Chapter 3: Blackwood Academy

Evangeline

I blink slowly, eyes adjusting to the harsh fluorescent light shining in my face. For a moment, it just feels like a dream... but reality crashes upon me like a tonne of bricks, brining with it stabbing pains to my chest. Mom! I sit up straight in bed, fists clenched in the starched white sheets. I feel like I've been whacked with a sledgehammer and trampled over by a herd of Ashfoot demons. Tears burn the backs of my eyes, but not because of the pain.

Someone clears their voice from across the room. It looks like a hospital. Not that I've seen one before, though.

"Glad to see you're up, dear." The figure steps forward from the shadows. Fiery red hair, styled in a sleek bob, dark green gaze that penetrates your very soul. Her voice is cool and sharp. It holds no emotion at all. "Where...where am I?" My voice is barely above a whisper. She hands me a glass of water from the bedside. The cold liquid soothes my scratchy throat.

As I greedily gulp down the contents of the cup, the woman speaks. "I am Minerva Terrathorne, head of Blackwood Academy." I pause, muddled brain trying to process her words through the haze of grief and pain. "Academy...?"

"Yes." She nods her head brusquely. "For Hybrids. Like you." I give her a dumbfounded look. What? She sighs in an irritated manner, then proceeds to give me a brief rundown of whatever the hell is going on.

Hybrids. Around two years into the apocalypse, humans with powers started popping up. No longer human, but not Monsters either. They were characterised by the traits they developed after the mutation, unique to each species. The exact goal those scientists who started all this were hoping to achieve.

Blackwood Academy is run by this organisation. It main purpose, to find Hybrids. Bring them here. Keep them safe, allow them to explore their powers. Control them. They organise students by grade here, almosy like castes.

Grade 3: Barely manifesting, unable to control their abilities. Partially developed Traits, or none at all.

Grade 2: Fully manifested Traits, some control over abilities.

Grade 1: Fully manifested Traits, masterful control over abilities. Basically, skills honed to perfection, killing machines.

I discreetly scan my body. While there are a few scrapes and bruises, I don't see anything abnormal. Still fully intact, no Traits whatsoever.

So the story goes, I was found by the patrol they send out every week in the hopes of finding Hybrids after a mushroom cloud of shimmery black smoke was released from a certain area in the district. They took my pack, as there were many items of use inside. The drugs from the pharmacy, among other things. I'm secretly relieved that all other treasured belongings remain safe in the bunker, like the Monster Guide, (as dubbed by Mom).

Headmaster Terrathorne finishes. "And you, young man, will be attending Blackwood, starting today." I pause. While I'm grateful to the organisation for saving me, and am curious about this new Hybrid status of mine, I'm not sure if I wish to stay.

However, her tone leaves no room for argument. Like whatever leaves that harshly lipsticked mouth of hers is and will be set in stone. I wonder is she's a Hybrid, too.

There are still so many unanswered questions bouncing around in my mind. She thinks I'm male. Perhaps it's the short hair, and the fact that I bind my breasts to make movement easier whenever on Missions with Mom. Mom is dead. I force the heartache to the back of my mind. Later. I keep my expression blank. "Okay. Evan...Marshall." I dip my head respectfully, despite the sitting position I am currently in. If I ever manage to escape, they won't know to look for a female. I could just procure a wig from somewhere.

Headmaster Terrathorne smiles like she's pleased, although I don't think it could be really called a smile. Eccedentesiast. "Very well. A handbook has been provided for you. It contains your grading, school schedule, dorm room number and keys, everything else you need to know about. And I must add, in all our years, we have not seen such a power as yours, which is why you will be placed in Grade 3, as per the rules, with four First grade mentors to guide you. Meet them in my office tomorrow before lessons begin, 7.30am sharp."

With that, she turns on her heel and strides out of the room. She walks with authority, fit to a higher power. I can see why she is the Headmaster of Blackwood. I rise from the bed, ignoring the aches and pains and muse over what she said. 'In all our years, we have not seen such a power as yours.' What kind of abilities to other Hybrids have?

The walls are painted a soft mint green, with dozens of rows of starched white beds. A sign on the door reads'Infirmary'. There is a stack of clean clothes on the bedside, and I find the shower in the corner. I scrub the blood and grime off my skin till it's raw. This isn't a dream. It will now be my reality. A life without Mom.

When I'm all alone, I finally allow the tears to fall, mourning my mother one last time. I will learn and adapt here for her sake, and continue to survive.