Together, my mother and I watched them through the window.

The officers walked in sync, their blue uniforms pressed into sharp lines. Their shoulders were back, and their chins up, as if they knew the power they held and relished it.

Mum's thin, warm hand grabbed mine and she lifted my head so that our eyes could meet. Her brown pools looked into my hazel ones, silently communicating with me for a couple of seconds. Her eyes still reflected resilience; perhaps our uninvited guests didn't faze her.

She sat back on the couch. "When they get here, remember your father is dead and we are mourning. We can't compromise everything now. Not when we have gone so far," she said in a monotonous voice.

I nodded, fully understanding what was at risk. Just one slip up could jeopardize everything we had worked for the past couple months.

Preparing myself for the worst, I walked towards the door. I leaned on it and looked around the house--the makeshift apartment that had been forced on us these past few months.

My eyes landed on a holographic photograph just opposite where I stood. My father stood at the left, my mother at the right and I was in the middle. Dad dressed in a black, business suit. He had left his office early that day to spend sometime with us. Back then we were a family. If he hadn't left us we wouldn't have had to go through this. My fists clenched and my breaths became uneven. I'd never understand the man that was my father.

A knock ended the unsettling silence. My back vibrated from the action. I turned to face the door, mentally preparing myself for whatever the police would throw at me.

I needed to convince them that I was grieving. Memories of the insults I had received due to my flaws and mistakes flooded in. The effect was immediate.

I saw that wicked smile once again. I felt caged all over again. My eyes shut and a tear escaped, making way for others.

Wiping the tears away, I opened the door.

A stern blue eye and an eye patch greeted me. His athletic physique and bald head fit the navy blue uniform well--my anxiety tripled.

"Good day, miss. Are you Alyssa Stevens?" His voice was cold and the fact that he towered over me didn't help either.

My eyes widened and I tried to convince myself that everything would be alright. I mustered up a smile. "Yes. What's wrong?"

"You're chosen for this year's Guardian selections. You need to come with us," he ordered, letting me know I had no choice in the matter.

My heart hammered against my ribcage. The council kept track of every child and noted each gift. They looked for children with strength and smarts and watched them grow. The minimum age set for the training was eighteen, and a new set was introduced every three years. Usually, it started with a hundred people and was later streamlined down to five. But letters were usually sent two weeks prior to the beginning of the training. This didn't make sense.

"Why didn't I get a letter then?"

"There was a mixup and your letter got sent to the wrong person. Now, we don't have all day. You need to come with us."

It didn't have anything to do with my father. I let out a sigh of relief. "I see, but I do have to pack my things and say goodbye to my mother."

The man rubbed his head with his fingers, face scrunched up. He clicked his tongue and his foot tapped on the floor repeatedly. "Sure, go and say your goodbyes but don't worry about clothes. You'll get new ones there."

I nodded and slammed the door. Rude, but I needed to talk to my mum privately.

I turned around and ran to where my mum sat. "I heard everything," she said.

"So do I go?"

"Of course! You can't refuse the Council. Just follow my instructions. I had other plans but this only makes things easier for us. The Council has been planning something big. I don't know what it is but I know that it could change everything." She paused for a moment and stroked my hair. "Don't mess this up. The Council will be close to you during your training and I need you to be my little spy." She grinned. The look on her face frightened me a bit. I really had to be serious about this and deliver.

I wondered what the council was planning this time. Maybe if I lived on Earth, life would have be easier, but I lived on Annexia and I had to overcome the challenges that came with it. I had to conform to the wishes of the Council whilst attempting to infiltrate them--the norm for a nineteen year old in my family of criminal masterminds.

The house suddenly became warmer. My teeth held my lower lip in a firm grasp, fearing to let go. Unease wrapped itself around me, sinking into my skin. I simply nodded. This wasn't about comfort, but doing what was needed of me.

I went to the door, preparing my mind for what my future held. I grabbed the door handle and swung it open. "I'm ready to leave now."

The sun rays hit my skin with the intensity of a raging bull. Perhaps, they were angry at my dad and in his absence, felt I was fit to receive their small punishment. Raising my hand above my face, I shielded myself from the sun's rage.

We started moving. I walked down my narrow street with a police officer flanking either side of me. Buildings cluttered together. Each standing firmly planted to the ground, some rose so high, when I squinted my eyes it appeared as if were touching the sky. My mother and I felt it would be best if we settled with the middle class, where we wouldn't have too much attention.

I felt the eyes of various passers-by on me along with mummurs and pointed fingers. They were probably looking for a new topic for their gossip groups. I looked at the ground and kept on moving.

We reached the end of the narrow street, which led to a wider one. The officers and I walked until the volaho was in sight. Thankfully, the winged car looked like it had enough room for all of us. The female police officer got into the backseat first before me, then I followed in. Just as I began to get comfortable, a male police officer made his way, leaving me stuck between the two of them. Beautiful way to reduce my anxiety, universe!

Once everyone had gotten in, we took off. Static rectangular buildings blurred past me as the volaho's speed accelerated.

I rested my back on the black leather-covered seat, seeking comfort. I was going to be a spy while training to get a chance at being one of the next Guardians. Wonderful! I rubbed my aching forehead.

No time was wasted in getting there, as air transportation made it easy to avoid any traffic.

We arrived at the institute and it looked just the way I had seen it on T.V. The gargantuan building stood firmly to the ground with the exterior painted in light shades of grey and white.

We got down and the officers escorted me to the administrative office. The receptionist put on a smile as she saw us coming. A smile that seemed a little too broad. She almost seemed genuinely happy to see us. It was the kind of smile an employee would give to their boss after getting a promotion or a raise. It was probably an act she had become used to, kind of like a default switch she had no control over. She looked middle aged with exquisite bronzed skin. Her black hair stopped a little bit past her shoulders. She was a bit plump with brown sharp eyes shielded with eyeglasses.

The police officer that talked to me at my house, smiled and greeted her. "Hi, Simone! This here is Alyssa-"

"Yes, Alyssa Stevens, the daughter of our late council member," she said, cutting him off.

I nodded in response.

Her smile broadened even more and she looked at me like she could read my soul. I tensed up and faced another direction.

My thoughts only added to my discomfort. Could she know my true reason for being here?

***
Hello my lovely readers.

So what did you think about the first chapter? Constructive criticism is more than welcome.