To Change The Future

Preface
The clock struck three. Four. Five. And still everything was quiet. Listen- to the sound of silence. Nothing crept down stairs. No one was hiding beneath the bed. And feetprint were not gathered around the windows and doors. Because it was deserted. Abandoned. All lost.

2004-Oakland

The doors opened, the smoke cleared. And out stepped three young adults; coughing and wheezing and grabbing on to each other for support.
“Camron! Harmony! Zelda! Just what have you done this time?”
The three looked up at Dr. Jones. Their Chemistry teacher was staring at them with his mouth open wide. Zelda stepped forward and took a deep breath to calm herself.
“ Sorry Dr. J. we didn’t mean to ! It just, well, blew up!”
The expression on Zelda’s face had the other two rolling with laughter. Dr. Jones barreled past them into the Chemistry lab. And there he stood, a look of horror plastered on his long, white face.
“ What have you done? My lab is destroyed!” he turned toward them.
“ How could you blow anything up when I don’t keep chemicals in my room?”
“ Um, that would be my fault Dr. J.” Camron Jennings stepped forward. His mouth was set in a slight downward slope, but the hair covering his eyes did little to hide the humor hiding in a sea of green.
Dr. Jones smiled at Camron.
“ Camron, I understand that you are friends with these hooligans, but you can’t keep taking the blame for their actions. Sooner or later they are going to do something beyond your control.”
Camron just stared at Dr. Jones. Finally the old man gave in.
“ Alright, alright, I won’t turn you in this time. But I never want to get on to you again. Now go.”
The three kids said thank you and quickly exited the school. They were barely out of the parking lot when Zelda let out a loud squeal. So fast she was almost a blur, she tackled Camron in a bear hug. Harmony laughed when Camron lost his balance and they both fell onto the grass.
“Man, we are so lucky Dr. J is dating your mother! If you weren’t there, Zelda and I would have had ISS until we were fifty!”
Camron got up and dusted his pants off.
“ Yeah, I guess it is a good thing. But then again it sucks. Mom’s been harking on me about my behavior lately. She thinks that my not having a father figure to look up to is impairing my judgment. I think she’s planning on marrying that dork.”
He sighed and helped Zelda up.
“ We’ll deal with that troll when we come to the bridge.” Zelda said lightly, taking Camron and Harmony by the arm and dragging them towards the car.
“ but first, let’s get some food!”
Harmony laughed and poked Camron.
“ Hey, maybe we’ll see that girl who keeps checking you out. She’s a real looker!”
“ Oh please! That girl’s been trying to go out with me for weeks! Besides, she’s not my type.”
Zelda snorted. “Camron, do you know what is your type?”

2014- Los Angeles

“ Camron watch out!”
Camron looked up and dove out of the way seconds before a metallic boulder the size of a car landed where he was just standing. Harmony ran up to analyze the rock while Zelda helped Camron up. “ It’s a class three,” Harmony said over the roar of the wind, “ and it’s ours.”
Zelda cursed under her breath. Camron dusted his pants off and wrapped his arm around Zelda’s waist.
“ This is useless. If we’re using our Class 3 machines, then we’re getting desperate. Those machines were built for World War III. They destroy EVERYTHING!”
“ Well Camron,” Harmony said softly, “ If those machines loose, we’ll all be dead anyways, so it won’t matter.”
Camron sighed.
“ Yeah, you’re right. But can we at least go get some sleep? I haven’t seen my bed in twenty-nine hours.”
“ You call that pile of leaves you sleep on a bed?” Zelda chuckled.
“ I haven’t had any complaints.”
“ That’s because the rats are all dead.”
Harmony cleared her throat.
“ Camron, I understand you’re tired, but we can’t go back to our hideout. It’s too far and they’re watching us. If we found a safe place, I’d love to sleep too, but…” She looked around them.
“ Well what about that building?” Zelda pointed to an old, deserted building in the distance.
“ I don’t know Zelda. Some of the clones might be staying there.”
“ No, it’s ok. My aunt used to live there before the war. Every room was secured with an anti-clone system. Trust me, it’s safe.”
Harmony shrugged and headed for the building, followed by Camron and Zelda.

“ Scan clear.”
Camron cautiously stepped into the building ahead of the girls. After a few moments, he waved them in. Zelda ran to the elevators and pushed the up button. Nothing happened.
“ Well, looks like we use the stairs.”
Harmony stepped forward. “ Zelda, what floor did your aunt live on?”
“ The twentieth.”
Camron smiled.

End of chapter one

The rain continued to batter the side of the building, throwing rain droplets on the window next to Zelda’s bed. Unable to sleep since the war started, she got up and walked over to where Camron was sleeping. He turned and looked up at her.
“ Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” she whispered.
“ It’s ok, I wasn’t asleep. What’s up?”
“ Can’t sleep… I’ve been wondering Camron. How many people do you think are left? This war has been going on for three years now. I don’t know how many dead bodies I’ve seen on the side of the road coming here. What if we’re fighting to no anvil? ” She laid her head in her hands and sighed.
“ Zelda, nothing is going to happen to you. I swear, I will die before I let those heartless monsters take you. We came here to find another way, and we’re not leaving without you. Listen, it’s not your fault we’re in this. Everyone knew the moment the first clone was made, things would go bad. Humans are not made of metal. That’s not the way God intended. And you can help us. Just don’t give up baby. Please.” Camron took Zelda’s arm and gently pulled her over onto his lap. He put his hand under her chin and pulled her face up so he could look into her eyes.
“ I swear nothing is going to take you away from me. “
Zelda closed her eyes and leaned into Camron’s chest.