Bella
BPOV
I sat in the foyer staring at each student that walked passed, each only glancing at me for a second, as if they weren't really allowed to. Volturi Academy for the Gifted was a reasonably new private school that had opened up in Texas only three years ago, but its reputation was so great that most people forgot how new it was. Which is why my parents flew me 823 miles just for this interview. A week ago I had received a letter asking me to meet with Mr. Uley, the Principal.
I was staring at the receptionist, trying to force her to say I could go in now. I had been sitting there for close to 20 minutes, and had already torn the brochure I had been given into little pieces.
I remembered back to receiving the letter. I had just got home from school when mom rushed to meet me at the gate.
"Oh Bella your home!" she yelled ash she ran too me.
"Yes, same time as yesterday" then I saw my dad standing in the doorway, "Dad? Why are you home from work?"
"Your mother called me and said I had to come straight home"
"Well come on then, both of you" she squeaked as she ran into the kitchen. When I got there I saw a large envelope waiting on the bench. My name on the front and some school emblem in the corner.
"Its from that Volturi school, Bella. How exciting!" I looked at dad, he just shrugged. Inside there were a bundle of sheets and documents. I pulled out the first that looked like a letter. It stated with "Congratulations"…
Congratulations Isabella Swan,
You have been chosen to attend an interview with the principle Mr. Sam Uley at the Volturi Academy for the Gifted at our Dallas Texas campus. We have seen that you have an extraordinary gift and would love the chance to see if you are capable of joining our team of gifted youth.
No RSVP required. Your appointment is at 9:00, June 21st 2016.
We hope to see you there.
Yours truly,
The Volturi Borthers.
"How strange "the Volturi Brothers". No first names" dad mused.
"Guess they're the Founders"
"Who cares who they are. All that matters is that they want you!" mom was on a definite high.
"Its only an interview mum. Besides we don't have the money to just go to Texas for an interview."
"Yes we do Bells"
"Dad"
"No. This is great for you. Your going"
And so here I am. Just a 12 yr old girl alone in Texas. My parents couldn't see the dilemma that it was.
"Isabella Swan?" the receptionist finally called out.
"Yes. That's me"
"You can go in now"
Mr Uley's Office was every thing you would expect in a pompous rich school. Leather, oak wood, trophies, you name it. The only strange thing was a giant world map behind his desk. It was covered in thin red lines with dots and stars in different countries.
"Isabella?" the man behind the desk confirmed.
"Yes, but I prefer Bella"
"Of course, please have a seat. I'm Mr. Uley"
"Hi"
"Yes, hello" He chuckled "Do you know why you're here Bella?"
"For an interview?"
"Yes, but why?"
"Oh, umm well I guess I'm pretty good at math"
"Bella, your 'math' is above any 12 yr old I have ever heard of. It is more advanced than most mathematicians I would imagine." He turned around and pulled out a file, flicked through it and brought out a single sheet.
"Do you know how we found you?"
"No"
"You had an encounter with one of our school professors a few weeks back. A Miss Cleawater?" I remembered the name and blushed. "She visited your school, and you corrected some of her work. Yes?"
"Ah, yes"
"Miss Clearwater happens to be one of our advanced mathematics teachers. Now do you see why me might want you here?"
"Because I'm really good at math"
"Bella you are a child genius"
"Oh. Thank you. But my family could never afford"
"It's a scholarship Bella" he interrupted, "Actually every student here is on a scholarship"
"How?"
"We have some very good beneficiaries and donations. But now that the formalities are done with I would like to get to the important part of this interview"
"Ok…"
"What do you think of the war?"
"The war?" he nodded. "Well, apart from being a waste of the little resources our country has left, and a despicable waste of life; it's pointless, aimless and avoidable. I think that there is only one person responsible and that is our president. The Vice at the time of the assassination. I think corruption is involved, but its never been looked into."
"So you have quite an opinion on it" he looked amused. "Would you like to help end it?"
"What?"
"How much do you value your life?"
"Umm…a lot" not sure of the point he was trying to make.
"And the lives of your family?"
"I value theirs more than I do my own"
"Good, because what I am about to tell you is above top secret. Above government knowledge. If a single word of this leaves this room, well, we have ways of making that person never talk again. I know you're just a child, but am I being clear Bella?"
"Very clear"
"This is no ordinary school, our students are trained in espionage and tactical defense."
"Spies?"
"In essence yes. We have the brains and the brawn. Children and teenagers whose metal and physical strength is high above your average military personal. Our aim is to stop the war in plain sight, and from the inside."
"Why kids?" I was looking at him in disbelief.
"Who would suspect a 14 yr old girl wondering around a building with a big backpack? No one would. That is why. You are underestimated by everyone you pass. And you can hide in plain sight."
"And you want me?"
"Yes"
"Why?"
"You would be surprised what a brilliant mathematical inclined mind can do"
"Do I get any time to think about this?"
"Yes, but remember you can't say a word of this to anybody. Not even your parents. Don't even write about it in your diary."
"I understand."
"Good. If you decide to join us, a car will turn up at your house exactly a week from today, 9:00. You either get in the car, or your don't."
I just nod; this is way too much to take in, considering that I've only been in his office for 5 minutes.
"Excellent. I hope to see you again soon Bella."
And with that I was dismissed. My life had changed forever and it had only taken 5 minutes.