After revealing my newfound powers to Sarah, I couldn't shake the feeling that our lives were about to change in ways we couldn't even begin to imagine. And boy, was I right.

It all started during lunch, when I was approached by a mysterious figure who seemed to materialize out of thin air. Okay, maybe they didn't exactly appear out of nowhere, but it sure felt like it.

"Are you Alex?" the stranger asked, their voice low and gravelly.

I nodded, feeling a shiver run down my spine. "Yeah, that's me. Who are you?"

The stranger's lips quirked into a wry smile. "I'm Mr. Finch, and I've been expecting you."

Now, I don't know about you, but hearing someone say they've been expecting you is never a comforting experience, especially when that someone looks like they stepped straight out of a spy movie.

But before I could ask what he meant, Mr. Finch gestured for me to follow him, leading me down a series of winding hallways until we reached a door labeled "Authorized Personnel Only."

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With a sense of trepidation, I followed Mr. Finch inside, expecting to find... well, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn't what I found.

The room was filled with people—ordinary-looking people, like teachers and students—but there was something different about them, something... otherworldly.

As I glanced around the room, I realized that they were all staring at me, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and something else, something I couldn't quite identify.

"Welcome, Alex," Mr. Finch said, his voice echoing through the room. "Welcome to the Awoken."

The Awoken? What the heck was that supposed to mean? Before I could ask, Mr. Finch launched into an explanation, revealing that the Awoken were a secret society of individuals like me—individuals with magical abilities.

As Mr. Finch spoke, I felt a sense of excitement building inside me. Finally, I had found others like me, others who understood what it was like to be different.

But as the reality of the situation sunk in, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear. What did it mean to be part of this secret society? And what did they want from me?

As if sensing my unease, Mr. Finch laid a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Alex. You're among friends here. We're here to help you, to guide you in your journey as an Awoken."

With those words, a sense of relief washed over me, and I knew that I had found my place in the world—at least for now.