Name:
Age:
Story:
Personality:
All my life, I’ve wanted to do the complete opposite of my sister, approaching the same goal from a different side. She’s an assassin. I’m hoping to be a cadet. Two completely different sides, but they both work for us. She gets the assignments and lists. I get the documents. Of course, that only holds up if I actually makr it in to the cadet program. TRhe amoiunt pf extra practice at TrakTime should help, but overall I reallly, really hope to Frynne and back that iget in. I’ll be the first of my family to beworking in such an in posotion- my mother is a prostitute that assists with my sster in killing and gathering information. My afther...is nowhere to be found. On the year of my 7th birthday, he suddenly didnt come home. He just diappeared. My mother sent in a request with the localunit, but the tketto cant be expected to care. He’s been missing ever since. Wich, is one of the reasoins ive decided to joing the DRCa, or the Democratic Republic of Communism army. Whoever named outr government must have thought it was funny, because all 3 of those words dont ewven cokme close-its a dictator, through and through. It started from the Aspian Wars when ythe terrotory became settled 200 years ago, whe the human settlers went to cxomlbat wth the native Amano peoples. The humans, with their supoerior weapons, won. Ever sice Dertoff Tarot, the Tarot family has been ruling for as far bak as anyone can remember. Eventually alongt the way, one of the Tarot men died- Luxort, I belive- and his wfe Marixette took over. That led to an all-female reign for most of histiry. The only reason Naio is in charge is because he is unmarried. At age 25, he is suer young, but I really doubt anyone will openly complain. He isn’t married yet, and his parenyts had him, their one son, so for now the throne is ruled by a man. The dictarorship has been going strong for a while now, minus the ever-present threst of attack by outside forceds. According to naio, everythig has been and will continue to be goinf according to planb. Whose plan, I have no idea.
The tests that all prospective cadets have to gp threouhg are cpoming up very soon, and I’ve herad how brutal they are. Ive actually seeen one, and it does look tough. Every year is a different challenge, and asdt years was scaling a completely veritcal ewall. Onlyt 16 made it. So far, 7 have fdropped out.
Weaklings.
********
“Syra!” mum called me away from the window, where I was fiddleing woith my uniform. Mom had special orderd it using the 3d scan technology that was super easy to create but cost a lot of money. It fot perfectly, but that wasn’;t why i was fdgeting. “Eat a little beforewe leave. But not too mch. You have no idea what thew challene will be.” I straigthened my cap one last time, watching my reflection in thew oindow, before turning into the kitchen. Our house was small, but we were actually quite wwealthy. It wasa just a fact mom liked hiding from anybody dsnopping atround., Its well known that porostitutes are paid well. I’m pretty sure mum just likes giving the impression we didnt have lots ogf money. Less questions are sked that way. After wolfing down some simulated green peas-the sugarsnap variety- mom straightened her dress and we headed out. I had gotten useed to men eyeing my mom voer the years, but something felt offv today. I caught a few staring and noticed they were staring at ME. Embarrassed, aI starghtened my cap and pulled it lower iver my face. Arys was the pretyty one. Not me. Crods had already started gathering around the tketto’s residence in Melcreed, a big, navy lue castle type place ythat could easily fot over 3,000 indvidual rooms insijde. Once of those rooms was robably thre size og my house. Even thoug she had beeen living as a prostitut for so many years, whe she felt like it my mom could part ths sea. She shoved, pushed and elbowed her wya into the crowd, tugging me along behind. I coulkd hardly keep up, but she dragged me to daftey just in time and the crowd closed back in where we had just come from. I shuddered. Herd mentality. One of the tketto’s favorite minfd control games. Therw as already a long line of wanna-be cadets in front of the crowd, hovering uneaslily inside a tall gate. Korai guarded theoutside, keeping the croewwd back. One approached us, and I let my mind slip into the customary response- tensing, polkiteness, and always a littlew but of frear. Meekness was my secialty. He waved my mom back nto the crowd, and grabbed my arm. His fingers werent painful, but the formgrio let me know that any resistance would be immediately gunned down by the snipers I knew werwe idden on the roof. Arys has tpold me about them. As long as no obe made a wrong move, you would have no idea they were htree. I was shoved in line. Peering arpund the boy in front, I followe the trail of arms until I saw what we were doifg: thewr was a checkpint up ahead at one of the side biuding that reaced up what miust have been 100 floors. Each potential cadet was being throuroughly chekecd before entering. This would take a while. “Er, excuse me?” a timid voice said behind me. I composed my face before turning around, hoping that it wasnt some long winded wanna be that would take thew opportunity to tell me his lifes dream of following in his fathers footsteps as a Nora of ewhatevere. The boy i turenwd to was my age, but he looked younger. His hair was a dusty, mousy brown, ehich matched his wide, chocolkate eyes and dash of freckles spotting his nose. Therw as something werong with it, thouh. Looking closer, I rwalized it was crooked. E must have broken it at some piiunt.
