Moon Angel

Chapter 12: Omega

Chapter 12: Omega

5:30 am. The alarm Em had set cut through my deep sleep. The beeping alarm continued to assault my ears as I threw off the covers and rolled out of bed. I was not a morning person. Em finally woke up, turning her alarm off. I rubbed my eyes and stood up, reaching for the pile of clothes that I had noticed sitting, folded in a neat pile, on my bedside table. They hadn't been there when I had fallen asleep so I assumed that the pile was our training uniform that Miss Lane had said she would deliver. I looked over and noticed an identical pile on Em's table. I unfolded the clothing, looking at each item. There was a plain black t-shirt, a pair of loose black trousers, a pair of loose black shorts and a black jumper. It looked like the trousers and jumper were for training in the colder weather, seeing as we would be out early in the morning and it was coming up to winter. I changed out of my pyjamas quickly and slipped on the t-shirt and shorts. I found my sneakers in the bottom of my wardrobe and put them on, lacing them up. Em mirrored my actions, both of us silently preparing for the day ahead. Soon, we were both ready and I headed for the door.

"Ellie," Em said, her quiet voice making me stop in my tracks. "You forgetting something?"

I spun around, looking around the room to work out what I had left behind. I became confused. Everything was neat. The bed was made and my clothes were tidied away as Miss Dunn had instructed.

Em saw my puzzled expression. "Your wings, Ellie," she said quietly. I looked behind me and sure enough, stretched half open behind me were my wings- in full view for others to see had I walked into the hallway. My hand flew over my open mouth. It had felt so natural to have them open. I had spent weeks not worrying about my appearance that I had temporarily forgotten that nobody at Omega knew about my wings yet. I couldn't believe I had been about to walk around Omega with them in everybody's sights. I would have to be more careful in future.

"Thank you, that was really close," I said to Em. Em smiled. She waited while I found the jumper that had been given to us and slipped it on. Making sure my wings were covered this time, Em opened the door of our room and we made our way to the training grounds together.

***

Our first morning of Omega started at exactly six o'clock. All thirty-two candidates ready to start. From the beginning it was clear that every aspect of Omega was to be taken seriously. A man by the name of Mr Wood would run our morning exercise programme. He was a small man but made up for his lack of size with his voice. It was a loud, deep voice that resonated through every person on the training grounds. Every order was understood clearly and obeyed at once. For the full hour every candidate was put through their paces; stretching and running and jumping. It was hard but satisfying work and by the time Mr Wood blew his whistle to announce that the hour was up, everyone was worn out, walking silently to the dining hall to have a well-earned breakfast.

At Breakfast, we were given our timetables. Everyone would be taking the academic subjects of Physics, Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Engineering, Computering, Linguistics and Drama. We would also be trained in Self-Defence, Outdoor Survival, Stealth and Agility, First Aid and Weapons Handling. All the classes circulated on a weekly timetable. Our first class of the day would run from 8 until 10 and the next from 10 until 12. Lunch was before the third class which started at 1 and continued until 3 and the last class went from 3 until 5.

Each class had eight students/candidates in it. This meant that you got a lot more done in each class and there was a lot of one-on-one teaching. Even though the classes were small, everyone seemed to keep to themselves, only focused on completing what the teacher or trainer had asked. This suited me fine as I was used to solitude during my studies.

That first day I had Chemistry, Mathematics, Drama and Self-Defence. I found that the group of candidates I was with changed for every class. I was disappointed to see that Em wouldn't be in any of those classes with me. At least I got to see her for our lunch hour and then once classes were finished.

At 5, when my last class had finished for the day, I went back to my room to change out of the training uniform that I had worn for Self-Defence. Em wasn't there when I arrived. I had hoped she would be there so I could discuss everything with her. Most of all I wanted to compare timetables, to check if we had any classes together. I really hoped we had at least one. When I was dressed, I went to find Em. I found her sitting in one of the candidate lounges talking to another girl.

"Hey Ellie," Em looked over as I walked in. "Come sit down."

The candidate lounge was one of two rooms that acted as rec rooms- rooms where candidates could go to relax or hang out with the other candidates. In each there were a few couches, a television and either a pool table or a table tennis table depending on which lounge you were in. This lounge had a pool table.

"This is Mackenzie. Mackenzie meet Ellie," Em introduced the other girl to me as I sat down on the couch beside Em.

"Nice to meet you," Mackenzie replied smiling. I smiled back. Mackenzie was a small girl with light chestnut hair tied back into a short pony tail. She wore a loose t-shirt and track pants, sitting cross-legged on the couch. The relaxed air that surrounded Mackenzie made me like her instantly.

"This may seem a little forward," Mackenzie said, addressing me. "But what is your power?"

"What do you mean?" I queried.

"You know, a power, a 'special ability'? Most people here have one," Mackenzie told me.

"How do you know everyone has one?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Because if I'm around someone who has a power, I can sense what it is and mimic it. Like for instance, I know that Emelia here can control fire," Mackenzie replied.

Em looked shocked but didn't say anything.

"Shouldn't you be able to sense what my power is then? If you can sense everyone else's?" I inquired.

"That's the problem," Mackenzie said. "I've been trying to sense your power since you came in but every time I come up blank. I've never sensed anything like when I'm around you."

"What makes you think I even have a 'power'?"

"I know someone with powers when I see one and I have a strong sense that there's more to you than meets the eye," Mackenzie answered.

I said nothing in reply. There wasn't anything more to say. I definitely wasn't about to tell her just how right she was.

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-A/N- here's another chapter... hope you like it. What are your thoughts? Please review. :)