Raining Ashes; Part 1, Chapter 1:

SKY THE UNEXPECTED

I'm standing in the town square, unsure of what is to come. As I stand there, I hear the list of names being called for the girls and boys sent into the war camps. Thankfully, I wasn't sent to the girl's base. But as I listen, I heard my name called to go to the boy's. The only girl at the all-boy's base. Uh-oh.

Here is a little bit about myself. I am a thirteen-year-old girl named Skyrei (nicknamed Sky). I have dirty blonde hair and green eyes. And I was drafted for the all-boy's military war base.

I keep listening to find out the other boys being drafted. There was also Shilo, a fifteen-year-old; Magic, another thirteen-year-old; Dell, Magic's cousin that is only 11; and Blaze and Rayne, fourteen-year-old twins that are identical except for their eye color. When I find out who is to be our leader, I almost laughed out loud. We were assigned Commander Asher, a seventeen-year-old who was sent to the war school at age eleven, like Dell. From what I can tell, he is a fun guy, but also strict.

After all the names are called out, we are to group up on stage, so that pictures can be taken. I put on the best smile I can put on right before I walk onto the stage. Next thing I know, blinding lights come on and it is all I can do to keep my eyes open. We are shoved into a train, told our cabin numbers, and sent to our rooms. I would rather make friends with the other soon-to-be trainees, but there was no time from what "our schedule" says. "Our schedule" is a list of times and things to do that is posted to a wall.

I wander around my cabin aimlessly, anticipating that what was to come wasn't going to be very exciting. There was a loud banging noise on the door, and before I could say "Come in," Commander Asher came bursting through the metal door.

"Where were you," he demanded, "you were expected at the dining car three minutes ago! Where were you!"

"I-I-I didn't know," I told him helplessly, "I-I heard that I was going to be told that dinner was almost ready five minutes prior to dinner! I'm s-so sorry and it will never happen again!"

'Y-You weren't told! You need to go to dinner, and I'll have a talk with the staff. Go… NOW!" he stormed off down the hallway.

Note to self, I thought, he is ill tempered and is not to be messed with. NEVER get him angry.

I walked quietly down the hallway to the next car where dinner was supposed to be waiting. When I walked in, all of the heads turned to me. I silently walked to my chair and started to eat a little bit of food when someone asked me a question.