Chapter 4

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, studying my outfit and trying not to think about what was going to happen today. It was kind of difficult though, when I could see my packed bags behind me, and my bare room beyond that. My eyes went back to my outfit – was I too dressed up? I’d wanted something smart, but friendly-looking. After having thrown most of my clothes on the floor because they weren’t ‘right’, Mum had gone out and bought me these - a knee-length, silky skirt that was the colour of peacock feathers, and a dark green blouse. As I messed about with my hair, trying to decide whether to put it up or leave it down, my mind drifted back to the conversation that had literally changed my life…

“There’s this place, Christie, for people like you. It’ll be a place where you can finally fit in. You’re a very pretty girl… you could easily get a boyfriend there. Would you like that?”

I looked down at the desk, blushing. Of course I wanted a boyfriend… but no guy ever wanted to go out with me… it would automatically destroy their reputation. I’d never had a boyfriend, and I think Mr. Logan had figured that out. I snuck a glance at him, and found amusement dancing in those blue sapphires of his. I pouted at him. “It’s not funny!” I protested.

“Oh, no. It’s not that, Christie. I was just wondering how stupid the guys are in this school – usually they see a pretty face and go for it, regardless of anything else. Many of them will regret never asking you out and getting to know you.” He winked and my cheeks turned a brighter shade of red, causing him to laugh. I could only think how nice his laugh was…

The one thing I was sad about was not having Mr. Logan as my teacher anymore – he’d made me promise to keep my grades up and had said he would look me up whenever he was in the area of my new home, to see how I was doing. It was a little strange, having a teacher tell me that he’d ‘look me up’, but then again, he was no longer my teacher… my heart dropped at that thought. I’d definitely miss him… he was the only part of that school I didn’t want to leave behind.

She’ll be here soon…

At that mental remark, butterflies began to viciously roam around my stomach, seemingly trying their hardest to escape. I was nervous – more nervous that I had ever been before. Then again, I had good reason to be nervous. I was moving to a new home… without my parents…

“Birke Institution for the Gifted is recommended worldwide. Your daughter is a perfect candidate – we’ve never had anyone who can communicate with animals before. I’d be very interested in learning about her ability. Once we have as much information about it as possible, we can then progress onto helping your daughter control her ability… but also onto helping it advance. Your daughter is a very special child, and I believe she could use her ability for the greater good. Imagine, for example, what Christie could do as a vet. Or, what she could do to aid endangered animals?”

By this point, the woman sat in front of us had already managed to persuade me to join the Institution. Well, to be honest, I’d been persuaded ever since Mr. Logan had told me about this place. He’d phoned them up, after asking my permission to do so, and Anna had travelled all the way to our house to meet me. My parents, however, weren’t as easily swayed – I was okay with that, though. They just wanted to make sure this place was as good as it sounded.

“The students have an account opened in their name as soon as they joined us. When they turn eighteen, the students can gain access to this account, and the fifty grand that the Institution give for their help.”

My mouth dropped open and my mother gasped. “Fifty grand? That would put her through university… and further!”

Anna smiled. “The education of the students is carried on at a school near the Institution and we ensure that they receive the best treatment there. The students usually stay at the Institution till they are eighteen… but they are free to leave before that if they wish. Many stay on even after their eighteenth birthday to help us further, and if they choose this, they are then paid a regular wage for their services.”

My Dad glanced up from the leaflet he’d been reading. “How many students are there at the moment?”

“There are six students at the Institution. We try and limit to the number to below ten, so that we have enough time for deeper research and more concentrated investigations.”

This was all very weird for me – it hadn’t really sunk in yet. Whenever my ‘ability’ was discussed, I was usually being insulted in some way… now, in the space of two days, I’d turned from ‘freak’ into ‘someone special’. I glanced at Anna and found her smiling reassuringly at me. She didn’t look that old, and was very pretty – I found myself smiling back. She looked like a very friendly, but organised woman. She was dressed smartly, and had her brown hair up in a very neat manner, but her chocolate eyes portrayed nothing but friendliness.

“Well, Christie… what do you think?” I turned to my Dad and smiled at him.

“I have to go, Dad. It’s perfect.”

I gave one last look at my reflection – a tall, pale girl stared back at me, her light blonde hair spread around her shoulders, her green eyes vibrant with excitement. And you know what? She was smiling, finally.

“Christie! Anna’s here!”

I threw myself one last look and gathered my bags together. This was the beginning of my new life, and I was going to embrace it tightly. I never thought I’d get a second chance, and I was going to make the best of it.