"Wake up, child," the old lady from before said, nudging Ian gently. He slowly opened his eyes and saw her standing over him, a pile of clothes in her arms. "Get up, young man," she continued with a kind smile. "Put these clothes on. There are fresh drawers, new socks, and shoes for you. You can wash your face and brush your teeth over there at the sink by the counter."
Ian rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock. He was surprised to see that it was only 5:30 in the morning. It's so early,
"Excuse me, ma'am, but I need to use the bathroom," he said politely, glancing over at the door.
The old lady smiled kindly. "Of course, you do. But you must first change into these clothes," she replied, gesturing to the pile of clothes on the bed. "Meet me outside when you're done, and I'll show you where the bathroom is."
Ian nodded and immediately stood up to change. The clothes laid out for him consisted of a plain white shirt with a black stripe on the left sleeve. Although the fabric was soft and gentle on his skin, emitting a subtle scent of lavender and vanilla, Ian couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment. He longed for something more exciting to wear.
Ian headed towards the door, his mind still haunted by the memory of the mysterious movement he saw on the handle last night. He furrowed his brow, then pushed the thought aside and entered a room that looked like a medical office. The old lady was seated behind a white desk, surrounded by files and paperwork, with a computer screen in front of her. Behind her, there was a window and a tall medical cabinet, while the room was also equipped with an examination table and several waiting chairs.
"Oh, child, you finished? You said you needed to use the bathroom," the old lady asked as she stood up from her desk, motioning towards the bathroom located on the opposite side of the ward's door.
Ian nodded in response and made his way to the bathroom, feeling a sense of unease as he noticed that there was no lock on the door. Despite this, he reassured himself that no one would enter while he was using the facilities. The bathroom appeared to have undergone recent renovations, with a strong odor of chlorine that was slightly overwhelming. After relieving himself and washing his hands, Ian made his way back to the office room.
"Go ahead, young man, take a seat right there. I done got a call from Dr. Cain and he's on his way as we speak." the lady said, pointing to the waiting seats.
Ian obediently sat down and stared at his shoes, trying to quell the anxious thoughts swirling in his mind. He found solace in the idea that Dr. Cain would arrive soon and hopefully provide some much-needed answers. As he waited, Ian pondered his predicament. What now? His mind was consumed by the void of his forgotten past. I don't have any memory of my past. And I don't know who my parents are or where I live. I should wait for Dr. Cain. He reasoned, hoping that the doctor's arrival would bring some sense of clarity and direction to his life.
A creaking sound pulled Ian out of his thoughts. He lifted his head and saw the young doctor walking in. The doctor greeted Ian with a smile, "Good morning, Ian."
"Good morning," Ian responded with a bright expression. The sight of the doctor brought a wave of relief to him, and he realized that he had been tense since the previous night's event.
As the young doctor approached the old lady's desk, she stood up immediately, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor. She handed him a clipboard with some papers to sign, which he did quickly.
The doctor then turned his attention to Ian and asked, "How are you feeling today?"
"Fine, I guess," Ian responded honestly, unsure of what else to say. He cast a quick glance at the old lady, noticing her stiff posture and trembling hands as she handed the doctor the clipboard. Ian couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the old lady's behavior. his mind raced with questions. Was she afraid of the doctor because of something he had done? Or was she afraid of something else entirely?
The doctor handed the papers back to the old lady, his voice interrupted Ian’s thoughts and brought him back to reality. "It's time to join the others. Are you ready?"
Ian nodded, but his nerves were getting the best of him. The thought of meeting the other children made him uneasy. As they walked out of the office, he couldn't help but glance back at the old lady, still standing rigidly at her desk. His attention was then drawn to a sign for an under-construction hallway.
The doctor noticed Ian's curiosity and placed a hand on his shoulder as he leaned in close and whispered, "This was the result of your awakening." His eyes glinted with excitement.
Ian flinched as the doctor's sudden whisper echoed in his ear. "My awakening?" Ian asked, bewildered.
"Yes, it’s a sign that you have a gift, an extraordinary ability that we have yet to fully comprehend, Ian" the doctor replied, patting him on the back before leading him away.
As Ian walked, his mind raced with concern as he couldn't help but look back at the damaged hallway. Did I really do that? Does that mean my ability is dangerous?
They proceeded down the hallways until they arrived at a lobby where the doctor pressed the button to call the elevator. When the doors opened, Ian and the doctor stepped inside. The elevator was nicely appointed, and its digital display showed four levels in total, from the ground floor to the third floor.
