Evolution: Harbinger of Chaos

The mirror reflected a stranger.

Daniel Jason stared at his reflection, his reddish-brown eyes scanning the delicate features that had earned him both admiration and torment, features he had grown used to describing from memory: a sharp jawline, soft titian-colored hair, and pale skin that seemed too perfect for someone his age.

It was a face others often described as "beautiful"—a word Daniel had grown to despise.

Prosopagnosia. The doctors had given him the term years ago, but it had done little to make it any easier. The term was clinical, detached. It didn't capture the frustration of not being able to recognize his own reflection or the isolation it brought.

Faces—his own, others—were just blurs of meaningless features. Only voices and small cues helped him make sense of people.

He leaned closer, tracing the outline of his features in the mirror. It was an exercise his therapist had suggested long ago: focus on one feature at a time to ground himself.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Daniel!"

His younger brother's voice rang out from the hallway, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Breakfast!"

With one last glance at the mirror, Daniel grabbed his backpack and headed downstairs, his steps heavy.

~~~

The kitchen was warm, filled with the scent of fresh toast and coffee. Maxuel sat at the dining table, his usual bizarre, yet organized hair growth pattern —the top completely grey-white, while underneath that and growing out the sides auburn— sticking out at odd angles as he devoured a plate of eggs.

"You're late," Maxuel said, smirking through a mouthful.

"Didn't sleep well," Daniel muttered, sliding into the seat across from him.

Their mother, Caroline Jason, a thirty-six-year-old without a single spot or wrinkle on her face, auburn-colored hair, light brown eyes, and unshakable energy, bustled around the kitchen.

"You should eat something, Daniel. You've gotten even skinnier."

Daniel was always told he took most of his facial features from her, and that if he was a girl, he would be her carbon copy.

...He had no idea if that really was the case.

Daniel waved her off, grabbing a piece of toast and taking a small bite.

Maxuel studied him, his smirk fading. "Another nightmare?"

Daniel didn't answer, but his silence was enough. Maxuel frowned, reaching out to nudge his shoulder.

"You'll be fine," Maxuel said, his voice softer now. "It's just a dream."

Is it? Daniel thought but didn't say.

"Hey hey, don't just sit there. Eat something," the man seated on the chair opposite the empty one reserved for Caroline said, taking a sip from his cup. "Your mom is right you know?"

He was Richard Jason, Daniel's father. A forty-two-year-old with auburn hair with a few streaks of grey in-between.

Daniel offered the man a smile and took another small bite.

"By the way, we've got everything all set for the journey," Richard suddenly announced, "We'll be leaving today so don't forget to take the spare keys."

Richard and Caroline were business people who ran a fairly wide-ranged distribution company so they had always been a busy duo. Them going on journeys like these was quite commonplace, though it was easier for them to make impromptu leaves now that the boys were older.

"I've got the spare keys with me," Maxuel told their father.

Richard smiled appreciably, "As promised, I've spoken to my friend. Remember Mister Dawkins who owns that supermarket down the street? The small-big guy?"

Maxuel nodded, and Daniel did too, recalling the person his father spoke of by relating the man's name with the strange physical description.

Meanwhile, Richard continued:

"You guys can get foodstuffs there anytime, anything else you might need too. Remember, we'll still have to pay when we get back... Show some restraint alright?"

Both boys nodded to their father, Maxuel was especially enthusiastic with the bobbing of his head.

"Maybe we should just call the Nanny for them like we always do?"

The teenagers whipped their heads in their Mother's direction, wearing different, but similar expressions of horror on their faces. Daniel was the first to protest:

"W–what?! Come on Mom, we aren't little kids that need babysitting anymore!"

"Yeah Mom, I don't know about Danny, but I can take care of myself!" Maxuel added from beside him, earning a glare from his older brother, and a giggle from Caroline.

"I know~ I know, I'm just kidding~," She said, then cleared her throat and began, "You boys be good while we are away okay? No fighting at school or here at home, Max, and don't bring anyone we don't know to the house. Also, remember to lock the doors before you sleep, and turn off the gas after you cook, and turn off the li—"

"Alright alright Mom, we know... We won't burn down the house before Saturday." Maxuel said as he cut into her words.

He rose from his seat and briefly squeezed her into a hug, earning a little squeak from the woman.

"Hey hey! Are you trying to kill your mother?" Richard said from his seat, he wore a mock frown as he waved his hand, shooing the boys off, "Go on, get out of..."

He trailed off, then turned to glance at his wife trying to hide the sudden tension from his face.

Caroline simply smiled at him.

Turning back to the boys, Richard clapped his hands, "Alright, off you boys go."

Daniel's heart sank. School. Another day at Schulerin Academy.

~~~

The journey to school was uneventful but tense, the towering skyline of the City casting long shadows over the streets.

HAMILTON CITY.

A fairly large city, maintaining a population of close to eight hundred thousand citizens and denizens for the past year, earning the title of one of the largest cities in Fraeleot State, which was located in the southern part of the country, Lordan.

