Enzo woke up, his body still aching from the beating he had received the night before. He slowly got out of bed and checked on his mom, who was still sleeping but stable. His brother Kite was beside her, looking tired but relieved.
Enzo knew he had to go to work, despite his fatigue. He dragged his legs to the shop, where he was greeted by a pile of work. His boss was upset with him for running away the day before and not coming back.
However, despite the workload, Enzo breezed through it with ease. He fixed even the most rundown items, making them usable again. His talent and skill were evident, and it was clear that he had a natural gift for repair work.
Enzo's mind wandered back to his past, when he lived in the city with his family. He had excelled in his studies, showing a prodigious talent for learning. He excelled on computer studies and already showing to be a capable programmer. He was about to finish his studies when his father had left them, and they could no longer afford to live in the city. Enzo harbored a deep resentment towards his father, especially since his mom had a medical condition that required constant care.
As he worked, Enzo's thoughts were interrupted by a strange black box that suddenly appeared on his table. He instantly remembered the mysterious lady who had saved him the night before, and his heart skipped a beat. Who was she, and what did she want from him?
Enzo's eyes locked onto the mysterious black box, his mind racing with possibilities. He thought it might be some kind of puzzle, and his curiosity got the better of him. As he tried to pry it open, a button suddenly popped up, tempting him to push it. Despite a growing sense of unease, Enzo's curiosity won out, and he pressed the button. A digital timer flickered to life, displaying an ominous countdown: 2 minutes. Enzo's heart sank as he heard a click, and his eyes widened in horror. "It's a bomb!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fear.
Without hesitation, Enzo grabbed the black box and shoved it into his pack. He sprinted through the alleyways, weaving through crowds of people, his eyes darting between the timer and the path ahead. The streets were packed, but Enzo navigated them with ease, jumping and dodging obstacles with a mix of adrenaline and desperation. As the timer ticked away, Enzo's anxiety grew. He knew he was still in the middle of the outskirts, and the bomb's explosion would harm countless innocent people. With a surge of determination, Enzo pushed himself to run faster, his lungs burning from exhaustion.
The edge of the outskirts came into view, and Enzo summoned every last bit of strength he had. With his body screaming in protest, he sprinted towards the outskirts' boundary, fueled by sheer willpower as he desperately sought to escape the impending blast. The timer showed mere seconds remaining as Enzo stumbled forward, his vision blurring from exhaustion. In a heart-stopping moment, Enzo crossed the boundary, stumbling away from the densely populated area. The bomb's countdown continued, its fateful conclusion mere seconds away. Enzo's arms trembled as he hurled the bomb as far as he could into the desolate expanse. The device exploded in a burst of air, and to Enzo's surprise, colorful confetti rained down upon him. He lay on the ground, gasping for breath, wondering if he'd just imagined the whole thing. As he struggled to process what had happened, slow clapping echoed through the emptiness. A figure emerged from the distance, a woman dressed in a fine tunic and with piercing green eyes approached him, Enzo's eyes widened as he recognized her – she was the same woman who had helped him the night before. She tossed him a canister of water, and Enzo gratefully chugged it, feeling the cool liquid soothe his parched throat.
"You're the one who helped me last night, aren't you?" Enzo asked, his voice still hoarse.
The woman nodded, a hint of a smile on her lips. "Yes, I'm the one. And I must say, you're quite resourceful." She sat beside him, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "You saved the outskirts from a bomb threat, Enzo. Congratulations."
The woman's expression turned serious. "Actually, Enzo, this was a test, and unfortunately, you failed. You see, we were testing you, and...well, you didn't exactly follow protocol."
Enzo nodded, feeling a twinge of disappointment. "I should have tried to disarm it, right? But I'm not exactly confident with my bomb-disarming skills yet."
The woman smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's understandable. However, your agility and quick thinking in getting to the edge of the outskirts in time were impressive. My name is Ayla Smith, by the way." She extended her hand, and Enzo shook it,
"I'm part of the rebellion, Enzo," Ayla continued. I have been monitoring you for quite sometime now. We're looking for individuals with your skills....Unfortunately, you didn't pass the test, but I have faith in you. I can talk to my superiors and see if we can offer you a second chance."
Enzo stood up, looking out at the vast desert expanse. "I appreciate the offer, Ayla, but I have a responsibility to my family. My mother is sick, and I need to make sure she gets the proper treatment she needs."
Ayla's expression turned thoughtful. "I understand. Family is important." She tapped her wrist, and her tunic vanished, revealing a sleek black gear underneath. Enzo's eyes widened as a helicopter materialized out of thin air, its rotors whirring to life. He stumbled backward, his mind reeling with shock.
As Ayla boarded the helicopter, she turned to Enzo and said, "Do you remember the location I told you last night? Go there if you change your mind. We can help your mother, Enzo."
And with that, the helicopter vanished as suddenly as it appeared, leaving Enzo staring after it in amazement. He felt a sense of wonder and trepidation, unsure of what the rebellion had in store for him, but intrigued nonetheless.