Chapter Text
I'm Kyre, I'm 17. It's 2026, and the files were released. It's going exactly how I thought it would. Memes, desensitized children, a force on AI and so many other things. I can't fucking stand it here, but alas, I keep my eyes out for new shit to research because I'm stuck at home. I have nothing better to do. Fucking bullshit. This is lame. I'm going-
"-on a walk."
He says to his mom. His voice sounds gravely, his tone is aggressive, in a way.
"Are you alright?"
Kyre's mom asks, she always could sense when things were wrong, but Kyre knew she chose to stay ignorant to political subjects because she'd be quick to go from a debate to an argument. Kyre understood and respected it.
"Yeah, I'm feeling down, I guess?.. I don't know, I just need some fresh air. I love you, I'll be back, mama."
"I love you too, pumpkin."
Kyre smiled and went downstairs. As he opened the large door, a wave of fresh, mid-day air pushed its way past his nose, immediate relief flooded him. It's like the house was giving him a headache. He stepped out, closing the door behind him. Of course, he stopped on the porch and started the annoying task of putting his headphones on. He pushes his hair out of the way and slides his headphones over his ears, music loud, booming into his ears.
Stepping off of the porch, the daydream begins.
Ignorance, peace, freedom. This is what life is about. Music, walks, fresh air, it all holds a special place in his heart. He'd walk forever if he could. Maybe he could walk across the country, or maybe state. He missed the state test this year because he was expelled, but it wasn't his fault this time.
He presses the crosswalk button for fun, then runs across. He can feel the thick soles of his shoes slamming to the ground with each stomp. State tests are stupid, school is stupid. They teach us to sit, stay compliant and quiet, and do our work. We are slaves.
"Like, how are you going to expel me for nothing, then get my dad in trouble for me being truent when it's literally your fault I can't find a school to get into..."
He's talking to himself again. Stopping in his tracks, he looks around, no one saw or heard, he continues walking. Kyre softly sways to the songs that play from his headphones. No shame in it, everyone does something to the same extent, and Kyre is tired of being embarrassed over simple stuff.
A few songs, a hop, skip, and a jump later, he isn't too far from the road between the cemetery and hospital. Weird that they're connected, but maybe thats why it's considered a "haunted town". Kyre and his step dad, Nick, had talked about whether they thought the town's spirit is charged through the deads souls.
Since matter breaks down but cannot be destroyed, it has to go somewhere, but... wait, are souls considered matter? It's connected to the first dimension that way..
Whatever, he forgot.
Suddenly, a familiar sound traveled to his brain, something that felt as depressing as listening to a blind kid talk about their overweight, overwhelmingly-unsettling, diabetic dog. His headphones died. Eye. Fucking. Roll.
He slides them off of his ears and around his neck, but it felt weird so he feniggled it onto his belt, while walking AND balancing on the small strip of wet grass--which felt like too much work for the humiliation ritual that came with it when he looked around aimlessly to find somewhere to put them.
He kept walking, he had to make his round before he went home. He feels like he's ai with the brain-rotted way he thinks.
'Thinking like a cartoon character instead of being normal? Thats not dissociation--thats play-pretend, and honestly? ✨️I'm here for it.✨️'
Like, shut up already.
3am
Kyre scrolls aimlessly through tiktok, ingesting the latest craze of "War is here" and CHICKEN APPLE MAPLE SALAD.!!!!
His head is full of gloop, he's exhausted, despite barely doing anything.