Unknown welcome (III)

Kiyro went silent. The number of people brought to this strange academy he knew of gave him relief and worry. He wondered if they were kidnapped and brought here or decided to come here themselves.

"I'm shocked to see that you have decided to come here. I thought you were the type who would decline such a strange offer."

"I was kidnapped." Kiyro glared at Angela.

"Kidnapped? That's strange. I thought everyone came here freely."

"That's what they all want you to believe."

"We only did this for your protection," Angela spoke. She pulled out a small digital phone from her pocket and handed it to Alex. "Please get a blood sample."

"If you don't mind." Alex patted on the chair for Kiyro to sit. Kiyro sat down and pulled his sleeves backward for Alex to draw blood. "This won't hurt. Unless you are afraid of needles."

Kiyro shook his head. "No, just get it over with."

"Good to hear."

"I'll be waiting outside." Angela left first, leaving behind Daulton, Kiyro, and Alex together in one room.

Kiyro scooted closer towards Alex and spoke in a low voice for only them to hear. "Is she always like that? I feel like, in her eyes, we're like some kind of test animals to be experimented on. If she stared any longer, I felt like she'll be able to look into my soul. Is there any way for me to get out of here? My sister is going to be worried about me."

"Like I said. I have only been here a day. From what I heard, messages have already been sent to one's respective family. So everything will be fine on your family side."

"But I didn't sign up for this."

"Look, I'm sorry to hear that, but I suggest to keep your head down and bid your time. My hands are tied behind my back. I'm only here because I'm forced to."

Kiyro thought it over and listened to Alex's advice. It seemed like Alex was just like him in some

way.

"If, from my understanding, this academy is a place for psychic research development. I suggest you use whatever disposable you have to learn the things they offer. It doesn't hurt to see what could be used as your asset."

"I'm not so sure I would want to. Worst case scenario, this place could turn into a mental institute."

"Possibly, If I find anything, I'll look for you."

"Thanks." Kiyro felt a little relieved that someone he knew was in this academy. Better yet, Eve and Will were also present in this academy.

"You're all done for now." Alex turned around and began writing on his paper. "Daulton Lee, is it?" He looks up towards Daulton.

"Yes."

"Please take a seat. I need to do a quick blood draw from you."

"But I did one when I first arrived here."

"We are doing a bi-weekly check to see if there are any changes to your body."

"Oh. You guys will take all my blood like a vampire at this rate."

"We don't need that much blood, Mr. Lee."

"Just call me Daulton."

"Well, Daulton, we're all done for now." Alex finished drawing blood from Daulton and placed a small bandage on it. Daulton brushed his clothes aside and stood up.

"Thanks, Alex. I'll see you around."

"Good meeting you. I'll see you in the game."

"I'll be looking forward to that." Kiyro stepped out of the room and into the hallway. Angela was waiting patiently as she looked through her tablet. He saw a glimpse of a list of people's names written on it. He slightly leaned forward and caught a momentary what she was reading. Above the list of names were words: Project Revelation.

Project Revelation? Kiyro rolled the word over in his mind. Something about the project made him uncomfortable. Whatever it was, he was getting a bad vibe from it.

"It took a bit too long. We are a bit behind schedule; let's get on with it." Angela looked up and said with a stern voice.

"What's her problem?" Daulton whispered. "It's like she got a stick up her butt."

"I heard that, Mr. Lee."

"See what I mean." Daulton elbowed him as he mumbled towards Kiyro with a smirk.

"What we are going to do first is to feed you and wash you up for the first game run. This way."

They walked through the winding path of the hallway and eventually came up to the cafeteria. It was bustling with large crowds where wide varieties of races from different countries were present. Angela stopped in front of the entrance to the cafeteria. "This is the cafeteria; go get yourself something to eat. I expect you to come to Gaming Room G in the next hour. Mr. Lee, please show Mr. Koga the way when you are all cleaned up and fed. Now, if you'll excuse me." Angela left in a hurry.

"She's a fine-looking woman, especially her chest. I haven't seen such a large rack in an even though her attitude is dislikeable. What can you say? These crackpots think they own this place because of their fancy white coats." Daulton shook his head, and then he sniffed the air. He gulped. "They have meatloaf today. I'm starved." Daulton grinned happily. He went first to grab himself a tray. Kiyro walked behind him, scanning around him for a familiar face. Picking up a tray, he walked in line for a plate of food. With a splatter, the food was plopped on his tray. Bread and milk were picked up next as he continued down the line picking up a chip next.

"Kiyro this way." Daulton motioned him over for him to follow him to a round table.

Kiyro placed his food on the table and sat across from Daulton. Two other people sat at the small round table, quietly eating their food. They look up towards Kiyro and Daulton.

"Hey, Daulton. Who is this?"

"This is Kiyro. Kiyro, meet Ken and Sylvia."

"Hi."

"We have new blood gracing our presence." Sylvia smiled. "Lately, there is more new blood coming in every few days. So I wouldn't be surprised sooner or later. This place is going to overrun with newbies."

"If they only knew what they were getting themselves into."

"What would that be?" Kiyro asked. He was curious about what Ken had to say.

"Just think of this as joining an organization of modern-day superheroes."

"You kidding me right? Superhero?"

"Yep, that could be another way you could say it."

"We're not going to go out and start saving people, are we? We're not bulletproof."

"Don't listen to him." Sylvia bumped him with her shoulder. "He is into fantasy movies and gets these crazy ideas that we are some kind of superheroes."

"We are. Think about it. Why do you think we are at this psychic academy? It's to become modern-day superheroes."

"Yea. Yea. Just eat." Sylvia rolled her eyes. "So far, not one of us has such an extraordinary

power."

"You'll be surprised. I heard there is a breakthrough where someone can move objects with their mind. They say about a good five feet." Ken replied,

"Five feet? Come on. What are you going to do with five feet? Throw a stick at someone?"

"Think about it. If someone can move things with their minds, what do you think they can do if they have stronger psychic powers? They could probably shoot down a plane, for crying out loud."

"Uh-huh."

"What it's true. Haven't you seen those superhero movies where a powerful psychic could move a whole plane with just her mind?"

"That's a movie, Ken. This is reality."

Kiyro couldn't help but quietly listen in on the two bickerings. "I'm just asking out of curiosity. What supposed psychic power do you guys even have?"

Both of them stopped talking and turned towards Kiyro.

"I'm an empath," Ken replied chirpily. "Or rather, you can say I can feel the same emotions you can, almost like harmonizing with your emotional wavelength. However, I like the ability to move objects more than anything. Sylvia is a highly tuned clairsentience or what I like to call: a know-it-all."

"Excuse me. I'm not a know-it-all. I just have a knack for knowing the truth. The answers drop in my head without reason."

"See, what I told you. A know it."