1 Abducted

"Miss Patel can you wake up???" An unknown feminine voice spoke to me. I reluctantly woke up groggily opening one eye slowly, my eyes were hit by a blinding white glare, "what the hell?" I cursed as it caused me to instinctively slam my eyes shut. I naturally tried to rub my eyes, but my hands felt restrained. Fighting the glare I forcibly opened both my eyes, as my vision slowly adjusted to the brightness there was a robed figure with strikingly long red hair a few paces in front me, the walls are pristine white emitting a white glow that made it impossible to grasp the shape and the size of the room.

"What the F? This isn't my room!" I blurted out in confusion. Instinctively I tried to jump to my feet, but my body didn't respond. Instantaneously looking down I'm still wearing my pyjamas, but I'm seated on a chair immobilised with nothing physically restraining me. Keeping a watch on myself, I tried to move again. What the F, why am I paralysed from the neck down what the hell is going on? I thought to myself. I turned my attention back to the red haired figure, I saw a young woman of Asian descent, I can't quite put a finger on it, but being in the presence or acknowledgment of her existence made the hairs on my arm and back of my neck began to rise.

"What the F is going on, why can't I move, what's going on?" I barked at the red haired woman.

"Miss Patel if you would just calm down and let me explain the situation, it may put you at ease, you may address me as Scarlet" She calmly replied.

"What the F are you talking about, where am-"

I suddenly couldn't talk, I felt my mouth moving but no voice could be heard as if I was suddenly mute. At that moment I noticed that the room was completely silent, no sounds of wild life, and no sound of a draft or wind outside. Looking around there are no visible windows or doors, this feels like an interrogation room.

"Please Miss Patel you are the last candidate I need to deal with and once this is done, I can finally rest, so I will very much appreciate it if you don't interrupt me." Scarlet replied.

She proceeded but lifting her left hand with an open palm, and suddenly out of thin air a large opened book appeared in her hand.

"So it says here you are Emilia Patel, born in London, Indian descent, 22, recently graduated top of your class in law school with a job offer from the top 3 law firms in America, currently single, vegetarian, oh this is interesting your parents and siblings are normal but you seem to be the only person in your family history to be chosen, please nod if this is you." Scarlet asked with a raised eyebrow.

How the F does this book know so much about me and my family and how did it just appear out of nowhere! What is Arcanum? Maybe if I pretend they have the wrong person they might just let me go or release me.

I cautiously swiveled my head from side to side gesturing no that she has the wrong person.

Scarlet raised an eyebrow, "interesting because u defiantly look like we have the right person," as she turns the book showing me the pages. The writing was illegible, but there was a picture of me on my graduation day. Slamming the book shut, "Anyhow since we are here now I might as well explain to you what's going on. As stated in Act 19.5b any person showing the potential to harness Arcanum will be conscripted and trained to harness and manipulate Arcanum to defend the governing body or state that person is assigned to-" Explained Scarlet.

Arcanum again, what the hell is it and what has it got to do with me? And what does she mean conscripting to a state? United Kingdom doesn't have a compulsory enrollment into military services and how the F did the book appear out of thin air.

"- ability to manipulate Arcanum will not be tested but your potential to harness Arcanum will be tested as this will accurately represent your potential, once examinations are complete you will be ranked against all the other candidates today, and will be assorted to the correct facilities to receive further study and training, although this will be the very first time for you to harness Arcanum please be aware you should try and perform to the best of your ability. You may now ask any questions u may have." Said Scarlet, patiently waiting for a question.

"This is not even funny, I don't even know what the hell you are talking about or why I am even here I'm not Emilia!" I retorted angrily glaring at her. What the hell suddenly I can talk again, what on earth is happening?

"As explained earlier in act 19.5b you have shown the ability to harness Arcanum and thus have been conscripted and as a result you are here." Replied Scarlet unfazed by my attempt at being threatening.

"What the hell is this Arcanum you are talking about and don't I get a say in any of this?" I asked scarlet calmly.

"Arcanum is the energy that is all around us, rare individuals have the potential to harness and manipulate it, which is why this process is so important, as an individual showing potential to wield Arcanum is particularly rare such individuals are forced to undergo militarisation and training." Replied Scarlet.

"Well you got the wrong person! I'm not the Emilia Patel you are talking about!" I argued back.

"Miss Emilia Patel, I assure you this process has been running for centuries with no incident of mistaken identity, and in the off chance you are the first mistaken identity we have procedures in place to deal with such accidents." She calmly answered my question.

How did the book she had, know all that information about me and my family, and militarization? I wouldn't hurt a soul.

"Okay, say if I was this girl called Emilia you speak of please can u explain in detail or demonstrate what Arcanum is?" I questioned.

"Hmmm we still have some time left I'm sure I can show you something." Answered Scarlet.

Scarlet proceeded by tossing the book into the air.

"Well… I can show you something, but you need to promise me that you won't tell anyone this happened" Scarlet requested speaking in a much quieter voice.

"Um sure" I agreed

She lifted her right hand pointing towards the wall to my left, palm facing down holding out her four fingers with her thumb tucked under her palm. Suddenly four red beams shot out from each of her fingertips hitting the wall she pointed at, even being a few meters away from scarlet and the impact zone being further away, I could feel my skin drying up from the extreme heat the four beams were emanating.

"This is called Fire Beam extremely potent spell." explained scarlet.

"What the?" as I gasped in a mixture of shock, confusion and amazement over what I just witnessed. Everything in my mind is telling me this can't be real, but I felt the heat and I see the scorch marks left where the beams impacted the wall. What the hell is going on? It closely resembled a magic spell that I've read in fantasy books, but magic isn't real its complete fiction.

"This can't be real I must be in some wacky dream!" I said.

Scarlet slowly walked towards me, with each step my body started to feel hot, I could feel my forehead begin to sweat, my hands began trembling more and more intensely with each step, I could feel my heart beating fast and faster, my mind was telling me to run. She bent down so we were face to face, I could see her more clearly she had extremely dark black eyes barely being able to see the pupil in the middle of the iris, coupled with her soft facial feature and a smile she seemed extremely friendly, but what does my body make me feel like I need to run for my life. She moved her right hand towards my head, I slammed my eyes closed turning my head bracing myself. I felt a blunt impact on my forehead like an extremely painful flick, painful enough that I was sure it would leave a bruise. I opened one eyes cautiously, seeing her walking away from me and the my body started to slowly return to normal with each step she took, I instinctively tried to rub my forehead to help but my hands were still paralyzed.

"Do you still think you're dreaming?" She questioned.

"I don't think so." stuttering as my body is still recovering from this strange influence she emits from just being in proximity of her.

"Good, then we are at an understanding, shouldn't be long now before you'll be called into the examination room" she replied and started to pace from side to side.

Just as I was going to ask another question, a strange glowing blue light manifested in the air beside Scarlet drawing a large oval the size of a grown man, upon completion the inside of the oval looked as if It was another location, an eerie stone hall way lit with torches leading to a set of large double doors.