"As you can see this is the first floor," the doctor said as they stepped out of the elevator. “This is where all the activities are. To your left, there's a dining hall that's split into two sections. The section on your right is for the children, and the left is for the staff. Over there to your right is the lounging area. Going down the hallways from both sides will take you to the classrooms, where you'll be attending classes daily. There's also a training hall, a swimming pool, and a library at the end."
The doctor led Ian towards the left side of the lobby, where the dining hall was situated, and pushed open the double glass doors. Ian trailed him inside. "No one is here right now, but the kids will be arriving soon. You'll be assigned your own room on the third floor later tonight," the doctor said in a reassuring tone, patting Ian's back.
Ian felt overwhelmed by the size of the facility, and a knot of nerves coiled in his stomach. As he stood in the dining hall alongside Dr. Cain, the sound of the elevator opening reached their ears. Unconsciously, Ian inched closer to the young doctor. Cain was quick to catch on, and he gently nudged the boy forward. "The kids are here," he said.
A herd of children marched into the dining hall, their clothing matching Ian's, but none of them bore the black strip on their sleeves. Every child wore a collar, and each collar glowed green. The moment their eyes fell upon Dr. Cain, the kids ceased their chatter and respectfully greeted him with a polite "Good morning, sir." The group of friends dispersed, occupying the round tables scattered throughout the spacious hall.
"Ah, Adam and Zack, come over here," the doctor called out the two boys as soon as they entered the dining hall. Ian observed that the boys had the same black strip on their left sleeves, just like he did. As the other children turned to stare at him, Ian felt a wave of nervousness wash over him. There were whispers and hushed conversation, but mostly there was just an eerie silence.
Zack and Adam approached the doctor, who introduced them to Ian. "Ian Amber, this is Zack Jasper and Adam Garnet. They will assist you in familiarizing yourself with the place." The doctor smiled as he spoke to the boys and then turned to Ian. "I will entrust you to their care for the time being. They'll provide you with everything you need to know."
With a gentle pat on Ian's head, the young doctor departed the dining hall, leaving Ian alone with the two boys.
"Hello, Ian," Ian's attention was drawn to Adam as he spoke, his voice soft and sweet, almost soothing. The boy's youthful appearance belied a level of maturity and kindness that shone through in both his tone and demeanor. Ian found himself entranced by Adam's striking appearance - from his vibrant purple eyes, to his long, thick lashes, to the rosy hue of his cheeks and the gentle curve of his red lips. Adam's hair, a smooth and silky dark brown with gray highlights at the end, fell in gentle waves around his face.
He sounds like a boy, but he is more beautiful than a girl. Ian was mesmerized by Adam's gentle facial expression, unable to take his eyes off him. It took a moment for Ian to collect himself and utter a small greeting. "Um, hello," he managed, feeling his face flush with embarrassment.
As he turned to look at the other boy standing next to Adam, Ian couldn't help but notice a subtle look of irritation etched onto his features. He looks angry.
Adam nudged Zack with his shoulder, urging him to welcome Ian. Zack scowled at the demand, then looked at Ian. With a deep sigh, "Welcome to this hell hole... Ian," His voice had a hint of roughness, indicating his transition from childhood to teenage years. The tone was laced with sarcasm, rather than playfulness, but it lacked the maturity of a grown-up. He spoke with a bit of a childish rasp, as if his vocal cords were still developing.
Ian felt a sense of unease at Zack's sarcastic and gruff tone. What’s up with him?
Zack averted his gaze from Ian, still appearing annoyed. Despite Zack's less-than-warm welcome, Ian couldn't help but take notice of his physical appearance. He was taller than Ian but shorter than Adam, and his hair was a light shade of blond with a hint of red, giving it a warm and vibrant appearance. It was shorter than Ian's hair but had the same curly ends. Zack's skin was a warm white with a hint of redness, but what truly caught Ian's attention was his eyes. They had a shimmering glow and were a unique mix of red and blue, which Ian found to be quite peculiar. That is a strange mix of colors.
"Don't mind him, Ian," Adam said with a friendly smile. "He is in one of his moods today."
Zack sighed again. "Can we just go eat? We only have an hour before the stupid classes start."
Ian had already noticed the other kids quickly move to the food buffet as soon as Dr. Cain left.
"Yeah, that's true," Adam said, turning to Ian. “Let's go, Ian."
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