The Martyr

Maude

Normal eighteen year old girls would look forward to choosing their college or starting a job. That was the life of a girl who didn’t have to worry about superpowers. There was a small chance my powers would never come to surface. My parents were two of the strongest students to ever graduate from Stonewall Academy’s Rumination group. Powers that strong were genetic, there was no doubt. The cherry on top was I was born on Day of Fruition which was the day that the eighteen year olds of that year would discover if they had powers or not.

Day of Fruition goes back far in our history. Basically, it was the summer equinox. The day we are the closest to the sun and the day the superpower genetics within us can be powered. The genes are only available to be powered during the eighteenth year of life. Any child born on Day of Fruition was guaranteed strong powers.

The first sign of powers would be the ancient crest appearing in a nude outline on your face. Then the powers themselves would start to appear. That would look different depending on what your powers were. Tomorrow, all the eighteen year olds with powers would be shipped off to Stonewall Academy to learn how to use their powers. The ones without powers, would continue life as normal. Go to college, get a job, whatever really.

All of my stuff was packed up and ready to go. There was no denying that I would be at Stonewall tomorrow. A part of me was excited. I didn’t have many friends and I went to a small school. Maybe a change would be nice.

The other part of me was terrified. Stonewall was well known for being super harsh but they delivered the best trained supers - what we call people with superpowers.

I laid awake in my bed. I was too nervous to open my eyes. But my mother had other intentions. She walked into my room carrying a tray of chocolate chip waffles.

“Maude, honey, wake up,” she said with a shaking voice. I opened my eyes to see things floating around me. “You’re telekinetic!” She squealed in delight as she set the tray on my bed and gave me a hug.

“Is she awake,” my dad yelled from down the hall.

“Yes! Hurry up, Don, get in here,” my mom yelled. My dad appeared in an instant because he teleported. Both of my parents had telekinetic, telepathy, and teleportation abilities. Most people called it tri-tele.

“That’s my girl, we always knew you had a beautiful mind,” he said in awe as he looked at my decor gently swirling in the air. I was still buried in my mom’s shoulder. “Now, let’s see that face,” he said, pulling me from my mom’s arms.

“Oh isn’t she gorgeous!” My mom squealed again as she traced a line on my cheek. I didn’t care too much for my parents gawking over my crest. My main focus was my waffles as they slowly floated away.

“I wonder what shade of red she’ll get at Stonewall,” my dad said. The crest would change to a color at a ceremony that dictates what group you’re in at Stonewall. My parents are sure I’ll be assigned to Rumination like they were. Both of their crests were the same fire-engine red - the color of rumination group.

“Maybe she’ll find her shade match,” my mom said excitedly, grabbing my dad’s arm.

“Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves,” my dad said protectively.

Almost everyone got a different shade of color and a code to represent that color shade. If you found someone with the same shade match, it was like finding your true love. There’s some kind of magnetic pull that takes over your body and mind when you find a shade match. It was super rare to find your shade match while in school. After-all, there are so many colors that are just a hair off from one another. To make it easier, the color codes are tattooed on your wrist on your first day. In my parent’s case, they both have #FF0000 on their left wrist.

My parents continued to celebrate all morning. They have never been more proud of me and all I did was wake up - against my will. Over the years, they wrote down a bunch of stuff in a notebook that could help me control my powers. That notebook was my birthday present. I don’t think I’ve ever received a cooler gift in my life. Plus the notebook was much needed. My powers were definitely out of my control. It turns out I’m tri-tele just like my parents. I could hear snippets of their thoughts and things keep teleporting across the house.

Around dinner time there was a knock on the door. It was my mom’s brother, Uncle Andy. He was the assistant headmaster at Stonewall. That was also something that made going there seem not so bad. Uncle Andy was strict but also the best.

“Happy Day of Fruition!” Uncle Andy and my mom said at the same time as they hugged.

