The Search for Artemis - By P. D. Griffith Page 0,30
for their normal scholastic education.
The majority of the Student Tower was filled with the student dormitories, but speckled throughout the floors were the cafeteria, recreation area and some study rooms.
The training facilities, where Landon would be learning to control his newfound powers, were in the northwest wing of the Gymnasium adjacent to the Restricted Tower and could only be accessed by the enclosed staircase in the Atrium.
After what seemed like hours, Riley concluded the tour by bringing Landon to the Library. Riley explained to Landon that it was probably the least frequented area of the entire facility, but as they entered, Landon had a near out-of-body experience. From the outside, the tower may have looked square, but inside it was a goliath rotunda. Books upon books covered its outer walls, creating a tube of literary masterpieces, and running up its center, a wide spiral ramp wound up to the ceiling.
Landon bolted up the ramp without even telling Riley where he was going. He moved quickly around, pressing up the incline, catching book titles as he breezed by, and noticed that occasionally, small doors led into secluded reading areas with more books shelved all around. The entire time, Riley stood in the center of the rotunda floor, watching the strange behavior of his companion.
Landon ran from one floor to another and disappeared for minutes on end into the back rooms. After a while of this, Riley finally saw him emerge and head back down to the ground floor. As Landon reached him, Riley noticed that he was carrying something.
“What’s that you got?”
“Oh, it’s just Treasure Island,” Landon replied, holding the book up in his hand so Riley could see it. “I really needed something to read.”
“You are one weird guy, you know that? Apart from Katie, I have never seen someone act like that when they came in here.” Riley looked all around as he spoke, as if he was looking for someone to agree with him, but found no one.
Landon never replied. He just looked down at the worn cover of the old leather-bound copy of his favorite childhood story. It was soft, worn from countless reads, but there were a few small rough bumps where water had obviously seeped into the leather. Landon didn’t mind at all. After being brought to this place, he’d realized he might be able to survive at the Gymnasium after all.
Following their visit to the Library, it was already time for dinner. The sun was setting and the Atrium emitted a vibrant pink light throughout the halls of the facility. Landon wasn’t hungry after the gargantuan meal he devoured at lunch, but he joined Riley for a quick bite before they headed to his new living quarters. As they walked down the hallway, Riley pulled Landon’s schedule out of his back pocket.
“All right, so we need to head up to the fourth floor. Your room is up there,” Riley said as he read through the text on the page. They started walking that way while Riley continued to read. “Today’s Tuesday, so it looks like you have Telekinetics tomorrow morning at nine as well as on Fridays and Mondays. Huh . . . I’m in that same session, so I guess I’ll see you there.”
“But I thought you’ve been here for two years?” Landon worriedly asked. “Why would they put me in the same session with you? I’m not ready for that.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. They place you in the levels where they think you are most prepared. You must be farther along than most people coming in. And Telekinetics is more about control, not power, so everyone is always working on the same thing.”
Landon stared ahead nervously.
How could I be farther along than most people? he thought as they moved through the facility.
Riley didn’t pay any attention to Landon’s fear-struck facial expression and continued to read through Landon’s schedule.
“Tactometry’s on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. You’re so lucky to only have that twice a week, let me tell you.”
“I don’t even know what it is.” Landon felt himself getting more and more anxious, clamming up with every class Riley rattled off.
“You remember Dr. Wells talking about extensity and tactometric spheres in orientation? Your reach? Tactometry’s supposed to train you to”—Riley altered his voice to what Landon imagined was supposed to resemble a pompous professor—“‘broaden your extensity and hone your sensitivity.’ But it’s more like glorified meditation for three hours twice a week. You just sit there with your eyes closed, ‘feeling the world