Only Human
by Wesley Gray
Prologue
The boys were hanging out in their usual spot during lunch break at Madison High. Ian, an awkward redhead boy, was showing his freshmen friends the latest gadget he had purchased with the money he made over the summer. The boys passed the highly coveted item around, each taking their turn to geek out over the object. They all felt like they had found a sanctuary in that first year of high school together.
Ian saw him first. The boy seemed like a grown man complete with five o'clock shadow. The other boys were too busy poring over Ian's new toy to notice that Soren was standing close behind them gazing at the prize. He thrust out his hand and seized the gadget and held it up above their reach, smiling broadly. "Thanks, I really wanted one of these." He boasted. It seemed to Ian that what he really wanted was to see the boys faces as they looked both incensed and horrified at the same time.
Soren quickly squelched any challenges to his right to take Ian's property by threatening violence. Ian finally had enough and made a move to grab it. He found himself three feet off the ground, barely able to breathe, with Soren holding him there by one hand. Ian could hear the servos in his arm and fingers as he tightened his grip around his neck. "What did you say?" he teased. Ian's friends stood by like deer in headlights, unable to move. This pleased Soren greatly and he savored the moment.
Just as Ian began to black out, Soren dropped him to the ground, casually turned and walked away, playing with his new acquisition. The boys ran over to Ian and helped him back on his feet. Every one of them had been a victim of Soren's bullying, and they vowed to have their revenge.
A short story version of Book one and two will be posted to this blog. If you like it please sign up for my book updates and receive extended versions of Only Human Book One, Aftermath and Only Human Book One, Virtus absolutely free via this link Only Human