Chapter Text
Apex International Academy. There it was. Tall, with a pristine white exterior and glass that reflected the sunlight into your eyes. You block your vision staring up at the foreboding building, taking in every detail. The serviceberry trees lining the concrete pathway, the dynamic curves and domes that evoked a neo-futuristic vibe, the shining gold-plated logo depicting a book with a torch at the center, all surrounded by a laurel wreath, at the center of the largest window pane of the building.
Your weak knees falter a little bit, and you catch yourself before you collapse. Is it your nerves? You’ve known this moment was to come for months, and now it’s here, and you feel…
You feel…
You sigh, clutching a duffel bag in each hand. A million thoughts race through your head, and as you try to process each one, you feel a cold hand on your shoulder. You jump, dropping a duffel bag, and freeze, hoping that the problem makes itself vanish.
“Oh my… are you alright?”
A familiar voice echoes from behind you. You turn, noticing the hand that touched you was that of Mr. Ashlock, your pilot and escort to the island. He himself is dragging two suitcases and a backpack with him, all your own snacks, clothes, and assorted belongings.
You clutch your chest with your now free hand. “Sorry,” you apologize breathlessly, scooping the duffel bag back up. “I was just… frightened.”
“Nerves?” he asks, then laughs a deep, hearty chuckle without waiting for a response. “I understand. I remember my first day at Embry-Riddle. God, I was a wreck. But look at how I turned out.”
He gestures to himself, as if to show off his success.
“You’ll be fine, kiddo.” he says reassuringly. “Don’t fret.”
Easier said than done.
You’d gotten the letter months ago. The United Nations had unanimously approved a new international academy, dedicated to housing and educating the world’s most talented youths. The school was big enough to house more than a hundred students, but the academy’s first graduating class would only have fifteen, as a sort of test run. As such, fifteen prodigal teens from fifteen different countries, considered among the best in their fields, were carefully handpicked to enlist in the academy. And, lucky you, you’d been chosen as the United States of America’s representative.
It was a golden opportunity. Being recognized by the nations of the world as one of the most skilled youths was nothing to scoff at. And so, in lieu of the community college you were far more comfortable with, your parents decided it would be best to ship you off to Apex International, the brand new academy that sat on its very own island in the Caribbean.
You had a couple months to prepare, but it never felt real. You’d been scouted by the government to join students from Brazil, Korea, France, all over the world. These ‘Ultimates’, they called them. And you were one of them?
You never could’ve thought it possible. You tried to be excited, and you were, no doubt. But there was… something else. Deep inside you, you had this terrible gut feeling that something was amiss. Were you scared? Anxious? Or… was something else going on?
In the months leading up, you couldn’t shake this… feeling. Nothing could calm your anxieties, and the closer the first day of school came, the more you were convinced that something was going to go horribly wrong.
You had no idea how right you were.
You and Mr. Ashlock entered the school. The halls, similar to the school’s exterior, were pristine and white. A grand staircase seemed to ascend to every level of the school, the floors were covered by wood veneers, a large glass ceiling let in natural light, potted plants and bulletin boards dotted the halls. Only one thing seemed off about it all.
“Where is everyone?” Mr. Ashlock asked.
He said it, but you noticed it too. You were promised a grand welcoming party to the school. UN representatives, teachers and staff, your fellow students. All of them were supposed to be here by now. So… where were they?
You took a few steps forward, peering down the hall to the left, then to the right. Still no one.
“What the…”
All of a sudden, pain shot through your head. You groaned, dropping your bags and rubbing your temples with your fingers.
“Kid? You okay?” Mr. Ashlock called.
That’s when you fell to the floor.
Your vision started to fade. You heard footsteps, barely made out Mr. Ashlock’s figure standing above you, clearly panicked, before it looks like he passes out too.
You try to move. First an arm, then a hand, then a finger. Nothing. You’ve been rendered completely immobile.
Your eyelids become heavier. You struggle to keep them open, but finally, they close.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
You jolt awake. You’ve found yourself sitting at a desk in a classroom. But… something’s weird.
This classroom doesn’t fit the aesthetic of the rest of Apex International. No, it looks… older. A giant chalkboard sits at the front of the room, just behind a large desk, presumably for a teacher. In front of the desks are rows and rows of smaller desks and chairs, presumably for students. The walls are an ugly yellow color, covered with posters with text that look like Japanese kanji. Weirdly, and notably, the windows seemed to be completely blocked by metal sheets.
It takes a minute for you to regain control of your senses. Even when you do, you feel very weak and tired, but you’re still on high alert. You practically jump out of your seat, heart racing, eyes darting, brain thinking too many thoughts at the same time again.
You try to calm yourself down. You take a deep breath in, then out, then you do it again. You place your hand on your chest, continuing to breathe in a methodical manner.
Okay, you think to yourself. It’s okay. You’re okay.
You look around, in an even more unfamiliar environment than you were in before. A pungent odor pierces your nose, and your eyes are still adjusting to the overhead lights.
"Right." you whisper to no one in particular, not like there's anyone here to talk to. "You don’t know where you are. You don’t know how you got here. But you know who you are. Who you are…"
Wait…
Who are you again?
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DECISION POINT #1: WHO ARE YOU?
A) Matthew Spencer, the Ultimate Game Designer
B) Jazmine Chapman, the Ultimate Public Speaker
C) Hakeem Robinson, the Ultimate Rapper
D) Willow Pearson, the Ultimate Plastic Surgeon
VOTING ENDS MARCH 13th