“So, are you ready to finally see the school?" I ask Melody as she sits beside me on a courtyard bench.

  For three weeks, we’ve been stuck in this facility, hearing whispers about a pce none of us have seen yet. But now… that’s about to change.

  "For the past week, rumors have been spreading that one of the girls in your hall got a worker to tell them about it, and they said it’s one of the most stunning pieces of work they’ve ever seen.”

  The past few weeks have been interesting, to say the least. Melody and I kept our promise and started meeting in the courtyard every day. By the end of the first week, Simon and Ivan joined us, and we all started eating lunch together. Preston, the brawny kid, also decided to pop in and out of our group from time to time, and I got to know him better too.

  About midway through the second week, I was standing at the front of the boys’ hall, waiting for the new kids to come through, but no one did. Then, a crackle from the speaker could be heard.

  “All people with supernatural abilities have been found. There will be no more entry from now on.”

  I kind of felt relieved because, day by day, fewer people were helping out with introductions, and it was starting to weigh on me.

  But during the second week, the pull on my shoulder became unbearable. It felt like something was dragging me upwards but at the same time, something was about to come crashing down on me. Sleep became impossible I tossed and turned every night, my mind drowning in discomfort.

  By the third day, Simon and Ivan had had enough.

  In a daze all I saw was them waving down a staff member. Next thing I knew, I was knocked out by medication and slept for the first time in days.

  It took me a few days to adjust, but the feeling soon stopped being a problem, and I was able to sleep just fine again.

  On the first day of the third week, rumors about the VANGUARD first started. My group was in the courtyard discussing me still being powerless when the snarky, sharp voice of the ptinum haired girl pierced through the conversation.

  “Oh, so he really is powerless? Ha! I knew it. He’s not going anywhere in this school.” She pauses, tilting her head as if struck by a thought, then smirks. “I’ll be seeing you around, Christian.” Before we could argue back, she walked off, the same two girls behind her following. “God, I really hate her...” Melody muttered, her fist trembling at her side, nails digging into her palm as she stared after the ptinum haired girl.

  From then on, I had a bunch more people come up to me, asking if I was powerless. I gave mixed answers sometimes saying, “Yeah, I don’t have powers,” and other times saying, “No, I do, but I haven’t done anything yet.”

  At first, the questions were harmless. Are you really powerless? Did they make a mistake bringing you here?

  Then the stares started. People whispered as I passed. Some stopped sitting near me in the cafeteria. Even the ones who barely spoke English started asking. It wasn’t curiosity anymore. It was doubt.

  “Speaking of that, hey Melody, the boys that didn’t speak English have gotten pretty proficient at speaking English. How have the girls managed?”

  She gives a thoughtful expression before answering. “All the girls are doing well too if I think about it. But there is this one girl with bluish-bck hair…”

  She looks over to the girls’ cafeteria.

  “Speaking of her, there she is now.”

  And of course, it's the Russian girl peeking around the corner, and see takes a step forward my eyes lighting up because this is her first time doing it, but she quickly ducks back out of sight when she notices that we’ve notice her. “Maybe see finally gotten some confidence because it's the st day in this pce.” I think to myself.

  Almost every day when me and the group are out here in the courtyard, I see her poking her head out. A couple of times, I've tried to talk to her, but she goes further into the girls' hall a pce I can’t go unless I want to get killed.

  “I’ve tried talking to her before, and she seemed to understand but didn’t talk back. I wonder why…?”

  Melody frowns as I look over to my left and see Ivan and Simon walking up. "Christian! Hey man, we need to go. They're gathering us all up," Simon says with slight urgency. "You too, Melody. I think the girls are having to do the same!"

  I look around and see the courtyard starting to clear out, leaving just us and a few stragglers. If there's one thing I’m going to miss about this pce, it's the courtyard.

  Melody and I stand up. "Alright, Christian, I’ll see you at school, I suppose!" Melody says, giving me a fist bump before walking toward the girls' cafeteria and disappearing from sight.

  "She is quite something," Ivan says in a deadpan voice.

  "Come on, guys, there's no time to chat. We need to go," Simon says, tapping my shoulder. Ivan and I nod, and the three of us make our way to the boys' cafeteria, where I see the entire boys' hall gathered.

