Zoe only half listened to Mr. Anderson drone on about ability detecting. She'd listened the first time and the second. By the 5th, she'd memorized the whole thing. She started giving Mr. Anderson full attention when he started listing the abilities they'd start with. "First we'll do some animals like squirrels, horses, birds, cats, and dogs. Then we'll move to elements. Fire, Sun, Earth, Ice, Shadow, Moon, etc. Finally we'll finish with skills. Flight, Speed, Sound, Smell, ect." Zoe's back tingled, her fingers burned, and her ears rang annoyingly loud at Flight, Fire, and Sound. What was that about?
Zoe talked to Syerra about it as they headed to the ability detecting site. Syerra told her that similar things had started happening with her too. Except her hands we're ice cold and her ears had started ringing too. As they followed Mr. Anderson out of the classroom their classmates revealed similar reactions. Ringing ears, headaches, every light in the room growing so bright it was unbearable, the room going pitch black, and very disgusting smells. No one knew the causes of this. One of the kids in their class, Ryder, asked Mr. Anderson about this. Mr. Anderson called everyone together so he could explain, "These are signs of manifesting! For example uh... Ryder tell me one of your reactions."
"My legs got really tired- like I just ran a 5k... 10 times!" Ryder answered.
"Ah... perfect. Signs of a sprinter! You said like you just ran a 5k- that's exactly what others have explained it like. Sprinters are able to run extremely long distances and not get tired. As you get older and your ability grows, you'll be able to run faster for longer distances." Once Mr. Anderson finished he clapped his hands together, and turned to continue to the ability detecting site.
As the class followed him they all chattered about what their abilities might be, but Zoe was in shock. If she was showing signs of manifesting her years of not manifesting and repeating this class again and again could be over.
She tried with all her might not to get her hopes up, but it was hard to not think that there was in fact hope.
The class entered a room that was so plain and white it was hard to look at.
"Shield your eyes please!" Mr. Anderson called out. Seconds after Zoe shielded her eyes a white flash swallowed the room, and threatened to blind them all. Zoe saw a select few able to push through the light, and seemed to be able to bend it making it slowly disappear. They seemed just as bewildered of their actions as Zoe and the others were.
When they succeeded in making the blinding light disperse, Mr. Anderson and another teacher-looking women clapped and announced those students as Lighters. Apparently while the white flash was trying to blind them other students had arrived as well.
"Glad that's over!" Lya (another one of Zoe's friends) exclaimed beside her.
"Don't speak so soon, Blunt!" said the woman called.
"What?" Lya started to say, but was cut off by a loud, high pitched ringing sound. Several students dropped to the ground covering their ears (including Zoe and Lya). The sound quieted, but was still as annoying as ever.
"You have ten minutes to find and turn off the source of this sound!" The women said. The women seemed to be enjoying this too much, and Zoe immediately did not like this women and her tight bun. She never liked blondes.
Zoe removed her hands from her ears. Everyone was searching around the room they were in, but she noticed a some students missing. Lya was gone too!
Zoe closed her eyes, and listened closely.
Beep
Beep beep
Beep
Beep beep beep
Beep
Beep beep
Beep
UPSTAIRS! She realized. Everyone was searching this room, but it wasn't in here at all! No wonder that women is enjoying herself so much! As Zoe started to dash out of the room she overheard Mr. Anderson talking to the women. "You've outdone yourself, Caroline Rogers. No way they're getting this."
The women, Ms. Rogers, looked like she was about to agree, but then she caught Zoe's eye. She sighed, "Don't speak so soon, Will."
Zoe practically smelled the awaiting victory. Grinning at Ms. Rogers, Zoe dashed up the winding, red and gold staircase. The beeping was like the ticking of a clock.
Beep
9 minutes...
Beep
8...
Beep beep
7...
Beep beep beep
6...
Beep
5...
Beep beep
4...
Beep
3...
Beep beep beep
2...
Beep
1...
Beep beep
30 seconds...
Beep
25 seconds...
Beep
Almost there! Zoe thought as she reached a door, and the beeping was getting louder and louder.
Her hand grabbed the star shaped crystal doorknob, and she turned it and pushed the door.
20 seconds...
BEEP BEPP
BEEP
Now to figure out how to turn it off. Zoe covered her ears. 9... She spotted a big machine with a big red button. 8... Zoe sprinted over to it. 7... This seems promising. She thought. 6...
She quickly looked around to make sure there wasn't anything that might say 'don't touch this button.' 5... Nothing.
Ok then. 4... This is our best bet. 3... 2... Her hand slapped the button just at the last second.
The beeping stopped abruptly, and a voice came over the speakerphones, "Congratulations," it said, " you have successfully turned off the beeping in 9 minutes and 59 secs. Everyone please report to Ms. Caroline's office on the second floor, and wait in a line outside the door. She will be with you shortly." There was a short beep as the recording was cut off. Zoe's eyes found a silver plate on a desk that read Ms. Caroline Rogers.
"Hello, Ms. Cruz," a voice said. Intimidating, but also a hint of awe and respect. Zoe tried to push away the though of the 'nickname'. It wasn't really a nickname. It was her last name, but Ryder called her that whenever they were talking.
"Hey, I believe you are Ms. Rogers, correct?" Zoe asked.
"That is correct, Cruz. Smart one you are," she said nodding toward the big metal machine.
"Um... I guess,"
"Don't be humble," Ms. Rogers said a hint of coldness creeping into her voice, "please! Sit down."
Zoe took a seat in the surprisingly comfy, crystal chairs.
"A simple pillow spell," Ms. Rogers explained, "if I'm fond of a person, it's quite comfortable! If I'm... less than fond of a person, well- not so much." A smile crawled up Zoe's lips.
Zoe's straightened up in her chair and cleared her throat, "So what did you need to talk about with me and the other students?"
"The other students are different from you, Cruz," Ms. Rogers said tersely.
"So what did you want to talk about with me then," Zoe said growing impatient.
"Impatience is never good, Cruz,"
"Fascinating." Zoe scoffed then caught herself. Sighing she tried again, "sorry Ms. Rogers. I just-"
"I understand. It should be only a few more seconds..." Ms. Rogers said slowly. As if on cue, a headache blared in her forehead.
YOU ARE READING
Fly Free
ФэнтезиIt's the end of the year, and Zoe's shown ZERO signs of manifesting. Most have shown at least the slightest sign, but not Zoe. However, by some miracle, Zoe fully manifests in one day! But she's spared no celebration time because her mother catches...
