Aurora Valentino: Just recently turned 18. But along with that she has to carry a secret. She is one of the "chosen". She has powers that people like her were never really known of having. But without proper guidance she has no clue on how to contr...
"I wonder if they will inform us on how we did overall." Tara asked as we were walking away from the garden.
We were both the last two people to finish from our group and were now walking back home. I wasn't sure if I should have waited for the others but no one knew where they took the other groups for their exams so I guess it was okay if I headed back. And anyway I was close to the last group that were formed so they must have gone home by now.
"Yeah, after all it is our results. We should have a right on knowing how we performed. Strangely I thought the parts were pretty easy except for the combat. The guy I went against was so good that I thought I wouldn't even be alive by the time we finished." I say and then grimace as the fight scenes pop up in my mind.
"Truee! The only part I felt confident on was the writing section. And that's only because I spend a lot of time reading outside of what the academy assigns us." Tara says.
As we reach the front gate I see most of our classmates huddled closely with each other and talking.
Tara and I give each other a puzzled look before running up to them.
"How come you all are still here? What's so important that you guys couldn't discuss about tomorrow?" says Tara while laughing at their annoyed expressions.
"Well I guess we now know one of the other names who are starred!" Luca exclaims.
"Chill, Luca. We don't know whether that's a good or bad thing yet." Estel remarks.
"Guys if you already forgot, we just came here. Mind telling us what's been going on?" I ask.
"So-"
"Shut up, Ash. You weren't even there let me explain-"
"But you don't know ho-"
"I'm going to shove your hand in your mouth if you open your mouth one more time, Ash!" Kyle shouts.
Which makes Ashley shut her mouth. Their both siblings but Kyle's the older one so he always has a "say" in everything. None of us try to interfere because when once one of us had, that person had to go home with a bloody nose and received a whole week of taunting before that person apologized.
"I was the first to finish in my group because all the other lights in the place were still on. I overheard the "ginger" talking with Priscilla (that groups mentor) about the incoming results that they were receiving. She told her to put a star on people who... I couldn't hear what people she told her to do that for. When all of us were done, we came here and discussed how it went. But here's the thing. All of us reacted differently on finishing it. 5 had to go to the infirmary, not sure if they even finished it." he says
I nod towards what he just told and then tell everyone we will talk about this tomorrow because the sun has almost set. We all agree on that and then head our ways in our small groups.
Ry and Luca come back with me. Usually if we know that we will be out in the evening we take horses but since we didn't know it is sometimes dangerous walking in the streets without weapons.
As we walk I notice the streets are eerily quiet. The market which usually has people buying food on their way home only has a kid playing with his toys; who I assume to be is the owners son. The bench swings that the elderly usually talk on now lie empty. Small kids who I usually see playing with each other are nowhere in sight.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Are you guys noticing what I am?" I ask Ry and Luca.
"No, and neither do I want to. I'm tired and hungry. I just want to be home right now." Luca grumbles.
Ry elbows him and he looks down at her with anger in his eyes.
"We all had a long day, Lucius. Do you see either of us complaining? Quit being an asshole about it!" Ry tells him.
"You know what? I've completely had it with you. Friends are allowed to complain to each other! Clearly you aren't one of mine. I don't even know what I was thinking when I thought we would get along. I'm going home the other way. By myself. Goodnight, Ari." he says.
Before he turns around I notice his eyes are paler. They no longer are grey. Instead his irises have turned yellow. I gasp as I see black markings inking his neck and before I am able to tell what they are, he turns away and starts running.
"Wait up Luca! Your sick! Come back here!" I yell while trying to catch up with him.
"Leave me alone! I can't believe your calling me "sick", Ari! You of all people?" he says but his voice starts sounding distant.
"LUCA! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" I scream.
I stop running and try catching my breath. I really shouldn't have skipped those physical activities we did in the academy for the past 2 months.
"Something's happened to him. I don't know what but. But something has." Ry quietly says after reaching where I'm standing.
"For sure. Last time I checked, Luca didn't have yellow eyes. He went towards the forest." I point.
"Okay, lets go."
As we enter the forest and look around we don't hear any sounds of footsteps. There's no way he was able to get out of this path so quickly. It's harder to see now because of the sun having set. I take out a match stick I had in my bag and light it on a wood-stick. When getting deeper into the path I see a figure slumped next to a tree. Is that him?!
We run over and lift the face to see a pale blue sleeping form of Luca. We had just seen him a few minutes ago! What could have possibly happened? I check his forehead and its burning. I nudge his shoulder to see if he would wake up but he just falls over. What the heck?
"I swear I heard those kids from around here."
"Well where are they now?"
Ry looks at me with wide eyes and both of us crouch down towards the tree. Thankfully there's bushes around us to protect us from whoever they are.
"Who could that be?" Ry mouths.
"Doesn't seem like good company." I mouth back.
I look up to the sky and see flurries falling upon us. It's spring! Why is there snow?
Ry takes off her scarf and puts it around Luca's neck. But while doing so her shoe comes in contact with a rock and makes her fall right into his lap.
"Oomph!" she yelps.
"Hey! Who's there? We can hear youu! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" the voices say.
"We have to carry him!" I whisper.
I blow out the fire on the wood and stick it in the ground. I stand up and lift his arms while she grabs his legs. We start walking towards where we see the tops of people's houses.
I feel something sharp dig into my back and put my hand behind to feel what is there. It gets sliced. I whip my head around to come in contact with something soft. And furry?