  We take our seats, and I catch a few gnces—silent questions about whether I’m going to be in this school or not. It bothers me a little, but that’s not where my focus is as the woman who brought us here a few weeks ago begins her speech.

  "First of all, thank you for all of your cooperation. This has been noted, as well as other actions you’ve taken here—whether good or bad, it’s been seen and recorded."

  Murmurs begin in the crowd before she continues.

  "You are all about to be flown to Miami, Florida, where the United States of America has built the previously mentioned Vanguard."

  I don’t know how to feel, but I can’t help but feel a little anticipation.

  "You will all be told more about the school when you get there, but before we put you on your flights, we need to test your abilities. Faaris Awi, please step to the front."

  A young boy with tan skin steps up.

  "Please make your way with these men," she says, waving for two people in tactical gear to direct him through a door.

  The crowd of boys slowly dwindles as time passes. Ivan and Preston are already gone, and Simon and I sit together, trying to keep each other sane. I’m worried—what if something bad happens because I don’t have any powers to show? And Simon… he’s still dealing with the trauma of what he did to New York.

  That’s when I suddenly hear my name called.

  I let out a sigh and stand up.

  "Please report to the girls' testing facility."

  "Huh?!"

  I’m soon met by a person in tactical gear and asked to follow him. I comply but gnce back, seeing Simon's confused face and curious stares from the other boys.

  I'm led through the facility I've been in for the past few weeks. The guard takes me through parts that were never meant to be seen pipes and technical equipment line the walls as we enter a rge room.

  I look around and notice a wall of gss on the left side, with a team of researchers behind it. Then my attention turns to the one they’re researching—and it’s the Russian girl!

  She watches me walk in, gives me a small wave, and mouths the word:

  "Hi," she says, looking happy to see me.

  "I’ve brought Christian Gréine as requested," the guard states before stepping aside.

  A speaker overhead crackles on.

  "Christian, please make your way next to Katenka Votyakova."

  She flusters at hearing her name but stays silent.

  The speaker crackles on again.

  "Katenka, are you ready to start your test?"

  She looks over at me, unsure, but then nods.

  "Wait, I’m a part of her te—"

  Before I can even finish the thought, a loud bang hits my ears, and they start ringing. My body colpses to the ground, my vision hazing.

  "Wha... what’s happening...?"

  My breathing is heavy. I finally look down and see a pool of blood.

  "Whose... blood... why is there... blood..."

  I turn my head toward Katenka to see if she’s hurt, but she’s just staring at me—shocked and hesitant.

  And then, I finally feel it. A sharp pain in my upper thigh.

  I’ve been shot.

  No… why? Am I going to die here?! My mind races, thoughts crashing into each other too fast to count. They brought me here just to shoot me? I didn’t even get to see my family one st time! “Did they use me as fodder, Because I’m powerless?!”

  Through the haze of my vision, I see Katenka rushing toward me, her hands glowing with a bluish green light. As suddenly as the pain came, it begins to fade.

  "Ar—Are you okay?!"

  A soft voice, one I can only assume belongs to Katenka, reaches my ears as my vision starts to clear and the ringing subsides. The energy in her hands disappears.

  "What...? What happened? What did you do?"

  Her face is full of regret. As I sit up, she speaks.

  "I said that I had healing powers, and they asked me to choose someone to test it on... I chose you, but I didn’t know they would do this! Please don’t hate me."

  I look over at the guard who brought me here—the one who shot me. His expression holds slight regret, but also relief that I was healed.

  My head is still dazed from being shot, but the fog begins to clear. And then—something else fills my mind.

  A pull.

  An overwhelming force weighing above my shoulder.

  I gnce at the wall, where the researchers scramble in a panic. I can only assume the oscilloscope is going off the charts right now. Once they all settle into position, they sit and watch me.

  Katenka watches too.

  "What’s going on?!" she yelps.

  I just sit there, trapped under the crushing weight of the force, with all eyes locked on me. Seconds pass.

  Nothing happens.

  The stress and adrenaline from being shot begin to fade, and slowly, so does the pull. I push myself off the ground and help Katenka up.

  The researchers continue to watch us, anticipation still lingering in their eyes—but one by one, their expressions shift to disappointment when they realize...

  Nothing is happening.

  The speaker overhead crackles to life.

