When I wake up the next morning I get dressed and head to the cafeteria for breakfast. When I enter the cafeteria, I’m surprised and freeze in my spot. Aurora is sitting with three other, unfamiliar people at a table.

“Are you just going to stand there forever, or will you get out of my way?” an annoying voice creaked from behind my back. I slowly turn my head to see none other than green boy standing behind me.

“If it’s bothering you than I would be happy to stand here forever” I reply with a little bit of sass. I turn my head and Aurora is standing in front of us with the usual smile. She’s the type that keeps the peace, patient enough to tolerate Ambrose.

“Hurry and get your meals so you can meet the others!” she says to the both of us with a kind and inviting tone. 

I can’t help but want to make her happy, so I do as she says. Ambrose follows her lead as well. I wonder if Ambrose thinks he is friends with Aurora. We sit on opposite sides and swap dirty looks. 

“We should all introduce ourselves! My name is Aurora.”

The girl to her right goes after her, “m-my name i-is Ombra.” She quietly stutters as she clutches Aurora’s arm. It doesn’t seem like Aurora minds her attaching herself, but even if she did, she’s too nice to say anything. Plus, she’s our age—she should know not to do something like that. Ombra has white hair and dark red eyes, if I were to guess her ability has something to do with light. I think my bright red eyes are prettier than her dark red eyes. They might as well be brown. 

“I’m Eileen,” slightly annoyed with Ombra’s inappropriate behavior.

“My name is Morgan,” the next girl has dark blue eyes and light brown hair, almost blonde—water related ability maybe? Her eyes look like the distant ocean and her hair looks like the sand. My parents took us to the beach once. It was pretty and I tried to remember the scenery as best as possible. Morgan isn’t as pretty as that sight, but she still is pretty. A little dull personality, but fairly pretty.

“Colbee” the boy says before lifting a spoonful of his meal into his mouth. He looks completely normal. He has blonde hair and blue eyes, not particularly ugly or handsome, average. The difference was instead of wearing the same white outfit as the rest of us, he has long sleeves. Maybe he is like a cyborg.

Ambrose interrupts the introductions, “what is wrong with your arm?” The question is directed at Colbee as the hand that held the spoon was metal and clearly not actually apart of him like it would be if it was his ability. 

What a rude little brat! Does he not know that was inappropriate. Between him and Ombra I think the institution might need some manner classes. I look to Aurora to see her reaction, but just before she was about to say anything Colbee stopped eating and put his spoon down in his oatmeal. He began to take off the, now, clearly prosthetic arm.

“It is my ability,” he fully takes the prosthetic off to reveal a sword underneath. The sword starts at the elbow and runs the length of what should be his forearm. He continues, “as you can tell, I wouldn’t be able to eat without help if I don’t wear the prosthetics. The institution had it custom made for me so daily life could be easier.”

What terrible luck. Life must have been very difficult before he got those prosthetics. 

“What an excellent ability! You must be very strong. I am so glad you can have an easier time now,” Aurora’s sweet voice cuts in before Ambrose could make another rude comment. Colbee puts his metal arm back on and continues to eat. He turns a little red and tries to resist a smile. I’m sure he has never been complimented for his ability. It was probably a nuisance for everyone around him.

When the institution explained abilities to my parents and I, they said abilities causes a change in appearance. Before my ability showed itself, I had brown hair and brown eyes. Now my hair is orange and my eyes are bright red, these colors resemble those of a fire. Other than Colbee’s arms, he has blonde hair and blue eyes… completely normal.

“Everyone please report to the common room in 20 minutes,” a frigid voice announces over the intercom of the cafeteria.

Everyone quickly finishes their meals and starts to head over to the common room. This room is on the opposite side of the hall from the cafeteria. Aurora and I are the last ones to finish our meals. 

“Is everything okay?” 

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” I reply coldly.

“You seemed a little upset today, so I wanted to make sure you were alright. I guess it was just my imagination haha.” She was right of course. Two people are rude, one is quiet, and the other has the opposite power than mine. How will I be able to spend however long I’ll be here for with them. 

“You’ve only known me for a day. You don’t know how I am when I’m upset or happy or whatever,” I snapped. I can’t tell I’m upset because she’ll try to make it right, and I do not want to burden her with my nonsense. 

“Oh.”

That response obviously hurt her, but that’s not what I was trying to do. I was upset and she was just trying to help. After a few seconds I raise my head and put on a smug smile, “unless knowing someone’s emotion is your ability?”

“Nope,” her smile grows a little, “20 minutes is almost up. We should go to the common room.” 

We head across the hallway to find a projector set up and six seats in front of the screen. Four of them were occupied with the others and they were chatting amongst themselves except Ombra who was sitting apart from the others. When she saw Aurora come enter the room, she got up and approached us.

“Aurora, I saved you a seat n-next to me if that’s o-okay.”

“Of course!”

The seat Ombra saved for her was on the left side and the only other open seat was on the far-right side. I don’t know why but this kinda ticks me off. Why is she so obsessed with Aurora?

Once everyone was seated, a tall, elegant woman walked in with two large men dressed like the man who showed us our room. She is wearing a dusty pink pantsuit that suits her well, but somehow makes her more unnerving. I assume the two men are her bodyguards. She looks important enough to need goons. She clicks a button on a remote she has in her hand and begins a presentation.