Also, It was the Jason family's current municipality of residence.

The City was divided into twelve Council Districts, named according to their numbers from the coasts of Heinz Bay West of the City, to high up in the lower peaks of the Altinca Mountain range to the East.

Towering skyscrapers and architectural wonders stood tall and proud within its more Central regions, while suburban-themed neighborhoods sprawled around underneath their awe-inspiring silhouettes.

With its beaches to the West, and vibrant neighboring mountains to the East, Hamilton City was known as a city that never ran out of sights to see.

Quite the fancy, yet fitting moniker.

The city was home to two of the biggest universities in the State; Carrington Art School and Fraeleot University of Medical Science. Thanks to this, it always had a youth ambiance to it.

Fashion trends and the latest scoops from the entertainment industry were usually the lead topics in newspapers and magazines.

As Daniel stared distractedly at the City's sights, Schulerin's pristine white buildings came into view, their elegance a stark reminder of how out of place Daniel felt among its polished halls and affluent students.

Their school, Schulerin's Academy was a private school located south of District Six, a couple of blocks away from their home which was northeast of the district.

Being a student of Schulerin's Academy was quite a big deal. Firstly, the standard criterion for entrance exams from middle school was freakishly high, as was that required to advance between grades.

Secondly, the tuition fees were astronomical.

However, even with these standards, Schulerin's Academy still maintained an average of four hundred-plus students every year.

The reason for this was the excellent learning environment it provided for the students. They were put under the tutelage of the best teachers and were provided state-of-the-art facilities.

The school was enormous, made up of four buildings all painted in off-white and dark grey, and enclosed within an eight-foot-high concrete fence.

Directly north of the entrance was the classroom building, a grandiose four-story building with impressive cantilever balconies on its third and fourth floors. To the east were the Laboratories and Indoor extracurricular activities building, an enormous, dome-shaped structure, what most people considered the greatest attraction of the academy.

Directly behind this structure, overshadowed by its splendor, was the single-story staff building. Compared to the building before it, this one had the simple and modest structure of a typical story building.

A football pitch and the grandstand around it were to the west. Beside it was the tennis court, and the smallest of all the structures within the Academy grounds, the humble Cafeteria building.

In the courtyard, the usual scene unfolded. Groups of students clustered together, their laughter echoing. Daniel stepped among keeping his head down, avoiding eye contact—or what passed for it, given his condition.

"Daniel! Over here!"

And yet, some would always find him.

He turned to see a grey-white-haired boy jogging over. His hair was messy in a calculated way, his lopsided grin giving him an air of charm that put others at ease.

"Hey," Daniel said quietly.

He was Ethan James, Daniel's best friend.

Ethan stood at almost the same height as Daniel but was slightly chubbier. His skin complexion was beige, and his face was bright with a smile that reached his light green eyes.

He clapped Daniel on the shoulder. "Dude, did you hear? 'Immortal bloodlines' got delayed again. Total letdown, huh?"

Daniel nodded absently, not having the heart to tell Ethan he hadn't been keeping up with gaming news.

"Anyway," Ethan continued, "mind if I borrow your console again this weekend? My dad's being a buzzkill, and Kira says I need to 'engage with real life.'" He rolled his eyes dramatically.

Daniel hesitated. Lending out his gaming system was a routine Ethan had practically imposed on him, and though it grated on him, he didn't have the energy to say no.

"Sure..." he muttered.

"Legend! You're a lifesaver, man," Ethan said, grinning as he slung an arm around Daniel's shoulders. "C'mon, let's hit the lockers before Denilson reaches us."

Daniel stiffened, then peeked back, "Denilson?"

"Yeah," Ethan nodded, dragging him along, "That asshole."

~~~

The day passed in a blur of monotony. It went like every other. Whispers, side glances, occasional incidences.

By the time the final bell of the day echoed through the academy halls, Daniel lingered by his locker, completely spent. Yet his day was far from over.

He still had to wait for the halls to clear. He preferred to avoid the rush of students, as this was usually when the worst of the incidences usually happened.

"Daniel!" a voice called.

He stiffened, then spun around, surprised to see a girl standing there, her warm smile directed at him.

Her golden hair shimmered in the light, Schulerin Academy's white short-sleeved uniform top hugged her sizable chest, while a neatly knotted brown tie rested over it. Her dark brown uniform skirt was a few inches above her knees, revealing a bit of her thighs, below it was a pair of knee-high white and a pair of black sneakers.

Just standing there, with her bag slung over one shoulder, her presence seemed to add some colors to the hallway.

This stunning Blonde was Angela Eugene, Daniel's classmate, and the girl he had a huge crush on.

"You're not going home?" she asked.

Daniel snapped out of his daze, blinking, then shrugged awkwardly. "I'll... leave in a bit."

Angela hesitated as if debating whether to say more. Finally, she smiled. "Take care, okay?"

He nodded, watching as she walked away.

For a moment, he allowed himself to think that maybe—just maybe—things could get better.