Within Us

Chapter 1

          I sighed in relief as the bell to the last hour rang, ending the long hours of being in this mentally exhausting place, I mean I like it here but it's pretty stressful. I gathered my minimum amount of folders and notebooks and started to toss them in the backpack strapped to the back of my chair. I lazily threw  my bag over my shoulder and slump out of the classroom with everyone else.

While visiting my locker to grab my coat so I wouldn't  freeze, I saw what is safe to say the most beautiful person i've ever seen three lockers left from mine. I actually craned my neck around the other kids to see her. She had an hourglass figure clothed with a simple red plaid shirt with a leather jacket on top, black skinny jeans, and worn out black Vans. And her hair. Oh my god, her hair. It was a raven black that traveled past her shoulders silkily and faded into a fiery red that made my heart skip abeat in her loose curls that reached all the way to her mid-back. She had the most beautiful native features I had ever seen, her lips curved so nicely they looked soft and pink like a peach, I could say the same for her toosh. Let me tell you I've never seen eyes this luxurious, a light amber with blue and green specks with a fierce but playful look, I would always find myself getting lost in them.

"Aema, let's go home." I gasped and looked down and saw my 14 year old sibling Cosima, looking up at me with their cold unwavering eyes. They tilted their head, "Isn't it rude to stare at another person that way?"

I cleared my throat and looked back at where I was looking before only to find her gone. I sighed and shut my locker walking out the school with Cosima.

As soon as Cosima and I got home I went up the stairs, went to my room, plopped on my bed, and went over everything that happened today, I was up till 4am till I finally got to sleep.

-Next Morning-

I woke up to the light flooding in my room from the large window next to my desk. I checked my fully charged phone and noticed that I slept until 12:00pm. It didn't matter, it was Saturday. I decided to get up.

I plug my earbuds into my ears and listened to Say My Name by ODESZA the Lake Shay Remix flood into my ears. Looking outside at the window, I see big clumps of snowflakes quickly fall and gather at my windowsill.

It was one of those days where I thought nothing was going to happen, so I took the liberty of logging onto Tumblr. Maybe two hours had passed when I became bored with it, so I logged off and closed my laptop.

I took out my earbuds and heard soft talking coming from the living room. Out of curiosity, I exited my room and bounded down the stairs that led into the kitchen. I poured a cup of water and took a huge gulp while walking into the living room. Once I took in the surroundings, I stopped and stared as my mother talked to two men wearing only black suits with Cosima sitting on the loveseat.

My mother noticing me in the doorway, motioned me to come and sit next to her. And by the look on her face, I knew not to speak out of turn.

"Aema, these men are here because they believe that you and Cosima were born with special, rare genes and would like to research any physical or mental abilities you two have," My mom says with slight cracks in her speech. I look over to Cosima only to see them looking quite neutral in the situation and staring blankly out the window.

I laughed awkwardly, "oh, really?" I could already feel a cold sweat coming over me.

An ebony man clad in a black suit stood, cleared his throat and spoke, "Our program take special gifted kids in our sanctuary for study on any "special" abilities you may have. You will be given a room fit with whatever you wish for, three meals a day and you will be able to socialize with people from all over the world. We are a worldwide organization"

"Ah, I see, I understand that you want to help me with the abilities I may or may not have. I would like something for my mother though. We are quite poor and even I can see she is very unhappy with this lifestyle, i'm sorry but i would like  like ten million dollars to my family" I smiled. Cosima actually looked up when they heard my wager. We all looked at the poker face man waiting for his response.

He looked back at the other man, and the other man nodded his head in response. The ebony man looked back at Ama and said "Your request has been accepted. We will have the money here tomorrow. In cash."

My mother started crying tears of joy, "We're r-rich! We're going to-to have s-so much money!"

oh, I should have gone higher, considering how easy they gave in to such an amount to money. They didn't even say anything; he just needed to see if it was a good idea.

"Cosima Vexy and Aema Vexy, Welcome to the Arshcwelcks Research Training System. Pack whatever clothes you can fit into these." A man says as he throws me and Cosima and I a black suitcase. I went upstairs and dressed in an OMOCAT Fudanshi sweater and black skinny jeans and black sneakers.

Once we finished packing our entire wardrobe (yes, it actually fit surprisingly) and a few things we also wanted to take, we both went down stairs and met the men at the door. I picked out a GLITCHYBOY T-shirt and white shorts with silver chrome for Cosima and of course they looked adorable.
"I'll miss you, have a good time." I heard my mother, she was calling everyone she knew and made up a lie saying she won the lottery.

I said my goodbyes and walked out of the house and toward a black Range Rover. They helped with our bags as we slid in and they put them in the trunk.

Both of them then slid into the driver and passenger seat and started the car. Once we hit the highway I asked them, "You said this program was worldwide, so where in the world is it?"

"We're staying in Michigan, near Baldwin, right next to Big Star Lake."

"Okay." I feel something press against my shoulder and I look down to see Cosima sleeping on me with her ear buds plugged in. I can hear Youth by The Foxes softly playing. Considering it was going to be a pretty long ride there, I decided to go to sleep too. Before I lost consciousness, I heard one of the men mutter to the other "This town was extremely greedy for only making two trips. Let's hope the next isn't as bad...".