[Highest Rank #1 in #fictionalcharacters, 8/2/2018; #1 in #dramaromance, 3/7/2019; #25 in #teenagers, 10/2/2019]
Abnormals are teenagers that have superpowers. Teenagers like me.
My name is Lyanna, and my superpower is mind control.
It's 205...
The first task of the Trials takes place this morning, and I can barely contain my nervousness as Raven and I head down to the main lobby downstairs. Commander Wilson is waiting for us already, dressed in a crisp suit and a red tie. Since everyone, including the generals, has to participate in the Trials, we are divided up into 3 groups. I'm part of the morning group, including Raven, Ryan and Adrius. Thankfully, Heather is nowhere to be seen.
The Commander clears his throat and surveys the group. Then he starts speaking. "The first task of the Trials," he says, "will take place in the maze underground." My throat tightens in worry. One of my greatest childhood fears was getting lost in the dark, alone.
He continues. "Your goal is to find the safe box at the very center of the maze. The safe box contains five keys, and so this means that only the first five people that get there will be able to obtain a key. The safe box can be unlocked by any of your fingerprints, and there are certain...mechanisms in the box that prevent the same person from taking more than one key."
Heads nod around the room, and I can see people whispering to one another. "However," the Commander says with a slight smirk on his mouth, "there will be robots guarding the safe box. These robots are controlled by our technicians upstairs. Once you defeat the robots and get the key, you will be able to unlock the trapdoor that is located on the ceiling. Of course, you will have to climb up there first. I'll leave that to you to figure out."
My palms are sweating with fear, and I wipe them hastily on the sleeves of my jacket. "After you unlock the trapdoor, you will emerge onto the first floor of the central tower. Then you will climb up the ten flights of stairs---with obstacles on them of course---to reach the top, where a trophy will be waiting for you. Five trophies, in fact. The last thing you have to do for this task is simply to scan your watch on the black panel located on the wall, and our system will know that you've completed the task. Afterwards, someone will come and bring you back to the main building. However, if you have the key but somehow fail the task while trying to get to the trophies, your key will return to the safe box, thus giving someone else a chance to win."
A short, blonde boy from the other side of the room raises his hand to speak. "Will we be allowed to use our abilities?"
The room hushes, anticipating the Commander's answer. He smiles slightly before answering. "No. Not this time. You will each go through a portal before you are brought into the maze. The portal will temporarily strip away your powers for 24 hours."
The Commander waves his arm, and a glowing doorway appears behind him. Two guys dressed in black jackets emerge from the doorway and stand on either side of the door, holding boxes of miniature backpacks. We line up in a single file line, and pass through the portal one by one. Every time someone is handed a miniature backpack, it expands into a normal sized one.
"The backpack usually has an emergency parachute and an emergency call button," Raven explains to me. After a few minutes, Raven passes through the portal, and it's my turn. One of the guys inserts a small earbud into my left ear, and motions for me to walk through the portal. As I pass through, I immediately feel a strange pressure build up around me. Then I hear a small bleep, and an all clear sign flashes to my left. I walk forward, emerging into a long hallway with dozens of doors. A blue haired girl takes me by the elbow and leads me through one of the doors, then leaves me at one of the entrances in the maze.
"Don't start until you hear the command from your earpiece," she instructs. "Cheating will cause you to be immediately disqualified. There's some food and water in your backpack if you need them during the Trial." I nod in thanks, and she leaves, shutting the door behind her.
I stare up at the walls of the towering maze, and force myself to stay calm. I count my breaths to pass the time.
