fun as you usually do..." Lina rolls her eyes and then winks at me. "Never mind though. As you can probably tell I'm behind schedule so I can only tell you the basic of the job if that's alright with you Aegis."

"The kid's a quick learner, he'll be fine." Officer Penny gives me a small shove before walking off again. "I'll pick you up after you're done ok?"

Leaving me no time to reply Officer Penny walks hurriedly away making me wonder what she's going to do now. Unfortunately, my mind has little time to wonder because the moment Officer Penny left, Lina had already started off in the opposite direction.

Surprisingly, although Lina has a relatively small body frame I have to jog to just keep up with her walking pace. Her strides silently make contact with the ground and the transition between footwork is so smooth it looks as if she is ice skating. She gracefully glides along the streets stopping ever so slightly to shift a thin letter or parcel through the letter boxes whilst instructing me on the etiquette of posting and delivering. The little things like pushing the edge through first and always having the address face up are easy to memorize but when she goes on to describe how different grades of paper are made to suit disintegration dates I find it difficult to maintain focused as I did earlier.

After what seemed like running/jogging/walking for at least an hour Lina stops for a breather, a very very very short breather, and although she looked as if she could run forever when delivering parcels, as soon as she stops she makes me look as if I'd just come out of a spa. Downing a whole bottle of water in a few gulps out of her satchel, Lina soon stretches her calves and as my legs start to feel heavier and heavier I mimic her actions.

It feels as if I've passed every shop, restaurant and Upbringing in Mytopia or at least a hundred different buildings or a thousand bricks laid vertically along, whatever way you decide to look at things. #PunIntendedNoRegrets. Even though we've delivered to nearly half of said infrastructure with residency, Lina's satchel is still as large, or small as ever. It kind of reminds me of that singing lady with the umbrella which does put a small smile on my worried face but it doesn't discount that fact that I don't know nearly as much relevant, better put; useful information which includes how many more deliveries I need to tag along for.

Although it might sound like I regret my decision of wanting to become a MOM rest assured that I was and am fully prepared for all the expected tedious yet enlightening side jobs that come with it - it's just I won't be able to do those side jobs if my legs are totally shattered tomorrow. Lina may look hammered at the moment but every second it looks as if she's sucking the energy out of the air to replenish her lost strength kind of like a vampire.

"Lina," I say, an idea coming into my head quickly to procrastinate, I mean, enlighten our minds whilst our muscles take a quick breather so they don't bail on you. "Have you ever seen a vampire?"

"What? Like in the movies?"

"No, like in real life."

"It's not that I don't believe in the supernatural - don't doubt The Worm -"

"Don't doubt The Worm." I repeat quickly allowing Lina to continue.

"Buuut... there isn't any evidence to show that they exist or at least in or time period."

I brush my nails against my clothes getting into a cool posture. "I guess I'll take that as a success as my new role as vampire slayer at MOM HQ."

Lina smiles slightly but like most adults, even though I'm technically classified as one now, she tries to hide it as if laughing at a kid's or young adult's joke is now taboo. Readjusting her satchel Lina starts to set off once again but with my legs still rooted to the spot I won't be able to follow her for at least a few more minutes.

"Wait," I call out stopping Lina as I planned. "I might not be a vampire slayer but are you sure you've never seen a vampire before."

"Yes Aegis." Lina sighs, "I'm pretty sure."

"Alright, alright." I blink hard trying and failing at coming up with a good enough excuse. "How about this; if I can convince you that you've met a real life vampire before then we take a five minute break. Deal?"

Lina checks her watch before placing her satchel down against a nearby tree and leaning against it. "I'm intrigued so I'll accept your deal but you've only got a minute to convince me. If you can't then we'll split up to finish the deliveries and you'll take the long order but if you do convince me and we take a break we still have to split up but you'll get the shorter list instead."

"Deal." I give Lina a thumbs up before recalling the vampire description I read in a book called 'Tumbled Thoughts' a while ago, the extract written by an unknown author. "Have you ever walked into a room and found a vampire?

