"I'm taking an entrance exam next week… My parents are gonna make me cram for it…" As I walk, many other students pass me by. There were so many lives and an infinite number of possibilities for their future. I was only one of them. Words of hopes and dreams floated about the air, creating a warm, pleasant sensation on that sunny spring afternoon.

"Yeah, I got cast for a movie! Only as an extra, though but I'm just getting started!" Everyone I past, it seemed, had a plan and were pursuing it. Then there was me. I really didn't know what I was going do after high school. I'd never excelled at anything in particular, and I had barely passing grades. I never really took the time to sit and think about it.

"Hey, Axel!" My friend, Todd, called. His lean figure contrasted to those around him, he was almost scrawny. He was a bit high strung, compared to the others as well, perhaps that was the calm type of personality that drew him in. He waved me over as he brushed his dirty blonde hair out of his mossy eyes. "Hey, man, you wanna come with us to catch this movie?"
I shook my head slightly. "Sorry. I promised my dad I would clean the house before he got home." I said, punching his fist with mine. "Catch you later, though." I began to walk to my car.

"Such a slave to your old man, bro!" He joked. I chuckled and shook my head. Believe it or not, Todd wanted to be a doctor. He'd be going to a high-class medical school next year. This year would be the last I'd see of him for a while; I'd miss that refreshing—sometimes unbearable—perkiness.

I jerked the door of my old bug open; lately the door had been getting jammed. My dad said that the car had good mileage considering how old it was, but I wasn't really paying attention for I had limited interest in cars. I wonder when he decided that he wanted to become a mechanic.

Both of my parents were always trying to get me into their line of work. My mother was a bestselling author and made me read fifteen novels last summer and write a short story of my own. Having no interest in books, I slacked off during that "assignment". My dad, on the other hand, had me work at his shop with him. However, like I said, his work never really interested me.

I drove down Abney Rd. as I normally do, and as usual the road was filled with bumps and potholes. I watched as the petals of the fruit trees breezed past. It didn't seem real; next year, I'd be off to college, studying a mediocre subject for a generic job doing the same thing as everyone else until the day I croaked. I parked my car in the driveway of my house, avoiding the piles of junk that accumulated from Dad's work.

Walking up to my room I felt a twinge of guilt for lying to Todd, but I just wasn't in the mood for anything except lying down and relaxing. My room was my refuge, the place where time didn't matter. I picked a CD from my collection, slapped it in to my worn stereo and melted away into the music as I lay on my bed. I stayed like that for a while, eyes closed, my mind blank, just dancing on the ever-changing riffs of the music when I realized I was laying on something. I fidgeted and pulled it out from under me. It was a sealed envelope with no return address. And it was for me.

"Wax?" The envelope was sealed like it came from the 16th century; it seemed to have some sort of design in the wax; a custom seal, maybe? Carefully, I opened it. There was a thick parchment inside that looked a bit faded. A letter was written on the ancient paper:

Axel Nota,

The soul is an easily misguided part of the spirit. I've seen your soul, Axel, and I must say that you are in dire need of my assistance. Over the years, your body has grown, but not your mind. You've developed something greater than simple "teenage apathy": you've created true fear within yourself. It has overtaken you, consumed your being.

Can you feel it, Axel? You soul is becoming caked in the darkness and fear within you. Day by day, your motivation lessens; it won't be long until you wither away, completely devoid of life-force. Is that what you want?

What's more disturbing is your subconscious "desire". What you want most is very dangerous and carries a heavy price. However, I can help you obtain that desire should you accept this offer.

So I leave you with this, do you want to overcome your fear and gain your desire?

I await your answer.

What on Earth did I just read? I re-read it over and over. I didn't recognize the handwriting. This had to be a joke or something; it was too corny to be serious. I stared blankly at the letters, as if they held an answer to a question I didn't have. Finally, I gave up. With a sigh, I folded the letter and put it on my night stand. Maybe I could ask Todd about it.