***~~Chapter 1~~***

**I was walking nervously down the corridor towards the examination hall. I turned a corner and kept walking, keeping a nonchalant expression even thought my head was going crazy with thoughts. I have been hiding *it* for almost 7 months, I didn't want them finding out, if they found out I would never see my family or friends again.**

** I stopped infrount of two massive wooden doors. I stood there for a while, I was tempted to turn back but I knew it was to late so I walked in. It was a massive room with a big red gem in the middle, there where no windows and the only form of light came from the gem. A woman came up to me with a cold and somewhat irritated look, clearly disgusted to be breathing the same air as someone like me a **"Z"**.**

**She led me to the middle of the room and stood beside the large gem.**

*"Pls place your hands on the gem and wait for further instructions"*. **She said coldly not even bothering with pleasantries. I placed my hand on it and after a few seconds it glowed turning from red to blue. The examiners just nodded and took notes. The woman looked disgusted her nose scrunched up as if she smelt something unpleasant the she changed her expression to a nonchalant look. **

**After answering some question, I was escorted out of the building, there where around 70 people waiting outside for their turn, which was normal because it was only 13:47**

** I walked out the gates not really looking where I was going. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I reacted quickly elbowing the stranger in the guts and spinning around ready to give another blow. I stopped when I saw who it was, I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.**

*"Damn Kev, I didn't know you could punch like that",*

**He said clutching his stomach trying to act indifferent, but I could tell he was in pain. It was Antonio my classmate. We are like best friends but I'm not sure because he has so many, his is tall and skinny but not so skinny that he looks like a sack of bones he has messy brown hair that looks like a mop was dumped on his hair, and green eyes, he can pull any type of clothes even a trash bag would look good on him, his not the sports type but his great at video games and gets best scores in class**

*"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to just... Don't sneak up on me like that I thought you were some kinda thug",*

**I said relived it wasn't a criminal. I looked over his shoulder seeing two familiar figures walking toward us.**

*"Antonio, are you ok?"*,

**Summer asked, trying but failing to hide her grin. Summer is my neighbours' daughter, 16 years old, a bit on the chubby side, short brown hair, hazel coloured eyes and a smile so bright and warm it could melt your heart but don't let her innocent looks device you she's can be very mischevious.**

*"Hey Kev, done with the test",*

**Ash asked walking towards me completely ignoring Antonio . Ash is a cool headed guy and the oldest one of us being 17 and born in February. He is the type of person that can be popular if he wanted to but he doesn't like people and doesn't trust them either he has a small group of friends or people he can trust, and I'm one of the lucky few, he had deep brown eyes, looking at them reminds me of coffee**

*"Yeah, just taking a stroll before I go to the shop",*

**I answered with a tired expression.**

*"Where are you guys going?",*

**I asked raising a brow they don't usually hangout together when I'm not around.**

*"Well we where heading to your house",*

**Antonio replied putting his elbow on Ash's shoulder, which Ash roughly shoved off. Antonio and Ash have a complicated relationship. Antonio is more outgoing and extraverted but Ash hates being around people and doesn't feel comfortable that he has to share his friend with Antonio and only hangs out with him because of me and Summer.**

**Ash gets along well with Summer, and treats her like a little sister. Antonio also gets along with summer. They are a chaotic pair, always pulling pranks on people.**

*"Huh, why are you going to my place?,"*

**I asked glancing at summer who was distracted by a fight happening near by.**

*"Well, since today is the anual test. We wanted to see how your doing because of...."*

**Antonio paused glancing around.**

*"..you know, your rebirth"*

**he said in a low conspiring tone clearly enjoying the tension but it just pissed Ash off more. Ash slapped him not too gently on the back of his head**

