CHAPTER 1: NEW BEGINNINGS
Stasia walked the lonely hallway to her best friend dorm Ian, for their usual study time. It was late evening and it made the deserted hallways look haunted. It would have been a bit better if people were around walking to and fro to their various destinations, but today was different as no soul could be found.
Stasia pilled her hoodie closer for comfort and security as she muttered
"What remains now is just the banging of windows and doors, plus a ghostly wail to make here look truly haunted."
She made her way to room 119, she soon got there and exhaled deeply as she glanced at the window where the bright full moon stared back at her smirking as if it knew what was going to happen. Checking her phone one last time to confirm his text message telling her to meet him at his dorm by 7:30 pm, she knocked on the door and waited.
"He better not be sleeping with a girl, he made me leave Don and cancel our movie plan." She muttered knocking again. A still silence followed, she placed her ear on the door to check out if she could make out any movement when she heard a piercing scream.
"IAN! She shouted as she tried to open the door, she could hear the ripping of clothes accompanied by screaming as a scuffle took place behind the door. She dug in her purse and found the spare key plus a pepper spray.
The noises and the screams suddenly seized as the door opened on its own slowly leaving Stasia a bit scared and hesitant to enter. She tightened her grip on the pepper spray and entered.
"Ian?! If this is a joke, it isn't funny anymore…" Stasia was caught short as she came in face to face with a big white growling wolf.
"Jesus on crutches! What the hell?" Stasia whispered as she froze on the spot, her eyes scanning the room for anything at all. She saw the clothes Ian wore to class today shredded to bits and stained in blood.
The wolf howled snapping her back into reality as it charged forward slowly making her to retrace her steps.
"Good wolf, who is a good boy." Stasia said trying to calm both herself and the wolf down, the wolf almost became calm for a minute before launching an attack on her. She screamed as she turned and ran down the hallway, the wolf hot on her trail. She kept running as she missed her steps and tumbled down the stairs, spraining her ankle in the process. The wolf looked down on her from the top of the stairs as stasia dragged herself backwards on the ground struggling to get up. It took a stance and then jumped, claws out soaring in the air.
Stasia instinctively put her arms to shield herself as she screamed shutting her eyes waiting for the attack that never came. Instead she felt a shove as someone pushed her out of harm's way. She opened her eyes to see Don besides her.
"Don?! But how did you get here so fast?" Stasia asked relieved, grateful yet bewildered.
"Uhm, I am a pretty fast runner, I guess." Don said nervously.
"I want you to run and find the closest safe place to hide." He continued.
"And leave you behind to face a wolf, hell no."
"So you DO care about me?"
"Honestly, I don't give a damn, but I do know that you can't take down a wolf, much less anything this size."
"You are hurt already. Just go, I promise I will be safe ok?" Don said as the wolf stood up from where it was flung to and started to approach them once more.
Okay. Stasia said as she limped hurriedly to the janitor's closet and closed the door.
Oh my god, this is too much, my life has really changed drastically. A year ago, I would have taken down the wolf easily. Stasia said as she worried about herself, Don, and Ian.
A YEAR AGO
Stasia hung upside down from a low branch of a willow tree watching Jayden as he drew in colors under it. She blushed to herself as she admired his scattered silver white hair and his crystal eyes down to his faint pink lips and his sexy well shaped six abs. she licked her lips unconsciously as her eyes ravaged his body.
Like what you see? Jayden asked suddenly which startled her making her to lose her balance and fall down.
Oww, what did you do that for? Stasia said holding her aching head.
You were busy spying on me, you deserve that. Jayden said smiling as he continued painting.
No I wasn't and even if I were, I don't deserve it, I am a princess and I always get out of troubles. Stasia said as she sat down beside him.
Some princess you are, you can't even curtesy properly. Jayden said.
Stasia smacked him on his arms and said I'm learning. Okay give me some slack.
Okay, fine. I will cut you some slack, by the way, what do you think of this painting. Jayden said showing her.
Whoa…. I mean um ewww, its ugly. Why didn't you draw me instead?
Oh and you are beautiful? I rather pluck out my eyes than draw you. Jayden said as stasia stuck her tongue out in anger.
She wanted to give him a comeback, but tensed as she said
Bitch Maisie is on her way here. Can't stand to be around her, so later. She said as she snapped her fingers and disappeared from the garden. Stasia appeared in her room where she saw her twin sister Bella going through her clothes.
Hey sis, how is Jayden doing? Bella asked without looking back.
Jayden is fine, thank you very much and what the hell are you scattering my things for? Stasia asked as Bella kept on throwing more and more clothes from her wardrobe.
"Umm, nothing, so just fine huh? You weren't thinking about how his hair, eyes, lips were down to the body…...ouch" Bella said as Stasia smacked her with a pillow.
"What did I tell you about reading my mind huh? I thought I told you that it is off limits.
"Uhh, we are twins, its telepathy and not that hard so deal with it. Bella said rolling her eyes.
Oh really, how about I talk about the secret crush that you have on Carl, the churi kanay. And I do know that that is why you are going through my clothes, you are looking for a dress that will impress him.
