Terraline lay on the couch, curled on her side with her arm dangling off the side of the sofa. Her dark hair was splattered across the pillow, a serene countenance upon her pale face. The girl was quite unaware of the fact that the TV remote, coffee mug and magazine were all floating above the coffee table, nor was she aware of the levitating lamp and books around her. It wasn't unheard for one to do things as one slept. Many people with active minds talk or even walk in their sleep. Terry had a tendency of activating an ability within her mind, an ability neither she nor the aunt and uncle she lived with knew about. 

 It had been a long time since she had fallen asleep in the living room but Terry had felt so ill when she came home from the hospital that she just passed out on the couch, hoping to escape the cruel clutches of nausea. Fortunately for her, the medicine given to her kicked in long before she awoke. A shrill shriek suddenly made Terry's blue eyes snap open. The floating items simultaneously rose higher into the air. She took in the surroundings, first adjusting to the fact she was in her living room. That's when her eyes fixated on the TV remote a couple feet above her head, floating delicately in midair like a boat upon waves. She tilted her head to find her fair-haired cousin, staring at her as if she had seen a ghost.

"Sarah?" Terraline managed to whisper quietly as she slowly sat up. She looked around at everything and wondered if she was still asleep, then she recalled that she probably wouldn't have questioned if she was sleeping if she really was asleep. "Why is everything flying?" She asked, curiosity coating her smooth voice. 

It was with the simple thought of hoping for the objects to stop floating, that they did. Curiously, she sat up. Terry applied focus to the idea of making them float again and they did. "That's interesting." She mused, glancing back at the shell-shocked girl. As strange as it was, the whole situation felt vaguely familiar.

Her aunt and uncle burst into the room, coming to the aid of their daughter. Her aunt was in a long, outdated nightgown and her hair was in big curlers. She had a pretty face, much like Terry's mother did, but her expressions tended to ruin whatever prettiness there was. Terry's uncle was a bit of a chubby man, tall with a receding hairline and dark eyes that were often filled with anger. His eyes immediately went to the Terry and the floating items. They widened to the size of moons. "Demon!"He shouted. "What is this dark magic?"

Terry's lips parted to reply but nothing came out. Her aunt and uncle were very religious and she was sure nothing she could say could change their minds once they were set on an explanation. 

"Oh dear, Charles, the lord has her now. "The woman said fearfully, pulling her daughter, Sarah, behind her.

"What have you done to our niece!?"He demanded. 

"I'm not possessed." Terry said indignantly, standing up. "I don't know why this stuff is floating but I think I can control it."

"Don't listen to its lies, it's trying to lure you. Terraline is no longer in there." Charles whispered to his wife and pushed her backward gently. He took out a cross and held it toward Terry. "Leave my home at once."

"Uncle Charles please!"Terry tried, "it's still me I swear. I really don't know what's going on. Look I can make it stop."She tried to make the objects float downward but in her panic, they went all flying in different directions, crashing into other things. The TV remote went spiraling into the window, shattering the glass. She swallowed. Apparently a simple thought couldn't control it after all. "I'm sorry .. I-"

The woman, who Terry called Aunt Bethany, had screamed and ran out of the room with Sarah. Her uncle came toward her with a vengeance, now swinging his bat in one hand and holding the cross in the other. He struck her hard across the face, causing her to stumble back and hit the floor. Blood trickled down her chin from her lip, the salty taste of iron filling her mouth. Terraline had to leave. She didn't want to hurt them and it seemed as if they had accepted that she was no longer alive. 

"Thank you for everything, Uncle Charles."She murmured and then ran out the door. 

"Stop trying to guilt trip me you monster!"He shouted and threw his bat angrily after her. She stumbled as it hit her leg but managed to make her way out the door. Terry walked down the drive way and to the sidewalk, where she stopped. Her head was reeling and she couldn't quite take in what just happened. There was no way in hell that this was all real. She couldn't make things float and her aunt and uncle would not just throw her out into the streets. With renewed shock, she watched as a pebble floated as she willed it to. She let it drop and stared up at the night sky for a while. Maybe she'd let them cool down and try to explain to them later. That probably wouldn't work. Her aunt and uncle were not bad people but they weren't very reasonable ones.

"Excuse me miss. Is your name Terraline Gray?" Two men, dressed in expensive black suits, stood in front of her. A parked, black car was nearby. They looked down at her, eyes completely obscured by their shades. 

Terry stared nervously. "Why?"She asked. She couldn't help but wonder if she was some sort of alien and the FBI were here to bring her to area 51. Wouldn't that be a story to tell? The idea made her bite back a smile. 

"You're coming with us." The man said, "Whether you like it or not."

She frowned and took a step back. "No."

"Fine then." He moved forward and exhaled. A puff of blue smoke came out of his mouth. Terry felt a tangy scent fill her nose, then her eyes rolled back. Everything went black.

The next thing she knew, she was being yanked out of the car into daylight, sunrays blinding her the very moment she stepped out of the car.. A yellow school bus was waiting in front of her. The men ushered her inside it. She hesitated on the steps, looking at the driver. "Where am I going?"She asked. Gazing inside, she could see many others her own age. There were some who didn't looked surprise at all to be in there and then there were those who looked terrified out of their wits and confused. Looking over her shoulder, she found the two suited men were gone.

The driver was a large man, bulked up with muscle and probably taller than anyone Terry had ever seen. He examined Terry with vibrant, orange eyes. [i]Orange?[/i] A look of annoyance twisted his features, "Get moving, kid. I don't have all day. You'll find out when you get there. "

"Come on!" An impatient boy behind her exclaimed and shoved her. There was a line forming behind her. 
She sighed and went inside the bus and took a seat in the back by herself. Nothing was making any sense and her head was beginning to ache terribly.