I opened my eyes to complete white. It surrounded me. Was I dead?
My mind felt fuzzy as I attempted to recollect what happened. No, the bus never hit me.
It took me a moment to realize that I was down on my knees. My hands were bound together with cold, tight chains leading up to my neck. I tried to stand up, but to my sheer dismay, noticed my legs were chained too.
I struggled with the chains for a bit before giving up and falling to my side.
This was no heaven. I was in some creepy white room.
Was I still in Aleren?
Questions circled through my mind, one by one.
How did I wind up here? Why didn't the bus hit me?
I sighed. This was frustrating. Was there anyone here?
Suddenly I heard a small sound and noticed a small black object descending from the ceiling out of the corner of my eyes. It made weird noises as if it was scanning me.
And the situation gets even weirder.
" Lulene Luigi Simon. Age 17. Status Imperfect, Disbeliever. New arrival. "659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3tQ2fgboV
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZOkVK8vhJ
A robotic voice spoke.
" Welcome Lulene, to The Disciplinary Lands. Here, we will put you where you belong. We will try to fix you. We will make you perfect again. We will make you believe. " It continued.
Of course, this perfection bullshit. I must still be in Aleren. I didn't ask for this. I just wanted to be free from all of it.
I just wanted to die in peace..
" From here onwards, you will be known as Len. Your chains will unlock in 3.. 2.. 1.. "
There was a click and a loud clang as I found myself completely freed. Well other than a choker around my neck. There was a small humming coming from it.
But why were they changing my name. And to Len? Isn't that a more boyish name?
" The gadget around your neck is an Etro. It can and will be used against you when and if you decide to rebel. In a moment, a door will open and you are expected to follow the path up to the grey office building. "
Just then a door opened to my right and bright sunlight seeped in to the room bathing me in it's warm rays. It was most likely evening.
I realized I was still down on the floor and got up, slightly stretching. My feet felt numb but I had to walk. It's not like I had a choice.
I walked out through the door onto the neatly shovelled pathway. From what I could see, grassy goodness stretched on for miles and miles to my right. I turned my head to the left and spotted the grey building not too far away.
I began to walk and noticed the guards. They were everywhere
I shuddered and kept my head down as I continued to move forward. It's not secret that the guards creep me out.
A while later, I stood Infront of the glass doors of the office building and hesitantly slipped inside. It was a bit warm in the building so I began to sweat.
Not knowing what to do I decided to approach the reception desk with a frail looking man typing on his computer.
" Uhm.. hello? " I managed to choke out. Great, my typically bad social skills came into play.
" Hi there. Do you need help? " He didn't look up from his computer.
" Yeah, I was told to come here. "
" Len. " He looked up from his computer, slipping a card and a ticket to me. " Wear this around your neck at all times and go through that door and board the bus. You are the last passenger. "
I took the ticket and card and decided to do as he says.
But where were they sending me?..
I walked through the door and was met with a ticket reception. I slipped them the ticket and boarded the bus.
The entire bus, except for one seat, was filled with people. And they all had Etros around their necks.
I walked all the way to the empty seat and plopped myself down. Sadly enough, it was not a window seat.
The person sitting next to me looked over to me for a brief moment as the bus started to move.
Dirty blonde hair paired with pale blue eyes against a slightly tanned skin. He was definetely attractive. His long sleeved button up shirt was untucked with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow. And his collar button was undone. He was probably the rebellious type.
He gave me an annoyed look and continued to look out of the window.
Attractive and rude.
I continued to stare at him and looked over again. This time, our eyes met and I felt my face flush slightly. And he glared at me to which I glared back.
" What? " He asked in a rude manner.
I shrugged and looked away. I don't think he appreciated the fact that I discontinued our glare-fest.
As the bus moved, it began to pick up speed. A strong gust of wind blew through the bus and my ribbon came undone. I frantically tried to grab it but it went and hit the rude guy smack in the face.
He disgustedly took the ribbon off his face, stared at it and at me.
" Yours huh? "
I nodded.
" Well then. " He pretended to accidentally let go and it flew out of the bus window. " I am so sorry. "
I rolled my eyes. This rude guy seemed interesting..
We sat in the bus in silence for the next 15 minutes. I could feel the tense atmosphere in the bus. It was uncomfortable. I had to do something to escape this for a bit. Just anything.
That's when I remembered the card the receptionist handed to me. I decided to examine it.
Len659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWHshjBdy9
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEyANrGSgb
17659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFe7Eckgzm
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHidqsAh5Gr
Imperfect, Disbeliever659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWqPDGo0pB
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBVpWVHDsn
Lupin659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTe4cSgcI8
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiInhFi1hd
Lupin? What was that supposed to be?659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFcsxRvDZk
" We have now arrived at The Imperfection Base Camp. Please step off the bus and move forward down the path. " The bus driver announced.
Imperfection Base Camp? What even was that? Was this place, the so called Disciplinary Lands, in Jubivei..? I know we are still in Aleren.
These thoughts followed me as I got up from my seat. The rude guy bumped into me and shot me a final glare before stepping off the bus.
I began to walk towards the doorway when a card on the floor caught my eyes. I bent down and picked it up. And my eyes swept through the words.
" Kev.. " I read out the name on it. The rest of the information on the card was scratched out.
" Hey, didn't I tell you to get out? " The bus driver growled, startling me.
I hurriedly climbed off the bus without giving the driver a second glance, the card still in my hand.
This card must belong to someone who was on the bus. But who could it be?
I walked along the path towards the so called camp. But a camp for the Imperfects? This was shocking. I'm going to be with people who are like me?
The sun was setting in the horizon as I arrived at the camp. The path led down a hill but I stopped at the peak.
And I gasped at the sight.
659Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8u8F2DvCq9
