I ran down the hallway of school, I had to escape. Even if it means suspension… again.

I looked back at the group of tall, high school boys following me, Jenzon led them. Jenzon’s choppy, probably self-cut blonde hair whipped his face, and he snarled, “GET BACK HERE, AMAYAH!!!”

I ducked right as he swung his arm for a punch. He staggered as he hit empty air.

I stared at my hands, ‘How did I do that?’ I thought. Then, a large, built kid, one of Jenzon’s goons, grabbed me and lifted me up in the air. Jentzon approached, smiling.

Then, he said, “You thought you could run from me? After you embarrassed me in class-”

“I didn’t mean to!!!” I interrupted.

Jenzon snarled and slapped me in the face, hard.

“Don’t interrupt me again, kid.” He said.

Tears threatened to spring into my eyes from the sting of the slap. I could feel my cheeks turning bright red.

I squirmed and wiggled, trying to get out of the goon’s grasp.

Jenzon suddenly whipped around as a door opened, he looked back at his friends,

“SCATTER!!!” He said.

They all ran off, and I slumped to the floor, my head ringing, and darkness filled my eyes.

“Uuhhh…” I say as I saw a teacher approach.

“Amayah, you have to come with me.”

I look up, horrified, ‘Does he blame me for getting beaten up?’ I thought.

“Why…? What did I do, Mr?”

The teacher slumped down, and I saw his face more clearly.

He had a scruffy beard that was turning grey, and he had deep, tanned skin.

Then, he grabbed my arm, and I suddenly felt more awake, as if my whole life, I had been asleep.

I looked up at him, amazed, “Who… who are you?”

He didn’t smile; instead, he grabbed me and put me into an empty classroom.

He then, after making sure we were alone, looked at me and hardened his gaze.

“You are the chosen one, Amayah. You have to come with me. Right Now.”

I backed away from him, “I… I can’t!!! Stranger Danger!!! And wait, CHOSEN ONE!!! I am just an orphan at an orphan SCHOOL!!!! What makes me so special!? There are tons like me here!!!”

“Do you know how your parents died, Amayah?” He asked, his voice going surprisingly soft.

I paused, then whispered, forcing myself to be strong, “They died from…. A plane crash.”

He nodded, as if it made sense, then said something that would change my life forever,

“That is not how they died, Amayah. They went missing while on their mission to the Dragon’s Realm, they never came back.”

I stared at him, “Wha… a Dragon… a DRAGON REALM!? My parents got eaten by DRAGONS!?”

“Yes. That is what we think happened. We have been watching you ever since then. You have shown the traits of a survivor. And your powers are starting to show.” he responded.

My eyes widened, “Wait… what do you mean by ‘WE’?! And you’ve been WATCHING ME!? And POWERS!? Look, you’ve got the wrong person, I promise.”

“You know I am right, ..but if I have to prove it to you…” He pulled out a bag, and inside was the most magnificent thing I have ever seen. Yet I was still in shock, it was a scale, and it looked like a DRAGON SCALE.

I look up at the man, “Is that… What I think it is? A real DRAGON SCALE!?”

He nodded, and I stared at the way it changed colors in the light, one way it is blue, the next it is white.

Then, there was a brilliant flash, and the scale turned to a magnificent rainbow.

I squinted my eyes, it hurt to look at it, it was so… bright, ‘Wait.’ I thought, ‘No way… is it…. It is!!! It’s GLOWING!!!’

The guy seemed to see my face, as I winced, but kept my gaze on the scale, “What is it?” He asked, “Do you see something!?”

I looked up away from the scale, astonished that he couldn't see it.

“It is glowing!!! Rainbow!!!”

The guy grabbed the scale, still in the bag, and stuffed it into his satchel.

“We have to go then, your powers are growing stronger faster than we thought…”

I looked at him skeptically, "Where are we going to go?” I asked.

He looked up, his voice even, “The City of Atlantis.”

I stared, “THE SUNKEN CITY OF ATLANTIS!?” I screamed.

He clamped his hand on my mouth, and brought a finger to his mouth, ‘be quiet’ he mouthed.

I nodded, and he let go. He opened the door, and left, looking back, “Are you coming?” he asked.

I looked around the school, I have no friends or family, I looked at him again.

“Well… I don’t think I would have a choice, I would love to see Atlantis.”