Opening Stone Part 3

"In fifteen days, the first day of class will start. If your powers did not open up, then in two to three days they will surface. Please report what your power is, and then we will arrange your classes accordingly. I would suggest that you use the remaining time to work on getting a hang of your abilities as much as you can at your levels. You are dismissed!" Corporal Jones said loudly.

The students all stood up and scurried out the door to the right. As soon as all the students were out of the classroom, Lieutenant Carter spoke up, "Corporal, I see that your ability has grown. Your control of it has gotten better as well. Keep this up, and you might be my boss." He gave a half smile before continuing, "Make sure you put extra attention on those who responded quickly to the opening. Help cultivate them into ruthless soldiers. Especially Acer. Also, his family helps support the cause. Do what ever needs to be done. If there are any problems, let me know."

"Sir, yes, sir," Corporal Jones said, jumping to attention and saluting him.

Lieutenant Carter saluted back. He turned around and walked out. "With my abilities, creating more connections, and bringing up strong recruits. I will deserve a promotion. I'll do whatever it takes to get out of this place... whatever it takes," he thought to himself as he went back to his office.

_______________

Eric was one of the three students who didn't show any ability. It was humiliating that he was the first one. Justin bringing attention to when it happened made it even worse.

"What is that guy's problem? What made me stand out? Is this all because I come from a trash ability family?" Eric asked himself.

Eric had a hard time grasping that no matter where you went, the problem was always the same. It's all about who you are, who you know, and what you can do. The real problem is that depending on who you are and who you know determines what you can know. If you started out a nobody, then you stayed a nobody. He just wanted to be treated like a person, a human being of value. All he ever wanted was someone to give him a chance.

All the students were trying to get through the doorway to go into the hallway of the barracks. This side of the campus had three barracks, and the other side also had three barracks. This side was the male barracks. The other side was the female barracks. Eric's barrack was number 3A, and the corresponding female barrack was 3B.

Each barrack housed up to 20 students. 3A and 3B would be the platoon of up to 40. They would work together, train together and fight together.

Eric kept his head down and tried not to draw attention to himself. As soon as he began going through the doorway, Justin darted through and pushed him into the doorpost. He was hit hard. After bouncing off the doorpost, he fell onto the floor.

"Get out of my way," Justin said with a devilish grin, but only loud enough where Eric could hear him.

Eric had enough. He was tired of this guy. Why was he being a jerk? What is this for? There was no reason for this.

He picked himself off the floor and balled his hands into fists. He turned around, ready to throw a fist into Justin's jaw. Then he noticed.

"Go ahead, big boy. See what happens," Justin said while bringing his right arm up to chest level. His hand and forearm were covered in ice, making a spike.

"My powers have been opened for a while now. I have more control than most here. I'm not trash like you," Justin continued.

There was silence as everyone was watching. There was nothing he could do, not a thing. If he fought a person with an ability like that while not having one yet, he would get hurt. Even if Vincent stepped in and tried to help, like he did in the past. His fighting sense from boxing wasn't going to help with going against someone with powers.

This entire time Justin maintained his devilish grin. Maybe this was Justin's way of making himself the leader. Who would go against someone who is talented and bold?

Eric, knowing this was a losing fight, grabbed his bag, squeezed through the door, and ran off. He was new to this area and had no idea where to go. He decided to run around to behind the barrack building.

When he got there, he was relieved to see that no one was there. He went and sat down on the ground with his back up against the barrack. He placed his face in his hands and began to cry. Crying out of anger. Crying out of frustration. Crying out of embarrassment. Crying out of having no one. He was tired of being alone.

His sister was gone; his brother was gone; and his father was killed by a beast. His grandparents died in the Great War. He refused to take his problems to his mother. She had the same problems as he did, and he didn't want to add to hers.

Vincent couldn't help. Once again, he had no one. He opened up his backpack and pulled out the only thing that gave him hope. The mother board from a gaming system. He held it in both hands with his index finger rubbing the side of it.

"One day, I will be important. I'll have money and power. I will help those who are deemed useless. I will help the helpless," he thought, bringing hope of a better future.

Then he noticed that the corner was chipped.

"That Jerk!!!" he exclaimed

It must have broken when Justin pushed him down while going through the doorway. He placed his finger on the chipped corner. PPZZZZT. It sparked and shocked him. It jolted him to stand up abruptly. He looked around to see if anyone was around, and no one was seen.

"How is that even possible?" he thought with his eyebrows crunched together out of confusion.

A light blue box appeared in his vision with the words "DOWNLOADING..." on it.

"What?"

He tried to touch it, but his hand couldn't find it. He moved his head around and his eyes. The blue box stayed in the same place as his vision.

The box message changed to "DOWNLOAD COMPLETE."

Just a few seconds later, it changed again to "INITIATING REBOOT."

"What is this? What does this mean?" immediately after his thoughts were done, his vision went black and he could not see.

The last thing he remembered was feeling his body hit the ground.