  "Katenka Votyakova, please move forward. And Christian Gréine, please make your way back to the boys' cafeteria for your testing."

  A door opens, and Katenka starts to walk toward it, but I stay put and yell, "And what about me being shot?!"

  Katenka flinches, taken aback, regret clear on her face—probably because she was the one who chose me for the test.

  "Your participation has been noted and appreciated. Now, please make your way back to the boys' cafeteria."

  My breath shakes. “No way was this just let go... I almost died...” I say in my mind as a guard steps up and leads me back. As we walk, I finally notice that my pants are still stained with blood.

  I feel like I reach slight safety as I see Simon is still in the cafeteria, waiting for his turn to be tested. The moment he sees me, his eyes widen.

  "Oh my God, Christian, what happened?!" Simon yells, drawing the attention of every st boy in the room.

  I’m about to expin, but before I can, a woman’s voice cuts through.

  "Christian, please make your way to the boys' testing area."

  I sigh again and start walking forward. Simon just looks at me with worry as I pass him, and the rest of the guys silently watch as I step through the door.

  It’s exactly like the girls’ testing area—the same gss wall, the same rge open space.

  I walk to the center of the room, and soon enough, the speaker buzzes overhead.

  "Christian Gréine, could you please state your power for us?"

  I grimace. I knew this question was coming.

  Opening my mouth, I answer, "I’m sorry, but I don’t have any powers. The only thing that I could think of as a power is this pull above my right shoulder."

  On the other side of the gss, the researchers react—some typing, some putting things down, others reading graphs and reying information to their colleagues.

  Then, the speaker crackles on again.

  "Okay, then. We would like to run some tests."

  A few moments pass before a door behind me opens, and a guard steps through.

  "This guard will shoot you in one minute. Stop him from doing so."

  My heart drops at the researcher’s words.

  "Are you crazy?!" I yell, snapping my head toward the guard.

  His gun is already raised, trained directly on me.

  The feeling above my shoulder intensifies. I catch a glimpse of the researchers’ faces—pleased reactions spreading among them. But still, there’s nothing more to it. Just the feeling.

  The seconds tick down.

  I won’t let them shoot me again. I decide to do something crazy.

  I sprint toward the guard.

  He hesitates, lowering his gun slightly, trying to gauge what I’m doing.

  I reach him and— Thud!

  I punch him.

  He stumbles to the ground, reaching slightly for his gun.

  "Stop the test."

  A commanding voice comes over the speaker. It’s different from the researcher who spoke before.

  "Christian, you may go forward."

  I turn toward the gss, trying to see who issued the order. The guard brushes himself off, gets up, and walks away without a word.

  A door opens.

  Without hesitation, I walk through.

  I’m immediately thrown out onto a runway, and my eyes widen in awe as I watch a pne take off.

  Two women approach me.

  "Please follow us, and we will bring you to your pne," one of them says.

  That’s when I notice it. Rows upon rows of pnes lining the runway.

  "Is every kid getting one?" I ask, shocked.

  "Yes, sir. Now, please follow us."

  As we walk, I see more and more pnes taking off.

  We reach the bottom of the stairs leading to the pne. The assistant's step to the side, allowing me to board.

  Inside, the pne is luxurious, but I don’t have time to admire it. I’m quickly ushered to my seat and told to buckle up.

  "We will be departing shortly from Nuremberg, Germany, to Miami, Florida," the pilot announces overhead.

  I stare bnkly ahead.

  "So that’s where we’ve been this whole time..." I murmur to myself, finally getting an answer to the question that no one in those halls could figure out.

  The pne takes off quickly. Once we’re in the air, I gnce around and notice a screen on the seat in front of me. I tap it, and it lights up—dispying the date:

  April 14th.

  That was the second burning question in my mind.

  But after confirming the date, I realize this screen has access to a lot more. Curiosity gets the best of me, and I decide to search if anyone knows about us having superpowers.

  What I find shocks me.

  The top news story, posted 24 minutes ago:

  "Kids with supernatural abilities are now set to arrive at VANGUARD this afternoon in Miami after construction finished yesterday morning."

  The next headline makes my stomach drop.

  "Crowds are already growing outside VANGUARD’s walls—mixed reactions from individuals after outcry from families missing their kids."

