Neogen: Chapter 2

Anika Patel stood at her locker, her slender fingers deftly spinning the combination lock. Her black hair was neatly braided, a few loose strands framing her face, adding a softness to her otherwise stern expression. Her posture was straight and confident, a testament to her disciplined nature. Her attire was simple yet elegant, a pair of dark jeans paired with a crisp white shirt, a stark contrast to the vibrant colors worn by her peers.

The hallway was alive with the chatter of students, the air filled with the scent of over perfumed teens and the faint aroma of the teacher's morning coffee. Anika, however, was in her own world, her thoughts a whirlwind of equations and theories from the physics pre work she had been engrossed in all summer.

Suddenly, a loud cheer echoed down the hallway, breaking her concentration. She looked up, her brown eyes narrowing as she spotted the source of the noise. Lennon Pickett and his friend, Danny, were striding down the hallway, their faces lit up with excitement, their laughter ringing out, bouncing off the lockers lining the hallway.

Anika watched them from the corner of her eye, her lips pressing into a thin line. Lennon was always so loud, and animated, his constant chatter, his geeky references, his incessant need to turn every conversation into a debate about superheroes - it was all too much for her.

Which is why she was so confused about repeatedly seeing him in her dream. 

In her dream, she had been standing in a vast, open field, the cool grass tickling her bare feet. The night sky was a canvas of inky blackness, studded with twinkling stars. She stood with five other shadowy figures in a circle. The tranquility of the scene was disrupted by a sudden, intense light that erupted from the ground. The light was blinding, a radiant sphere that painted the world in hues of gold and amber.

Illuminated by the light, she saw Lennon's face on one of the others. His blue eyes were alight with an emotion she couldn't decipher, his features glowing with an ethereal glow. His face was a beacon in the darkness, a sight that was as startling as it was inexplicable.

Anika shook her head, trying to dispel the lingering images of the dream.

She watched as Lennon and Danny high-fived, their laughter growing louder. She could  hear snippets of their conversation, something stupid she was sure. She shook her head, her annoyance simmering beneath the surface.

She closed her locker, her mind returning to the school year ahead. This was going to be a big year, and she couldn't afford to be distracted. She shouldered her bag and walked away, leaving the sounds of Lennon's laughter behind her.

Anika was halfway down the hallway when the familiar ringtone of her phone echoed in her ears. She pulled it out of her bag, her heart sinking as she saw her mother's name flashing on the screen.

"Hello, Ma," she greeted, her voice echoing slightly in the nearly empty hallway.

"Anika, beta, did you reach school okay?" Her mother's voice, thick with an Indian accent, was filled with concern.

"Yes, Ma, I'm fine," Anika reassured her, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice. She loved her mother, but her constant worrying could be suffocating at times.

"And did you take your lunch?" her mother asked, her tone turning stern.

Anika hesitated, her gaze drifting to a nearby trash can. Inside it was the lunch her mother had lovingly prepared for her - a delicious array of Indian dishes that filled their home with mouth watering aromas every morning. But the other kids at school didn't appreciate the exotic smells. They would wrinkle their noses and make snide comments, their ignorance making her feel like an outsider.

"Yes, Ma, I have it," she lied, her heart heavy with guilt. She was planning on buying a turkey sandwich from the cafeteria, even though she despised the taste. But it was a small price to pay to avoid the mockery.

"Good," her mother said, sounding relieved. "Anika, I need you to come home right after school today. Your Nani needs you."

Anika's heart sank. "But Ma, it's the first day of school. I was planning on joining the journalism club..."

"Your father is working late, and I have a doctor's appointment. We need you, Anika," her mother interrupted, her voice firm.

Anika felt a surge of frustration. "Dad is always working late," she muttered under her breath.

"Anika!" her mother reprimanded, her tone sharp. "Your father is doing his best. He sacrifices a lot for our family. You know how important your dad is at Siren Tech. You should be more understanding."

Anika bit her lip, holding back a retort. She knew her mother was right, but it didn't make the situation any less frustrating. She had been looking forward to the journalism club, eager to explore her passion for writing. But now, she would have to put her plans on hold.

"Okay, Ma," she said finally, her voice subdued. "I'll come home right after school."

Anika walked into her English class, her mother's voice still filling her ear. "Family is the most important thing, Anika," her mother was saying. "We must always be there for each other, no matter what."

Anika nodded absently, her attention divided between her mother's words and the task of navigating through the maze of desks. As she made her way to her seat, she overheard a classmate, Michelle, complaining about a lost pen. Michelle was frantically searching her desk, her brows furrowed in frustration.

Without really thinking, Anika reached into the side pocket of Michelle's backpack, her fingers closing around a pen. She handed it to Michelle, who looked at her in surprise. "How did you...?" Michelle began, but Anika simply shrugged, her mind already moving on.

"Thanks, Anika," Michelle said, her voice filled with relief and a hint of awe. But Anika was already turning away, her focus returning to her mother's voice in her ear.

"I have to go, Ma," she said, reaching her desk and setting her bag down. "Class is about to start."

"Okay, beta," her mother replied, her voice filled with love. "Take care. I love you."

"I love you too, Ma," Anika said, ending the call. She slipped her phone back into her bag and slumped in her seat, her mind shifting gears to focus on the upcoming class.

As the teacher began the lesson, Anika pushed the strange occurrences of the morning to the back of her mind. The dream, the pen, they were odd, yes, but she had more important things to focus on. Honors classes were going to be hard this semester, she had to figure out how to join the journalism club, and she had a grandmother to take care of. She couldn't afford to be distracted by things she couldn't explain. Not now, not ever.