Free The Weapon Within: A Paranormal Dystopian Adventure (The Unexplainables Book 1) by Lizzie Rose Page A

the reception desk handed me my timetable. Beth peered at it over my shoulder. ‘Cool! You’re doing the same as me.’
    ‘ I take it that means you don’t need directions.’ The lady looked at me over her glasses.
    ‘ I’ll take her, don’t worry.’ Beth smiled sweetly then set off down a corridor at speed.
    I lost my bearings straight away. All the corridors were identical with dark blue doors on bo th sides. We walked for several minutes before Beth led me into a large room that had clusters of tables in the middle and easels around the edges. Apart from Beth and myself there were only six others in the class. We sat down at an empty table and put our bags away. A lady wearing a rather grubby apron handed out pieces of paper then placed several bowls of fruit in the middle of the tables.
    ‘ Still-life drawing today, folks,’ she called out as she tipped packs of coloured pencils and chalks out for us to take.
    ‘ Doesn’t she teach us anything?’ I asked Beth quietly.
    ‘ Nah, we just do different projects each week. She said we might do jewellery making at some point this term.’
    ‘ So, we just draw the fruit?’
    ‘ Yup.’
    *
    It was incredibly boring. As the end of the class approached I sneaked a look at Beth’s work. Her paper was filled with bright, lurid shapes. Tilting my head I squinted to see if I could make it look a bit more like fruit. Beth snorted with laughter.
    ‘ It’s modern art,’ she told me with mock defensiveness. ‘It’ll be worth a fortune one day, just you wait and see.’
    ‘ Hmmmm,’ I replied, ‘it’s certainly unique.’
    ‘ Let’s have a look at yours then . . .’ She grabbed my piece of paper and pulled it around so she could see it. Her eyes widened and she whistled softly. ‘Wow!’
    The tutor heard and appeared behind her. She studied my picture for a very long time. ‘That is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. It’s like a photograph . . .’ her voice tailed off as she gently touched the paper with the tip of her finger. ‘However, I must advise you that using powers in class like this is enough to get you in some very serious trouble, young lady. As you’re new I’ll let it go this time but in future, please do not enhance your natural abilities with your powers. It’s not fair on the other students.’ With a swish of her skirt she stalked off, leaving me staring after her in absolute astonishment. Beth grinned at me. ‘Welcome to our world.’
    *
    Lunchtime arrived and we made our way through to the canteen along with all the other students. Beth helped me buy myself a sandwich and a drink then we went over to join our friends at their table. When I’d finished eating, I stood to put my litter in a nearby bin but just as I reached it, someone pushed in front of me.
    ‘ Watch out, freak.’
    ‘ Now, Chantelle, that’s no way to speak to our new student.’ Connor appeared at my shoulder and winked at me. ‘Hey, if you need a tour of this dump you just let me know. I’d be happy to oblige.’
    Chantelle gave him a look that would have soured milk and stormed off, her bag bouncing off her back as she went.
    ‘You ready, Ava?’ Noah’s voice was light but his eyes didn’t leave Connor’s and his fists were clenched. Connor winked at me again and walked away, whistling a high pitched, un-recognisable tune.
    *
    We spent the rest of the day in the library. I’d been quite excited at the thought of a room full of books, but the days of it being used as a place of study were long gone. The few remaining books were damaged and unreadable and the only member of staff spent the entire time playing a card game on his computer. All around me the students sat playing on mobile phones, listening to music through little wires that went into their ears or gossiping to each other in hushed voices. The room was hot and stuffy and, as I sat with my head resting on the table, I thought about how much time was being wasted here. The whole system