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been carefully chosen by a select few members of Our Kind to be changed and put into training here at the Institute. Their reasons for choosing you are first and foremost because of your circumstances, but aside from this, your personality and attributes have also been taken into consideration. For example; whether you will be strong enough to cope with the transformation, and whether you will thrive and be of value to us as an Immortal. 
     
    You no longer live in the world as you know it; you are a part of our world now, which we like to keep hidden. We have our own rules and laws to abide by – like the human world – except, for breaking ours there are far tougher consequences.
     
    The Institutes were commissioned hundreds of years ago and a five year stay in order to complete training is mandatory for any and every Immortal. You must fulfil your five years, if you do not – you will not be released back into the world. This is in order to protect yourself, the rest of us and, of course, the human population.' Sir Alec pauses a moment, for me to catch up. It sounds like he's reading from a manuscript, like he's recited these words a thousand times, but to me, this all sounds like a sci-fi film that I've somehow ended up playing the lead role in.
     
    'During your stay here – which you will find exceedingly comfortable – ' he continues.  ' – You will attend classes in order to better your understanding of our world, its laws and its history; as well as your understanding of yourself.
    There are five separate year groups and you will be assigned a Mentor from the third year for you to shadow. They will show you the ropes, help you learn the Institute, find your way around and introduce you to other students.
     
    There are a few rules we enforce here at the Institute – some more fiercely than others. In due course, all of the rules will be carefully explained to you; but for now, I will give you only the most imperative one:
     
    You are not permitted to leave the Institute until your five year training is up.
     
    The punishment for breaking this rule is severe and not one I would wish on such a young, incapable Immortal. Please, heed my advice: do not try to escape. Do not try to return to loved ones or to the human world. I can not stress the importance of this advice.' Sir Alec's strange grey eyes bore into my very soul as he utters his warning. A cold shiver creeps along my spine, coupled with a feeling of disbelief. I breathe out heavily through my mouth, blowing my fringe upwards in a sigh of defeat.
     
    'If this is real, you're asking a hell of a lot of me,' I shake my head. 'To stay here for five years against my will and train to be – ' It's so ridiculous, I can't even utter the word.
     
    'I'm not asking anything of you, Miss Ryder. You have been given a gift – ' I scoff at Sir Alec's words, not sure how to take the news that I'm now a supernatural being and must stay within the same walls, surrounded by people I don't know for five years, and believe it's a dream come true.
    'It is a gift.' Sir Alec states, his tone harsh, final. 'Immortality is a gift some people can only dream of. You have been taken from a wasted life and given a chance to start over with a clean slate, better advantages and in an entirely different world.'
     
    'Immortal?' I frown. Up until this moment, I believed that the phrase was simply an inaccurate vernacular of 'Our Kind.' Was Sir Alec suggesting that I, he and many others are truly immortal? That we'll remain untouched by disease, refrain from ageing – never die?
     
    'Indeed,' Sir Alec smiles knowingly. 'As I said before; your body is frozen. From this moment on you will only ever appear as you are now. You will never age, you will never fall ill – you will never die.' He confirms.
     
    'Unless I'm particularly careless with a wooden implement.' The snide comment falls from my mouth without my permission and I freeze, holding Sir Alec's gaze, waiting for his