I am the first one to arrive at the institution. In my arms I carry two sets of white clothes, a bag with toiletries including soap and toothpaste, and rubber shoes. A strange, tall man escorts me down a lengthy corridor. The hall is illuminated with florescence lights, white tiles on the ground, and silver heavy doors that have slitted windows in them. It looks and feels like a hospital where a mad scientist will pick and probe at the patients. I’m a little scared by this place, but my mom and dad said this was where I’ll be staying for a while, and it will be the best for me. Besides, I am so strong, and no one could stand a chance with me! My flames will make anyone back off! I can’t help my lips curve upward a little. 

            The man comes to a halt in front of a metal door with a plaque that read 315 and says to me in a deep, husky voice, “This is your room.” There is a clicking sound and the door opens.

            “Thank you,” I tell the strange man as I step into the room. All that is in the room is a bed with white sheets and blanket, a desk, and a small nightstand with a drawer to put the things I am carrying in my arms. There is a door on the side that leads to a bathroom as well. How cool! I get my own bathroom. I had to share the one at mom and dad’s place and it was always dirty thanks to my siblings.

“Yeah. There will be other brats coming soon too.” He turns and walks down the corridor the way we came. Other kids? There must be others like me! I was the only one in my family that had what the institution called a “special ability”. I am so excited meet others like me! Although they will probably be rather weak in comparison. A slight flame lights in my hand from getting a little too excited.

            Growing up, the other kids were always afraid of me because of my ability, so the chance there are others like me makes me excited. Only my siblings made me feel a little normal, but perhaps it was because mom and dad had strict rules with them. Maybe this place is not as bad as it seems. 

            The next day I watch another little girl dressed in the same white clothes I am wearing walk down the corridor escorted by the same man that escorted me. She has long black hair, lavender eyes, and a cheerful smile that contradicts her otherwise dark demeanor. Wow she is so pretty! I wonder what her ability is… Something probably not as cool as mine but that’s a tough one to beat. Once she is settled in, I’ll go talk to her. Although we’re trapped in this little hallway, we have free range within it. 

            After waiting for what feels like an hour, I exit my room and softly knock on the metallic door. The girl from before opens her door with a bright smile on her face. When she opens the door, I notice she is shorter and thinner than I am. That surprised me a little. 

            “Hello, my name is Aurora. What’s yours?” she says in a soft voice that was even smaller than I had expected. She was so adorable, no doubt weaker than me. Don’t worry I’ll protect you if the others are mean.

            I snap back, oh yeah! I was coming over to meet her, “My name is Eileen! Uhhh… I’m five years old but my birthday is in a month!” My voice is much louder than Aurora’s so I quite down a little bit, “How old are you?”

            “I turned six a couple months ago.”

            Wow she is older than I am. I thought maybe she had just turned five. I am tired of standing in the hallway, so I go in and sit down at Aurora’s desk and she sits on the edge of her bed. “Yup. Your room is exactly like mine.”

            She chuckles a little. “I suppose the institution does not know us very well yet. Hopefully we can decorate a little later when the others show up.” 

            Getting to decorate my own room! Wow, that would be great! I had always shared a room with my two older sisters, so they got final say on what decorations were put up. 

            “That would be so awesome! Speaking of awesome, can you guess what my ability is? Go on guess! I’ll give you a hint it is something amazing!”

            “Well, you have orange hair and red eyes, so something with fire?”

            “Right! I can make and control fire! Watch!” I get up and sit next to Aurora. My arm rises to eye level, so my fist is visible to the both of us. I slowly open my hand to reveal a small, warm ball of fire. The small ball of fire dances in the air with its blue, yellow, orange, and red mix until I slowly close my fist and the fire disappears.

            “Wow” Aurora says quietly and then looks up at me and smiles, “that really is amazing.”

            “I know. So what’s your ability?”

            “Ummm, I don’t think I can tell you.”

            “What? Why not?”

