THE CALLING/THE DEATH HUNTERS/DARK WATERS

Chapter 3

PART 3: THE CALLING

The line in Scrapers moved forward at an astonishing pace. The blonde, chocolate-eyed blonde looked up at the stage in front of her,eyes full of fear. She quickly looked away.

"Brooklyn," the speaker announced. She slowly walked up to the stage and held out her hand. The speaker poured some of the golden liquid he had into her hand. Brooklyn took a deep breath ,raised the liquid to her mouth, and poured it in with a quick prayer. Immediately, she felt as if the world was on fire, buzzing into existence with a bang. She felt her eyelids droop and she imagined sparks flying off her body and into the sky. Shouts erupted around her, and she opened her eyes, only to find what she had imagined to be true. White bursts of light flashed around her. She imagined a building saving them all from the debris, and there the building was. "I hereby invite Brooklyn to 'The Calling' as a Creator," announced the speaker.

The moment he saw the fireworks and the building appear out of nowhere, dread filled his bones. Worse than the dread that his parents filled him with when they threatened him and his sis. SO, when the time came for him to step onto the stage, he did it proudly, knowing that there was nothing to lose. His warm drink felt good against his cold hands, and he almost felt sorry to drink it, but the moment he did, he felt like the world wasn't so plain anymore. He felt in touch with every aspect of himself. He felt free, like a bird taking off into the cool air on a hot day. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised by the fact that he was flying in the air with feathers. As he tumbled to the ground, he landed in the smooth hands of the speaker. The speaker then smiled and announced, "Sebastian, one of 'The Called,' as a Shapeshifter. The bird chirped angrily, for he was Seb now, not Sebastian.

She was already worried when she saw the first girl (Brooklyn, maybe?) get chosen, but her brother was pushing it. Two changers were already rare, almost impossible in Scrapers, and her parents would take out all of their rage out on her. Accepting her fate, she walked up onto the stage and reached for the golden liquid. The speaker winked at her. All she could wonder was why as she poured the liquid into her mouth. Her body burned--burned--like it was on fire, then shivered of a freezing cold. She felt a hard surface underneath her, then felt as if she was flying. When she opened her eyes, she was just standing there as the people in the crowd chatted normally. NOTHING HAPPENED. As she was going back to her parents, her heart felt like it was sinking lower and lower... Then, she heard something crazy. "Skyler, follow us."

She gulped before saying, "It is Sky."

In Grimsville, the darker-haired girl almost bounced with excitement as she stood in line. When her name (Emma) was finally called, she practically skipped into line. The speaker poured the warm golden liquid into her hands, and she quickly took a long sip. All she felt was the people. No, not like their skin or something gross like that, just their hopes and wishes and dreams and what they wished that they could do and what they help with in life. Emma sighed in relief, 'cause all she really wanted to know was how to help people. When she opened her eyes, she expected to find that it was all a dream, but the truth was, it wasn't. She could see what people secretly wished for others to know, and she smiled as the speaker said the words. "And Emma joins 'The Calling' as a Healer."

Watching her best friend get chosen by "The Calling" was a giant step up for Maryam. She felt like she had a chance to succeed and be free. Nonetheless, she was surprised when Emma turned to her and mouthed, "You can make it." She took a deep breath and headed onto the stage. As she sipped the golden liquid, she wondered about her friend and what had happened to her, but she didn't have time to, because her body was filled with a sense of power and darkness that she had never reached before. It was addicting and powerful, like some sort of ancient magic. She sighed in relief. As she opened her eyes, all she saw was terrified faces.When she looked around, part of the banister had been destroyed, along with the building. She smiled at that, for her dark truth was finally in the light. "Maryam has been 'Called' as a Dark Wizardess."

James was tired. That was the only thing he could think of here in the beautiful city of Kremler as he tousled his red hair in the cold wind. The day was coming to an end, and he was in the back of the line. Nothing has even happened yet, he grumbled in his head, except for that sweet prank! He laughed. Once it was finally his turn, he strutted onto the stage, snuck a wink at the ladies (oh my gosh), then swallowed down the golden liquid the moment it was handed to him. Immediately he felt his whole life rush back to face him, his life-long lies and deceptions and the pretty words that could convince anyone to do as he said. "BOW," he yelled in his state. When he opened his eyes, it was no surprise to find everyone bowing at his feet.

"James is the official Siren of 'The Calling.'"

He gave a powerful yell at that.

Jacob was depressed. He always knew that his friend was different, but a Siren? Oh, gosh, that made him feel bad for the world. See, to everyone else he was Jacob Silvers--rich and popular and perfect. His life was everything but perfect. His parents had anger issues and took it out on him, because he could not be the perfect child that they wanted. He was a bad kid and wanted to be free. He had nothing else to lose, so when his time came, he got rid of his doubt and strutted up to the stage. He grabbed the golden liquid warily and took a big gulp. All of a sudden, he felt as if there were many of himself helping him up and supporting him until there was no way he could fall. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes,expecting to find himself alone. Instead, he found an army of himself surrounding him. He gasped and wished that they were gone,and *poof*, they were gone. He finally felt as if people cared about him as the speaker announced, "Jacob, as the Duplicator."

Tobias bit his lip as he pushed an injection into his arms. He knew that his sister would have been picked to join "The Call", but he would not, so he dared to steal from Demcor to see his sister one more time. When it was his turn he easily strolled onto the stage and took a big sip. He felt nothing, but had a moment where his life flash before him, then a deep pain in his arm where he injected himself. Finally, after a long time, he felt like he could fly. He opened his eyes to find the world so small before him and a boy with his mouth open in the back. The boy's mouth was open because his flight power seemed to have left him before "The Call" let him join. Tobias smiled, then floated down and grinned when he heard the words, "Tobias, as the Winged."