“Em, my name is, ah, its Casain. How are you?” His attempot at friendly talkwas disconcerting. As a child, I had never made any freinds. I didnt need any. I had my twin sister, anf that was enough. Besides, nibidy could find out about ythe family business. It was easier to just ignore verybody, ad soon they all igored me too. His face xploded in a blush, and I realized I had been starinf.
“As good as i can be while waiting 6 hours to pass a stupid checkpoint I replied,” shuffling up with thye oine. He folloewe, steppoing a it closer than before.
“I know. But, who mnows, maybe one of these people is aterrorist.” He chuckled, but in a nervous, shifty eysed kind of way. I rolled my eyes. Hiw old was this guy, really?
“If there was aterrorist, they would attack internally. Get inside and then break off to access the mst damaging poiint before setting abomb.” I reaized he wads staring at me, mouth open. “Or, atleast, I think.” It was lame, but the idiot bought it.
“Well, I feel a lot safer with you…” He wanted my name, but I didnt feeel like giving it to him. Instead, I turned frint again as the linhe advanced a bit more. The girl in frnt of me hadlong, silver hair in a tight braid. It cascaded down her back, ending at her waistline. One of her ears had a lkarge gold hoop earring in it. I immediately knew that she would be either an irreplacebe ally or a deadly foe- ther was no iddle.
“Taiwentinnosan line,” I cursed, using the stringest one I knew. They boy behind me gasped, and the girl cocked her ead.
“These katwexxan kulatos have no ifdea how to run a business,” she replied, usoing curse words I had never heard efofe. I looked around to msake sure there were no Korainaround to hear us, but they were attending the evr growing line still. Thrgirl shifted, and I noticed a small hole in one of the hems. Looking clser, I saw evidenc ef wear and taer and realized that she had an old, used uniform. Peering down the line, it seemed most everyone did. It amde me feel strange to realize that all these people had opted for th old unform of previous family mebers thsan a perfectly fiting brand new one. I picked subconsciously at mine and troied to ignore the growing stiffness in my legs. At one point, my left leg almost gave out, but i caught myself in time to see the silver haire girl entering the building with a hurried stride. I didn’t blame her. One more minute in this line would kill me. I pressed my ID into the hand of the guard, who looked even more bored than I was, and he scanned it. Lazuily, his eyes roved the screen, checking who nows ewhat. Finally, he let me throuhg. For one, the air inside the bulding was about ten degrees colder, and I brethed in sweet relief. I tuggeed at my collar an dsighed as the cool air brushed my hot skin.
“Hey.” I jumped and turned around. It was the girl with the silver hair. She was my height, but looked way older. Her eyes had anexperienced hardness to them that was both scary and comforting at the smae time. “Much beter in here, right?” I nodded, glancing around. Inside, I actually could appreciate how bvig the building really was. It was a circle, with staircases circling the sides leading to higher levels. Windows made up the walls, but many were dark and impermeable.
“Pretty cool huh?” the girl said, tossing her braid. ‘I’m Vivian.”
“S-Syra,” I stammered. “You excited?” Idiot. Who would be EXCITED for the test that would determine the rest of your life. Internally, I kicked myself. Vivian, howveer, didn’t seem bothered.
