Bouquet

Lily was not having an easy time. She knew she had messed up as soon as she showed up her teacher during the knife demonstration. Not that she made him an enemy, far from it. He treated her like a star pupil from then on, and rising to those expectations gave her something to focus on. She needed that.

She didn't need all the hate this generated from her classmates though. Being the new girl was tough, being the new teacher's pet painted a target on her. Lily was too stubborn to back down though, and dominated even more. The other kids called her Prodigy now. Assholes.

At the moment she was working on an assignment that she needed to use math and physics to explain historical phenomena. It was interesting to blend subjects together like this, and one of the things she liked about the Academy's curriculum. Of course it was supposed to be a group project and she was on her own again.

"Frieg, it's after 1am already," Lily said while stretching. She had zoned out pretty hard. Easy to do since she had a single room out of the regular down area. She got up to find a snack, and noticed a package by the door...'that definitely wasn't there when I came back this afternoon'.

It was a thin envelope with her name on it. Thin enough to slide under the door she realized, but heavier than it should be if paper was inside.

She opened it and pulled out two sheets of paper, one white and one a full grey. The top sheet said 'this is for you'. The second sheet was the heavy one, and was really weird. It had a very fine but distinct texture, and was mostly a matte grey, with a little shine sprinkled throughout, there seemed to be an embossed mark in the centre, but it was hard to distinguish. She brought it closer to her eye to see better...

"Agent 2088, Lily Seto, Identity confirmed," the sheet of paper said. Then it seemed to dissolve in slow motion. "Holy shit," she said trying to throw the paper away. It didn't work though; the, now liquid like, particles flowed over her hands, up her arms and approached her head. She tried to yell, but suddenly she lost control of her body, falling to the floor. She noticed that the substance seemed to be getting impossibly thin as it continued to spread over her whole body. As it covered her eyes and mouth, she felt a jolt and everything went black.

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Lily woke up in bed. She immediately started scrathing at her arms, her chest, touching her face... nothing was there.

She ran to the washroom and stared in the mirror. Nothing. Just a mostly Asian looking girl, with large Caucasian eyes and onyx black hair. She was fast approaching 15 years old, and felt like she had lived 20 years in the last 6 months.

'Am I having nightmares now? That creeping substance seemed so real...' She went back to her room, and there, on the floor by the desk was were the sheet and envelope. "Well fuck," she said. She noticed the page had something written on the other side:

[This is an experimental prototype that can save your life. Don't tell anyone. Burn this after you've equipped it.

You're welcome,

V]

'Well that didn't clarify anything', she thought as she put the pages in a pot and lit them on the stove.

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V definitely wasn't ready to show themselves, but they were very pleased with Lily's progress. Unfortunately, she was making new enemies when she should be making friends, and things are going to get more dangerous for her.

'Humans have taken so long to grow, in a way. I hope all of this effort is worth it,' V thought, while quietly slipping back into the adminstration section of the Centre's headquarters complex.

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In class the next day, Lily could tell that everyone was excited about something. She didn't know what though, which told her it was some sort of gossip. She wasn't on the gossip chain in class (though she was frequent subject).

"Did you hear? Can it be true?" She overheard from a student nearby.

Lily couldnt' take it anymore, so she turned and asked, "Is what true? What is going on?".

The student, a willowy looking brunette girl with a pixie cut, almost jumped she was so startled. "Sorry, did you just talk to me?" She didn't look upset, just genuinely curious.

"Ya, I don't know what's going on. I must have missed something" Lily said.

"It's just, you've never spoken to me before... and I've sat behind you all year. I don't think you know my name."

"Sandra, right? I know your name... I just... well I don't talk to anyone," Lily said. She looked pretty awkward. She usually had a blank expression on in class... and a scowl if people were talking about her or arguing. It really softened her look, and Sandra noticed there was a regular girl under that ice queen persona... maybe.

"Well.... the rumour is that we are going on a class trip", Sandra said, eyes alight.

"Cool. Why is everyone so excited though? We aren't elementary school kids."

"Huh? I guess you're a transfer, so you don't realize. Most of us have been here for years... I haven't left this complex in years. We don't even get to really go outside, just the simulated parks near the upper levels. So this is a big deal.. we're going to a real city for field training. Or at least that is the rumour."

"For years? You've been inside the Academy for years without leaving. No wonder a field trip is a big deal. Ok, I get it," Lily said. A little smile touched her lips, "and, uh, thanks for telling me." Then she quickly turned back to face forward. Her timing was good though, because their main instructor, Mary, walked in, accompanied by Marcus and the Director.

"Quiet class. We have an announcement straight from the Director. Sir, as you will," Mary said while taking a step back beside Marcus.

The Director walked forward, to be in the centre front of the class. "You may have heard a whisper from the upper years, but level 1s like you often go on a training mission at this point of the year. You may also be aware that the Centre has weathered some attacks and misfortune lately. Many members of the Academy staff have requested that the Level 1 excursion be cancelled this year," The Director said, looking around the room. His eyes stayed on Lily longer than the others, while he waited for the quiet groans and 'oh no's to die down. "The danger is real. We are being targeted. It is also true that, in this time of increased risk, we are expecting you all to grow stronger faster. Which is why the field training is happening," he paused while the class cheered.

"Don't thank me yet. This isn't a vacation, and we have planned the most intense field training mission ever attempted by the Academy. It will be dangerous, and increased precautions will be taken. Marcus and Mary will be assigning you to groups now."

Lily was feeling the excitement build. She hadn't realized how much she wanted to see a movie theatre, a mall, a cafe, so much really, until just now. Then her school phone beeped. It wasn't exactly a phone, since she couldn't dial outside the Academy, but it was a phone sized tablet at least. The message screen said 'In the hall' and came from the Director. She quickly rose and headed out, while the rest of the class was trying to influence the team selection process.

"Lily. I am happy you and Dan have settled in so well. These are desperate times, and you know that better than every kid in that class. That's why I'm counting on you during this expedition. You know the dangers out there, and you know what the real world is like. You're uniquely qualified, of all your class mates, so I am making you an official student proctor."

"Ok, sure Director," she said. Inside though, she was relieved. She was sure he was going to say that she wouldn't be able to go at all.

"I've arranged extra security, in general, but they will be keeping a close eye on you too." Then the Director turned and walked away.

'I guess our talk is over', she thought. 'I wonder of the Director's name starts with V?'