“Where’s my little first year,” he said, coming over to give me a hug. Uncle Andy’s crest was glowing a sage green, code #9DC8A5 to be exact. Like everyone else, it was tattooed on his left wrist. “Happy Birthday kiddo. You know, with these topaz eyes, a green would really look amazing on her,” he said gently lifting my chin up. Uncle Andy was placed in Cultivation group where the color is primarily green.

“I just hope it’s not gray. It would drain all the color from that pretty face,” my mom said, shooing his hands away from me. “And those Duration kids have it tough.”

“That’s an understatement,” Uncle Andy laughed nervously. He seemed to have quickly caught my eye. “But no matter where she’s placed, there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll be right there to help her.”

“She’ll be tutoring you after the first month,” my dad teased. “She is a Fallon. We’re naturally fast learners.” Then a salt shaker flew across the room and almost hit Uncle Andy in the face. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down but more things started floating. I had no idea how to stop them.

“And that leads me to my little visit. The power readings for this class were noticed by the headmaster and she insisted on giving these out a little early.” He pulled out one of those stretchy choker style necklaces. The pattern was a bunch of X’s instead of swirls and the colors were iridescent shades of purple. It was a power inhibitor color - thank goodness. I snatched it from his hands and quickly put it on. The floating objects all tumbled to the floor. I sighed in relief.

″Sorry, that was rude of me to grab it like that,” I said to Uncle Andy and he just laughed.

“We’ve all been there,” he said. “Once I was on a date and I was so nervous that I made a whole movie theater turn into a jungle.”

“Thank you,” I smiled softly and he gave me a hug.

“I’d love to stick around but I have five more of these to deliver. I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t be nervous, you’re going to have a great school year.” He gave me one last reassuring squeeze and headed out the door. “And don’t forget to head down to the Fruition Festival.”

I almost forgot about the Fruition Festival. It’s just a big carnival the city throws and all the kids who are in fruition get free admission. Part of me thought it might be a good chance to make some friends. The other part of me was dreading to be around crowds of people with my parents. My parents were like celebrities because they were the head of the country’s Super Police (SP).

It was eight at night when my parents and I arrived at the festival. Soon after arriving at the festival, I wandered away from them. I couldn’t handle the hoards of people approaching them anymore. I saw tons of teenagers in colored crests. Most of them would wave and say congrats but they’re not allowed to talk to us anymore than that. I saw a ton of cute boys in every color which did make me feel better about tomorrow. Even if it was hell, it would be hell with a nice view. After about twenty minutes, I saw a pair of twins with nude crests. They were off to the side avoiding most of the attention. Those were my kind of girls.

They were dressed the same in white peplum blouses, jeans, and white ballet flats. Their hair was the same shade of blonde and was pin straight. The only difference was the one on the left had purple irises and the other had orange. Both girls looked absolutely stunning.

“Hi,” I said quietly as I approached them. “Congrats.” They both smiled meekly and didn’t say anything. “Okay, I’ll be honest. Can I hide off to the side here with you two? You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to.” Then they both smiled the same sweet smile. Something about them seemed awfully familiar but I don’t think I’ve ever seen them before.

“Of course,” they said softly.

“Thank you. By the way, I’m Maude.”

“I’m Lexi,” the one with the purple eyes said.

“And I’m Lana,” the one with the orange eyes said. “Did you say you’re Maude? Like Maude Fallon.”

“Yeah, I’m hiding from my parent’s fame. Not really one for the spotlight,” I said as I looked down. “I get it if you want me to leave.”

“I think we’re going to get along well,” Lexi laughed. “Come on, let’s move back behind the churro stand where less people can see us.” I was surprised but I followed them and we found a small bench behind the churro stand and one of the large semi-trucks that brings the festival supplies.

“Thanks again,” I said we sat down.

“No problem, we get it. Our dad is Mayor Franklin. We’re also hiding,” Lana said. “We ditched our dad this afternoon, we’ve been here all day. He told us we can’t hide until we make a friend for school.”

