As the bell rang, its shrill sound echoing through the corridors of the school, students began to flood into their classrooms, eager to start the day. Among them was Jaden Craig, a boy with a wiry frame, dark skin tone, smoky gray eyes and thick, black, coiled dreads that cascaded down his back like a waterfall of ebony. Dressed in a simple white t-shirt, blue jeans, and white sneakers, he carried a backpack slung over one shoulder as he made his way to his seat next to his friend, Alex Smith.Alex, with his short brown hair and a smattering of freckles across his nose, greeted Jaden with a fist bump and a grin. But as he settled into his chair, he noticed something was off about his friend. Jaden's eyes were closed, and he let out a deep sigh that spoke of exhaustion."Are you okay?" Alex asked, concern etched on his face.Jaden didn't respond right away, but after a moment, he opened his eyes and gave his friend a tired smile. "Yeah, just had a short night. I'm feeling pretty beat."

Jaden's mum stepped out of her car, closing the door behind her with a satisfying thunk. She pressed the lock button on the car key in her hand, and the car beeped twice, followed by the sound of the locks clicking shut. She walked away from the car, her heels clicking against the pavement with every step. She wore a suit with a white collared shirt inside, and her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail.As she approached the entrance of the skyscraper, the transparent door slid open automatically, sensing her presence. She stepped into the bustling lobby filled with people moving about and admiring the various artifacts and exhibits on display. Some were ancient weaponry, paintings, and equipment with strange carvings on them. People stood around, either talking to each other about the exhibitions or taking pictures of them.Jaden's mum walked to the far end of the building and stopped in front of an elevator. She clicked the button, and the elevator opened almost immediately, re

Jaden and his mum drove home, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Jaden sat with his face resting on his fist, his expression stoic as he stared blankly out of the car window. His mind was racing with a thousand thoughts, but he couldn't find the words to express them.Lilian stole occasional glances at her son, her heartbreaking at the sight of him so distant and forlorn. She longed to comfort him, to make everything right again, but she didn't know how. Her mind was consumed with worry, and she felt helpless.As they pulled up to their house, Jaden's shoulders slumped. He would rather not face his mother after what had happened. He headed straight for his room, hoping to shut out the world.But before he could make it, he heard his mother's voice calling out to him. He stopped in his tracks, unsure of what to do. He didn't want to talk about it, but he also didn't want to hurt his mother's feelings.Lilian approached him slowly, tentatively wrapping her arms around him from behind. S

Jaden's eyes flickered open to the sound of his mother's voice."Hey honey," Lilian greeted him with a smile as she entered his room.Jaden blinked a few times, trying to shake off his drowsiness. He had fallen asleep at his desk."Good morning, Mom," Jaden replied, stretching his arms.Lilian's eyes wandered around the cluttered room. "Looks like you've been busy."Jaden gave a noncommittal shrug as he reached for his towel."I've got good news," Lilian announced, her eyes sparkling with excitement.Jaden paused, intrigued. "What is it?""I've made an appointment with the lab to help you awaken," Lilian said, beaming.Jaden's eyes widened in shock. "How? That procedure is expensive.""Don't worry about it, Jaden. I was able to pull some strings," Lilian replied, trying to reassure him.Jaden hesitated, unsure. "I appreciate the offer, Mom, but I don't want you to go through all that trouble. I'll be fine."Lilian frowned, her face etched with concern. "Jaden, I know how much this mea

Different buses were properly packed in front of the school, their red exteriors decorated with white stripes. Students from different classes were lined up in front of the vehicles, chattering excitedly as they awaited departure. Each class had been designated to a specific bus, with their respective teachers supervising the boarding process.Miss Thompson stood before her class, dishing out instructions to her students before they made their way onto the bus. Scanning through the entire population of her class, she noticed someone was missing.'Where's he?'Miss Thompson thought with a stern expression. She had already warned her students not to be late, and she would not tolerate any delays.Meanwhile, Alex was growing increasingly anxious. He stood at the front of the line, eagerly anticipating Jaden's arrival. The two had planned to sit together for the trip to Africa, and Alex was starting to worry that Jaden had changed his mind. As the minutes ticked by, Alex's concern turned t