The Academy: Ashland

Part 1: Beginnings

A/N: Hola. So I've noticed a lot of people read this chapter, then don't go to read the rest of the story and I've been wondering if my writing is that bad or if you just don't like how I wrote the beginning. So if, at any point, you don't feel the urge to continue reading this story, please comment and tell me why.

PART 1 - Ash's Journal:

           I hate beginnings. They suck. They’re so hard to write because a story could begin almost anywhere. I’ve sat here for the last hour trying to figure out how to begin this story. The story I’m going to try and tell you could begin in a number of places.

            It could begin sixty-three years ago when this place, the Academy, was some dude’s idea. It could begin when I was born, sixteen years ago, or eleven years ago, when I left the Academy. I’m going to start this story on the day I was taken back to the Academy.

            My name is Ashland. That's it. No last name, no middle name. Just Ashland. I'm sixteen years old and before I was taken to the Academy, I lived in the Divine Lorraine. I know what you're thinking: “What the flips is a Divine Lorraine?” and well it’s just some old abandoned hotel in Philadelphia.

            I lived there with my four best friends, Jacob, Zac, Luke and Michael, and Zac's bother, Evan. When I was ten, the six of us left the group home we lived in and, a few months later, met Samuel and Bailey. We started living in the Divine Lorraine a month later. We made a living on odd jobs and stealing. Samuel and Bailey knew what we did to get by, but they still kept an eye on us and never judged us.

            The six of us never went to school, but we're all pretty smart. Samuel used to lend us books and he taught us everything we wanted to know. We may not of had the best living conditions but we all took care of each other and, I guess, that was really what mattered.

            I was dropped off at a police station when I was five, talking about DNA and alterations in genes. I had a teddy bear, named Academy, in one hand and a note in my hand, saying my name is Ashland, that I was five years old and I was born January 1st. Normally, little kids get adopted because they're cute, but I guess when you're smarter than the people who want to adopt you, you're not that cute anymore.

            It's really hard to explain my life. It's so very complicated, but at the same time so very simple and I guess that what makes this story so difficult to tell. But maybe that's because I'm living it. Every minute of every day.

            I've learned so much since I came to the Academy. I've learned about impossible friendships. I've learned about an insane family. I've learned how you always have a choice in whatever you do and you can always choose your family.

            I hope this is a good beginning and, even though we aren't there yet, I hope the endings good too.