Envision

Chapter 6- Violet

Avery jumps into action, throwing himself at the nearest attackers. Lashing out with a well-placed fist, he takes down one and spins around taking out another. Rolling forward, he sweeps the legs out from the third man and uses his momentum to pin down, and knock out the fourth assailant. Avery turns to face the fifth, who by now is prepared and fully aware of his skill, and throws continuous strikes against him, all of which are parried. While he remains distracted, the last man circles around to get behind me. I pretend not to notice him, waiting for him to get closer. He steps within arm's length, and I spin around landing a fist in his jaw. He stumbles back and I jump forward tackling him to the ground. We land with a thud, and he uses the momentum to throw me off him. He's on me in a flash, wailing my face with his clenched fists. Suddenly, he's raised off of me and thrown to the side to reveal Avery towering over me.

"Enough," the man who ordered for us to be attacked growls, "I will not have you continue to hurt my guards. If you fight for them so vigilantly then they must have some worth. I will allow them into The Academy, but you are responsible for them." He spins around curtly and stalks out of the room, his polished shoes clicking on the marble floor.

"Don't worry about him. He's just cautious with people he doesn't have in the systems for recruitment," Avery assures me.

I glare at him, "you could have at least said you were taking us to some psycho with people issues."

"Sorry was kind of busy saving you guys from crazy scientists to mention where we were going," he replies sarcastically.

"Oh that's right! I would actually love to hear an explanation of how you did that one. I mean who just makes shadows!"

He replies calmly, "don't worry; everything will be explained soon."

"Well isn't that great. But maybe we could actually go somewhere, instead of just sitting here," Logan interjects before I can reply.

Avery gives me one last look and sighs. He walks to Logan and slings his arm over his own shoulders supporting Logan's weight. He helps carry him back past me and pushes open a massive oak door.We down a wide staircase that opened into a long corridor lined with tall and intricate stained glass windows. Lining both sides of the room hung portraits, air brushed landscapes, and large paintings portraying various gatherings. Below the paintings stood marble pedestals displaying a multitude of antiques and other priceless relics.

Avery calls over his shoulder, "this is the overview of the history of The Academy. The founders, pictures from throughout the years, and important objects donated from the older members who no longer come to The Academy."

"This is amazing and ...beautiful," I say, "why is it all here and not in some type of museum?"

"Well we don't really have to many funds to spend on building random stuff like a museum. But don't worry almost everything else is modern and new."

At the end of the hallway we make an abrupt left to descend down a few steps. At the end is a pair of simple metal doors. We push them open to expose a vast open courtyard the size of 5 football fields combined. I watch as large crowds of kids anywhere from 9 to 18 years old scramble around to different areas of the facility as well as small groups of people mill about relaxing. Along the perimeter are glistening buildings of all different designs. To the left there is a huge domed area with three-story dorm houses clustered next to it. Alongside the dorms, there appeared a low rectangular cafeteria with a small trickle of kids filtering in and out. Behind these buildings, a sheer cliff rises several hundred feet above. Straight ahead of us were sprawled some old docks covered in green algae stretching into the clear waters of the ocean. Adjacent to the docks several more buildings with large glass sides overlooking the water, as well as some open air pits, gazebos, and training courses. Shifting my gaze to the right, a maze way of halls and corridors intertwine in one big mess. Along the edge stand tall buildings and college classroom-like structures, complete with lecture halls. Spread at various intervals among the corridors are smaller rooms packed in tight, which Avery explains are for the team training. The last side that was behind us held all of the buildings for staff and the directors of the facility. Past the rest of these buildings, a thick pine forest stretches from the cliff side to the ocean secluding the area, making it a lone, forgotten paradise.

"So this is The Academy?" I question Avery.

"Well most of it anyways. There's still actually a part that lies within the cliff that's about two times the size of everything out here," he replies, "now let's drop the crippled off real quick in the infirmary and then get you up to the director, Professor Serpren Wright ."

He ushers us to the left, past a modernized government building that was mixed between the old Greek-style architecture and the sleekness of a shining business office building. We pass a few more buildings of similar build, and then come to the last building in the row with a neat red cross painted above the doorway. Avery takes Logan in and hands him off to a nurse. As he does so, the woman tries to just about whack Avery in the head for keeping a patient in that condition out for so long. He throws his hands up in defense and seems to say that it wasn't his fault, while backing toward the door. I watch as he flashes a charming smile then bolt out the door. He practically runs up to me and without pause slips his arm through mine, linking our arms, and tugs me a bit until I follow.

"Now comes the fun part!" he exclaims, "We get to see what you can actually do!"

I reply, "um.... I don't even know what I can do. I've never been anything special."

"Oh come on, don't say that. Everyone is special. Everyone is unique and are themselves. No one can be you better than you can. And even if you haven't accomplished much doesn't mean you never will, only that you are still making something great."

"Wow that was actually kind of deep," I say surprised, "and a bit touching. I guess you're more than a pretty face."

He laughs and gives me a sideways glance, "yeah I make philosophy look nice. It wouldn't be so appealing if I wasn't there."

"Oh and definitely modest too," I mumble, trying to suppress a smile.

He winks at me quickly before unlinking arms with me so he can walk into an office in front of me. I follow closely at his heels and stay standing, trying to hide behind him once we stop moving.

I hear someone shift around and a smooth voice that glides out like silk says, "step aside Mr. Bridger. I want to see the girl not you." Avery quickly nods and moves to the side of the room leaving me face-to-face with the man I presumed was Professor Wright. He was middle-aged, probably in his late 30's, with dark brown hair that was nicely arranged to the side. He had strong, dark eyes and a tall frame to match his athletic build. He wore a completely black suit with a golden pin of an eagle spreading it's wings.

For a moment, he sat there taking me in before smiling slightly and saying, "well this is a pleasure. But no point in wasting time, so let's run you through the trials."