The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 55.5: In Vain

Part 2/7

Franklin got up from his seat and walked over to his laptop bag. He felt something buzz in his brain, and as he reached the bag and opened it up, with a stroke of luck he had realized he left everything he planned on bringing inside of the laptop bag. He picked it up and slung it around his shoulder.

“Okay. Ready.”

“Alrightie. Uh, Dad’s waiting outside. You can go first, just need to pick something else up,” Big Brother sighed. Franklin nodded, and began to walk away. As he did, he could hear Big Brother and Mom argue.

“I don’t understand why you’re so upset about this, we’ve been planning this for ages, you know this place isn’t right for any of us anymore!” Mom yelled.

“Yeah, but do we have to go? Things are getting better here, I know things will-”

“It won’t. It’s not safe for you OR your little brother here anymore. Everything’s crept south now. And there are a thousand more pros of going than there are cons here. I don’t understand, you said that you didn’t care much-”

“Now I do, Mom. Now I do.”

“Okay… At least say your last goodbyes-”

Franklin stepped outside the house.

“What was that all about?” he asked himself.

Franklin saw his Dad’s car parked on the curb. His Dad was waiting there. Usually he sat on his phone when he was waiting, but not today. He was carrying two wrapped presents in each hand.

Franklin ran up to the car and opened the door up, and his Dad turned around with a grin.

“Hey kiddo, howzit going?” he asked. He had a smile, but he didn’t seem very happy.

“Good, good, I finally finished my homework. Mrs. Hamabe gives out so much for no reason!” Franklin complained.

“Heh heh, yeah, I know, but uh, this should cheer you up for your upcoming… vacation!” Dad said. He gave the small wrapped present to Franklin. Franklin took the gift greedily and tore the wrapping paper aside. As his eyes laid on what was inside, his eyes sparkled. It was a small case that held an ancient coin from the 1700s!

“Ha ha, I’ve been looking for this one for ages! How’d you even find it? It must’ve cost quite the penny!” Franklin cheered.

“Oh, uh, it wasn’t too hard actually,” Dad answered with a sly smile, “I found it off the market. They were selling it for cheap. Apparently because it was ‘bad luck’, but uh, it was on heads! So it has to be good luck! Good luck for your vacation, hopefully it doesn’t rain out like the last one, heh!”

“Yeah, yeah, thanks, but I don’t NEED good luck,” Franklin said with a smile.

Suddenly, the passenger seat’s car door swung open, and in came Big Brother. He must have finally finished his conversation with Mom.

“Hey Dad,” Big Brother solemnly said.

“Howdy,” Dad replied. His mood seemed even worse now. Big Brother rubbed his face, and then afterwards kicked his seat back.

“Let’s roll. Now.”

Dad held his gift out.

“Take it first.”

Big Brother grabbed the gift with his left hand and shoved it in his pocket.

“I’ll open it later, don’t worry.”

Dad started up the car, and then put his foot on the pedal, driving off to his place.

~

Franklin was eagerly playing with his games. He mashed the buttons on his device as hard as he could, moving the character around and slashing through the zombies. Franklin let out a cheer as he instantly evaporated the last one, leaving a treasure chest for him to open.

“Ha ha! Finally, now I can get my prize,” Franklin cheered as blue sparks shot out of his fingers and into the console. As the treasure chest opened… Something wondrous lay inside.

“Wah hah hah, the Ultra Legendary Mythical Omega Sword of Doom!” Franklin said with sparkling eyes, “A 0.00000001% chance to obtain on a treasure chest as easy to get as this one, my power-”

Franklin quickly stopped himself, and cleared himself.

“My luck is insane!”

“I know, right?”