Superhuman: Awakening

Chapter 2

(Elana)

My first class was health, and we were still on the unit of Superhuman Biology mixed in with the sexuality unit. The Superhuman aspect of the class was important to learn, especially nowadays when it seems that awakenings are becoming more and more common every 2 years. We were taught that only biological female teenagers have the possibility of becoming a Superling, and then eventually a mature Superhuman.

            We were also taught that there are only 2 color sides: Red and Blue, and that the 2 sides have been clashing for as long as Superhumans' have come into existence. They were constantly fighting for control of America, and we were told that the Reds were the bad guys who wanted to turn our country into a corrupted and evil nation. This is what Society says, and who are we to deny any of its claims...?

            The science behind Superhumans makes sense, and everything else checks out. There has been no record of there ever being a biological Male Superhuman, and when it is mentioned that it is a possibility it is usually disproven pretty quickly. Biological Females are just more suited to carry the gene within them, and their hormones and body chemistry is more suited for it as well.

            That's what we all have been told, however. However, I can't question something I don't fully understand... or fully understand yet.

            "Good morning class!" The health teacher exclaimed my kind of small and mixed-graded health class and I. I was one of only 3 freshmen in the class, the rest of the class consists of mostly sophomores, and then there are a few Juniors and 2 Seniors.

            The health teacher can be strict sometimes when it comes to assignments, but other than that she makes the whole class of 17 people laugh. She often used to sugar coat things when I was in middle school health class, but now I was in the high school version... and she was required NOT to sugar coat anything for us, no matter how brutal it sounded or something like that. She even admitted herself that she feels sorry for having to tell it to us in this way, and knowing her... I knew I was in for something frightening, or most likely sad.

            "Morning Mrs. Norton" The class responded in seemingly perfect unison. The health teacher put on a good smile, but I can see straight past her smile to see that in her eyes she just wished we wouldn't be too scarred after the lesson.

            "Today we will be talking about more Superhuman Genetics, but this lesson is more a grim one..." Mrs. Norton said, and then she began teaching the lesson. My eyes went wide as she was talking about it, and I wondered if the people who became a victim of it were anyone I had known. "With the population of Superlings that awaken and go on in their transformation, a third of them will not survive. Even with the life-saving procedures they do, the Superling is still at risk of their body rejecting itself if they managed to survive the awakening"

            One of the 3 other freshmen who was wide eyed raised his hand and Mrs. Norton called on him. "Does rejection only occur at the beginning phases or can it happen at any phase?" He asked, and the teachers' face grew even grimmer.

            "Rejection can happen at any phase, even when the Superling is at the range to where they are transforming into a Superhuman. It can also happen to any Superling to, it does not matter how fit they are, how powerful they are, or how much they are known for the good they do. It can still happen, and it does happen much too often" Mrs. Norton replies back.

            I wanted to pass out then and there, my skin was as pale as snow and I felt like I was going to cry. I didn't know why I wanted to, I didn't know why I was worried about this.

            It is almost impossible that I will become a Superling myself, so I shouldn't worry... right?

            I have had friends who transformed into Superlings, but I only saw an awakening for myself up close one time, and it was with my friend Abigail. She would be about to turn 16 in a few months. I hope she hasn't fallen victim to rejection yet... or ever does.

            It could happen to anyone, the teacher said. Anyone... any Superling. I'm don't have any potential to become a Superling however, and the age range for it is almost up for me and I still have not awakened if I did have the potential.

            "The signs of an awakening include the following: abnormal changes in vision, and this can include seing a flash of light, your vision going in and out of focus, or going blind for a few seconds. How it happens is different with each person, and some people don't even get this at all if their vision is already perfect and clear. Slight to moderate cough, and it can range from a simple frog in your throat to feeling like something is actually stuck there, but with every symptom it is different with each person. Low to medium Fever, most who get this just think they have a cold or some other illness; but it is not and if it gets to this level it is almost certain they are on the brink of awakening. The last common sign of an awakening is being able to decipher telepathic messages, but this is more on the uncommon side, but it still happens to 40% of the Superlings who awaken, and it is a sign that they will awaken in less than 3 hours" Mrs. Norton explained as she mentioned the signs. She then continue to list more but I went off on a mental tangent.

            Just as I thought about it, my vision grew blurry again and then went black for a minute. No way, I thought to myself, mentally laughing it off. It's nothing, I just played too many video games last night.

            I sighed and started taking notes on the paper she handed us, I went on my day as normal and texted Nick the warning on what he would be learning in health class. After that I couldn't stop thinking of my old friends who had awakened, and ever since then they were put into the campus; not allowed to leave. It must suck being stuck in one place all the time, and not being able to wander the outside on your own without a Superhuman supervising you.

            Before I knew it the bell rang, and I packed up my stuff and I went walking to my next class and for a few seconds I got to talk to Nick a little bit. But not for a long enough time.

"So how has Briana and the others been?" I asked Nick, and we were just talking among each other. I like to stay up to date with both my and Nick's friends, I always have.

"Bri and the others have been fine. Lucky for a few of them, they are enrolled in an Online school. Stupid School!" Nick answered, and I nodded in agreement. That was one of the things that we actually have in common.

Nick seemed paler than usual; it was kind of odd... but I was just guessing he was kind of stressed out about the test he forgot to study for. But unlike him, I didn't forget to study.

I don't know if Nick has this instinct, but I have a really clear and impressive photographic memory... it was how I got into the advanced classes anyways, and how I managed to stay in the class as well.

I sighed; I'm betting Nick wanted to have a break from school as much as I wanted one. Sure, I was pretty much one of the smartest kids in my class, and I make everything seem easy... but it tires me out as much as it does anyone else.

Especially on days like these...