  My heart sinks.

  "Is my family going to be there?" I whisper to myself, shutting off the screen.

  I lean back in my chair, my fist trembling slightly.

  Time drags on during the flight. I survive off the snacks on board to hold over my hunger. I try to sleep, taking a few naps, but I can’t rest for long.

  Something feels wrong.

  Up in the air, the pulling above my shoulder weakens—which only makes it feel more unnatural. It gnaws at my mind. What is this sensation? What could it possibly be?

  No superpower I’ve ever heard of matches this.

  As I stare out the window, I see something—something bright.

  A light, as blinding as the sun but separate from it. Like a piece of the sun had broken off, forming a much smaller star. The feeling on my shoulder feels like it has a direct line to this thing, It’s almost... Refreshing.

  "What is tha—" I begin to say, but the pne’s speakers crackle to life.

  "We will begin our descent soon. Please take your seats."

  I quickly sit down and buckle up.

  The endless expanse of water that has dominated my view for hours slowly gives way to nd.

  It must have been quite the sight—pnes nding one by one in an organized fashion—touching down on this massive runway.

  My pne door opens, and I finally get to see it.

  VANGUARD.

  The first thing I notice? We’re on the water.

  The second? We’re cut off.

  High chain-link fences line the outskirts of the school grounds. Just like the news said, crowds of people are pressed up against them, shouting. I can’t pick up a single coherent word, and even if I could, I doubt I’d be able to understand them. From where I’m standing, they must be at least a mile away.

  I gnce down the runway and see other kids stepping out of their pnes, all with simir reactions—staring in awe, confusion, maybe even fear.

  But then, my eyes lock onto the main event—the school itself.

  A collection of massive buildings sprawls across the isnd. Some look like shopping centers, other dormitories, and then, of course, there’s the actual school—which, honestly, I almost forgot existed in this whole process.

  Then, over the speakers, a voice rings out:

  "All students, please make your way to Building A-1.”

  I look up and spot speakers mounted on the light poles.

  That’s not the only thing I notice. News helicopters circle the school, but they remain just outside the walls. Must be a no-fly zone.

  But past all that, I see it again.

  That bright light.

  Somehow, it overpowers the sun.

  "What is that...?" I mutter, but I’m snapped out of it by the deafening roar of the crowd as they react to the announcement over the speakers.

  I gnce around and see the other kids starting to move. I follow.

  It’s a long walk. Annoyingly, my pne nded far from the school buildings, so I have to trek for nearly ten minutes just to reach the entrance. I stay behind the flow of students and eventually step into Building A-1, which is clearly marked.

  I’m not the st one to arrive, but as I walk inside, I’m quickly ushered into an auditorium—mostly filled already. I take a seat and gnce around.

  No one I know well enough to talk to.

  The final student steps in and takes their seat. The lights dim.

  The stage remains bright, and from backstage, a well-dressed man steps forward.

  "Welcome to Vanguard. All of you possess extraordinary power. You will need it."

  As he speaks, beams of colored light shoot down from the ceiling, illuminating each of us.

  A blue light shines over me.

  A ripple of unease moves through the room as students shift in their seats, murmuring. The man continues:

  "These are your team colors. Please find the rest of your team members and group together. Rex, dear students—there’s no need to worry if you're powerful."

  I scan the room. It’s easy to find the other blues, especially compared to the subtle shades of red, orange, and yellow.

  Some of my team members gnce at me with clear distaste when they realize we’re in the same group.

  Then, a soft voice speaks behind me.

  "Christian, you're in this group?"

  I turn and see Katenka, also under a blue light.

  I nod quickly, relieved that at least one person on my team won’t resent me.

  I want to ask her a few questions, but before I can—

  "Now, please look up here to learn where to report."

  I gnce up at the screen.

  Blue Team: Report to Room AC-4.

  All the students move out of the auditorium, filling the halls. Somehow, even the hallways were pristine—spotless, sleek, almost too perfect.

  Lining the walls, TV screens dispy information. One screen in particur catches my eye—it’s showing the highest-ranked students in the school. But no names are listed.

  Strange.

  Despite the crowd, everything feels organized, and it doesn’t take long for us to find Room AC-4.

  We step inside. The room looks eerily simir to the testing site back in Germany—except significantly rger.

