| DEX|
A light ticking sound emitted from the shop as Dex worked endlessly on an experiment. His head was bent low over it, green eyes in full concentration. He could not afford a mistake when it came to the Children’s protection. He had to check every aspect of a tool or invention before he released it to the rest of Project 21. However, this particular invention was still in trial. No matter how hard he tried, how he used the metal he couldn’t seem to get it just right, there was always a tiny issue here, or a larger one there.
It was quite frustrating for a seventeen year old boy. Yes, Dex was 17 the big age, the terrifying number, the year before he would officially no longer be a child. Considering that no one knew what happened to a child at that time, the idea was probably the scariest event in a child’s life, in fact it could very well be the last. The only ones who knew were the Adults, which of course Dex wasn’t going to walk up to and ask. “Hey what happens when I turn 18 round here?” No, that would be insane and impossible, Adults steered clear from Project 21. They didn’t want to be associated with the children. Although, there were a select few who would venture down into the chaotic depths, and would regret it.
The only others who knew were, well the ones who had seen it happen. Very few of them there were, and even less of them could live long enough to tell the tale before going completely crazy. So therefore, there was no hope for a Child once they passed the big 1-7. They couldn’t hide it, it was embedded into their very being, and the scanners could detect it. You simply had, one last year, and you had to make it count. However, for Dex, that time was fast approaching.
Dex wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, before sighing. His eyes were tired, but he couldn’t stop, he had to get this done before…. Well before he…
Suddenly a loud clanking signaled a bell to go off. Dex’s eyes opened wide, and then narrowed. He slipped from the chair and went to the contraption set up in the corner of his shop. It looked like it had once been a cross between a vacuum cleaner and a few other household items such as a toaster. This was the “Springy 2.0”, coined by a silly and cute girl named Prelude who lived in the church not far from his shop. He smiled for a second thinking of her. She was one of the many cute girls who frequented his shop, or who he went to visit with new inventions. However, that wasn’t the concern at the moment. For “S20” was telling him he had a visitor or an intruder.
He raised a gloved hand and gently pulled down a lever causing the machine to go silent, before turning to face the door. His hand moved fast pressing down a buckle on the glove which released a set of tools for easy access, or in this case a weapon. He slid a foot towards the door, and waited.
“Food Delivery!~”
A familiar voice called out. Then there was an unmistakable knock and Dex relaxed his position to walk forward and open the door. As he pulled it open, his entire demeanor changed. The pretty blonde would see a charming and tall fellow who wore a stunning smile as he ran his fingers through his own blonde locks.
“Heya ther’ Miss Paun Paun. What an honor ta see ya again. Please come inside.”
He moved from the door and bowed in welcome, wearing the most charming smile as he never lost eye contact with her, giving her his full attention, quite the prince charming.