chapter 1

She saw him, her brother — the one who'd been dead for a year he was smiling the same warm smile she hadn't seen, he waved at her walking down the fields the one they tended at the back of the house.

“Carlos” she called running towards him, he smiled and ran towards her too then it happened that same dark shadow it rushed past her and pulled him into that same endless loop.

“Noooooo” she screamed jerking awake, sounds of things breaking — she heard muffled sounds, her mom rushed towards her shaking her trying to get her back.

“Ava, Ava” she tapped.

She jerked full awake “yes mom” she turned to take in the sight of her room.

“Mom I'm..sorry”.

Her mom signed rubbing her temples “Ava you can't keep going on like this, we need to get you to the nevermore academy before the bad guys get to you”.

“No mom” she protested standing up “I'll clean this up”.

Her mom watched her silently as she picked up a trash bag.

*Grate what I'm I going to do she's getting out of control*.

“Mom there's no point calling Dad's name beside I can handle it”.

“Calling Dad's name I never said a word Ava.. except” her eyes widened “Ava you read my thoughts…you just unlocked a new ability Ava”.

“No…no…no I just took a wild guess” she denied trying to steady her breathing, she knew unlocking a new ability meant going to nevermore the same place her brother had died.

Hee Mom walked closer, holding her hands softly”Ava you can't control your abilities all by yourself you know this honey”.

She threw the trash bag away “ help? The same help that killed Carlos…is that the kind of help you want me to get.. mom this powers it killed Dad and Carlos… so no I'm not going anywhere not to nevermore not to anywhere”.

“I'm sorry” her mom whispered, before she grasped what was going on she sprayed the sleep spell on her the same one she'd made for her to fall asleep and now she was using it on her. She saw her mom's teary face as she slipped into darkness.

**************

When she opened her eyes again she was strapped on a bed her hands bound by her side, a woman stood nearby taking down notes.

“Where the fuck am I?”

“Ohh I see your awake.. this is nevermore academy and one more thing you can't use the f word here”.

“That's your business” she spat.

“Feisty huh” the woman chuckled “ Ava Sinclair, 18 years old— five abilities combined, virgin..

“Wait wait..wait what? You checked my Virginity status”.

“As much as I don't appreciate you interrupting me but yes..I did it's standard procedure here”.

“What the hell.. you call this standard procedure”.

The woman walked closer and whispered *sleep* but Ava just kept on ranting, she repeated the word again but it took no effect— Ava seemed to notice.

“About that, you can't get me to sleep nurse” she smirked.

The woman eyed her and continued jotting after she was done she handed her clothes and a room number.

“Haven't you guys got black here, I'm more of back than rainbow colours” she said tossing the cloth away in disguist.

The woman calmed her nerves and pulled out black clothes for her together with a schedule “ that's it…out of my office”.

“ Already out” she chuckled and walked out.

Outside her mom paced back and forth, immediately she saw her she rushed over.

“Ermm Ava..I.. I” she stuttered trying to get her words straight.

She smiled and placed a shoulder on her “ I understand you're trying to protect me, I know they sent you a letter of threat I saw it in your phone”.

“You did”

“ Yes I did mom”

Her mom gasped and pulled her into a hug, pouring out her tears she could only pat her slowly, after some minutes they disengaged — after bidding her mom good bye she went to the room she was assigned to.

Knock knock knock three rasp knocks no response she pushed the door open just in time to see a guy and a girl making out.

“Woah you two should get a room” she exclaimed staring at them Codly, they finally seemed to notice someone was there and pulled apart.

“We are in a room” the guy said emphasis on the room part.

The girl pulled up the sheets and sat up, she took a glance at her hand and saw the tag.

“ Welcome to your room” she said.

*Welcome my foot, just continue making out*

“ I can hear you” the girl yelped.

“ Hear me?”

“Well I'm a mind reader so yes I can hear you, and for your info Zach here is gay am just tryna practice how to make my man feel good tonight” she dreamily.

“Gay? I mean whatever what's tonight”.

“ Ohh newbie you have no idea, it's the night of rituals where we have a huge party get drunk and feel good that's includes fucking”.

“Uhmmm” she squinted her brows then stoood herself “ cool” she shrugged and went over to the corner with her number tag on it, the bed was already laid so she just plunged into it caressing the necklace she'd had on her neck the only connection between her and the outside world.

“Don't worry you'll get a phone later they hand out new phones to newbies”.

“Will you stop listening to my thoughts” she rolled her eyes.

“Yes if you stopped thinking” the girl sighed and pulled the boy out of the room letting her get some peace of mind.

She sighed and tossed on the bed, her mind went back to her brother and she wondered for a second was this how his first day went, she smiled thinking of how he'd react— he would've surely minded his business and gotten a corner with his headsets to mute them.

Tears rolled down her eyes , she chuckled sadly — the room door burst open again and…..