After three hours of training, the boys were reminded of the time by an unrecognizable voice emanating from the drone, which boomed, "TIMES UP, GO BACK TO THE FACILITY BUILDING."

The boys made their way to the metal doors that led to the glass tunnel, and just before the doors opened, the devices on their necks turned green. Ian suddenly felt suffocated as his powers were suppressed by the device, causing him to let out a low groan and clutch at the device on his neck. He noticed that Adam and Zack were experiencing the same thing, and although it was uncomfortable, the feeling dissipated quickly.

The door then opened, and they were greeted by one of the high ranked staff’s that seemed more like guard than a normal staff. He led the way as they followed him. And when they entered the reception area another guard was standing there he spoke up pointing at Adam “you, follow me.”

Adam froze for a few second, his red lips and rose cheeks turned white as sheet. Zack nudged him as he noticed his face, then grabbed his wrist.

Adam came back to reality, and realized Zack was squeezing his wrist as if holding into him. He gave him sad smile “you always do this…” He gently pushed Zack’s hand off him. Before Adam moved from his spot a call came to the guard that interrupted them and everyone’s attention was drawn to it.

“understood, Sir” The guard said while talking on the cell phone that he answered.
After he ended the call he turned back to Adam “He canceled.”

Ian felt confused by what was happening, with Adam's expression conveying that something was amiss. Zack's anxious behavior only added to Ian's confusion.

Adam's shock was mixed with a sense of relief and confusion as he muttered, "This never happened before."

"Keep moving!" the guard leading the way ordered.

Zack grabbed Adam's arm in a rush, as if afraid that they might change their minds. "Let's go," he urged.

The boys followed quietly as the guard led them to the elevators, taking them up to the first floor where the classes, dining hall, and other activities were located. Before leaving them, the guard reminded the boys of the routine: "An hour before dinner."

Adam turned to Zack and asked, "The library?"

Zack nodded and led the way down the hallways.

"Let's go, Ian," Adam said, playfully nudging Ian's shoulder. "It's one of the more peaceful places here," he added with a smile.

Ian walked silently next to Adam, with Zack leading the way in front of them. After a few minutes, Ian broke the silence with a question. "Adam, what did the guard downstairs want?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Adam's face tightened at the question, and he forced a smile, trying to brush off the situation. "It was nothing, don't worry about it," his voice wavering slightly despite his attempts to sound calm.

Ian could see the pain etched on Adam's face, even as he tried to cover it with a weak smile. He noticed Adam's hands clenching tightly and avoided Ian's gaze. Ian could sense that something was off, and he didn't push the matter, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that everything was wrong about this place.

They walked past empty classrooms, except for two that had other kids in them, until they reached the end of the hallway, which split into two directions. The sign on the left indicated the gym and swimming pool, while the sign on the right indicated the library. Zack turned right towards the library, both Ian and Adam followed behind.

As the heavy wooden doors creaked while closing behind them. The room was vast and had two floors, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through high windows and casting soft patterns on the dusty old books. The silence was broken only by the sound of their footsteps on the thick carpet, muffling their movements.

The musty smell of old books hung heavily in the air, creating a sense of privacy and tranquility. Though the cameras that dotted the room were a stark reminder that they were not truly alone, the stillness and emptiness of the place made it feel like their own private sanctuary.

Aisles of bookshelves lined up in perfect rows, towering high above them and creating a sense of endless knowledge. The tables in the center of the room were arranged neatly, and soft couches were scattered around the periphery of the room.

The ceiling was grand and high, with an intricate antique design that added a touch of majestic to the modern surroundings. The library was a blend of old and new, with traditional elements that gave it a sense of history and grandeur, and modern touches that made it a functional and inviting space.

Ian was momentarily stunned by the sheer size and grandeur of the library. Adam watched him with a gentle smile and said, "It's pretty amazing, right? I love it here."

Ian nodded in agreement, "Yeah, it's so peaceful in here." but his attention was briefly diverted as he noticed Zack was out of sight.

Adam strolled towards the nearest bookshelf, his fingers delicately tracing the spines of the books. "You like reading?" He asked.

Ian shrugged, "I don't know," I can’t remember if I do or not.
Adam's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, we have to change that! You have to read some of these books, they're amazing." He pulled out a book from the shelf and handed it to Ian. "Try this one, it's about a boy who discovers he has magical powers."

Ian took the book, looking at it skeptically and raising an eye brow. "a boy, with magic powers…”

Adam chuckled. "Trust me, this book is amazing. It's one of my favorites. Give it a chance, and you might be surprised by how much you enjoy it.”

Ian smiled, feeling grateful for Adam's enthusiasm. "Okay, I'll give it a try."

