The Gems

"What am I now?" My eyes almost pop out of my head and my breath catches in my throat.
"A Gem." The man repeats. Well, not the man. A hologram of a man. Weird.

"I'm not a stone. I'm offended."
"Don't be," He replies. "You're special."
"I know, all my boyfriends said so. But they left, didn't they?" I scoff crossly and fold my arms.
"Remember when you were 10, and -"

"How do you know?" I snap briskly. My eyes dart to a group of agents coming my way.
"I've been following you and your friends ever since you were born."

"Stalker!" I screech, earning a glance from random people.
"No, no, hush, Kay."

"How do you know my name.. pedophile?" I shudder, realizing he's at least in his 40s. I'm 21. Please end my life.
"Because you're a Gem. I'm one of the heads in the Academy you're required to join."

"What's the catch? I wake up?" I roll my eyes. He smiles. "Your sarcasm won't come in handy once you're a Gem."
"What do you know? You're a hologram." I huff.

Back to me.
Me, special? I'm just your average 21 year old. Cliche girl with no special abilities or anything. This is probably some prank that my corny brother cooked up. Just like always. His pranks cut my hair short, gave me a tomboyish quality, gave me multiple burns, and now when I see milk I cry.

"Remember when you were 10, Kay? When that brother of yours brought you to your father's robot workshop? You didn't enjoy a second of the experience, I remember. What about when he locked you in that chamber, where all the melting iron was, where it burned too hot for a human to survive, or something like that? That wasn't very fun. Oh, but when you took the last breath until you blacked out something happened. You became a Gem, one of the most precious species of humankind."

I just blink at his speech. "No. I didn't like when Jeremy locked me in the chamber."
"You didn't like it, but you dealt with it. That's the first step to becoming a Gem," The man studies me closely.

"You're in good shape, too."

"Jeremy, this is the most creative prank yet," I say loudly. Afterwards, an agent grabs my arm.
"Off, peasant!"

"Shh." He says quietly.
"Liaaaaa! Carrrieee! Siaaannnaa! Tricciiaaa!" I squeal but one of them slams a hand over my mouth. There's a liquid in the handkerchief in his hand, suppoused to make me faint, I think, but I just stare at the hologram of the man. He's impressed.

"Well done, Kay. You're stronger then we thought."
"So are your friends," One of the agents adds.

"You're assholes." My speech comes out muffled.
I, Kay Sapphire, have never experienced anything like this.

"Ever wondered why your last name is Sapphire?" One of the agents smirks. I don't like his tone.
"No," I shoot back.

"You're a Gem."
"Okay. Fine. I fucking believe it. Can I go now?"

"No. We're taking you to the Academy, to train." The agent that smirked replies.
Wonderful.

Notes