The United

Prolouge

"Come on now...." Aaron said softly, "I know you aren't sleeping..."

I blinked my eyes open, the sun coming into them as I lay on the soft grass, and stared up at the sky... If only I were a bird... Then I could fly away from this place into the sky.... "I might as well be..." I muttered.

"I know that what you have been through is beyond terrible... I want to help you Maria-" Aaron started but I cut him off.

"I thought I told you not to call me that anymore..." I snapped.

"You did... But do you really want me to call you Shadow?" Aaron asked me.

"I actually do... You just have to deal with it." I muttered, knowing Aaron was going to take a long time getting use to my name change. But the other me... the me who bared the name he said died with my family... I got to my feet, ignoring Aaron's outstretched hand, and walked back toward the facilities doors. One thing I would never forget about this place... We were all freaks here. Back when the plague came, certain 'gifted' individuals were "Blessed" with supernatural powers, In all reality, fitting in as a teenager was hard enough before all of this. We are known as Praediti sunt, The latin term for The gifted ones. There are about a hundred of us here, the newly orphaned gifted ones... Or as I call us: Perdita: The lost. Aaron and I caught the plague when our family did... back when the outbreak started at the safe house. When they became sick, we became strong... When they left we stayed... They died so we could live... How is that fair? If there is a God, how did He allow it to happen? We aren't his chosen ones, because I know I'm no angel.

"You have to stop going out there... It took me forever to find you." Aaron sighed and glanced over at me.

"I'll do as I wish... It's not like you could stop me. You of all people know that no one can." I said quietly, looking at the ever darkening halls. We would soon have gotten caught if not for my ability. My name to them is Shadow Storm, and for good reason. I have the abilities like phase shifting... In other words, I fade into shadow. People can even walk through me, or Aaron if I am touching him. He would have gotten caught if I didn't use my shadows around him. His codename is Phoenix... He  can fly, and is a real hot head at times... But his glow at night is like a beacon... However, he is extremely fast, and transfers his abilities to me as easily as I share mine. That's the thing with our powers... We are always stronger together. They are training us as weapons, and Aaron and I both refuse. So we have our own little corner of the facility with more guards than the others... There are only five of us in this place, and no more children would be coming.

But if I am going to tell you this right.... I need to go back farther...Back to when the plague had just broken out... Back to better days with my family. Back through my mind I guess...