[ WP ] Ted was chosen by the gods to be the keeper of the numbers . Unfortunately , he just lost the number that fell between 11 and 13 .

`` Timmy,'' Mrs. S started to say, `` I think you forgot a number on your assignment here.'' 
 
 Little Timmy, a rather anxious boy, looked down at his homework assignment and followed his teachers hand to the spot right after number 11 on the sheet. It looked alright to him because he remembered practicing all day yesterday and he just knew he would pass. Even though it looked alright Timmy thought, just a small thought, that something was wrong like the teacher said. His father told him never to admit a mistake though. 
 
 `` It looks okay to me Mrs. S.'' 
 
 Mrs S. moved around to the other side so she could show Timmy exactly what she was talking about. `` Right here Timmy. After number 11 should come number...'' Mrs. S. paused, unsure of herself. She could have sworn a second ago she knew what the next number was but now she was confused and could only see the number 13, exactly as Timmy wrote down. 
 
 `` Mrs. S. are you okay?'' Timmy said more confused than he ever as before. Even more than when his mother left with her friend. 
 
 `` Uh... yeah I'm okay Timmy. Your homework is correct, never mind what I said.'' 
 
 Timmy smiled joyfully, unaware what was going on, yet happy nonetheless. Mrs. S. went back to her desk and sat down with a thump, understandably stressed yet not knowing why. Just than, her phone started to buzz with notifications. She generally made it a rule never to answer her phone during school to provide a positive influence though something was most definitely off today. Mrs. S. did n't really care right now, her phone would n't stop buzzing, and she could n't teach right now when this was happening. Whatever it was. 
 
 While the students completed a little impromptu art project Mrs. S. took her phone to check her messages. Her wife, the mayor, was having a press conference in town and her assistant was providing updates to her. This usually only happened when something important was taking place. Mrs. S. pulled up the local news station on her phone, it was showing a livestream of the press conference. 
 
 ``... answer your question,'' Mrs. S's wife was saying to gathering of reporters. `` I ca n't, though one of our citizens has come forth to explain what has happened here.'' 
 
 A large bulbous reporter with horned rimmed glasses started speaking over her wife. The cameras centered on him as his gravely voiced echoed. `` We are n't puppets Madam Mayor, perhaps you can tell us why you scheduled this conference today?'' 
 
 `` It is rather difficult to explain,'' a lanky, acne faced, preteen boy said as he walked towards the podium. `` Though I guess it would be my fault.'' 
 
 `` What is your fault?' The reporter asked the kid. 
 
 The kid cleared his throat before speaking. He looked as nervous as Timmy did when he made a mistake, like someone who was in trouble and could n't form the words. Mrs. S. was growing impatient. 
 
 `` So, hello. My name is Ted and I was chosen to protect the numbers.'' Ted paused. `` The gods, not any gods you know but the real gods chose me to do something very important and I think I messed up.'' 
 
 `` Is this a joke?'' The same, and apparently only reporter awake asked. 
 
 `` No, no, this is n't a joke. See, they chose my family ages ago and when I came of age it passed from my father to me. Well, not all of it. He still deals with Calculus while my older brother gets Geometry. I was in charge of basic numbers really. You see it started...'' 
 
 The reporter interrupted him. `` This is a waste of our time, I'm not indulging this lunacy.'' He stared to get up but Ted kept talking. 
 
 `` I was told to keep track of all real numbers from 0 to, well, the human language has n't made a name for it yet but it does end trust me. I had all the numbers this morning but I dropped the bag and I tried to pick them up and put them all back but something got left and now were missing a number and it's all my fault.'' Ted was rambling on. `` I lost the number 12 and I am so so sorry.'' 
 
 Mrs. S. was dumbfounded and could n't speak or move. The reporter had stopped moving and turned back to the stage. Ted was n't looking at anyone, instead he was grabbing the sides of the podium and holding on for dear life as he shook with anxiety. None of what he said made sense, but deep down she thought, just a small thought, that she knew what he was talking about. At the same time, she was both confused and aware of what was going on. 
 
 Ted continued. `` In a few hours the laws of the world will cease to exist. We have to find the missing number or nothing will make sense, nothing will work.''