No, not the sexy kind, but a foul creature with bony limbs and ashen skin? The kind that snarls as you enter, like a beast about to pounce? The kind that roots you to the spot with its sunken, hypnotic eyes, rendering you unable to flee as you watch the hideous thing uncoil from the shadows? Has your heart started racing though your legs refuse to? Have you felt time slow as the creature crosses the room in the darkness of a blink?

Have you shuddered with fear when it places one clawed hand atop your head and another under your chin so it can tilt you, exposing your neck? Have you squirmed as its rough, dry tongue slides down your cheek, over your jaw, to your throat, in a slithering search that's seeking your artery? Have you felt its hot breath release in a hiss against your skin when it probes your pulse—the flow that leads to your brain? Has its tongue rested there, throbbing slightly as if savoring the moment? Have you then experienced a sinking, sucking blackness as you discover that not all vampires feed on blood—some feed on memories?

Well, have you?"

I let my question linger for a while but not too long that Lina gets annoyed. "Maybe not." I continue, "But let me rephrase the question:

'Have you ever walked into a room and suddenly forgotten why you came in?'"

"Eh..." Lina stares at me blankly for a few seconds before gasping and placing her hands over her mouth. "Oh my Worm! That is sooo good!"

I grin. "I know right! I thought so too, that's why I memorized the whole extract."

Lina checks her watch again and for a moment I'm worried she might not be convinced. "The question you just asked me was amazing but only enough to shift my opinion from 'non believer' to 'I might mistake a log on a lake during a foggy day as a vampire in the distance', however, the story was good enough to merit a break so enjoy it while it lasts."

"Yosh!" I fist pump the air, but only in my imagination because I don't want to look like a total weirdo. Besides, even if I wanted to I don't think my legs would have let me, sitting down from a standing position is draining enough.

"Do you have any questions while we rest?" Lina asks distracting my attention from my legs.

I start to shake my head but stop when I realize there has been something nagging me this whole time. "How come you're delivering newspapers on an even day?"

"Well, that's because we always deliver them on even days." Lina shrugs matter of factory.

"Oh yes. That's right." I agree scratching the side of my cheek. I'm sure I was told that newspapers were only delivered on odd days but if they were in fact delivered on even days then that means I didn't dream that the smart guy was in the paper. "Do you happen to remember what the last newspaper you delivered was about?"

"Hmm..." Lina taps her foot on the floor, "The last newspaper I delivered should have been the day before yesterday... but...."

I look at Lina eagerly hoping to find out that I wasn't dreaming but when her face goes slightly pink and she puts on an awkward smile I know my pursuit wouldn't have any results.

"Sorry Aegis." Lina apologizes as expected. "For some reason I can't remember even though it wasn't that long ago."

"I understand. Do you happen to remember any of the newspapers you've delivered so far?" I say in a comforting tone so that my question doesn't come across as being rude.

Lina sighs gently. "I do remember the first newspaper I delivered. It was a few years ago on a sunny day like this. However, even though it's a very treasured memory of mine I don't remember the news it was conveying. I suppose that news is only good for the day it's published, after that it becomes history doesn't it?"

I don't say anything this time and Lina downs another bottle before standing up straight and handing me a piece of paper. The same kind of paper that newspapers are made out of and because of that reason it proves that there wouldn't be any archives of past newspapers without even having to ask. It's almost as if the past is something to hide in the same way I'm keeping my paranoia hidden as Lina explains something which looks quite important from the expression on her face. Zoning back into the conversation I hear Lina wish me luck before ruffling my hair and vanishing down a different street; gone as quickly as the instructions she gave me.

Tutting in irritation, I wish that sometimes, like just now, my brain would actually focus on the main picture rather than the little details. Sure, I've memorized postal etiquette but without listening to what Lina just said it's nearly impossible for me to know what to do now. I just thank The Worm that I've been blessed with with enough intuition because without that then I would really be screwed right now.

From the paper Lina gave me I don't suppose I could go far wrong with a map listed with specific houses on. Lina did say earlier that she was running a bit late and from the markings on the paper I can understand why. The route she's planned acts more of a tour guide than an actual path and in a few minutes I'm sure I'd be able to cut the delivery time in half. Sitting down against a nearby tree I gently mark a new and more efficient route careful not to tear the paper. In a few minutes I'm done and even though I saved some time the sun is already starting to set and I'm going to have to at least jog to finish the round before Officer Penny picks me up.

