In the morning, I drag my body out of bed, like the weights my limbs are. I look in the mirror. Should I pack? I know from past years that the kids get ushered out. I don’t even think they get to say goodbye to family.
I decide on a long dress, warm and full of pockets, and stuff all the pockets with little trinkets I think I want. Mostly little nothings, like a family portrait, and a neckless Landon had stolen when we went to the Capital this year. Over the dress, I pull on a leather jacket. I glance in the mirror. I add a little red to my cheeks, and a little black to my eyelashes. In the past, even the governments couldn’t stop the people with cameras.
How would my day go? Can I meet the others soon? I thought through these on my walk to the government building.
“Alyx” Allessa shouted at me from across the room. She was standing with Logan and some other girls. They all look pale, and I can’t imagine how bad I look.
“Hey!” I say walking over. I note that we’re all hanging out, and the only person who looks out of place is Logan. While everyone is wearing plain clothes, she is wearing her dark dress, with a blood-red shawl.
“I’m going to vomit,” Addie says, gaging. How can she feel sick? I guess I could understand, she’s stuck unless she can seize her one opportunity out of this village.
I hate to admit it, but I know no one else here can Read. I’m the only one leaving today.
“Listen,” I start, silencing the others, “Just try your hardest. Nothing can stop you from trying.”
Before any of them can reply a mechanic voice says: “Let the students come in, the Test will begin shortly.”
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Thanks name, now I have to go first. They call me into a small room. I walk towards the door, but my knees give out and the floor rushes towards my head, all too fast.
I pick myself up, ignoring the snickers throughout the room, and continue to the door. Once on the other side, I accept the dullness, there is only a metal table, with a matching set of chairs. On the table is a single book. It is nothing I had Read with Kassandra, for its size is massive.
“Alyx Vasilios, proceed to the desk and pick up the book. Try your best to Read the first page.” The same voice from the plaza announces.
I proceed to the desk and pick up the book. The Bible? It looks interesting. It's massive? How many pages do real books have?
The pages are weird because the story doesn’t start on the first page, instead, I have to flip five or six pages to find the first chapter. I look at it confused. This can’t be right.
“In the beginning God created Earth.” God? But there are multiple Gods. And Earth was formed by all of them, they all contributed in some way, making people and animals and plants the way they are.
A guard rushes into the room and grabs my arm, and in surprise, I drop the book. He starts dragging me toward the door. As I start to go through the door, Addie walks in.
She looks at me, and it takes her a minute, but suddenly her mouth opens and she gaps.
“Tell my mom and dad I love them!” I shout just before the door is slammed in my face. I wonder if that's the last time I’ll ever see her.
“Miss. Vasilios, we do not permit talking to other level students outside of School, the second you walk into School, that would be considered worthy of expulsion.” The guard grumbles. I finally get a good look at him, because he finally turns to look at me. He can’t be older than I am. He has plain, worn jeans, and a black, loose shirt under a jean jacket.
I wonder how you become a Trainee. Do you sign up? That can’t be right. Can it
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