“Not really. It doesn’t matter too much if I get in.” She kept her face turned away, but I saw from the tightness of her fetures that it DID matter if she got in. Uncomfortably, I glanced around again. Suddenly, someone started shouting. All heads tnred toward the entrance, where some guards were fighgting with a prospective cadet. They jerked him out, and the the crowd closed back around him, cutting off the view. I wandered around woith Vivian for a while longer, taking in the sights of the main room in the building. Suddenly there was a boom as the main doors closed. Vivian stiffened, and I followed her gaze. My breath caughts as an imposing foigure appeared on one of thre balconies, flanked by 9 officers, 4 on each side. One was right next to Naio, and his arm was around her waist. Aong wth the ohter prospective cadets, I straigtened, trying not to flinch as his gaze landed on me, and then resumed its lazy scrolling. He was obviously in no hurry. My back satrted to get sore, but still he stood. I saw some of the Noras shifting and woindereed what it would e like to be at that rank. So close… Suddenly, his command rang out in the building.
“At ease!” The cadets relaxed in relief. “Welcome, prospective cadets! Toiday is indeed a special day for you all! Please, do not be afraid! Even if you do not makje it to cadet rank, there are many jobs available to you here in Melcreed and elsewhere.” He paused. “Please, allow me to introduce your commanding officer, Kenith Daisu Kenoche!” I stood on my tip toes to see a man a feww years older than me step onto a lower balcony. He has dark blue hair and deep brown eyes , and his face was surprisingly kind. Even so, my heart tigtened. My mother had told me all about Daisu Kenoche. The only reason he was currently the youngest Kenith was a power play, she had said, against the old order. Naio was trying to enforce his power by promoting a male to Kenith in less than half the normal time it took for a female to get there. As I looked at Daisu, my fidsts lenched. Already, I hated him. Especially that innocent, sweet way he waved at the prospectivce cadets and nodded at the one who waved back. It ,ad eme sick. Vivian bumped my arm, and I forced myself to calm doewn. Getting angry now would only lead to more prpblkems later. Save that anger for the test.
“Greetings, prospective cadets! As you know, today is the day of the Test that will determine of you have what it takes to become cadets, and then move up in the rankings until, someday, one of you might even be a Nora!” He glsanced appreciateively at the 9 that stood on the higher balcony. “Please, go throught the double doors to your right and wait. The Test will begin shortly.” Daisu disappeared, and suddenly there was a surge of flesh as everybody tried to ge to the doors the fatsest.
The test hasn’t even started yet, I thought to myself. Vivian was lost in the crowd, so i forced my way alone to the doors, just barely ,makiing it before I was crished against the doorframe. In it was a nother room...or, rather, a long, long hallway? It was caroeted with royal blue, and clear plastic covers domed the passages. I could see it twoisting off ointo the diatnce. Was this the test? The prospective cadets stilled as an intercom kicked up. An automated voiuce- not Daisu’s- rang from it.
“Cadets, please be still. The Test will begin shoirtly. You will have foirfteen minutes to complete the courxse. Please refrain from exiting the course. Your goal is to reach the end safely with in the time limit. Aside from that, there are no rules. Please use any means to your advantage. An alarm will sound to start, and then again wheh tere are five minutes left. Good luck.” The interom clicked off as I processed the information. Immediately, I regretred my decision to wait in thr back. Already, fightswere breaking out as cadets tried to pish their way forward. I shook myslef out, nervous energy filling my joints. I stood a good chance; all thoise training sessions at iiii HAD been a good idesa. Of course, the thing that didn’t sit well with me was the fact that the the intwrcom had said to use any means available. I would have to watch myself. A piercing alarm screamed, and then all mayhem exploded. The crowd in front of me surged forwqard, and i with them.
The test had begun.