—————

By the time I've finished my round thus returning to the original point of set off the sky shines pink and once again I can hardly bear to look at it. Without even having to blink though the sky becomes more bearable with each passing second. At first I thought it might be due to me overcoming the haunting crimson liquid which streaks across my eyelids with each blink, creating a fast yet eternal montage of fire and blood and anguish, but that was not the case. It was merely because my line of vision became increasingly darker until the reason became apparent, or rather silhouetted against the perpetuating background.

"Are you going to gawk at me all day kid or are we going to go?" Officer Penny stands on the line of the horizon with her hands on her hips and I fight the urge to eye roll.

"Hey," I reply the best I can to the situation. "How come I haven't seen any other police officer apprentices yet?"

Officer Jenny slows down the pace as if she's transferring her kinetic energy into chemical brain energy. Theoretically it makes sense but if talking requires that much energy I would expect Sebastian to be as wide as a door by now at least. "That's because there aren't any others. Getting promoted is easy in the police force as long as you keep helping people and since the crime rate is exponentially nearing zero from a near zero percentage already your the only intern we got this year."

"Oh." I mange to muster in surprise. I was hedging my bets that Officer Penny would at least give me a speech until we reached the station but I turned out to be pleasantly mistaken.

The next few minutes are in relative silence and to my dismay the less sound I began to hear the more agitated I became. After having information relentlessly speared into my noggin I appear to have developed Stockholm syndrome and the thought of actually having to keep silent until the end of my shift makes me want to stare at the sky for eternity.

I grit my teeth trying to think of a question which will get Officer Penny talking. Umm... what about teeth? No that won't do... Teeth chew food - food comes from farms - farms have crops and weeds - weeds are good and bad - bad weeds turn into mulch - mulch is made from everything - Police Officers help with everything - Police Officers have rules - Rules like just wear uniform- uniform has police badge - badge looks like two worms - two worms look like two 's' - two 's' look like school wallpaper - School wallpaper insignia on everything - why?

"So... do you know why almost everything has this crest design?" I ask, pointing to my police badge. Even though the answer is already obvious enough that I've already thought about it but I'm hoping Officer Penny might say something which I can question further.

Officer Penny brings a hand to her face a pinched the bridge of her nose. "Seriously kid? You don't know why everything has the Mytopia crest?"

I put on my best 'I dunno' face and I find it's not that difficult which I hope isn't a bad thing but I cannot being myself to actually say that I don't know when I actually do. It's as if there's a tangible lock on my tongue keeping me from not telling the truth and I use the actual feeling of not knowing how to overcome this barrier to enhance my façade into being more believable.

"It's because it's to remind us that everything is in balance kind of like the yin and yang during the Nen era. You can even see from the crest that there are two worms to represent how The Worm keeps everything in balance."

"Does that mean The Worm has a bad side to balance the good side?" I say without thinking and immediately regret it.

I hoped my words slipped away from Officer Penny's wars as fast as they slipped out of my mind but, looking up, Officer Penny's face drains of all Colour making me gulp in worry that she may actually be a memory vampire. In all silliness I actually wish that that could be the case because having to lose the memory of what just happened seems a lot nicer than facing it head on. Regardless if she is a vampire or not, it feels like I've already been injected because miraculously my body has developed a cure for my sudden Stockholm syndrome.

For better or worse Officer Penny remains silent for the rest of the remaining minutes until the station comes into view. Her aura has a radius of at least from me to her because as if my words were an enchantment, we've been sealed in a sphere of solitary shadows where everything seems to have taken on a darker shade and the loudest thing I can hear is my own heartbeat. The same heartbeat which nearly gave me a heart attack when its steady rhythm suddenly became erratic as if sensing what was going to happen next.

"The Worm isn't good or bad kid. It is life..." Officer Penny glances at me from the corner of her eye, her hat now casting an ever darker veil across her eyes which provided a more looming presence than Bull-man Berlioz himself. "...And life is it."

