the truth

"I think I'm ready," I said in a soft voice, following Tim over back to the room I was operated on in. He motioned for me to sit on the metal bench, then sat down himself. He took a deep breath in and smoothed my hair before he spoke, careful not to touch the area where those little horn thingys were, because I guess he could tell it hurt.

"This is going to be a lot of information, and it might be overwhelming, so once I finish, I have a packet full of everything you need to know- just in case you forget," he stated as he handed me a notebook, with the first ten or so pages full of information.

"Alrighty then," I said as I laughed nervously, wondering just how complicated this could be. I put the notebook beside me.

"This whole place is a laboratory," he started, motioning at the rooms around us. "It is full of two different kinds of people: Kins, the children who are all around your age, and Observers, the adults who work here." Looking back at me, he said what was kind of obvious, but I wasn't going to complain.

"You are a Kin, meaning just like the other children, you are technically an experiment now. Just as you have been your whole life, since you were born, which is why you have sensitive hearing, and you probably worked it out by now, but you've been hearing other people's thoughts this whole time, too. I have worked here longer than you've been alive, meaning I'm an Observer, but we'll get back to that. Your mother agreed that her firstborn could be a part of the project. Anyways, you-"

"Oh, so mom knows I'm here? Thank god. I was getting worried she would call the police on you for taking me here," I interrupted, in utter relief- "Sorry. Continue, please."

My uncle sighed, but still went on, "As I was saying, you are a Kin, but that's not all you are. The Kins are split into 6 divisions, each with different... abilities, you could call it. They are all named after gemstones- Jadekin, Onyxkin, Jasperkin, Adventurinekin, Emeraldkin, and... Amberkin," He looked at me, looking unsurprised when my jaw dropped to the floor. Confused, I pointed at myself, because that's just the thing- I'M Amber-kins, that is MY nickname that Tim had given me since I was little. He simply laughed and whispered, "Yes, you!", and pointed at me before bopping my nose. I was really interested now, and I guess he could tell. He turned towards me, now sitting Indian-style on the table, and I did the same.

Continuing, he said, "Each of the Kin divisions have different abilities, but they all have little horns or antlers of some type, which allow them to cast, or communicate through thought. You are Amberkin, so you'll have deer-like antlers. I think you'll be able to tell what other kinds of antlers or horns the other divisions have when you see them later on. Along with the antlers and their own ability, each division has one other altered or added physical characteristic. Once your back heals, you'll see what it is for your division. Do you still have that little piece of amber that was on your breakfast tray?"

I held it up, because I had put it in the pocket of my uniform before I was taken away for the 'procedure'.

"Good. These are the only things that allow you to use your abilities, almost like a battery. We give them to the Kins in the morning, and take them back at night, to make sure nobody is being irresponsible with their abilities. Got all that?" Tim had to catch his breath for a second, cause he was talking a lot.

I didn't really, but I said yes anyways.

"Alright, next up are the KK's. They're the leaders of each division, and the most powerful of their respectful section. They're also all named after their section, meaning their names are Jade, Onyx, Jasper, Adventurine, Emerald, and Amber. Meaning, yes, you are the KK of Amberkin," he said the last part quickly, presumably so I wouldn't interrupt him again.

"Once you have time to meet some other Kins, make sure to befriend the other KK's, you'll be seeing them and working with them a lot, even if you don't like them. So-"

"What is my other physical thingy? It's on my back, right? What did they do to me there?" I interrupted again, and though I was sorry, I was still way more curious.

"Oh-" My uncle appeared shocked that I actually WANTED to know, which I mean, why wouldn't I? It is my body, after all. Tim seemed to think on how to word it for a while, but I couldn't quite read him because my head still hurt so badly. Eventually, he turned to me with a smile and said- "Remember what I always wrote on your birthday cards?"

I thought about it for a moment..

..then I remembered.

"we're gonna fly this year"