The Gifted

Chapter 1

The warm summers breeze gently lifted my hair, dancing it around my face. As soft music played through my earphones I let myself relax into the grass and closed my eyes. It was the end of summer break and although that should mean new found excitement for colleague, all I felt was sad and anxious. The buzzing from my phone broke the bubble of seclusion I was in and brought me back to reality. Looking down at the message it was my sister telling me to come inside. Rolling my eyes at my sisters laziness I stood up and admired the beauty which surrounded us. The forest which was held back by a old wooden fence surrounded the backyard as we lived at the end of a cul de sac.

Retreating inside up the back porch steps I could smell the aromas of dinner wafting through the open sliding door. Walking into the kitchen I could hear my older brother and younger sister arguing about something, not like that was unusual, they fought over almost everything despite their age difference of 6 years.

" I wonder what they're fighting about this time?" I laughed to my mum as I stay down at the kitchen island.
Quickly looking up from the frying pan she turned around with a smile on her face. 
"They probably think one of them stole something, how about you go and try to solve the issue. Dinner will be ready in ten."
With a quick nod I jumped off the stool and hurried on upstairs.

" What's all the fuss about?" I yelled walking into my older brother's room. "My younger sister, Selena, who was 15 answered first."

" Jake took my phone charger again!" she huffed with anger.

"I did not, stop blaming me for things you've lost," my older brother Jake, who was twenty-one said with more composure than Selena."

"Can we please resolve this later, dinners ready and you know how Mum feels about waiting."
"Fine" both said in unison. Walking down the stairs I could feel Selena and Jake giving each other deathly looks. Finally we sat down for dinner, when the doorbell rang. Letting out a groan I stood up and walked towards the front door, swinging the door open I expected to find someone trying to sell me something. Instead I found a medium sized envelope on the doormat. I looked around trying to find who could of dropped it off, but was left with no answer as there was no one, not even a car driving away.

Making a confused face, I picked up the envelope and found it to be thinner than I had expected. The logo on the front was the letters G&T inside a circle, a logo which I hadn't seen before. Not having any other information on the front I flipped it over to open it up, there I saw it was sealed with wax and stamped with the same logo. Strange I thought to myself, it seems like more work than need be if you're just trying to advertise something. Peeling off the seal I pulled out the content of the envelope, an A4 piece of paper. The first thing I noticed apart from the same large G&T at the top was that it was addressed to me. why me?

Before I could continue reading the letter I heard my name being yelled from the kitchen. "Lyra, who's at the door?"
"No one Mum," I yelled back. Folding the letter back up, I stepped back inside and closed the dark wooden door behind me. Shoving the letter into my pocked I wondered back into the kitchen to finish dinner.

It was a couple hours later, close to 9 o'clock and I was laying on my bed listening to music while drawing in my sketch book. I have always loved drawing, it allowed for me to escape time and focus on the small, intricate detail of the drawings. I mainly drew in pencil, things such as trees, flowers and leaves, nature was always something that I knew I was good a drawing.

Slowly looking up from my bed I directed my eyes towards the window on my right that led out onto a small balcony. The wind drifted through the open window which was a relief as the hot summer nights made it almost impossible for sleep. A sudden stop in my music pulled my eyes to my phone, looking at the time I realised that it was way past 9, it was almost 12 o'clock.

"Shit!" I whispered to myself as I closed up my sketch book and shoved it and my pencil into the side dresser. Jumping off the bed I pick up my pj's from the chair in the corner of my room  and changed into them. A small black crop top and black and white checkered shorts. Thankful that I had a conjoined bathroom, I washed my face, brushed my teeth and did all the necessary things before bed. As I walked back to my bed I remember that I had never read the rest of the later. Grabbing my denim shorts back off the chair I pulled out the now somewhat crumpled letter. Straightening it out I continued reading;

Dear Miss Lyra Black,

You've have been accepted into the Dartwood Academy for the Gifted and Talented. Semester starts in one week, attached to this letter is a list of what you will need to bring. Further information will be provided with your arrival at the academy.

Sincerally, head principle Mrs Dartwood.

After reading the note a few more times, I decided that they had obviously sent this to the wrong person. Maybe there was another Lyra Black, because I had never applied, or even heard of this academy. Closing my eyes I realised how tired I actually was. Placing the note on my bedside table, I told my myself I would figure it out tomorrow; but for now I needed to get some rest. Turning off the light, I lay back down. Once my head hit the pillow it only took a couple seconds for sleep to overcome me.