The hunt Begins

Prologue

It had been raining for hours now, the steady pitter patter of water against the windows of our house had long since faded to a dull rush in the back of my mind. The rain fell heavily & straight down as it created a blur, like the waterfall at Niagara Falls. A sheet of rain cascades off the rooftops in the surrounding town of Salem, Massachusetts. Distant sounds from within her household were heard. I couldn't think about what it was at first, I was so invested in the rain outside. The sound became more audible but very disruptive, loud, and high-pitched. "Lillia...LILLIA." The sound was becoming more and more frantic as it became more auditable. "Lillia Lynn Rose" the voice sounded once more; I shook my head to realize it was my mother.

"What?" I replied as I shifted my gaze to her. She stood in my bedroom doorway; her hair was a mess. Her pupils were dilated as she rested her frame against the doorway. I noticed her picking at the messed-up wood frame around my door. "Today's the day" she finally spoke, her gaze fixated on me. I sighed as I softly hurled myself over my bed and made my way to her. Her eyes widened a little more. I've never felt someone's arms around me so fast. A sigh of worriment escaped her lips and for a brief moment we stood there hugging each other before she lowered her arms after her fingertips traced my chin. '' Don't worry mom, I'll be fine." I said in a hushed whisper, followed by a soft smile. My mother and I usually had an incredible bond, but today... today's tensions were high. Why? You may ask... well today's my last day of being a 'first year' in high school. Why does it all matter? Well... because I'm what the upper classes call a "first year". Being a first-year student means from the beginning of the year we're prepped for the first year's "graduation test" besides our normal education we receive.

Testing for the first year lasts four weeks before the actual school year ends. We're lined up and tested in a public place in front of all families, facilities, and upper classmen. One by one, they weed out the ones who aren't 'special' and the ones who are. This is where the end of the world starts for some and dies for others. Once a first year is labeled as a 'mutant' they're then shipped off to an academy for mutants. No one outside of this academy knows much about what goes on. The few stories about the academy are scary. Heartbreaking event. So, it was no wonder that my mother was worried about me. I smiled once more at her as she turned and walked down the hallway. Closing my door, I rested my back against it as I let out a sigh. I was anxious too. I didn't want anything to change after today. I wanted to experience life. Love and even growing up with someone. All of that would change if I was to be labeled as a mutant. I shook my head and grabbed my favorite hoodie from one of my favorite movies, scream.

I pulled the oversized hoodie over my head as I rested the opening ends around the top of my jeans. It rest loosely around my stomach. Pulling my hair from the hood opening, I dropped it over my shoulders as it quickly came to a stop a few centimeters past the beginning of my butt. I moved myself in front of my bedroom mirror as I glanced over myself one final time. All of my curves, the depths of my freckles, the lengthiness of my hair and my favorite part, my green-hazel-colored eyes. I felt my face muscles around my lips forming a smile. Seeing me you'd realize just how much of a carbon copy I was of my mother, besides the worry lines and crows' feet. I was like her twin. "Lillia come on, it's time to go" my mother shouted. My stomach dropped. It was like all of a sudden, my worries intensified. I rubbed my hands on my jeans; they were extremely sweaty. I hadn't realized it until now. I forced a smile once more and turned away from the mirror to grab my phone and backpack. Once everything I needed was collected, I stopped for a second as I took one more glance around my bedroom. 'This could be... the last time I see this bedroom.' I thought. All the memories. Photos of happy days. My family. After today... my world as I know it can change and between you and I, I wasn't ready for it.