They continued walking through the stacks, discussing about authors and genres they like, until they eventually settled onto couches to read. Adam recommended some of his favorite books to Ian, and they exchanged thoughts on the stories. Meanwhile, Zack joined them, his attention focused on a thick, scientific book. He settled into an adjacent couch and flipped through the pages with intense concentration. Lost in their respective books, the trio lost track of time until they were abruptly interrupted by the sound of heavy wooden doors opening with a loud creak. A tall, imposing guard strode into the room, his gruff voice commanding their attention.

"What are you still doing here? You were supposed to be in the dining hall 30 minutes ago. Now move!" he barked, gesturing for them to leave the library immediately.

“What a pain in the ass” Said Zack, his frustration was palpable as he muttered under his breath and slammed his book shut before tossing it onto the couch. Ian felt a knot form in his stomach as he hastily placed his own book down, hoping to pick it up later. Adam, on the other hand, remained unfazed by the guard's presence, his demeanor calm and collected as he carefully put his book aside. The boys left the library, walking down the hallway with the heavy footsteps of the guard behind them. Ian couldn't shake off the feeling of being a prisoner, even with the brief respite the library had offered him. Finally, they arrived at the dining room where the other kids were already eating their dinner.

 Saffi and Luca waved excitedly at them from their usual table.

 "Hey guys, where have you been?" Saffi asked with a playful pout.

"Sorry, we lost track of time in the library," Adam replied, his smile infectious.

 “aw man! You guys are lucky to get to go to the library whenever you like!” said Saffi still pouting.

“lucky?” Ian raised a brow confused.

Luca added with a hint of sadness, "Yeah, only the three of you have that luxury."

“what do you--“ before Ian could finish his question, Saffi cut in, "Anyway, let's go eat! I'm starving."

They all headed to the buffet and picked out their favorite dishes, before returning to their usual table.

"So, Ian, how was your first day?" Luca asked, striking up a conversation.

Ian hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to describe the overwhelming experience he had

“Um, it’s weird” he finally said.

Luca nodded in agreement as he ate. "First days are overwhelming for all of us. Everything is just weird."

"Yeah, wait until the testing and examinations happen..." Saffi's face went pale, and she shook her head. The other’s frowned at the thought.

Ian's expression turned to one of concern. "Tests and examinations? What kind of tests?"

Luca let out a visible sigh. "Like medical examinations, they test everything.  And they happen once or twice a month for most of us."

Saffi chimed in, a look of discomfort on her face. "And they're not pleasant. After they finish the tests, you end up with soreness and pain for days."

Ian's concern grew. "Do we have to do those tests? Is there any way to avoid them?"

Saffi and Luca both shook their heads in response.

"We have no say in the matter." Zack reclined in his chair, irritation clear in his voice.

Adam was seated next Ian, he gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "It will pass by quickly, don't worry," he said with a warm smile.

Ian's fists clenched under the table, his worry etched on his face. "But shouldn't there be adults or parents who could stop this?" he asked.
Luca shook his head. "All the adults here are staff, and we don't know anything about parents. Most of us are orphans, that’s what we’ve been told”

Saffi added, "And the other kids don't really talk to us, so we don't know much about them or what they go through."

"Why?" The confusion in Ian's voice was palpable as he asked.

"Because they were instructed to avoid talking to us, and any violation of this rule would result in punishment," Zack's response was delivered with annoyance as he leaned his face on his hand and dismissed the question with a wave of the other.

"Really? How did you know that?" Saffi's voice was filled with surprise and curiosity as she asked,

Zack raised an eyebrow, looking confused at her question. "It's obvious," he replied.

"No, it's not!" Saffi protested, turning to Luca and Adam for confirmation. "Is it?" she asked.

Luca shook his head. "I didn't think about it that way."

Adam shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, his expression conveying uncertainty.

"See!" Saffi turned back to Zack, confirming her point.

Zack let out a sigh, appearing frustrated. “Ugh, whatever” he muttered.

Luca quickly interjected, trying to steer the conversation back to the original topic. "Let's focus on Ian's day, guys,"

“Oh! Yeah” Saffi quickly turned her attention back to Ian, leaned forward eagerly, her curiosity piqued. “So, what is your ability Ian”

Ian appeared hesitant at first, “I think, I can control gravity” he then shook his head in disbelief before reaffirming his statement with more confidence. "No, I can control gravity." with a hint of a smile on his face.

Saffi's eyes widened in excitement. "Wow, that's so cool! You can make things float and stuff?"

Ian nodded with a smile.

“Can’t wait to see you use it” she said in excitement.

“yeah, same” said Luca excitedly. The he added “we have 2 days a week where we go to the Dome together”

“why do you guys have different schedules than us? And what about the others?” asked Ian curiously.

“because our different abilities. Same goes for the other kids. So, our classes are not the same.” Adam replied to Ian.

Ian got a bit confuse, “But we take a language class and a biology class with pharmaceutics in it. it makes sense to take those classes together, because you two are healers. Right?”

“Yeah we know about that,” Said Luca shrugging.