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Intro:

My name is Everest. I’m 17, and I doomed the universe.

I mean, all I needed was a few extra minutes to get to school, but now I’m staring aat the smoldering remains of this stupid place. I guess should tell you how it happened.

Chapter 1: Late Again

I woke up, sleeping through my alarm again. I stare at the outfit I threw on. I looked plain in my blue sweater and jeans. I shrug and go get some breakfast. After I put some peanut butter on my toast, I realize I was supposed to leave 5 minutes ago!

In a panic, I rush to my bus stop, but I watch the bus drive away from it. I think to myself “Why did I forget my jacket in 25 degree weather?” I honestly wish I was talking about Celsius right now. Running home, I grab my jacket and bolt towards school. As I run closer to school, I hear the annoyingly loud bell of Oakwood High School, or as I like to call it, Basic A__ McSchoolname. My best friend Ashlynn stops me in the halls. Her long, pink hair bobs up and down in excitement. She remarks “Wow, 15 minutes late, that’s better than yesterday, Everest!”

We both laugh, and then an announcement blasts on the speakers, sending me to the office. “Bye Ash!” I yell as I walk towards the office. I look through the door, and the principal, Mrs. Bentley, invites me in. She smiles, looking at me with her bright blue eyes. Mine are more of a dusty green. Nobody knew her real age, not even she remembers, but she has said she is around 90. She looks at a sheet of paper.

She mutters “Now, Eve- Evelyn.” I correct her “Actually, it’s Ev-” She continues “You have been tardy multiple times, once being suspended because of it. This is your 5th time this month, dear. Do you know what that means?” I say “Uh, detention?” Unsurprisingly, I was correct. One whole week of after school detention was coming for me. I wished I had gotten just a bit more time, so I wouldn’t be late again.

As I finally got out of the office, I hear the second period bell ring. Wow, that bell’s annoying. It takes me a moment to think about what class I have next. English, right? I ask myself. As I sprint towards my class, I can’t really think between all the kids yelling in the halls, and lectures being given. Finally, I get there on time. I set all my books down on my desk, and push my light coral hair out of my face. I wished I could cut my hair even shorter, so it wouldn’t get in my face at all.

I planned on skipping 3rd period. I give up. I’ll never be good at school, I’m always late. Wishing I had all the time in the world, it suddenly went silent. I wasn’t used to this, usually I can’t hear anything over everyone talking. I shut my eyes for a second, but when I opened them again, I was back home. I check the time on my phone.

Chapter 2: 4:35 AM

Did I fall asleep in my class? Am I dreaming? I woke up lying in my bed, maybe I could dream about getting ready. Nah, I liked this outfit. I go downstairs. Everything is still eerily quiet. I make a tub of popcorn for breakfast. I couldn’t have it all, so I put some into a bag. Walking out to school, it was still dark out. And silent. There should be dozens of cars, commuting themselves to work. But they were all stopped. Everything, frozen in place.

At first, I thought it was because today was the winter solstice. But then I checked the time again. 4:35 AM. Either my phone was broken, or time froze. It was clear that this was a dream, time doesn’t just freeze. I’ll call Ashlynn. The phone dials for minutes, then the voicemail plays. I call again. No answer. I say to myself “If it’s this early in the morning, Ashlynn’s probably asleep.”

I finally get to my school. Still dark, still no bell. I might as well walk in. Conveniently, almost too conveniently, a teacher was halfway walking in, so the door was pretty much open. I walk inside. Nobody, not even a sound. I grab a bit more popcorn from my bag, and eat some food I found in my backpack. I look at  the clock. 4:35 AM. Still dark, still no bell.

I manage to get in the lunchroom and take some of the food there. They were serving popcorn today. I also go into my classes, and get my things, because I thought it would be nice if I did school from home for once. As I walk out, I realize something. The school, which was quiet, had gone ablaze.

I bolted in there to bring out any remaining people, but something was off. First off, I went in there, and left without a scratch. Second, the fire wasn’t consistent. Sometimes, it spanned across the whole city. Other times, it was just a little fire. I know I’m not a freaking superhuman or anything, because that’s stupid.

I hear a voice. “Everest?” I yell “I JUST SAID I WASN’T A SUPERHERO!” The voice laughs. “Don’t worry, you’re definitely not a superhero. You have no powers, you’re just a person, you moron.”