Selection Day. It was the day we feared most, yet the day we look forward to all of our lives. It was the ticket to a brighter future; it was the guide to something greater. My class all gathered out in front of the school, our heels digging into the snow and our hands shoved in our pea coats. I looked nervously for my friends in the sea of girls, all of them crying in distress and excitement.
No one could believe this day had finally arrived. It’s all our teachers have been talking about; they worked so hard to prepare us for our tests, to prepare us for our interviews with all of the committees with each institute.
The land of Kanterra was, as we learned long before, a section of what was the northeast of the United States of America. As time grew, the earth foiled upon itself and all that remained was what we now know as Kanterra. All ruled by the Regime in the absolute center of it all, we grow as a unit and we all look after each other. I had always dreamed of being in the Regime one day, even for a visit (which, was nearly impossible to just ‘do’). Nevertheless, only those who work within or for the Regime reside there. They also happen to be very wealthy people.
Not to say I didn’t come from money. I’m from a small community known as Lova, which was just along the coast of the ocean. I went to a small private school for girls, where they are supposed to help us train to get into the top institutes of the country.
The Regime funded five prime institutes that, if graced with the luck to be accepted into any one, are meant to help the future of Kanterra grow and better itself. Each institute was defined differently, and was meant to suit the needs of the student that was selected to go there. We didn’t have a choice; that was just the way of the game.
Lukman, Odina, Hieu, Maynard, and Hadia were the five elite institutes of Alterra. But there could only be one best, right? And there was. There was no hiding that.
Lukman Institute for the Intelligent. Those who possessed the greatest skill of math and science were generally placed here. These people became our future scientists, our engineers: everything this land runs on.
Odina Institute for the Inspired. The best artists of all sorts were chosen here to further their creative minds, as well as develop those in the future. Painters, sketch artists, musicians, and writers all collected here.
Hieu Institute for the Compassionate. They felt, they understood. Those who could think freely, see in all perspectives joined here. They were the future psychologists, psychoanalysis of our land. They were a lot more vital than people recognized them for.
Maynard Institute for the Mighty. They were the fighters and the athletes; they were basically the superhumans of Kanterra. Those who were daring and adventurous, and they were willing to do anything. They’d put their life on the line. They were the soldiers, the athletes.
But the last school was special. Everyone knew it. This school was where everyone wanted to be, regardless of what they were best at. Hadia Institute for the Gifted. That was how it was specified, after all. No one knew exactly what happened at Hadia. The one thing everyone was certain was, however, was that everyone who attended there was secured a position within the Regime. It was located in its state, after all. Hadia required an interview with every graduating student, as well as blood work and some other medical tests. I couldn’t understand what they were going to use with all of that information, but no one ever seriously questioned it.
Each institute varied on how many they accepted, and it changed every year. While there was no set number on how many people were taken in, Hadia was known for letting in the smallest amount. It was the school for the gifted after all, so they must be selective, right?
Not everyone made it into the Elite Five. Those who weren’t accepted to any of the institutes were required to find a local job, because while we needed the Kanterran army and other high paying jobs, we also needed those to run the bakeries or the drug stores. It was just the way things worked around here. Fortunately you can move to wherever you pleased—everywhere except the state of the Regime.
There were five states total, and each state housed each top institute. I currently lived in the South State, which was where Lukman was located. In the North State was Hieu, in the East State was Odina, and in the West State was Maynard. And in the focus, or as we just called it the State of the Regime, was Hadia. It was the only opportunity those outside of the Regime were allowed to be within the state. It was a big deal. Which is what brings us back to Selection Day.
Selection Day was the day everyone received each student’s placement. It was the most nerve-wracking day of the year; everyone wanted to be placed somewhere in the Elite Five. People who weren’t, however, received a kind rejection bid. That’s done that way no one feels left out when everyone is opening his or her bids. It was kind of cruel, kind of generous, and all around frightening.
I felt my palms and fingers tingle, first hot and then growing cold. I glanced down to watch them glow, and I quickly shoved them in my coat pockets. This couldn’t happen now; I wouldn’t let it. I had this strange little thing—almost like a malfunction—in my hands. It was in my blood maybe, I wasn’t sure. My hands glowed this strange tint of electric blue and I felt the energy build up in my palms and fingers. It took a lot for me to calm it down. I didn’t know what it was, and I never talked to my parents about it. I didn’t want them to think I was any weirder than I already was. I barely fit in at this school, or anywhere I found myself. I was fortunate to have the few friends that I did; I didn’t need this weird… tick to set them off.