“Wow, look at us actually listening,” Lexi said and they laughed. “So what can you do?”

“Telekinesis, telepathy, teleportation,” I said. “What about you two?”

“Manipulation of sound,” Lana said.

“Manipulation of sight and perception,” Lexi said.

“Glad I’m on your guys’ good side,” I said and the three of us giggled.

“Oh my gosh, Lex, there he is,” Lana said pointing to a boy with a multicolored pink crest. He was tall, really tall and buff was an understatement. His spiky blonde hair contrasted against his broody body language.

“He’s so dreamy,” Lexi swooned.

“Who is that,” I nearly drooled.

“Luke Van Kirk,” they whispered at the same time. “He used to go to our high school. We just graduated from Emmerling High.”

“Yeah and he’s not interested in two blond bimbos,” a voice said from behind me. She had a nude crest and she was wearing her inhibitor collar like a headband for her dark curly hair. “Or their new little pet,” she said glaring at me

Lexi and Lana just looked at each other. “What do you want, Ember,” they asked in unison.

“To see you unhappy, mission accomplished really. I can go tell him that you two are interested if you want,” Ember said rolling her eyes. The twins glared at her but Ember continued to speak. “Anyway, who’s the new girl?”

“I’m Maude. Maude Fallon,” I said and this seemed to surprise Ember.

“Girl, you are hanging with the wrong crowd. Princess one and two here will just drag you to the bottom of the social ladder with them. These two pathetic Barbies would never make it into Rumination and we both know your legacy -as well as mine- points there. And a real Rumi needs to be tough. Just some advice, when you’re done playing house with these two, you should come find me.” The twins just looked down lost for words. Like they already admitted defeat. I was done with Ember at this point. Time to teach the Barbies how to stand up for themselves.

“Thanks, but your first impression is really giving off wannabe bad-girl. Also thanks but no thanks. I have fame status to bring to the friendship but it looks like you only have insecurity to offer. A tough girl doesn’t need to validate herself by putting others down,” I said calmly as I inspected my nails. The twins looked shocked but both of them had huge smiles on their faces.

“I respect the confidence. I’ll see you all tomorrow. We’ll know who the real Rumi is then.”

“Sounds good, so great to meet you," I said with as much venom as I could muster. Ember strutted away with a smile as if she had a new plaything.

“You just stood up to Ember,” Lana said with wide eyes.

“Yeah, she seems like a bitch. Why do you two let her talk to you like that.”

“Because we don’t know how to do what you just did,” Lexi said. “You have to tell us how to talk back like that.”

“I think we’re going to get along well,” I said.

“You and your family should fly out with us in the morning. We’re taking the county’s private jet,” Lana said.

“Thanks but no thanks, we’ll be teleporting,” I responded

“You are so lucky. That must save so much time,” Lexi said.

“I can ask my parents if they’ll teleport you and your family too,” I said.

“Yes please,” they said in unison.

“Okay, let’s go find them,” I said and the twins got up and followed me. As soon as we walked back around the churro cart, both sets of parents were there.

“Ah, I see our girls have already met,” Mayor Franklin said. “Lovely to meet you Maude. I can trust you three stayed out of trouble,” he mused. The mayor and his wife were the human version of Ken and Barbie. Tall, blonde, and beautiful with hot pink crests.

“Your daughters are wonderful, sir. I’m so thankful I met them before school tomorrow,” I said to the mayor.

“Maude is incredible, Mr. and Mrs. Fallon,” Lana said.

“Truly delightful, it’s so much easier to leave knowing we’ll have a friend with us,” Lexi said.

“Well, ladies, we wanted you three to meet because the mayor will be teleporting over with us tomorrow,” my dad said.

“We were actually coming to find you to ask if you would teleport them with us,” I said.

“I see great minds think alike. Like father like daughter,” Mrs. Franklin said.