Jamie

I don’t remember much from the walk to the office I now stand in.  Always having my head in the clouds is useful sometimes.  The first thing I remember is standing in front of one of those sliding doors and watching it open.  Apparently at some point, the man had picked me up and was now gently placing me down in a chair in front of a large desk.  Behind the desk sat an average looking man in a suit.

“You may leave now, Thomas,” the man in the suit said.  So Thomas is his name.  At that, Thomas stalked out of the room and the door closed.  The man turned to me and said, “So you’re the one that missed orientation.”

He looked at me as if waiting for a response.  When he didn’t get one he asked, “What’s your name?”  Yet again, I didn’t respond.  “My name is Michael.  I run this institute.  Now, what’s your name?”

“Jamie Falks.”

“And how old are you, Jamie?”

“I’m thirteen.”

“Ah, a young one.  You will get right along with Thomas, he’s the youngest guard at fourteen.  Can you tell me the details of how you got here?”

“Um,” I trail off.

“It’s ok, Jamie, you are safe here.  How did you get here?”

I pause for a moment as I try to recall the night's events.  “My family and I were celebrating my birthday with a big family dinner.  They were singing Happy Birthday when this huge wave vibrated across town.  My hands started to spark and everyone was screaming.  Then, men in white uniforms with masks came in and took me.  That’s all I remember.”

“That’s very good, Jamie.  You stayed under from the drugs longer than everyone else so you missed the orientation, but I will give you a private one right now.  We call this place The Institute or The School.  We teach kids who have special abilities how to use them.  We go from town to town releasing an energy wave that starts up one’s powers, which is probably the vibrating wave you felt.  When the energy hit you, your powers were awoken.  Each new student gets their own room, but after a couple of months, they share a room with their guard.  Thomas is your guard and I think you will become great friends.  The guards of students do more than guard.  They help train and guide their partner.  That reminds me, I need to get you a uniform.”  He stood up and walked to the cabinet near the corner and pulled it open.  Inside there were extra white jumpers, what I assumed were the uniform.  “I’ll get you a small one.  We can get you more pairs in the future, but these are just temporary.”  He hands me the jumper.  “Thomas will take you back to your room to change and you can meet the other students in the cafeteria for dinner.”

The door slid open to reveal a patiently waiting Thomas.  I stepped out and was led back down the hallway to my room. 

I stepped in to change alone, but Thomas followed.  “I need to change,” I told him, but he refused to leave.  “Get out, I need to change.”  At that he stepped out of the room and the door closed.

I realized I didn’t have a way of letting him know I was done changing, so I pounded on the sliding wall.  Nothing.  I screamed and kicked the wall.  Nothing.  I went to punch it again, but ended up punching a person instead.  The door had opened and I punched Thomas in the stomach.

“Oh my gosh, are you ok?” 

“Yes, let’s go.”  At that, he stalked off in the opposite direction and followed him until we got to glass double doors that led to a cafeteria.  There were kids of all ages inside enjoying their food and talking.  They seemed normal enough.