Higher Aptitude

Simulation

Cam paced back and forth in his bedroom. Day, who was sharing a room with him glaced at him and said, "It'll be alright, Cam. Just relax."

Cam nodded. "Of course it's going to be alright. We're his students; he can't hurt us." Then he thought about how eagerly Luke and Lil fought yesterday. "Hopefully."

Just then, Shrubb knocked on the door. "We will be doing this in alphabetical order. Cam, you're up first." Cam mentally groaned. Of course he was first. Cam got up and followed Shrubb. "Don't worry, Cam, nobody has ever been harmed by the test. It is just going to e a simulation. While you are in it, however, you will not know it is a simulation. You will be put through several tests, and we will be monitoring what your brain is doing subconsciously. Good luck." He pointed Cam to a door. "Just go in there and sit down. The simulation will begin immediately." Cam took a deep breath, walked in, and sat down.

For a second, nothing happened. Then, the door to the room opened again. Did Shrubb forget something? Three masked men came in. Cam's heart fluttered in his chest. One of the men grabbed Cam and started tying him up. He started protesting. "Hey! What are you doing?" They paid him no attention. "Stop it! Does the Headmaster know you're doing this?"

Finally, one of the men looked at him. "The Headmaster is dead. You're next." Flashes of images went through Cam's brain. A dark room, a high wooden chair, a skylight above him. He was jerked back to reality when another of the men threw him over his shoulder. He felt something heavy connect with his head, and then everything went black.

When he came to, he was tied to a chair and blindfolded. A gruff voice spoke in his ear, "You have one chance to choose a direction to go or this bullet goes through your head." He felt the cold hardness of a gun being pressed to his forehead. His skin prickled; this man was telling the truth. He suddenly remembered his vision earlier. "Straight up." He suddenly went flying up through the skylight he somehow knew was going to be there.

He was in a clearing now, surrounded on all sides by trees. He had another vision, this one a little more detailed. A stampeding unicorn being chased after by a huge golden lion heading straight towards a clearing where a boy was standing with his back to them... Cam snapped back and leaped out of the way just in time. The pair ran on soundlessly.

When Cam opened his eyes, he was sitting in the chair back in the room. The door opened, and Cam tensed, waiting for more of those masked men. Shrubb came through the door, looking perfectly alive. "You made it through the simulation," he said smiling, "Now we'll talk to you about your Ability. You have been Determined as a Sixer. You have the ability to sense things happening in another place in real time." Cam nodded, this felt right; it explained his ability to win bets. Shrubb looked amused. "I'd be careful betting around here. Our students are particularly skilled at finding loopholes."

Cam frowned, how did he know what he was thinking? Then it came to him. "You can read minds."

Shrubb smiled again. "Not word for word, but I get the general gist of your thoughts. It makes me a good headmaster. Now go and get Miss Kennedy. It is her turn next."

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Celine knew it would be in alphabetical order, and she was pacing back and forth trying to calm her nerves. A knock came from the door. "Who is it?" she called.

"It's Cam. Shrubb sent me to tell you it's your turn now." As Cam took her down the hall to the room she would be tested in, she asked him about his experience. "Well, it was really startling, actually. It didn't feel like the simulation had begun at all, and I completely forgot it was a test. Don't worry, you won't actually be hurt; at least I wasn't." Celine nodded, slightly more confident, and sat down in the chair.