*"Are you trying to let his secret out, you idiot?"*

**Ash asked annoyed, every second spent near Antonio made his blood boil**

*"Come on Ash don't be mean to Antonio"*

**summer chipped in, patting Ash's shoulder gently to calm him down**

*"Why don't we head to my place so we can talk more privately"*

**I said nervous about the growing tension**

**While we were walking my head got filled with thoughts again, thoughts about how unfair and complicated this world is.**

**Since the beginning of creation, this world has been split into two halves. The 'ZINKED" and the "GIFTED", the two halves shared each other but one side was clearly more powerful than the other.**

***The "ZINKED" or "Z's" for short are people who were born with bad luck and didn't have the ability to use blessings. ***

***They were looked down on by the "GIFTED", treated like trash. They lacked the previlages given to the "GIFTED" and could do nothing about it.***

***On the other hand the "GIFTED" were people born with familiars that allow them to use blessings. They have high privileges and more power than the "Z's".***

**But they are "Z's" that have been reborn with a familiar and can use blessings, but they are seen as a threat and are treated far worse than a average "Z".**

**The "GIFTED" hate people like that because they see the "Z's" as useless trash and filthy bugs that don't even deserve a second glance, but people who are reborn threaten there position as the most powerful. So and "Z" who has been reborn are sent to live with the "GIFTED"**

**So an exam is held every year for the "Z's" to look for a reborn. If one is found they are immediately separated from the other "Z's" including family and friends, most reborn never get to see there loved ones again.**

**And here I am Kevin Blackwood one of the unfortunate few who had a rebirth. When I found out I was devastated and tried my best to hide it but if I missed the examination it would be suspicious and the *council* would have people watching me in case I had a rebirth and I would still be found out and still be separated from my family**

*"Hey Kevin, are you okey?"*

**Summer asked looking up at me concerned**

**I snapped out of my trance when I heard her voice. I smiled down at her,**

*"Yeah, I'm good just thinking about something".*

**She smiled back at me and skipped ahead of us**

*"Summer slow down",*

**Antonio said, as she turned the corner, picking up pace to catch up with her**

**Ash and I walked together in silence matching each other's pace watching as Antonio disappeared around the corner after Summer.**

*"We might not have much time left together the rest for the test will be out soon"*

**Ash said, it didn't show on his face but I could tell that he was worried.**

*"Well let's make the days we have count"*

**I said trying to lighten the mood. As we finally turned the corner my eyes widened at the scene before us**

***~~Chapter 2~~***

**I stood there shocked at the scene infrount of me.**

**Summer was on the ground and Antonio was protectively beside her of her, and infrount of them was Dave, Javier, June, Leni and Dustin. They were grinning from ear to ear as June dumped cold water from her water bottle on Antonio's head.**

  *"Hey, bones your in the way"*

**Javier said shoving Antonio, Javier is one of our classmate, a tall blonde with brown eyes and dimples, he wore the most fashionable clothes available for "Z's". He was one of the few people in my school that was reborn, but unlike me he didn't hide it he bragged about it to everyone and used it to pick on others at every giving oppotunity. He was the ringleader of his pathetic group of bullies**

   *"Yeah, skeletons shouldn't be out with chubby little dorks, it will make people want to vomit just looking at the both of you"*

**Leni said laughing at Summer, she was a cheerleader from our school who thinks makeup and fashion is the most important thing, she was a bit short but confident, shoulder length brown hair and hazel coloured eyes, if you removed the large amount of makeup on her face she was just a plain looking girl**

   *Agh, what a waste of time*

**Dustin said irritated at the sight of us, he is Javier best friend and partner in crime. He has dyed black hair, he wore sunglasses even though there wasn't any sun, it was cloudy, it was just a stupid attempt to look cool**

 **I rushed to Summer's side and helped her on her feet making sure she wasn't hurt before glaring at them**

      *"What's wrong with you guys, you could have hurt her"*

**I was furious, glaring daggers at them**

*"What?! Your blaming us?, FYI that hippo bumped into me I could have broken a nail!!*