            “My sister says I should not tell anyone,” Aurora’s smile fades a little but quickly returns.

            “Why are you listening to your sister? What does your parents say about it? Mine told me to be proud of the power I was granted. Just don’t use it to bully my siblings or others.”

            “Parents? I don’t think I have those.” 

            “Everyone has parents. Like mom and dad?”

            “I don’t have those. It has always been just me and my sister, so I have to listen to her.”

            “Fine…then if I guess your ability you’ll tell me, right? I could be like a game.”

            “Well, I guess that would be fine. Since I didn’t tell you.”

            “Hmm. It isn’t really obvious… Can you read people’s minds? Please don’t read mine!”

            She chuckles, “No that’s not it, but I wouldn’t use a power like that on my friends anyway.” Friends. I guess they’re much easier to make when you both have a special ability. Not as scary as when you’re normal.

            I try a few more guesses like putting people to sleep, mind control, or super strength. It would be quite ironic if she had super strength given her size, but none of those were right. After a while and getting nowhere, I gave up… at least for now. 

            It is a little weird she kept a smile on her face the entire time we had our conversation even when I mentioned parents. Shouldn’t she be sad about not having parents? But I’m kind of hungry, so I stop thinking about it. “I’m hungry, let’s go to the cafeteria to eat.” 

We leave her room and head to the first door of the corridor and open the door to the cafeteria. We continue small talk for a while as we eat when a boy in the same white clothes around our age walks in the cafeteria. He has green hair and eyes. I bet he his ability is something to do with plants! He gets his food by pressing the button of the tray arrangement he wants and sits next to us. He stares at the two of us as if analyzing if we are worth talking to then says, “I guess I’ll let you eat with me.”

“Hey! You better mind your manners, or I’ll beat some into you!” I shout at him as I stand up, slam the table with one hand, and raise a fist of fire with the other. I won’t let anyone talk to me or my new friend like that. He may be a pretty boy but he’s rude and I am not okay with that. 

Aurora touches my hand and pats this green bug’s back softly saying, “I am so lucky to be surrounded by such new and exciting people. I hope we can all be friends. My name is Aurora, and it is nice to meet you.”

“Name is Ambrose, and I have an ability too” he says as he throws a couple of seeds by me. Long vines quickly grow and pulls me back to my seat. He’s certainly showing off, but his special ability is uncool compared to mine. It’s weak if he must have seeds to make his little sticks.

“Eileen,” I erupt the vines in flame and look over to see Aurora’s soft, smiling face. 

“Wow! You both are so amazing and have great abilities!” she says to us in a gentle and sincere voice. Aurora is definitely the type of person who is completely genuine and kind. Probably is walked over all the time.

 We continue to eat our meals. Ambrose and I only really talk when prompted by Aurora. She is a nice person to be around, but I can’t stand Ambrose. I’m glad Aurora came before he did, or the institution might be paying a lot in hospital bills. Even though she has a small stature, I guess her being older shows in her way she can continue to be kind to such an uncivil being.

After finishing meals, we go back to our rooms and get ready for resting time. I shower, change into the night clothes the institution gave us, and brushed my teeth. I stare in the mirror for a while admiring my orange hair that resemble the heat of my flame and my red eyes that is a constant reminder of the great power I hold before laying down in bed. Mom and dad would be so happy to know I’m still doing everything they say I should before bed. I wonder if the other kids will be like, ugh, Ambrose or more like Aurora. Her cute face flashes in my mind and it makes me smile. She’s so pretty and nice. A real example of don’t judge a book by its cover. If it wasn’t for her bright smile, she would be too scary to approach. I wish I could guess what her ability is. Her appearance doesn’t give anything away like mine and Ambrose does. I wonder if she can make people feel at ease. Not particularly strong, but when she touched my hand, I instantly felt calmed. I slowly fall asleep to guessing what her ability could be: some sort of emotional manipulation?