THE CHILDREN OF STARHAVEN
822 Words
Sixteen years later…
The world had changed.
The HEROES had become more than protectors — they were legends. Their golden emblem was recognized in every country. Children wore their symbols on school bags. News channels spoke their names with hope. And in secret facilities around the world, preparations had begun for the next generation.
Because one day…
The old Heroes would fall.
And someone new would have to rise.
---
On the outskirts of the city, surrounded by tall oak trees and a rusted iron gate, stood one of the most famous special orphanages in the region.
Its name was:
Starhaven Home for Gifted Children
A place built for children who had lost their parents… and discovered something extraordinary inside themselves.
Some could move objects.
Some could manipulate sound.
Some could vanish.
Some had powers they still didn’t understand.
The government quietly kept track of places like Starhaven.
Because every few years, the HEROES came to orphanages like this to choose children worth training for the future.
Inside the large stone building, chaos was already happening.
---
“BILLY! Will you stop teleporting into rooms without warning?!”
Mrs. Rose Olivier’s voice echoed down the hallway.
She stood in the doorway with both hands on her waist — a warm woman in her forties with kind brown eyes, but when she was annoyed, the whole orphanage knew.
A boy suddenly appeared upside down on top of the wardrobe.
POOF!
That was Billy.
A skinny thirteen-year-old with messy hair and a grin that usually meant trouble.
He blinked at Mrs. Rose.
“Sorry, Mrs. Rose,” he said quickly. “I just wanted to see what the girls were doing.”
A voice came from inside the room.
A confident girl’s voice.
“Even if we were up to something, you still wouldn’t know, Billy.”
Billy turned.
Sitting cross-legged on one of the beds was T.L. — sharp-eyed, clever, and always ready with a comeback. She didn't know her full name so they all call her with the name the person that dropped her in the orphanage called her T.L.
Billy folded his arms dramatically.
“Oh yeah?”
T.L. smirked.
“Yeah.”
Billy took a step forward.
“What if I already know what—”
WHOOSH!
A bowl of chocolate pudding suddenly floated into the air.
Billy’s eyes widened.
“What the—”
SPLAT!
The bowl dumped directly onto his face.
Chocolate dripped down his hair, nose, and shirt.
The room went silent for one second.
Then laughter exploded.
Standing beside T.L. was her best friend, Ava.
She had one hand raised, fingers slightly curled, and the empty bowl floated beside her.
Telekinesis.
Ava bit her lip, pretending innocence.
“Oops.”
She tilted her head.
“Sorry, Billy. Didn’t see that coming?”
T.L. burst out laughing and slapped her hand against Ava’s.
“Three to one!”
Ava high-fived her.
Billy wiped chocolate from his eyes.
“This is cheating!”
T.L. grinned.
“No, this is teamwork.”
Billy pointed accusingly.
“You two are evil.”
Ava smiled sweetly.
“And yet somehow you keep walking into our traps.”
Billy groaned loudly.
Then—
POOF!
He vanished.
A chocolate handprint was left on the wall where he had touched it.
Mrs. Rose tried not to laugh.
She failed.
A soft laugh escaped her.
“That was quite the trick,” she said, shaking her head. “You girls make a very good team.”
T.L. crossed her arms proudly.
“We’re best friends.”
Ava leaned against her shoulder and smiled.
“More like sisters.”
Mrs. Rose’s expression softened.
She nodded.
“Yeah. I can see that.”
For a moment, the room felt peaceful.
Then from downstairs came a loud crash.
SMASH!!
A boy screamed.
Another voice shouted, “DEREK, PUT THAT DOWN!”
Mrs. Rose sighed deeply.
She stood up.
“Right. That means it’s lunchtime.”
She pointed toward the door.
“Everyone to the big hall.”
Then she looked directly at Ava and T.L.
“And please make sure Billy and Derek are actually there this time. I do not want another situation like last week.”
Ava raised an eyebrow.
T.L. grinned.
“The spaghetti incident?”
Mrs. Rose closed her eyes briefly.
“Yes. The spaghetti incident.”
Ava tried not to laugh.
T.L. failed immediately.
Mrs. Rose walked out muttering.
“I still found noodles in the ceiling fan…”
The girls burst into laughter.
Then Ava stood up and stretched.
“Come on. Let’s go find those idiots.”
T.L. opened the door dramatically.
“With pleasure.”
As they stepped into the hallway, neither of them noticed the black SUV pulling up outside the orphanage gates.
On the side of the vehicle…
A glowing gold emblem.
The letter:
H
The symbol of the HEROES.
And inside the car…
Someone was watching them.
- Writer
