The Advanced

Chapter 1: Gorgeous

AESTHETIC ABOVE: Mila Abbott, the main character

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The day I was born is supposedly when the first Advanced appeared.

My Mum reminded me every day of that, as she always used to say things like: I remember, before you were born, when I could walk out without fear or when your father and I traveled the world, eating food we couldn't pronounce.

All the while, she'd look out the window, washing the plates with a wistful almost longing expression on her face, sadness shortly spreading over her features.

Most would say it's punishment for trying to play God, but the cynics think that it's a genetic mutation originating from lions.

Whatever the cause, it didn't change the fact that the Advanced, true to their name, are Advanced in every way that humans aren't.

With their looks, physical abilities, and an almost predatory gaze, they're the most Advanced creatures to have walked the Earth, their abilities appealing to any ordinary human.

The first Advanced had appeared in Germany, where a man had committed mass murder at a bar where it's commonly known for having prostitutes and the occasional drug dealer.

According to the few survivors, the man was breathtakingly beautiful and that he was so intimidating, the burliest of men would flinch away from his gaze.

That was 18 years ago.

Now, humans know a bit more about the Advanced although it's only basic information since it's basically physically impossible to get a hostage or a deserter, ending up with a crap ton of theories and experiments.

Which led to the making of the Ant-Advanced squad, a highly advanced (no pun intended), special ops that my mother and father, Kyle and Serena Abbott, created.

So it's only natural that I joined the academy to fight against the Advanced that had killed my parents.

It had been too late in the year, but Cole, my boyfriend, had made it possible for me to join the Academy, his fathers influence gaining me a spot.

I smile and blush as I hang up my belt for the day, the fake grenades clinking against the very real gun as I think about the night Cole had told me the news.

'Now that it's official, I'd say it's the perfect time to make you mine' he whispers in my ear as I lean up to loop my arms around his neck, playing with his blonde curls as he leans down to kiss me.

"Thinking of me?" I hear behind me, the voice not belonging to Cole's but to another voice I could recognize in the dark.

I turn around and see my best friend, Kayla Monroe.

With brown springy curls and luscious chocolate skin, you'd never think that she could take you down with Tai Kwon Do in 5 seconds.

Skipping to her, I respond with a wink, "Always~" which she only responds with an "uh-huh".

Swinging our hands between us, she inquires,"So have you heard from Cole about the Advanced attack last night? I heard 5 civilians were killed.", she says in a light tone, although I know it bothers her just as much as it bothers me.

I shake my head, frowning, scanning through last night where I had spent the night at Coles dorm, not doing much sleeping.

Why didn't Cole tell me? We were together all night and if he did get a message, he would have-should have- told me.

Remembering the empty bedside this morning makes me wonder if he's didn't simply forget.

This stews over my head as Kayla and I lock the training door behind us.