Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Prologue: Mallory Cane's Point of View



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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