You wouldn't try it. Don't you dare say it.
Oh I would, plus all the love letters that you write but never send. You stash it in your secret drawer re reading it over and over again, is it 200 or 300 letters again, I simply can't remember. Dear carl, I love the way you make me....
Stop it Stasia. Bella yelled grabbing a pillow to hit her.
No, you stop it. Stasia replied hitting her back.
Pillow fight! They chorused as they started hitting each other while white feathers floated in the air.
**************************
Jayden, Bella, Kyle, Kayla, Meryl, Maisie, Dylan, Ethan, and Carl were in the forest the next day hanging out and having fun with their powers.
"Hey, watch this." Bella yelled as she created icicles and used to to build a small castle about three feet tall.
"For the last time, we have seen that trick already, don't you have any new ones." Kayla whined from where she sat.
"I have a lot, this one just happens to be my favorite. How I wish I could to the ordinary world and have fun, with my powers there, I will make snow fall every day." Bella replied back as snow started falling.
"Wow, why don't you go expose your secret then." Dylan said clapping his hands.
"Ha-ha, very funny." Bella said as she turned the area where he stood to ice making him skidder and fall.
Kayla and jasmine giggled while Maisie rolled her eyes in exasperation and said
"Princesses are so stupid, they think that life is all about having the perfect manicure and pedicure and going on royal balls." Maisie said from where she sat beside Jayden holding him who was busy drawing as usual.
"And I can see as a bitch that you are, you got nothing better to do, than yatch on a guy who doesn't give a damn about you"
"I know how to shut princesses up permanently so if I were you, I better back down. Maisie said already pissed off.
"I love to see you try, honey. At least wait till the cube has decided what you are going to be. You may end up being my maid." Bella said smirking.
"Guys quit it. Let's not fight." Dylan said as he came to separate them,
"Yeah, come on you two should try to get around for once." Jasmine said too coming to drag Bella away.
"I rather choke on my spit than get along with a spoiled princess." Maisie said angrily.
"See, she doesn't want peace so why should I try to make peace. Let me at her, I will teach her a thing or two about respect."
"Enough already, talking about the cube issue, you do know it is tomorrow right?" Dylan said as everybody settled down, not without Bella sticking her tongue at Maisie.
"Yeah, can't believe that tomorrow is the D-day. What if something goes wrong" Jasmine asked from where she sat.
"Come on, what could possibly go wrong? Others have done theirs, why would ours be different?" Meryl said.
"But I don't know. It doesn't hurt does it. I mean, it is just to enter it, then the cube glows then you come out, it sorts your DNA and tell you what kind of supernatural you are. That's it." Bella said.
"Yeah, but you and your siblings already have powers, I mean why take the test tomorrow?" Jayden asked.
"We got our powers from when we were born, so technically we still qualify for the test, besides my dad the king says that it would be impartial, if we do not undergo the test as the rest." Bella said.
"Oh, that made sense, anyways, we all have to watch and see then, I mean, what is the worst that could happen entering the cube." Dylan said as they all shrugged.
*********
"THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN ENTERING THAT CUBE IS DEATH AND LITERAL EXPLOSION." Miles the advisor stated loudly the next day at the crowd that had gathered to watch the test.
"Participants should be sure of what they are about to do, because the cube isn't friendly. Entering it, is a piece of cake, it is coming out alive that is the problem. It will literally turn your DNA around, only the strongest of them all and the bravest of them can hope to pass out without any deformity." Miles said reading from the royal scroll.
Bella gulped as Stasia muttered just great under her breath. "Who else wants to change their mind." Parrish asked from where they all stood.
"Oh shut up, Parrish." Bella said smacking him on the arm.
"Ouch, I might be the youngest but we are all the same age, I will definitely take a swing at you." Parrish said as he rubbed his aching arm.
"Guys, chill. We got a bigger issue on our hands now." Jasmine whispered from behind them.
"And now, we will let the ruler of this great kingdom, the King of Arcadia give us a speech." Miles said as he stepped back as King Charles made the way to the front amidst applause.
"Good afternoon, citizens of Arcadia, it is with great pleasure and joy that I welcome you all to the yearly test, we carry out to find out the class of supernatural that we belong to. Arcadia is a kingdom filled with different species of people, we may all look different in our own way, but we are all unique, as we all bear a different gift within us. The gift that makes us to keep on growing amidst differences."
"And now, we have gathered here again to let our children carry out this test. Now I know some of you may be afraid, both parents and participants alike, hell I am afraid too, but weakness is not an option. We have to thrive and use this as a challenge to get better, and well, let's get to the test then." King Charles said as he went back to his seat and sat down.
"How did I do?" He whispered to queen Ashley.
"Very bad. You suck at giving speeches". She whispered back giggling as he faced the front with a moody look.
Miles stood from where he stayed and said.
"And all he said in summary was, everything is going to work out well. Give a nice round of applause for our ruler." He said as everyone clapped for him.
"And now, let's get to the names. If you hear your name, keep step forward and enter the cube, let it decide your fate."