  The door locks behind us.

  A boy with light brown hair gnces around before speaking.

  "So, what are we meant to do?"

  As if in response, the screens near the reinforced ceiling turn on.

  "The Rank Trial will begin in 60 seconds. Please prepare yourselves."

  The group shifts uneasily, gncing around. I take a moment to size up my teammates.

  There’s me and Katenka. Then, two other girls and one other boy.

  I know this trial must be important if it’s being broadcasted all over the school.

  "So… can we use our powers?" one of the girls asks hesitantly.

  We all nod. She visibly rexes—for the past few weeks, we haven’t been able to use them at all.

  At 25 seconds, another message pys.

  "Injury could occur during this trial. Medical staff will be on standby."

  Again, we shift uneasily.

  At 15 seconds, the silence shatters.

  "Great. Of course, I get put on the team with the unpowered kid," the other boy scoffs.

  The room falls silent. Everyone turns to him in shock.

  Then, Katenka speaks up.

  "Don’t say that! We need to work together if we want to pass this trial!"

  Before anyone can respond—

  The clock hits 0.

  The ceiling opens up.

  Six massive drones descend, humming with power.

  We freeze, unsure of what to do.

  Then—

  Energy gathers in a cannon attached to one of the drones.

  It fires.

  We barely dodge in time.

  Hitting the ground hard, I quickly push myself back up.

  "I can’t fight these things unless there’s a way to get up close." I mutter, scanning the battlefield.

  A rock flies through the air, striking one of the drones. It barely leaves a scratch.

  The boy who insulted me—he must have been the one who threw it.

  Crash!

  Before I can react, a pulse of energy sms into me.

  I go flying.

  The wall stops me.

  The air is knocked out of my lungs blood is carried with it.

  My vision blurs.

  Then, I see it—another drone is charging its cannon, aimed directly at me. I’ve already been shot today could this get any worse? My final thought before my mind begins to fog.

  "Christian!"

  I hear Katenka yell.

  But I notice something.

  A drone is pointed at her.

  She doesn’t see it.

  "Watch… out…"

  I try to warn her, try to move—but I can’t.

  Then—

  It crashes through the ceiling.

  Metal bends and warps in its wake, twisting to its will.

  A beautiful streak of light slices straight through the drone before it can fire.

  My eyes widen.

  The pulling above my shoulder surges.

  Filling my body with energy.

  Whatever it is—it’s reached me.

  I quickly command it.

  Come in front of me. Block the hit!

  It moves.

  Soaring through the air, it intercepts the bst just before it reaches me.

  The shockwave brushes past me.

  For the first time, I see it clearly.

  A sleek metal disc.

  White-hot edges.

  I push myself off the wall, still dazed.

  Without warning, the disc flies toward me.

  My heart stops.

  Is it attacking me?!

  I brace myself—

  Nothing happens.

  Cautiously, I open my eyes.

  The disc is orbiting me.

  Slowly. Controlled.

  I turn toward my teammates. Their shocked expressions tell me everything.

  Then, I look at the battlefield.

  The drones—

  Each one is cut cleanly in half. “This is mine? I control this...? And wait could this be the light in the sky?!” I try to look through the hole in the roof.

  But as I try to the screen fshes green.

  "Trial complete. Evaluating ranks now." And my attention turns to the screens.

  Names and rankings appear on the screen.

  Saurabh Ashtikar: B-

  Amandara Kayal: C-

  Katenka Votyakova: D+

  Olinda Ferrando: C

  Christian Gréine: D-

  I stare at my rank.

  I have no idea if it’s good or bad.

  The ranking system is still unknown to me.

  "So… you DO have powers!"

  A collective voice rises from my teammates.

  "And quite an impressive power at that."

  A new voice enters the room.

  The man from the stage steps inside, looking impressed.

  "Let me formally introduce myself. I am Matthew Grant, your principal here at VANGUARD.

  I hope the five of you weren’t too injured by our training dummies."

  He pauses, gncing up—

  His expression shifts.

  Surprise. Confusion.

  His eyes lock onto the massive hole in the ceiling.

  "It seems… the five of you were the first to finish."

  He shakes his head, refocusing.

  "The five of you, please make your way to the SENTRY room to collect your watches and begin your schooling.”