**Leni said annoyed, she went to Javier's side with a pouty face**

   *"Javiiii, make them go away there hurting my eyes, with there ugly faces"*

   *"They are not even worth the trouble"*

**June said flipping her hair and looking down on us**

**Dave just stood there silent, he was the lackey for them he was holding tons of shopping bags and didn't talk unless spoken to**

**Ash was fuming as he stepped infrount of us he glared at Javier. If looks could kill Javier would be dead by now**

*"How dare you insult my friends just because you went through a rebirth,I don't care if you can use a blessing or not, if you lay a hand on them, I. WILL. MAKE. YOU. REGRET. IT."*

**Javier stiffened, he was shocked and a bit scared but he won't let Ash talk to him like that and get away with it. He raised his hand in a fist and a dim orange glow surrounded his fist, he was activating his blessing. If you looked closely you could see a pale creature fly near his shoulder, before Javier's fist connected with Ash's face. Ash flew back from the impact not stoping til he hit a wall, hard, falling slowly to his knees he coughed a ton of blood**

  *"Such big talk for a useless "Z".*

**Javier said smirking happy with the result of his attack. His friends laughed behind him.**

   *"Come on let's leave these waste of space alone, I'm can't waste my time on losers like them".*

**Javier and his friends left laughing. Antonio and Summer rushed to Ash. They helped him up taking him to a close by bench. We sat him down giving him water to drink**

  *"Are you ok?,I'm so sorry it's all my fault I should have been looking where I was going, I'm so stupid."*

  **Summer was at the verge of crying, she was trembling**

  *"Don't worry Summer it's not your fault, they would have found another excuse to beat us up even if you didn't bump into them."*

**Ash said spitting blood on the floor then wiping his mouth, he didn't want Summer to cry because if him so he smiled**

   *"Besides it would take a lot more than that to knock me out, so wipe those tear off, you are way more cute when your smiling"*

**Ash grinned and pat Summer on the head, as she wipe away her tears**

  *"I think it's better you go home Ash,we can talk about the examination and results tommorow."*

**I said concern written all over my face**

  *"Yeah I guess, won't wanna stain your bedroom with blood, see you guys tomorrow then"*

**Ash said smiling and stood up, he was in so much pain but won't let anyone help him. He waving at us goodbye before walking off the other direction**

  *"Summer I'm so sorry, I should have done something to help but instead I just froze up."*

**Antonio finally spoke up, I could see he felt guilty even though his wet hair covered his eyes**

  *"It's not your fault Antonio I should have watched where I was going, you should head home as well, so you don't catch a cold."*

**Summer smiled at him**

  *"Yeah I guess I should go too, make sure you gat her home safely kev."*

**Antonio ran his hand through his wet hair so it didn't cover his face anymore, he lightly punched my shoulder and hugged Summer bye as he head off to a different direction**

  *"We should head home too"*

**I said as I walked beside her. We walked in silence not sure what to say to one another.**

  *"If you master you blessing would you do mean things to people like Javier."*

**She said, broking the silence**

  *"Of course not, I would never."*

**I answerd shocked she would think I would ever do something horrible like that**

  *'Yeah, I know I was just, worried. I don't want them to take you away, kevin"*

  *"I don't want that either but there nothing I can do about it, the test results will be out in two days and then all the "Z's" that are reborn will be taken away"*

  *"What if we run away?"*

   *"To where?, And even if we had somewhere to run away to I can live my mom and sister, our lives are here."*

  *"I know but... I'm going to miss you."*

  *"I'm going to miss you too"*

**We walked the rest of the way in silence. When we reached her door I hugged her goodbye then crossed the street to my house**

**It was a two story building, under was a shop that my mom rubbed and upstairs was the apartment we lived in, perfect for three people**

  **The store was closed but I had a spare key, I opened the door and walked to the back climbing some stairs that lead to the apartment untop**

  *"Mom I'm home."*

**I said as I opened the door of the apartment**