The sun was high, the clouds were lazy, and the ground was warm under the students' feet. One by one, they came out of the building in lines, tired from math class but excited for something different.
Miss Mariya stood on the ground with a clipboard in her hands and a sweet smile on her face. She was wearing a pink scarf and sneakers, and her kindness made even the laziest students stand straight.
"Good afternoon, everyone!" she said with a cheerful tone. "Today, you'll introduce your powers to me—and we'll also do some physical activities. Let's keep it fun, friendly, and safe!"
Everyone clapped half-heartedly.
"No one slept properly last night," whispered Zanib Aman.
"I slept! For exactly 37 minutes," yawned Hooria.
"Wow. A record," laughed Minahil Asad.
"I was busy dreaming about algebra," said Sadiya dramatically.
"You don't even understand algebra," giggled Hamna.
"Oh, so now my dreams need a syllabus?" Sadiya replied.
They all burst into laughter.
Miss Mariya raised her hand. "Okay! Let's begin. One by one, tell me your power and a little about yourself."
One by one, they stepped forward:
Gull-e-Amna: "I can give someone pain by just saying 'pain'."
Everyone stepped back.
"Don't worry," she smirked. "I only say it when needed."
Ayesgul: "I control time. And I'm the fastest runner."
"Can you pause the test days?" asked Mehak.
"I wish," Ayesgul sighed.
Hooria: "I can control things with my mind. And I paint creepy eyes at night."
"That's not weird at all," whispered Fatima.
Noor ul Huda: "I see the future. And… I take pictures of shadows."
"Even the ones that don't exist?" asked Gull-e-Amna.
"Especially those," Noor replied quietly.
Fatima Noor Malik: "I talk to animals and they talk back."
"Even mosquitoes?"
"They only say buzz off," she replied.
Hijab: "I can feel others' feelings. Also, I write emotional poetry."
"Can you feel my hunger?" asked Manahil.
"Yes. It's annoying."
Alina Shehzadi: "I'm a scientist. I can analyze and understand anything."
"Even teachers' mood swings?"
"I'm working on that," she smiled.
Zanib Aman: "Water listens to me. I'm intelligent, and I love storms."
"You should be a mermaid," whispered Ayesgul.
Mehak: "Fire listens to me."
"Do you roast marshmallows with your mind?"
"No. Only people," she smirked.
Hamna: "Air obeys me. I like flying leaves."
"And flying tests?" asked Sadiya.
"Let's try."
Zanib Gulzar: "I read minds. So behave."
Everyone went silent.
Minahil Asad: "I teleport. But only when I want to."
"Can you teleport to the fridge and bring snacks?"
"Only if you share."
Manahil Khan: "I talk to trees and plants. Nature is my friend."
"So you gossip with roses?"
"Yes. And they spill the tea."
Aleena Batool: "I'm a healer. I also understand human minds deeply."
"Please don't read mine," muttered Hooria. "It's all snacks and sadness."
Everyone laughed—except Minha, who stood silently at the back. Miss Mariya looked at her but didn't ask anything. Just gave her a soft nod.
"Alright," Miss Mariya said. "Aleena, Minha—can you both get the sports equipment? Ayesgul, give them the key."
They nodded and went towards the storeroom.
Inside the corridor
As they walked, Minha looked at Aleena and said gently, "You know… I added a new line to my song yesterday."
Aleena glanced at her. "Really? What is it?"
Minha's voice turned soft but strange:
"Every criminal is innocent… until it is proved he is evil."
Aleena paused. "That's... dark."
Just then, Noor ul Huda arrived behind them. Minha turned to her slowly and whispered:
"Do you know what's scarier than death, Noor?
It's knowing the future and still being helpless to stop it."
Noor ul Huda froze, her eyes wide with shock.
Behind them, Ayesgul and Gull-e-Amna watched from the corner.
"Do you… do you see that?" said Ayesgul, trembling.
"She… she has no shadow," whispered Gull-e-Amna. "Minha has no shadow…"
Back on the ground
All students were playing when suddenly there was a loud thud. Balls flew in random directions, someone slipped, and chaos began.
Everyone fell—scratches, cuts, bruises.
Blood trickled onto the ground.
Minha stared at it.
The red drops dissolved into the soil like the earth was drinking it.
She smiled—soft, cold, evil—and whispered:
"Time has come."
Aleena rushed to help everyone. She touched their wounds, and they began to heal. "You'll be okay," she said softly.
After a while…
"Okay, everyone! Period is over," Miss Mariya called. "Time for Chemistry!"
Everyone walked back to class. But just as they entered—
BOOM!
They weren't in their class anymore.
They were in a place full of darkness.
With dozens of glowing, strange doors.
Sadiya screamed, "Did you do this, Minahil?!"
Minahil shouted back, "No! My power didn't do this!"
Everyone stood frozen.
Lost. Afraid.
And the doors whispered.