VChpayer 2
Every time I oasse a cadet, my legs seemed to churn faser, until they felt like I was flying. Energy burned through my kuscles, fueled by the rage for Naio and Daisu that I kept feeding, until it grew into a dsmall lump in my side. I racec alojg the tubes, forcing m way past the masses, which had spresad out a bit. Every time I passed a panting caet, my heart squeezed, but I forced kmyself to stay focused. Think, Syra. If you don’t make it… My feet flew faster and faster. The rings hodinng the tubes tovgteer whizzed past as I gained speed. I felt free; I elt like i could fly. Woyldn’t Arys be proud! And mom! Suddenly, dsomeon slammed into me. My momentum caused me to roll, painfuly smashing my head gainst the walls. I ooked up at who had done it and my eys widened. It was the same boy who had been causing a scene at the entrance. How in Frynne’s name had he gfotten in? FDetermined to show him up, I oushed myself back up and started in pursuit. Wth amcearer purpise in mind, my focus narriwed until alk, i wanted was to beat him. The competeitive urge rose in my gut, and I let it grow, using ti as my power source. My legs burned, but I hardly felt it. My heart was too alive. Competition was what i lived gfor. The amount of cadets we passec were peterinbg out. The tube was wode anough for five cadets to compfpottable stands across, so, for time;s sake, I juts oushed past. The bobbing head ofbrown hair never left my sight. He glanced baclk, and hiew eys widened when he saw kme. He put on a burst of saped and diappeared around a corner. Almost simultabieously, anothe pieercing screech rang out. 5 minutes left. Suddenly, i heard another clang. I glxnce back. A hidden wall had just appeared, blovking off all cadets not past that piiunt yet. My heart squeezed as I realized that i was at the back of the pack. I pushed harder, pulling out alk t ehstops. Five minutes. It wasn’t much. I whiupped around corridoors and slid past edges, almost loosing my footing but somehow staying upright. My heart beat out a frrantic rhythm, and by my count tere was less than a minute left. Siuddenly, and earsplitting screetch rang out. I recoignized it. Vivian! I tunred the corner and saw the end, a clesar opening where other cadets had shot throught and were now watching eagerly fot the rest to come out. But wat caught jy attention was the browqn haired boy. He had Viuvainj pined against the wall, feet fro the exit. She was frantically treying to break free, but I wondered why didn;t try harderwhyen I saw what was in his hand. My blood ran cold. A gun.
“5!” the intercom rang out. Five seconds. There wqas a creak, and then another hidden wall arted risinjg fro the ground. “4! 3! 2!” Makinga split second decision, I rammed into the bvoy. “1!” I shoved viuvian, and she disappeared. I lepat, but a shot rang out. I hardly felkt it. All I knew was that I fel, onto the ground, still ind=side the tube, as the boy leapt out inot safety. Therwbas a boom as the tube closed, and then nmore intercom speak. This time it was naio, but I didn’t listen. I curled u into a ball as the poai n satrtred registereing, tears pricking my eyes. Mom...Arys...I had failed them. YTears that had nkthig to do with the wound started rolling out. I glanced down, as darkness started closing in on my vision, and saw blood spurting out of my leg with each heartbeat. It would have been fine, but my heart was still in overdrove after the run. I watched as the blood continued to pool on the ground, sparaying the clear plastic of the tube and staining the carpetr. Te tube suddenly jumped, but it was just my head hitting thr ground. I couldn’t hold oit up anymore. Just as well, beacause I could hardly see. The darknesswas too thick, to heavy, and i was to weak to throw it off.
I woke up in a clean smelling room. I squinted as the broght light assaulted my eyelids. After a few moments, I was adjusted enough to look arpound. I was in a hospital room, with sterile, white walls and a cushy, sogft bed. I shifted, adn ecruciating pain exploed in my eg. I glsnced down and my heart jumped with realization. My leg… A thick, hard bandage was wrapped arounbd it, but I saw the red cloths in a laundrty bacsket near the door. I felt sickj as i reembered what had happend. I was so close. So close. Yet my decision to help Vivian has cost me my dream. I coudn’t tell if I regretted my acions or not. As I was thinking, I heard footsteps that stopped outsode my door. I laid back down and watched as it opend, revealing an old man with salt-and-pepper hair. He hurried over to me when he realized I was awake. Without even saying anything, he started taking y vitals, flashing lights in my eyes and inspecting my ears. Coinfused, i let hyim.
“Wher am I?” My throat was so parched that all that cam out was faint whine. He ignored me, and fumbled with something in his bag. Sudenly, he starigtened and left. Confused, I floped back down on the bed. Sudenly, I heard another pair of footsteps. The door opened, and my stomach immediately soured. I looked awway, not able to hide my disgust. Daisu acted as if he didn’t notice, and seated himself causally in the chair near my bed. I scooted the other direction.