Without a slightest bit of reluctance this time I repeat 'Don't doubt The Worm' after Officer Penny but more as a prayer than confirmation. As soon as I do, I think I've come to a conclusion about adulthood - it's a time of your life where everything has an exception and the world has no better hobby than to prove you wrong.

I haven't even been an adult that long and what I used to think of being as the worst thing possible such as the aptitude test has quickly shown me that if I say that it's the worst thing possible or even remotely think along those lines the world itself will take it on as a dare. For example, right now I just thought that Sylvia syndrome should actually be called Penny syndrome because the way Penny just switched from the literal definition of 'scary' to 'most approachable person' makes Sylvia's personality switches look like bad acting. Now I'm not saying that I'm immediately going to be shown that Sylvia/Penny syndrome is going to look like child's play compared to another person who might just pop up out of nowhere but I do know that I'm going to be proven wrong about something very soon as if it's being written in my destiny.

Annndddd guess who just got proven right that they'd be proven wrong? That would me, that's who... obviously. Like if it was somebody else then how would I know that they were wrong in advance because even if they told me then wouldn't they be technically correct? I suppose it's like if Pinocchio said 'I always lie' but then he wouldn't be or would he? Would his nose grow longer the same way my incessant rambling is or would he remain stable as I am trying to do now.

I take in a deep breath and apply a small pressure with my nails against the fleshy side of my thumb. The first day of my career has been a lot more physically draining as well as mentally draining than expected and I really don't know if I can deal with being proven wrong right now even though I predicted it was going to happen. Perhaps it's just a coincidence but as the preacher motions for Officer Penny to speak privately with him outside the station whilst I check out of my shift the preachers sudden appearance is a little too close for comfort. Considering how my fragile future is set in paper I guess it's not even up to me to decide if I'm being proven wrong but then again these are my own thoughts and it would be pretty creepy if people could read them like an open book huh?

For the second time today the blast of cold air has saved as I walk through the station doors towards the monitor. At first I just thought the room's temperature was cold because it balanced the heat outside but now that I think about it, it's actually a really good mechanism for keeping you alert even if it only works for a short while.

'Effort: 90%' The monitor displays as I scan my microchip signaling the end of my shift. I was hoping to score a solid 100% on my first day but I guess I lost a bit of motivation with all the running around. Just thinking about all that running makes me feel even more exhausted but at least it can only get better from here on out. I'm just glad Officer Penny isn't lurking behind me again because even though my stress level have risen by 1% she's probably put me on probation for at least a week.

In passing I heard a glimpse of what may be addressed as a group session for all of our classmates tomorrow but a part of me feels that this session wouldn't be held as soon as it is if I didn't doubt The Worm so much. Practically though, it means I have a day to reduce my stress levels but then again I have a feeling that seeing the Preacher just now may be the additional cause of my spiking stress.

Clenching my teeth, I walk towards my room attempting to shake off the ideas that go back and forth within my mind. Thinking about what might happen and possible reasons is only a waste of time and that is something I have very limited of right this second. With each passing moment my eyelids get heavier and I barely have time to remove my uniform before jumping into bed. Generally to fall asleep I have to CREATE AND ACT OUT A MOVIE LENGTH STORY IN MY HEAD AND THEN CONTEMPLATE THE MEANING OF LIFE BEFORE I EVEN FEEL TIRED. It then takes 3 hours, 700 position changes and a sacrifice to The Worm before I actually fall asleep and that's only if I'm lucky enough to not contemplate why I did something back in 5th grade or regret eating that extra spaghetti. This time, however, it feels as if this situation has already happened before but instead of general deja vu it's more like jamais vu.

I feel myself being dragged deeper and deeper out of my subconscious and the deeper I go the more clear a single urge becomes. Watching black spirals rotate within the depths of my eyelids I focus on my final urge, strange as it may be - the visualization of cookies. Trying to draw the cookie in my
mind I feel my mouth twitch as if it were a thousand miles away when the cookie slowly takes on the form of a blue mass of fur with googly eyes. The blue monster keeps repeating the word 'sesame' over and over but just when I feel that I'll be stuck in this limbo forever and never actually fall asleep or wake up my senses are totally knocked out of me but not before I feel and excruciating zap in my temple.