Chapter One

Twin moons circled the imposing tower, spinning in a perfect circle. Millions of bright stars glimmered like brilliant eyes in the blackness of space high above. The tower stretched like a bony finger into the night sky, reaching toward the distant moons. The thin spire was a dusty gold in colour, black in the shadows of night. Cold silver-blue light flooded the pale landscape, faintly illuminating the twisting metallic spikes sprouting from the ground. The rising orb crested the edge of the horizon, spreading its light. Somewhere in the thorns of a Durnab Tree, a winged creature cawed loudly, summoning dawn on its outspread wings. The bird-creature took off in flight, sharp yellow protrusions glinting in the new light. It swooped around the spire, feathers tickling the cracked glass window as the metallic blue sun finally rose above the reddish horizon, shining rays colouring the sky.

***

He whistled the lyrics to an old song as he strutted down the copper streets, hands in pockets. His white-blond hair contrasted sharply with his dark clothing, dust motes floating around him. It had been almost one thousand years since the Update, when humans from Earth first arrived on the planet. Now, almost all living creatures had forgotten what the planet looked like, it's name or where it was. There were even some who doubted its existence. He himself was curious about the old planet, specifically if anything still lived there. When the Earthlings first received word that the colonization of the planet Metanos was successful, they sent one billion people to live there, with most of them surviving the journey. He had been born to six-generation residents, one of the ancient families. As he walked, whistling the tune, a young boy stuck his head through a window, his orange eyes wide. Reaching out, three of his six fingers grabbed hold of his jacket, tugging wildly.

"What do you think you're doing?!" He spat, pulling his arm away from the child.
"You aren't like the others, you're... unusual." Whispered the boy in a creepy tone, swaying from side to side. "You aren't one of them, you're one of the others, the unwanted ones."
He jumped away from the clearly insane child and shamefully bolted from the little kid, a queasy feeling in his stomach.

***

It was growing dark by the time he arrived at his home, stars appearing with sparkling clarity. The smooth white stone building loomed sinisterly before him, the familiar feeling of dread threatening to swallow him whole. He pushed it away angrily, his day bad enough already. Stomping up the stairs to the grey door with his head bowed, he failed to notice the strangers emerging from his home, bumping headfirst into a muscled chest. Springing back in surprise, he looked up to see a black-haired man with glowing green eyes and sharp nose glaring at him, clearly expecting an apology. Muttering something under his breath when he did not receive one, he turned to his colleague and asked,
"I assume this is the one?"
The other man nodded gruffly, reaching to adjust his hat with a scarred hand. Like every resident on Metanos, a sixth finger adorned his hand, nail more like a claw than anything else.

The first man turned to him, who eyed him with an air of wariness and suspicion.
"Let's have a nice little chat, shall we?" he said as he swung a fist into the side of his head, knocking him out cold.

With a satisfied smile, the man lit a cigarette, dropping hot sparks onto the teenager's bruised face.

Chapter Two

A small steel coloured pod sped though the gathering darkness, light flashing off the reflective surface. It was perfectly symmetrical and perfectly round, not a scratch or dent in the supple material. It followed a dusty, unused path that turned and twisted like a dry river, cutting a zigzagging path across the planet's surface. It emitted a light buzzing noise as if a swarm of bees buzzed around it. The rising moons made an appearance, shedding a cool, refreshing light and illuminating the stumps of warped metal that passed for trees. A second pod blinked into sight from the opposite direction and raced towards the first. Instead of moving aside, the first pod increased in speed, rushing to meet the other in a powerful collision of silver and flying sparks. Instead, the two met and seamlessly attached to each other, forming a single mass. The two balls flew northwards, flashing grey orbs moving swiftly into the impenetrable night.

~~~

Alternating lights blinked on and off, creating a confusing kaleidoscope of bright colours. A siren blared suddenly from hidden speakers in the ceilings. Animalistic screeches echoed down hallways and primal roars tore through eardrums. Blinding flashes of white and inky black decorated the world, and the shining neon blues broke the monotonous shingle.

~~~

Harsh light greeted him as he opened his eyes, instantly shutting them from the bright glare. The light crystals were smooth and diamond-shaped, floating about two inches from the ceiling. The sound of a chair scraping against the floor alerted him to the presence of others, most likely the ones who had been at his house. Squinting open his yellow eyes, he peered through his lashes at the three strangers around him. They all wore identical clothing, though one was dressed in pale grey with the other two in black. A familiar figure sat between the dark-clothed men, hands clasped in her lap. His mother, Natashah, lifted her head, mousy brown hair falling across her face as if shielding her from the sight of her bound, injured son. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but a look from the salt-and-pepper haired man in grey quickly and efficiently shut her up.

The grey stranger looked down at a clipboard in his hand, checking something.
"You are Argen Hipponi, correct?"
He swallowed, throat parched, and answered.
"Yeah."
The grey man nodded, scribbling away on his clipboard.
"You are fifteen years old?"
"Yes." His head was pounding dully, throbbing in pain.
"You attended the Rage Academy of Learning for Boys?" The grey man looked up.
Argen found he could not meet the stranger's eyes.
"Yes," he paused, eyebrows furrowing, "and what do you mean 'attended'?"
The grey man smiled, his luminous pink eyes glowing.
"You see, as of now, you no longer exist."

I started a draft for the April JustWriteIt but never got around to completing it... I always get the first chapter or three done then stop. Every time.