“Syra.” His voice had a soft, wquiet quality to it that msd me listen., but OI didn’t turen arounhd. I didn’t care ow disrespecdtful I was being to this man right now. He represeented everything the New Order stood for. Everything that the Old Order was fighting against. “Hoiw are you feeling?” I stayed silewnt. He got up, and I thought he was goinf ot leave. Indtead, he grabbed a cup fom the stack and passed it under the Fillerator, filling it with clear, cold wycor. Then, he offered it to me. Obstinately, i stayed turned away, but eventually my thirst won out. I relictantly took it from him, relaxing as it cooled my throat. “Better?” His voice hel dthe hinbt of a laugh, and I immediatly regretted taking it from him. Ignoring him, I gulped the rest down and tossed the cup into the rtrash shute. “If you need more, I’ll get you some. But, Syra, I need to talk to you. Please turn arpunhd.”
Feeling a little bit braver now that I had fluids in my body, I brattishly replied, “You’re talking to me right now; there’s no reason for me to turn around.” He was quiet, and then I heard a soft huff of breath, like he was stifling a laugh. I scowled.
“Well, good point. Syra, only 30 out of the 247 kids who participated got in.” He stood, and I prepared for the worst. “Congratulations, number 31.”
The tests that all prospective cadets have to gp threouhg are cpoming up very soon, and I’ve herad how brutal they are. Ive actually seeen one, and it does look tough. Every year is a different challenge, and asdt years was scaling a completely veritcal ewall. Onlyt 16 made it. So far, 7 have fdropped out.
Weaklings.
********
“Syra!” mum called me away from the window, where I was fiddleing woith my uniform. Mom had special orderd it using the 3d scan technology that was super easy to create but cost a lot of money. It fot perfectly, but that wasn’;t why i was fdgeting. “Eat a little beforewe leave. But not too mch. You have no idea what thew challene will be.” I straigthened my cap one last time, watching my reflection in thew oindow, before turning into the kitchen. Our house was small, but we were actually quite wwealthy. It wasa just a fact mom liked hiding from anybody dsnopping atround., Its well known that porostitutes are paid well. I’m pretty sure mum just likes giving the impression we didnt have lots ogf money. Less questions are sked that way. After wolfing down some simulated green peas-the sugarsnap variety- mom straightened her dress and we headed out. I had gotten useed to men eyeing my mom voer the years, but something felt offv today. I caught a few staring and noticed they were staring at ME. Embarrassed, aI starghtened my cap and pulled it lower iver my face. Arys was the pretyty one. Not me. Crods had already started gathering around the tketto’s residence in Melcreed, a big, navy lue castle type place ythat could easily fot over 3,000 indvidual rooms insijde. Once of those rooms was robably thre size og my house. Even thoug she had beeen living as a prostitut for so many years, whe she felt like it my mom could part ths sea. She shoved, pushed and elbowed her wya into the crowd, tugging me along behind. I coulkd hardly keep up, but she dragged me to daftey just in time and the crowd closed back in where we had just come from. I shuddered. Herd mentality. One of the tketto’s favorite minfd control games. Therw as already a long line of wanna-be cadets in front of the crowd, hovering uneaslily inside a tall gate. Korai guarded theoutside, keeping the croewwd back. One approached us, and I let my mind slip into the customary response- tensing, polkiteness, and always a littlew but of frear. Meekness was my secialty. He waved my mom back nto the crowd, and grabbed my arm. His fingers werent painful, but the formgrio let me know that any resistance would be immediately gunned down by the snipers I knew werwe idden on the roof. Arys has tpold me about them. As long as no obe made a wrong move, you would have no idea they were htree. I was shoved in line. Peering arpund the boy in front, I followe the trail of arms until I saw what we were doifg: thewr was a checkpint up ahead at one of the side biuding that reaced up what miust have been 100 floors. Each potential cadet was being throuroughly chekecd before entering. This would take a while. “Er, excuse me?” a timid voice said behind me. I composed my face before turning around, hoping that it wasnt some long winded wanna be that would take thew opportunity to tell me his lifes dream of following in his fathers footsteps as a Nora of ewhatevere. The boy i turenwd to was my age, but he looked younger. His hair was a dusty, mousy brown, ehich matched his wide, chocolkate eyes and dash of freckles spotting his nose. Therw as something werong with it, thouh. Looking closer, I rwalized it was crooked. E must have broken it at some piiunt.