I discovered I had this when I was around twelve years old. It was almost as if it ‘turned on’ at that age. It was hard to control at first, but I learned how to keep it in my system. So I had that weird fault in my hands, but then I could also…do things with my mind as well. I didn’t discover that one until I was fourteen. I can move things with my mind. I just kind of stare at it, and the blue haze surround my fingers and I can bring objects towards me. I do it when I’m home alone or in my room—just to make it sure I have it under control—but I never do it otherwise. I don’t need to. I don’t need anyone to find out that something’s wrong with me.
“Hey you!” I turned, jumping in my spot and escaping my thoughts. Behind me was Melissa, and I nearly had a heart attack.
“Jeez,” I breathed, “you scared the living hell out of me.”
“Selection Day’s gotten to you too, huh?” she giggled.
I shook my head at her. “This is way, way beyond getting to me.”
She nudged me. “Good. You’re normal, then. C’mon, Sage, let’s find Bea, shall we?”
I nodded, as we made our way through the swarm of girls. Finally we spotted the red head talking to her twin sister, Jane. Unfortunately and uncomfortably, we weren’t really friends with Jane, which made it all the more awkward when Melissa and I stole her away.
“So, what’re your thoughts?” Melissa asked her.
Bea sighed loudly, pulling at her hair. “I don’t know! Part of me is saying Lukman, and then the other part is just saying I’ll be stuck here cleaning.”
“Don’t say that,” I looked at her with a reassuring smile. “You’ll get into Lukman for sure.”
“No one knows!” Bea shot a look at Melissa. “And how about you? I’m sensing…either an Odina or a Hieu from you.”
“Don’t even,” Melissa grumbled, “the fact that you just threw two out there means I’m getting neither.”
“Not true!” I looked at them. “Stop being so negative!”
“Easy for you to say!” Bea retorted. “You’re basically a shoe-in for Hieu.”
I had always thought about how amazing it would be to be in Hieu. There was nothing I loved more than looking out for others. Everyone always came to me with their problems, whether it was about family, friends, relationships, or all of the above. I didn’t mind it; I actually enjoyed it. I just smiled at my pretty best friends and shrugged my shoulders. If I didn’t get Hieu, well, I didn’t quite figure that out just yet. It was safe to say I had high bets on it.
We then stood there, the three of us pointing at some of the other girls in our class and trying to guess where they all had potential to go. Hieu, Maynard, Odina, Maynard, Lukman, Lukman, Maynard, Odina, Hieu, Hieu, Maynard, etc. It was almost a game, and we were enjoying it for a little bit; that all quickly ended when we heard the speaker outside the building bellow out at us.
“Senior class, please find your way in the auditorium. It’s time.”
The three of us looked between each other as our principle spoke over the loud speaker. When it ended, all of the conversations and murmurs died down to silence. I watched in the distance as the girls began to disappear behind the large oak doors, ready to face our fate. I gulped. It really was time.
I leaned into the two of them and whispered, “You guys are so lucky your names are early in the alphabet.”
Melissa’s last name was Bates and Bea’s was Fletcher. Unfortunately, to my dismay, mine was Vance. Sage Vance.
“Doesn’t remove any of the nerves, though. Plus we all open them at the same time, if anything you’re blessed,” Bea replied with a smirk.
I brushed back my brown hair behind my shoulders and feared every step as I walked up the stairs, and through the school doors. We all walked quietly down the hall and dipped into the auditorium, which looked more like a concert hall in my personal opinion.
It was grand, with large blue curtains and elegant chairs. The chairs slowly declined down to the stage, which was double the size of most stages at schools. In the back rows of the auditorium, there were our parents. They were all holding hands and murmuring amongst each other, some taking pictures of their daughter walking down the aisles and others shouting for their kid to look at them.
As I watched the commotion surround me, I panicked. Sure, Selection Day was a huge deal for everyone, but I always tried to brush it aside as if it were nothing. The nerves have officially settled in my bones and made themselves home as I felt myself shake with every step I took in the auditorium. All of our names were printed on a sheet of paper and taped to the back of each chair. I knew I didn’t have to walk far since I was basically in the back of the alphabet. I was in the very last row—not far from the stage considering our school and class was small—but nevertheless, I’d have to sit through the entire ceremony in a panic. I’d have to listen to all the speeches, wait for nearly every name to be called before my own, watching people glance down at their bids with their names in perfect script handwriting. I can’t believe this was it. It was Selection Day.
“Good morning to the senior class!” our headmaster cooed at us, as we all clapped our hands.
