Prologue:
I stand
among a clump of twelve-year-olds as our leader, Mr. Hitler, reads the history
of our community, the Society of the Seers.
“Forty years
ago, we created this society for the safety of our people, those of fire,
water, earth, and others. Our mission is
to find and protect the Seers among us.
The time has come for us to discover the powers hidden inside of us, to
become true citizens of the Society of the Seers. Our first group will be the children of the Currents,
the people of the water. Discover your
powers, Scarlett Jones,” he says.
Scarlett Jones, a tall girl with caramel hair and blue eyes, strides to
the room. The door shuts and the screens
turn on. There is no sound. Her face contorts. Of course.
They’re hurling insults at her.
Strong emotions trigger your powers.
She clenches her fists. Then, all
of a sudden, jets of water shoot from her hands and splash against the bulletproof
glass protecting the trainers. She’s
lucky. Her powers came quickly. My brother, Malcolm, was crying and screaming
before his powers came. Water, of
course. Our parents are Currents. Everyone applauds, in and out of the
room. Scarlett shuffles out, but before
she leaves, she shoots a jet of water again for good measure. Other kids that I don’t know go in and come
out. Then Mr. Hitler calls my name. “Discover your powers, Mallory Cane.” I walk to the room.
The first
woman talks. “You’re ugly.”
“You’re
stupid.”
“Your
family is a group of failures.”
“Tea
bag.” I laugh ironically at this
one. I’m from London. No wonder.
Trainers keep insulting me. I
grow agitated.
Then the
Ignited trainer crosses the line. “Your
brother is dumb.” I scream and I feel a
tear streak down my face. I stare at my
hand waiting for something, anything.
But instead of seeing fire, water, or a lightning bolt, instead of
feeling pain or seeing my hand do something that I want it to, instead of
something floating, instead of vines growing out of the ground, instead of
levitating, instead of being flexible, I feel nothing.
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