Academy of the Gifted: Book 1

Theo's POV

My foster parents hated me. I never felt any love and care in my entire life. After two months of wandering and searching for shelter, I have given up all hope. I might as well die here in this thick forest, nobody will ever find my body anyways. I finished off all of the food I got from home, and the extra money I had was pretty much worthless, there wasn't any shops around me. Now all I have is two hundred thirteen bucks, some wild berries; now soggy, a blanket with a pillow wrapped inside, a swiss army knife and clothes on my back. I spent most of my nights sleeping on trees and hadn't had a bath for a good two weeks. I continued to stumble and walk, still searching for a motel or something. This is when I came across this huge victorian mansion. I never really thought that there was going to be this huge hotel in the middle of nowhere, but now that I did find it, I don't think I have enough money to stay for a night. I shrugged, and knocked on the door. A girl about my age answered and stared at my appearance. I looked down, my jeans were muck covered, my hoodie stank, my hair was a birds nest and I smelled like the dump.

"Umm.. Is this a hotel or what? Can I come in?" I began, but the girl slammed the door on my face. I heard murmuring voices and looked up, a bunch of teens were all staring and pointing. The door opened again, and this time a lady, smartly dressed, in about her thirties was at the door. Her hair was pulled into a neat dark blue bun and a huge navy blue cloak cover her shoulders. Indigo rimmed half moon glasses balanced on her nose and her face wore a stern expression.

"Name, age, story, and how you end up here." She commanded before I could speak.

"I..um..my name is Theo Smith, I am 16 and I ran away from home two months ago because my foster family hated and abused me, and I just ended up here." I obeyed.

"Is there anything unusual about him?"

"I don't see anything so special about him."

"Do you think he is one of us?"

"I mean look at him, a month out here is hard work, two months? I doubt he isn't one of us."

"Will the Headmistress let him in though? The Academy is pretty full these days."

Voices murmured and mumbled into questions and other teens started crowding around to watch the commotions.

"SILENCE!!" The Headmistress shouted, voices immediately disappeared.

"Mr. Smith, please follow me to the study room, everybody else, go back to your rooms for free time. Whoever does not obey can do the dishes by hand tonight!" The Headmistress yelled out orders.

I followed the headmistress into the mansion, down the hall and into the 15th room marked as the study room. The room was empty, and the Headmistress told me to sit down on the ground because my clothes were all dirty.

"You must be wondering about what is going on." She began, "But I need you to answer some more questions."

"Okay..."

"How did you come here?" She asked solemnly.

"I walked here, you know after running away. I was trying to find someplace to live." I replied cautiously.

"Have you ever done anything that is... unusual or different?"

"No, not really..."

"Are you sure that there isn't anything extraordinary about you at all?"

"I'm as ordinary as anybody could be."

"Now that I'm done with asking you questions, I'm sure you must have some of yours."