Sam looked around her and saw Stevens dark angry eyes on her as he raged to his friends in the background. She saw a Neo look alike trying to calm him down, but to no avail.


    She shook her head. There was no way that douche bag deserved to be given training to develop more power. There was no doubt in her mind he would abuse it.


    She closed her eyes and made as if to sleep, but kept a sharp ear out for anything untoward. She felt... Movement to one side and opened an eye. In front of her and slightly to the left was a girl. She was a little short and slight with a “cute” face. She had short dark hair with purple highlights that looked like she was going for goth but not quite managing it.


    Sam growled under breath, could nobody take a hint?


    “Um.. Hi!”


    The girl waved a hand from her wrist, as if moving the whole arm was a waste of movement.


    “I''m sorry I didn''t stand up for you back there. I heard Stevens boasting to his mates as you approached. I should have told Porter, but Stevens... he creeps me out.”


    Sam shrugged. “He''s all mouth and no dick, well not any more anyhow.”


    The girl blanched at the comment. Oh well so much for humour. Sam thought.


    “Right! Er..... any way my names Rae. I ah..... It''s short for Rachel, But I hate that.”


    Sam sighed. She had no idea how to react to that. What did Rae expect? For her to become all girly and giggle at how silly Stevens had been? So she just sat there... Looking at her.


    “Right! Um.. OK. Well if you make it through entrance exams maybe we can be friends?”


    Sam closed her eyes. Oh lord yes. She could still quite easily get the boot. But she opened her eyes again and nodded. “Yeah maybe, we''ll see, the chances of me getting through get smaller every time I open my mouth though, so don''t hold your breath.”


    Rae grimaced and nodded apparently in agreement and turned away.


    “Thanks anyway!” Blurted Sam, surprising herself as well as Rae. She smiled tentatively and nodded as she walked back to the crowd of onlookers.


    Ten minutes of relative peace passed before Sam felt rather than heard Porter return. She opened her eyes and turned her head and saw he was about 30 yards away with the last member of their troupe. Sam wasn''t sure what notified her, but she definitely felt... Something. Maybe it was a reaction from the crowd standing away from her, maybe it was because he was looking right at her. She was thankful no one else had tried to engage in conversation, the brief chat with Rae was about as much as she could cope with right now.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Porter noted she had sensed him and nodded to her with a slight lift in his expression. Not quite a smile. More a “well done, I see you''ve not Injured anyone else while I have been away,” look.


    <div>


    Porter gestured to the last “lost soul” to join the crowd of young potential students and the held his hands up to direct their attention to him.


    “OK people that''s all of you! If you can follow me please and try not to stray. It''s important right from the off that you learn to obey instructions, very important indeed.”


    Sam followed directly behind Porter. Anywhere else to her mind courted issues and thought she had courted enough for one day.


    “Come along ladies and erm.. Gentlemen.. Please follow closely.”


    They made it through the check-in''s without issue and headed into the massive ship with Porter working hard to make sure everyone knew beyond doubt that it was imperative that they go directly to the hall where the entrance exams would be completed before the students were issued cabins and given their maps.


    Anything other than that was unacceptable.


    Sam walked for longer than she had expected to through a labyrinth of corridors just wide enough to fit three people side by side before they finally reached their destination and Porter had everyone find their places.


    The hallway had more than enough space within which to do the exams and each and everyone had a specific seat and desk with their name adorning it. After a bit of searching Sam found hers and sat down. Half in relief and half with trepidation.


    She looked at the desk and the other desks around her. There were no laptops, note books, pens or papers of any kind. She wondered how they were going to complete an examination without any academic tools?... Magic she guessed, but that just made her feel even more worried.


    Sam tapped her fingers on the table. She looked around and noticed a spare table... in the middle of the hall? Then she looked for Porter and saw he too was missing. Then a creeping thought filled her mind and she looked around for Stevens... Nope! He was missing as well. Jesus. That guy was such a tool. The other members of the class had finally become aware of the missing couple and she heard murmurs picking up but at least no one was dim enough to get up, thought Sam.


    Ten minutes later a rather irate Porter and a crimson faced Stevens entered the hall. With Porter giving the boy a withering look as he headed for the only place left available.


    “Right!”


    Exclaimed a rather indignant Porter.


    “Now we have found our little lost lamb.”


    Half the class glimpsed at Stevens and Sam heard more than one snicker. Stevens just glowered at Porter with undisguised hatred.


    “Will everyone please put their hands flat on the surface of the desk in front of you and close your eyes. hmm... Yes indeed everybody. Stevens, if you don''t you will be escorted immediately off the ship never to return. Thank you! Now be calm and all will be well. presently the examination will begin.”