“Em, my name is, ah, its Casain. How are you?” His attempot at friendly talkwas disconcerting. As a child, I had never made any freinds. I didnt need any. I had my twin sister, anf that was enough. Besides, nibidy could find out about ythe family business. It was easier to just ignore verybody, ad soon they all igored me too. His face xploded in a blush, and I realized I had been starinf.
“As good as i can be while waiting 6 hours to pass a stupid checkpoint I replied,” shuffling up with thye oine. He folloewe, steppoing a it closer than before.
“I know. But, who mnows, maybe one of these people is aterrorist.” He chuckled, but in a nervous, shifty eysed kind of way. I rolled my eyes. Hiw old was this guy, really?
“If there was aterrorist, they would attack internally. Get inside and then break off to access the mst damaging poiint before setting abomb.” I reaized he wads staring at me, mouth open. “Or, atleast, I think.” It was lame, but the idiot bought it.
“Well, I feel a lot safer with you…” He wanted my name, but I didnt feeel like giving it to him. Instead, I turned frint again as the linhe advanced a bit more. The girl in frnt of me hadlong, silver hair in a tight braid. It cascaded down her back, ending at her waistline. One of her ears had a lkarge gold hoop earring in it. I immediately knew that she would be either an irreplacebe ally or a deadly foe- ther was no iddle.
“Taiwentinnosan line,” I cursed, using the stringest one I knew. They boy behind me gasped, and the girl cocked her ead.
“These katwexxan kulatos have no ifdea how to run a business,” she replied, usoing curse words I had never heard efofe. I looked around to msake sure there were no Korainaround to hear us, but they were attending the evr growing line still. Thrgirl shifted, and I noticed a small hole in one of the hems. Looking clser, I saw evidenc ef wear and taer and realized that she had an old, used uniform. Peering down the line, it seemed most everyone did. It amde me feel strange to realize that all these people had opted for th old unform of previous family mebers thsan a perfectly fiting brand new one. I picked subconsciously at mine and troied to ignore the growing stiffness in my legs. At one point, my left leg almost gave out, but i caught myself in time to see the silver haire girl entering the building with a hurried stride. I didn’t blame her. One more minute in this line would kill me. I pressed my ID into the hand of the guard, who looked even more bored than I was, and he scanned it. Lazuily, his eyes roved the screen, checking who nows ewhat. Finally, he let me throuhg. For one, the air inside the bulding was about ten degrees colder, and I brethed in sweet relief. I tuggeed at my collar an dsighed as the cool air brushed my hot skin.
“Hey.” I jumped and turned around. It was the girl with the silver hair. She was my height, but looked way older. Her eyes had anexperienced hardness to them that was both scary and comforting at the smae time. “Much beter in here, right?” I nodded, glancing around. Inside, I actually could appreciate how bvig the building really was. It was a circle, with staircases circling the sides leading to higher levels. Windows made up the walls, but many were dark and impermeable.
“Pretty cool huh?” the girl said, tossing her braid. ‘I’m Vivian.”
“S-Syra,” I stammered. “You excited?” Idiot. Who would be EXCITED for the test that would determine the rest of your life. Internally, I kicked myself. Vivian, howveer, didn’t seem bothered.
“Not really. It doesn’t matter too much if I get in.” She kept her face turned away, but I saw from the tightness of her fetures that it DID matter if she got in. Uncomfortably, I glanced around again. Suddenly, someone started shouting. All heads tnred toward the entrance, where some guards were fighgting with a prospective cadet. They jerked him out, and the the crowd closed back around him, cutting off the view. I wandered around woith Vivian for a while longer, taking in the sights of the main room in the building. Suddenly there was a boom as the main doors closed. Vivian stiffened, and I followed her gaze. My breath caughts as an imposing foigure appeared on one of thre balconies, flanked by 9 officers, 4 on each side. One was right next to Naio, and his arm was around her waist. Aong wth the ohter prospective cadets, I straigtened, trying not to flinch as his gaze landed on me, and then resumed its lazy scrolling. He was obviously in no hurry. My back satrted to get sore, but still he stood. I saw some of the Noras shifting and woindereed what it would e like to be at that rank. So close… Suddenly, his command rang out in the building.
