Year 3000

'Billions of people have lost their lives due to unforeseen circumstances such as plane crashes, pandemics and shoot-outs. Therefore, the human DNA had since evolved for specific individuals to obtain a certain sixth sense - in the form of warnings.

These epiphanies happen through lights. There appears flashing of lights, changing vision from colour to black and white followed by a temporary lapse in brain activity which indicates an escape from a perilous contexture. For example, if someone handed the subject something to drink that was poisoned, and for some reason they declined, their vison would go colorless and a sudden five second migraine would ensue, signaling to them that they had just escaped danger or worse, death.

This sense is labelled the ‘defect’, and anyone who has this must turn themselves immediately to the authorities. Only a select few can obtain this hence making it very rare and…deadly.'

I stepped back from the big bold printed signboard and sighed. It wasn’t a ‘defect’ it was actually a ‘gift’. But trust humanity to take away a power just because it doesn’t fit the ‘norm’.

Anyway, I’m just 17 and I’ll only get to know if I have it or not on my 18th ... which is tomorrow.

I gripped my handlebars even tighter as I carried on cycling.

I was not your typical protagonist; a loner, no friends, always had a distinctive ‘aura’ around me that was indescribable, yet present. No, I actually had many friends, lived in a decent house and had moderate parents. Not the personality which typically attracted this kind of sense.

My phone started buzzing, and I clicked accept as my feet continued the rhythmic pedaling.

My mom’s voice rang out loud. “Nat, there’s this huge meeting taking place over the weekend, something to do with our family trip this summer.”

“I’ll be there.”

“You better! By the way, your birthday’s tom- “

I hastily pressed ‘end’ as I zipped past a red light; this wasn’t the time to be discussing my judgment day.

I cycled into the cluttered garage, pressed a square red button to initiate the shutter and entered my mother’s brightly lit kitchen; planning to pause only briefly to take a bite out of the juicy turkey sandwich on the counter. As I did, the plate moved inadvertently, and an envelope sat below it.

‘TO MR. & MRS. TELLER

This letter is from the Mayor himself, directed at your teenage daughter Natalie, concerning her coming of age on June 3rd. As this is a very critical point in her life, she will have to come to the center for a regular checkup to see if she has or has not acquired the defect. Failure to do so will automatically make her wanted and will result in the use of force to separate her from society as we know it. We wish her all the best and may luck be on her side.

Regards,

The Council’

I slowly placed the letter back in the envelope and went up to my room.

A gentle knock happened on my door as my mom walked in.

"I need to talk to you about tomorrow. I know you’re anxious, but you most probably are not going to get tested positive since no one of this family lineage has ever had the defect."

"Yeah but that doesn’t stop me from being the first," I muttered to myself, as she continued.

"Your sister doesn’t have it and neither do any of our relatives. That’s a lot of zeros. Plus, the whole point of it is that it’s rare. One in every 400 kind of thing. All I’m saying is, it’s okay to be anxious, just don’t freak out too much about it."

I nodded skeptically as she hugged me and ushered me down for lunch. This was going to be a very long day and night, so distractions were welcome.

The next day

I woke up to my parents singing happy birthday as I descended the stairs; the multi-colored cake almost pushed into my face.

I laughed as they smeared some cream on my nose and hugged me, leading me to the dining table to open my presents.

It was a car key with a bow on it.

Suddenly all my fears went obsolete as I swept the key off the table and ran out into the garage to see a brand-new Jeep sitting in the driveway.

Atleast now I could drive myself around instead of bike!

“Thanks mom, thanks da- ...“

Before I could finish that sentence, my vision went black and white as my mind went into an intense state of pain. When the pain subsided, I looked down to see the crack in the pavement which I would’ve tripped over, had I not gotten a … warning.

Oh no.