"This looks familiar." I mumbled, eyes scanning the metal room with students chattering like this was a part of their everyday routine.
My mother had brought me here once, back when I was six, when my ability could finally be awakened.
The room made me anxious and I squeezed my mother's leg, burying my face to seek comfort. My mother smiled at me as I locked gazes with her, carrying me in her arms.
"You nervous baby?" I nodded, burying my face in her chest and she chuckled before forcing my head out.
I looked at the people, all lined up with children my age with each one touching the last of the fifth poles and watching it change color. I would be next soon and I couldn't contain my excitement as the last person in front of us watched her child touch the pole, it glowed a bright orange and the boy giggled, releasing a slight stream of flame from his finger as his mother pulled him away.
My mother set me down and I puffed up my cheek and closed my eyes before placing my hand on the pole. The crystal felt cold against my palm and I forced my eyes open as I heard loud gasps before I forced my eyes open. The pole shined a faint blue, it wasn't water but rather lightning, otherwise known as the ability of the rogues. I looked at my mother who seemed at the verge of tears but managed to force a smile, I took my hand away from the pole and wrapped her leg in a hug.
"Did I do anything wrong?" I asked, tears leaving my eyes.
"No sweetie, not at all." Her voice shook as she said it and I knew she was lying. I buried my face in her leg, wetting her skirt with tears
"I'm sorry, mother I'm sorry."
I shook the memory off, staring at the room for a difference, there was one, the poles were four rather than five and I knew the one missing. The same dreaded pole that led to my existence in this strange world. A man walked in, he wore a silver and black leotard – like the guide called it – as well as a dark red cape and everyone went silent before faint whispering started among the people.
"Who is this?" I asked Jake, my tone obviously unimpressed.
"That's Hero Black, the first ability user, he became a hero when the rogue started to surface but now his main threats are a few ability users who went down the dark path." I was confused, the guide said abilities started to appear two generations ago but he looked only slightly middle-aged.
"What's his ability?"
"Eternal youth and super strength."
"Boring." I mumbled, glancing at Jake who was all smiles.
He seemed to be a fan of this Hero Black, an easy target to manipulate. When the dark sides of their obsession came to light, they would always go against it, if his name wasn't Jake he would have been perfect.
"Good day future heroes," I shuddered and looked at Jake whose face was red in excitement. I used to be like that, exactly like him, the same black hair and green eyes, but I learnt the hard way, people like us meant nothing to people like them. "I am Hero Black, Manhattan's number one hero and founder of Brishon academy. I'm glad to be hosting this year's assessment, we'll be ranking you based on strength, speed, intelligence and stamina…" I tuned out the rest of his words, having information that mattered to me.
The boring lecture was soon wrapped up and about a hundred people lined up in front of the poles, it was simple really, the ranks were white, yellow, orange and red, with red being the highest rank and white being the lowest.
Twenty students had already been ranked by the time it was Jake's turn, he was so anxious but I expected big things from him, if he couldn't live up to my expectation, I would have to drop him. He puffed up his cheeks and closed his eyes before placing his hand on strength pole and I squirmed, tightening my hands into fists, we were too alike for our own good.
The pole turned a light shade of red and I eased up, watching him breathe in relief as he approached the next pole. I tried not to puff up my cheeks as I place my hand on the pole and watched it turn a light shade of red, only slightly darker than Jake and let out a breath before moving to the next pole, at least Mark was strong.
The assessment ended with me getting a score of a hundred and seventy-eight and Jake, a hundred and seventy-one, both scores out of two hundred. We were both too strong for our own good, but Jake would be constantly monitored considering his ability. I was being led to my dorm which was slightly smaller than Mark's room and blander, I liked it that way. Boring white paint, a moderately white bed at a corner of the room, a white closet, a black box which the guide called a television or TV and a desk drawer, it was perfection, and best of all, I didn't have to share it with anyone.
I dropped my luggage and closed the door, heading to my closet to put Mark's clothes in them. As I randomly tossed the clothes, something caught my eye. A black hoodie and a pair of black trousers made out of a strange material.
'That material is called jean.' I nodded in response to the monotone voice, setting the clothes aside and pulling out Mark's wallet.
I took out a plastic card the guide had called a credit card and headed outside my room. A few students seemed to be heading somewhere, amongst them was Jake. I shuffled through the crowd and he waved as he spotted me, both of us leaving there and moving ahead.
"Are they your friends?" I asked, although not really caring.
"No, they were all heading to the store and I didn't know where it was so I followed them." He shrugged, running a hand through his hair.
"I know the place so there's no need following these idiots."
The walk to the store was quiet and knowing Jake, it would be that he was still scared with my display of power. I ended up purchasing some snacks, a pair of black gloves, dark sunglasses and black leather boots while Jake bought snacks only. We made it to the boy's dorm and I pulled him into my room for what teenagers called a sleepover.
We laid out the snacks, got changed into night clothing and watched movies on the TV, more like Jake watched them while I organized my questions properly.
"So," I started and Jake looked away from the TV, "the bullies…" he groaned, rudely interrupting me.
"In case you haven't heard the trending gossip, I'm the last of the rogues, at least till I met you, what's your ability?" I shuddered.
"I have all five elemental abilities." I said with a shrug.
"Cool." He mumbled in a nerdish way.
I took a deep breath, biting my lower lip and playing with my fingers. This question could expose me when I made my debut tomorrow.
"Wh-what do you think about villains?" he sighed, looking at me with his familiar green eyes.
"I think they're cool," I raised a brow, "I mean, I look like a superhero fan but I don't like what they live by. Super villains are just people who have their own definition of right and wrong, and are trying to diversify the world. The government doesn't want that, the rich, people in power, they'll be seen in the light of the bad guys and nothing will be the same for them. That's were heroes come in, manipulating the principles of right wrong, I want to change all that though, that's why I came to Brishon." I took in a deep breath, resting on the pillow.
"You know that's impossible." He nodded, lying next to me.
"I think I just say it to convince myself I'm not becoming a villain."
I liked Jake, this one at least. He would be more than just an amazing asset in my army but would be the very person to kill me when I ended my revenge plan.
"Understandable." He shrugged, "I'm a villain you know, no point convincing myself otherwise." He yawned, slowly closing his eyes.
"I wish I was you." He said in a sleepy state.
"You are." I muttered, sure he was asleep and stared at the ceiling, "Guide, what time do heroes start patrolling the city?"
'Six in the morning." I yawned.
"Then that's when Shadow makes his debut."