Chapter 1

My parents are geniuses, Einstein's but even that is an understatement. I live in a world of extraordinary people where I am just ordinary. Everyone gets a power before their 13th birthday; I don't know what happens to the people who don't get their power. My only friends can teleport. My life is so messed up. The day of my birthday dawned bright and sunny the opposite of my mood. When my parents called me down for breakfast there were two presents on the table. I sat down across the table from my parents. Grabbing the first present I slowly began to open it. Unsurprisingly it was a mirror obviously it was from my Mother who is as vain as a peacock. I studied my reflection in it. My wild curly ebony black hair sprang in all directions falling about midway down my back. Violet purple eyes are my only extraordinary feature. Looking up I mumbled thanks to my Mother and reached for the other present on the table. When I unfolded the tissue paper I saw it was a journal from my Father. It was bright red (my fav. colour) with Zjarra (my name) embroidered in black another thing my parents named me Zjarra because they both learned Albanian in college Albanian it means fire. Everybody has weird names like this so it doesn't really matter.

"Thanks Mother, Father if you don't mind I'll go up to my room" I said

"Okay Zjarra" My parents answered. I walked up into my room and lay down on my bed it was a Saturday so I didn't have to go to school. If I didn't get my power today they won't take me away now will they? I walked to my closet and picked out a spaghetti strap with a red, orange and yellow flame camo combo with black sequins bordering the top for a shirt. Bottoms were easier the ideal choice was my black short-shorts. After I got dressed I put on my black flip-flops and ran out the door. Asteri (my friend) and I had planned to meet at a carnival that was in town at 10:00am. Asteri waved to me dressed in her standard purple and white attire of a plum shirt white jean shorts and plum colored flip-flops.

"Hey" I said.

"Hey Zjarra. Wanna go on the Drop Zone now" Asteri replied

"K that's cool" I stated

We ran and got our park passes for the day and got inline right behind Miozu the cutest guy in our school. His deep penetrating blue eyes seemed to rest on me. His crew cut blonde hair made him look even cuter. Sigh if I didn't get my power today I would never see him again. Asteri knocked me out of my daydream about Miozu. She shoved me up the stairs to the Drop Zone and we quickly got buckled in. The carnival ride slowly began to rise and I gulped as everyone soon became tiny specks instead of people. Suddenly the ride dropped. I raised my arms and screamed my hair tickling my cheeks as we plummeted. Too soon the ride was over. Asteri and I made our way off the Drop Zone platform. I gazed at my watch the line for the Drop Zone must have been longer than I though because it was almost 11:00am.

Asteri and I walked to one of rhe many concession stands where we ordered chocolate and mocha frappuchinos and greasy onion rings. After downing the chocolate mocha frappuchinos before we started on the greasy onion rings Asteri pulled a long rectangular box out of her bag and handed to me.

"Happy Birthday" Asteri said before walking slowly away. I looked around now everyone was gone even the people who ran the rides and the concession stands hand left. Bewildered I unwrapped and opened the box. Inside lay a wrap' round choker. On each of the four loops lay a different animal family: Cats, Dogs, Horses and Rodents. I quickly put it on. Then a small piece of paper floated out of the box. I picked it up and read it.

Dear Zjarra,

I'm sorry I can't tell you everything I know or I'll be targeted and made become an outcast too. You will become and outcast and great power awaits, if you make the right choices. Remember the future is not set in stone it's fluid like running water.

-Asteri

Wow was my last thought before everything went BLACK!