Chapter 1. 

A scream echoed in my ears. There goes another one. The girl comes out with burns and scratches all over her body. I shiver at the sight, poor girl. I stand up, making my way to the doom room. Well, at least that’s what they call it. It's really a test room for the gifted. Or powerful. Like me. Angelina Courtney Blair. Fifteen year old. This test picks which school you are going to be assigned to. It could be the Blaze Academy, top of the game. The Vile Academy, second to the best. The Pure Academy, third. Or, the worst of them all. The Storm Academy. 

Each of these schools represents gifted and talented students. Not the ones you’re thinking of. The supernatural, abnormal, or just weird. The Blaze Academy is filled with the top students in the world, being the elite school. The Vile Academy comes behind Blaze. Being second, means having the second best students. And sometimes, it doesn’t feel good to be second. The Pure Academy comes next, these students are kind. They aren’t really the destructive type, not like Vile and Blaze. In other words, these students were the ones who didn’t have the guts to kill. 

There’s one thing about murder. You need to have the stomach for it. Now, last but certainly not least, is the Storm Academy. It’s an odd name for the worst school of the four, but it is reasonable. These students were the ones who couldn’t contain their anger. They used their powers in a cruel, and selfish way. Not the way we’re trained to. They can’t control themselves, which is why they are sent to the Storm Academy. To become bred into a potential, successful person. If not, then they lose their lives.

I walk into the small room they have given me. I sit down in a cold, metal chair. People come from behind me and chain me to it. I remain calm and collected, they must be doing this for a logical reason. They snapped a lock onto it, and I saw a key dangling from the side of the woman’s pocket. I take my time to snatch it from her. I looked over to my right, seeing my reflection. But I knew that on the other side of that mirror, were the four head masters of the academies. They have come here to observe us, and to sort us into our schools. I take a deep breath, letting the silence take my worries away. It’s okay. With my talent, I’m sure to make it into Blaze Academy. But that’s what scared me. 

The fact that I could possibly be accepted into Blaze Academy. There was so much pressure on the students, who had to live up to the school’s reputation. You mess up, you take the whole school down with you. And trust me, having a whole school filled with the elite students scheming your murder, wasn’t something you wanted. The group of people who chained me up quietly left the room after securing it. I looked straight ahead, into a gray brick wall. Loud speakers boomed around the room. “Angelina Courtney Blair. You have entered stage one of your test. You may begin.” 

I scanned the room, seeing water being poured into the room. I closed my eyes, was this it? Why pick water? It’s not like it’ll affect any of my power. I feel a surge of energy course through my brain, I breathe in a gulp of air. I open my eyes, exhaling. Feeling the energy flow through my hands. The feeling never gets old, no matter how many times I’ve used it. I flick my hand to the side, making the water create a wall of itself. I then flick my other hand and it creates a bubble around me. The water continues to fill around me, but I don’t feel a single droplet. It filled the whole room, and I smiled. It was relaxing, being able to watch and hear the silence of it all. 

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

I used the key I got earlier to unlock my chains, although I could’ve done them myself. I got up, wiping my pants from dust. I make a motion with my hand to move aside, and the water creates a pathway for me to the mirror. I tap my finger on it, but nothing happens. How disappointing, they didn’t even turn the barrier off. I snapped my fingers, and the mirror became a window. I could see right through it. And I saw all four head masters. 

They all looked at me intensely as I used my hands to motion something. I snapped my fingers again and the voice activated. It was like a music studio. I smirked, drooping the keys I snatched on my finger. Everyone’s eyes widened, except one. The headmaster of Blaze Academy. He stared at me intently, not making any movements. I spoke through the glass, “Next time, don’t leave such important things hanging from your pocket.” I directed my statement to the lady who had the keys. 

She dropped her head and I went back to my seat, sitting back down. “Next test please.” They closed the barrier again, and I sighed. It was one thing to be intimidating to other students, but completely another thing to the head masters. The water receded and my bubble broke, as the water drained out. Arrow dispensers popped out from each corner of the walls. I looked over at the mirror, but it was no longer a mirror. It became a window like before. They had taken down the barrier. All four head masters gazed back at me. Giving me intrigue looks. 

The dispensers started to shoot arrows, and the expressions on everyone’s faces as I sat still, not moving a muscle, was amusing. I stared at the headmaster of the Blaze Academy, He looked back at me, and I could see his eyes. Light blue, but an outline of dark blue. How fascinating. I lifted my hand up, stopping the arrows before they hit me. They all froze in place, just how I wanted them too. Everyone stood still, their eyes wide. I raised an eyebrow at them as I slowly made a fist with my hand. Each of the arrow dispensers were sparking and being crushed. By an invisible force, that was me. 

After I finished that, the dispensers attempted to go back into their positions. But they wouldn’t budge. Well, of course not. I just crushed them. The barrier was brought back up, and the last thing I saw before then, was those light blue and dark blue eyes. Staring at me with amusement, but also confusion. Before I knew it, I was staring back at myself. I looked down at my hand, it was still glowing with dark maroon energy. It was sort of like a mist, or smoke. But it never evaporated or went away until I stopped using my powers. My nails were manicured a dark red. Nice combination.

I sat in the chair, not hearing a single thing from the other side. I was tempted to shut off the barriers and turn on the speakers, but knew I would regret it. Not because of the consequences of it, but because of the conversation they were having. I checked my nails, not seeing any chips or cracks in sight. The mirror was brought down and the window was revealed. I sighed, slowly turning my head to the right. The Blaze headmaster was pressing his finger on the speaker. 

“Angelina Courtney Blair. You have shown us extraordinary powers today, and your potential is indescribable. We’ve seen things from you that we haven’t in years encountered, you’re very rare. Very dangerous. And we like it. Congratulations for making it into Blaze Academy. I hope to try my best and mold you into a powerful, independent woman.” The smile that tugged on my lips quickly went away. Because with this kind of news, it wasn’t a joyous occasion. It was a living nightmare.