She continued to go on and on about how we were such a delight and all of our hard work as paid off to bring us to this very moment. I tuned her out; I glanced behind me and scanned for my parents. With a bit of trouble but some very obvious hand waving, I noticed my mother and father sitting next to each other, holding each other’s hands tightly with sweet grins. My parents were both beautiful. My mother hand short black hair and a bigger build, while my father had a scruffy brown beard and a smaller, lankier build. She was nearly half his height. They owned their own restaurant; neither of them attended one of the Elite Five. As much as I tried not to think about it, lineage was a factor in which institute you could get a bid to. My chances—as much as I dreamed of Hieu—could potentially not bring me there.
“And now!” the Headmaster’s voice bellowed, and my attention snapped back to her. I must’ve been caught in a daze for a long while. “It is time ladies!”
A man walked across the stage with two golden-colored boxes. He placed them on the table beside the Headmaster’s podium, and opened the tops. “It’s time to receive your bids, ladies! I wish you all the best of luck.”
I gulped. Oh, dear.
“Kissa Abbey…”
It was happening. She was reading off names. We were all breathing loudly, in through our noses and out through our mouths. We were trying not to let our nerves get the best of us, but whom were we kidding? This was the day we’ve been told to look forward to, to strive and better ourselves for. Today was the day we have all been thinking about since we entered the education system. Selection Day: it separates you from the good and the great.
As I watched rows and rows of girls in front of me cross the stage and sit back in their seats holding their unopened bids, I panicked. I watched them finger it, so badly wanting to rip the seal and open it themselves, but we were required to keep it closed until told to open it. Maybe it was a good thing that I was near the back; I wouldn’t be so tortured to gnaw the seal off myself.
The row in front of us stood up. A girl with long, blonde hair was glancing down at all of us. I vaguely remembered her first name being Lacey, but I forgot her last name. When our eyes locked, I gave her a sweet smile, which was translated into a Good luck. She returned it with a nod; even showing some of her teeth, which I only assumed was a sign of gratitude. I sighed.
One of the teachers stood at the end of our row. She motioned us all to stand. I quickly flicked my head back at my parents, their hands still intertwined and my mother wiping what I assumed were tears off of her face. I gave them another smile and wave, as they did the same back. I turned back around and followed the person in front of me down the aisle and toward the stage.
This may have been the worst part; just standing off the side, listening to the Headmaster call of names of girls. While we weren’t all close, we were a great class in the sense that we built each other up. We were never out to get each other—in this competitive world especially—and maybe that was why listening to this was so hard. This was it for a lot of us. I’d never see or hear from any of these girls again.
I was standing at the foot of the steps.
“Tira Valente.”
Oh, this was it. This was it.
I shook. I could’ve sworn I melted and froze on the steps below me.
“Sage Vance.”
I somehow found the strength to walk up the steps. I felt my hands begin to tingle again, and I panicked even further. I did everything in my ability to stop it, I felt myself tense as I walked closer and closer to the Headmaster with my hands hidden away. Fortunately I felt the feeling subside, as my state of fear did as well. I approached the Headmaster at the podium, shook her hand, gave her a generous smile and thanks, as she then handed me my bid.
As I crossed the stage, I felt my hand burn with the curiosity and desire to look at the bid in my hand. We were taught to be polite and wait until we reached our seats, and I couldn’t quite bear to explain how that may have been the longest walk of my life. I stared back at my parents again, their smiles wider now and mine as well, as I searched for my seat next to the girl with the short brown hair who was shaking as much as I was.
I glanced down at the envelope below me. On the outside, in a thin, blank-ink pen, Sage Vance was scripted beautifully. I turned it over and there was a royal blue seal stamped on it. Inside this envelope was my bid. Inside this envelope was my entire future ahead. I gripped it tightly, just staring it, and not knowing exactly how to feel or how to react. And I didn’t have to feel that way for much longer since there were maybe only five more girls who were after me.
“Congratulations!” the Headmaster cheered as everyone began applauding. “Now, it is actually time!”
I stared her down as my teeth gnawed my lower lip, waiting for her to say the words I’ve been waiting for the past eighteen years of my life to hear.
“Ladies, open your bids!”
I stared down at my bid, watching the girls around me frantically tear their seals open. Somehow, somehow, I couldn’t do it. It was so beautiful, so well crafted, and so perfect. The life I currently have is close to perfect. I’m in school. What if I don’t go anywhere? What if this is the end of the line for me, and I end up working in the restaurant with my parents? It’s just enough for us, but nothing that the Elite Five would do. But who even knew that I’d get into Hieu, right?
After hearing a combination of screeches, sighs, groans, and even crying, I decided that this needed to be done. There was no avoiding this after all. Gingerly, I fingered at the seal and tore it. I opened it up, and slipped my bid out and read the cursive handwriting on the center of the piece of hard paper.
664Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaqkazncgV
Congratulations, Sage Vance! You have been selected to attend:
The Hadia Institute for the Gifted
ns 15.158.61.20da2
