The Wonderful Adventures of Bea Andrews (EDITING, IN PROGRESS)

Chapter 1

I race to the mailbox, which has its red flag extended high into the air. I pull open the door and my face collapses. A bright green envelope sits coyly in my parents' mailbox, staring me down. I gingerly grab it and check for any other envelopes. Finding the mailbox void of hope, I shut the door and lower the flag in defeat. I stumble up the concrete path, nausea crawling up my throat. I all but crawl into the doorway and shut the door behind me. I lean against the door; my heart chipping pieces off my ribs as it slams into me. My knees shiver and quake, as the earthquake in my hand tears my world into shreds. My mouth is dry as my mom races into the room. She places her hands on my shoulder. She mouths, "Innnnnn, hold, ooooout, hold..." As she repeats it, her voice becomes clear, and I begin to drag in giant breaths that fill my lungs. My knees give out, and she catches me under the armpits. She asks, "I'm guessing Lake View wasn't your first choice?" I shake my head, and she sets me down on the floor. Lake View Training Academy is the most prestigious mount academy in the country. You don't apply to Lake View; you are selected for Lake View, and you cannot say no. My body shakes and tears begin to pour down my face. Memories of my friends who attended Lake View flash through my head. They were once carefree, joyful people. Now they're cold and grounded in the bleakest realities. They all say it's 'worth it', but how can becoming a stuffy, cold, puppet be worth it? How? Mom coos, putting a cold hand on my cheek, "They chose you because you have potential. They don't choose people they see as weak, okay? You can do this. We'll make this work." I cling to my mother in a sudden bid to be saved from a gruesome fate. Images of those who never came back flash across my face as I wail.

Dad rushes in and asks, eyes wide and panicked, "What's wrong???" He spots the letter and winces. He says, standing awkwardly in the kitchen, "Oh. Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry. We'll work this out." He shuffles closer, kneeling beside me. He pulls me into a close hug as the front door swings open with a loud bang. I jump, screaming. Dad pats my head as my little brother rushes in with wide eyes full of concern and hope. Innocence is painted across his face. He doesn't know about the horrors of Lake View, he's only five. How do I explain this to a five-year-old? How do I explain that he might never see me again? I wail louder, burying my face in Dads' shoulder as Mom distracts Jake from the horrors perched in my right hand.

***

I sit on my bed, as numb as ever. In the three weeks since the letter it hasn't gotten any easier to accept. I spend my days researching ways out and sobbing when they inevitably come upon dead ends. I cross my legs, glaring at the letter stuck to my wall. I walk over to it and unpin it from the wall. I read it again, my stomach churning with disgust at the formal font and language:

"Dear Ms. Bea Andrews,

You have been carefully selected to be recruited into Lake View Training Academy for Mounted Arts. Your grades and demeanor has led us to this position, as well as an interview with an anonymous reference. You will be sent a letter outlining mount registration in three weeks. In the meantime, we have a list of required materials and mount specifications for you to review:

· Winged Feline Mounts must be registered well in advance, and you will be required to pass a handling exam within two days of arriving. You can test once a day.

· Winged Canid Mounts must be registered well in advance. You are NOT required to pass a handling exam and will instead pass a paper exam upon arrival.

· Students must have all their mount paperwork and acceptance letter in a WHITE MANILLA FOLDER WITH THEIR FULL NAME PRINTED IN TIMES NEW ROMAN ACROSS THE RIGHT-HAND CORNER upon arrival.

· Your mount must be a species on our approved species list and be riding age according to the Mount Encyclopedia Version 3:

o Winged Canids: