the Rarity

Chapter 1

The city has never been the same since scientists discovered superhuman abilities. It's a fascinating history. One day a group of scientists discovered a certain strand of DNA in every human which could be altered, enhancing the natural superhuman ability in every person. This strand was altered in hundreds of thousands of people in the city at the time. Reproduction continued the occurrence of the altered strand. Now we live in a society full of powerful superhumans that work in peace to maintain order between the ability groups and in the city as a whole.

There are four different groups, each with a different ability. Elementals, Herculeans, Jumpers, and the Veiled. Elementals – the ability to control the elements: earth, fire, water, and air. Herculeans – the ability of super strength. Jumpers – teleportation abilities. And Veiled – invisibility powers. All of these different groups work together to not only defend and empower our society but to ensure peace between the abilities.

I have always been fascinated with the history and power each group possesses. Although, there was also one group in the history of our past that always seemed to elicit fear or aggression. A group of people with a set of abilities that made every person throughout our past feel threatened, leading to the outlaw of their kind. They are called Rarities. The Rarity was said to be the most powerful of all ability groups which is why they cause so much fear and panic. The past Dominion Leaders believed that the Rarities of that time would do everything they could to overpower the government and disrupt the peace. This then led to the outlaw and discrimination of Rarities, as they are now seen as terrifying savages.

Yet not a single Rarity has been documented, found, or tracked in nearly 25 years. And although we are told, basically, from birth to fear these people with their special powers, I think they are intriguing. No one understands how Rarities came to be or why they started to provoke the government. The scientists who had first discovered the strand, only discovered four different ability groups, not five. So, the rest of the city is led to believe that Rarities were a... mistake of sorts. I think they are a miracle.

The thing about Rarities is, that they don't just have a different ability type. They are the most powerful of all the groups because their powers are essentially a combination of all the different types. They have telekinesis or the ability to control matter. So according to my research, they can control the matter within the elements, they can lift things and have enhanced strength controlled by their mind, they could contort the matter of themselves to shapeshift, even though that seems extremely difficult, and they can change the matter around themselves to make themselves invisible. So basically, their powers are essentially magic and telekinesis. Should I find that as cool as I do, probably not. They are masters of all four abilities and that is likely why they are so feared, or so people say. But I believe it is because the Dominion doesn't know a way, they can control the Rarity's powers. After all, they are no match for them.

Since tomorrow is my 17th birthday and the ceremony of choosing my power, all of the different abilities and their powers have been the only thing on my mind. All children will choose what ability group they fit best in or belong to when they turn 17 or "come of age." My excitement consumes me so much that the minimal nervousness I should have is fading away.

"Raven! Owen! Come down for dinner!" my mom yells from the bottom of the stairs to me and my older brother Owen. I have a good feeling that I will end up being an Elemental tomorrow like mom and Owen, but I would also like to be a Herculean like dad, but I don't think I will be since Elementals run in the family. "Coming!" I yell back, smelling the delightful pasta down the stairs.

I race down the stairs, hearing my brother's footsteps behind me. Owen had already been chosen by his group and now has a job and place to live on the other side of the city, but he decided to stay with us for the weekend of my birthday and the separation of abilities. After the Trainees are sorted into their ability groups, they are separated from their families for a year of isolation, learning how to master their chosen abilities and deciding what to do with them. Owen is a landscaper and home designer, Mom has a florist shop about 5 minutes from the house, and dad does construction. All fairly basic jobs for their abilities.

Even though I come from a family of low-profile living, I wanted to do something more. Something meaningful. The only problem is I don't know what. I've thought about police work or law enforcement, although my nerdy science side would love to do more investigative work. I've thought about being a teacher, working with animals, working with people. Nothing seems to be the right choice. But I am hoping that training and career learning within ability training will help me decide.

Downstairs, we all serve a plate and sit at the table. This will be the last time it will be all of us for a year or more. "So, saddening but also endearing to know that this is the last time we will have dinner, just the four of us until Raven gets out of training," Dad says, almost making a joke but I can hear the slight sadness in his voice.

"Robert, I swear if you make me cry right now, I might beat you." Mom said, sniffling slightly as Owen and I have little giggles escape our mouths. "I can't believe you are already about to choose your new ability. You are both getting too old." Mom said, eyes slightly starting to water as Owen, Dad, and I start to lightly laugh at her emotional reaction.

"Come on, Mom you know you won't be away from me for long. You'll never be able to get rid of me." I say, still giggling.

"Well, we can certainly try," Owen adds, trying to sound like he wants me to go, but I know that deep down, he may be the one person who will miss me more than anyone else. His tall stature and kind demeanor radiate his Elemental abilities. Elementals are known for their kind and caring nature, always on the lookout to help others in need. I don't think I have ever met anyone more Elemental-like than Owen.

"I know. I just don't want my other child to leave. It was hard enough when Owen left." Mom replies, wiping away small tears.

Later that night, I lay in bed, sleeplessly out of excitement, pondering everything about tomorrow's events. How will I do? What ability will I have? Why haven't my powers started to show? I ask myself, as the thoughts swim in my head. Typically, close to sorting time, a person's abilities start to appear slightly. Although I only turn 17 tomorrow, why haven't mine shown? My excitement slowly starts to morph into worry and nervousness, and I fear the worst. What if I end up not having an ability? What will Mom and Dad and Owen think? I'll be a disgrace. What happens to people who don't have powers? My mind is swarming with thoughts of panic and anxiety, hitting me in a sudden rush compared to the excitement previously present.

The large wall surrounding the city of New York suddenly seems so intimidating. The wall enclosed around New York itself on the mainland and Long Island but outside of that... no one knows for sure. It's been years since anyone has known the events outside of the wall. It is rumored that there is an endless war raging outside. A war that has been going on for decades. A war that, the creators of the wall believed, could destroy all life and that if we weren't protected, we would never survive. So they packed as many thousands of people into the city and boroughs as they could and locked everyone in — closed off to the outside world. Safe from the war.

Right now, my biggest fear is not having powers. People say that the "powerless" are sent outside of the wall, left to fend for themselves in a world of destruction and ruin. How will I survive if I don't have powers? All those years of seeing a few people dragged away for being powerless haunts my thoughts, wondering what could have happened to them.

Unless...

What about the Rarities?

What if I am a Rarity?

Being that existing as a Rarity is illegal... what happened to them? There hasn't been a Rarity found for about 25 years but what happened when they were around? Were they sent out like the powerless or...? I can't even imagine what the Dominion could have done to the Rarities. As much as they hate them, there is only one thought of how they were dealt with popping into my head, making me sick to my stomach. I know they do what they do out of protection but how could they be ok with killing an innocent life that had no choice but to be who they are? Rarities don't get to choose to be Rarity so how are they ok with killing someone for being something they cannot control?

That is the last thought, running circles around my mind before my eyes flutter closed and my mind succumbs to the power of my dreams.