“At ease!” The cadets relaxed in relief. “Welcome, prospective cadets! Toiday is indeed a special day for you all! Please, do not be afraid! Even if you do not makje it to cadet rank, there are many jobs available to you here in Melcreed and elsewhere.” He paused. “Please, allow me to introduce your commanding officer, Kenith Daisu Kenoche!” I stood on my tip toes to see a man a feww years older than me step onto a lower balcony. He has dark blue hair and deep brown eyes , and his face was surprisingly kind. Even so, my heart tigtened. My mother had told me all about Daisu Kenoche. The only reason he was currently the youngest Kenith was a power play, she had said, against the old order. Naio was trying to enforce his power by promoting a male to Kenith in less than half the normal time it took for a female to get there. As I looked at Daisu, my fidsts lenched. Already, I hated him. Especially that innocent, sweet way he waved at the prospectivce cadets and nodded at the one who waved back. It ,ad eme sick. Vivian bumped my arm, and I forced myself to calm doewn. Getting angry now would only lead to more prpblkems later. Save that anger for the test.
“Greetings, prospective cadets! As you know, today is the day of the Test that will determine of you have what it takes to become cadets, and then move up in the rankings until, someday, one of you might even be a Nora!” He glsanced appreciateively at the 9 that stood on the higher balcony. “Please, go throught the double doors to your right and wait. The Test will begin shortly.” Daisu disappeared, and suddenly there was a surge of flesh as everybody tried to ge to the doors the fatsest.
The test hasn’t even started yet, I thought to myself. Vivian was lost in the crowd, so i forced my way alone to the doors, just barely ,makiing it before I was crished against the doorframe. In it was a nother room...or, rather, a long, long hallway? It was caroeted with royal blue, and clear plastic covers domed the passages. I could see it twoisting off ointo the diatnce. Was this the test? The prospective cadets stilled as an intercom kicked up. An automated voiuce- not Daisu’s- rang from it.
“Cadets, please be still. The Test will begin shoirtly. You will have foirfteen minutes to complete the courxse. Please refrain from exiting the course. Your goal is to reach the end safely with in the time limit. Aside from that, there are no rules. Please use any means to your advantage. An alarm will sound to start, and then again wheh tere are five minutes left. Good luck.” The interom clicked off as I processed the information. Immediately, I regretred my decision to wait in thr back. Already, fightswere breaking out as cadets tried to pish their way forward. I shook myslef out, nervous energy filling my joints. I stood a good chance; all thoise training sessions at iiii HAD been a good idesa. Of course, the thing that didn’t sit well with me was the fact that the the intwrcom had said to use any means available. I would have to watch myself. A piercing alarm screamed, and then all mayhem exploded. The crowd in front of me surged forwqard, and i with them.
The test had begun.
VChpayer 2
Every time I oasse a cadet, my legs seemed to churn faser, until they felt like I was flying. Energy burned through my kuscles, fueled by the rage for Naio and Daisu that I kept feeding, until it grew into a dsmall lump in my side. I racec alojg the tubes, forcing m way past the masses, which had spresad out a bit. Every time I passed a panting caet, my heart squeezed, but I forced kmyself to stay focused. Think, Syra. If you don’t make it… My feet flew faster and faster. The rings hodinng the tubes tovgteer whizzed past as I gained speed. I felt free; I elt like i could fly. Woyldn’t Arys be proud! And mom! Suddenly, dsomeon slammed into me. My momentum caused me to roll, painfuly smashing my head gainst the walls. I ooked up at who had done it and my eys widened. It was the same boy who had been causing a scene at the entrance. How in Frynne’s name had he gfotten in? FDetermined to show him up, I oushed myself back up and started in pursuit. Wth amcearer purpise in mind, my focus narriwed until alk, i wanted was to beat him. The competeitive urge rose in my gut, and I let it grow, using ti as my power source. My legs burned, but I hardly felt it. My heart was too alive. Competition was what i lived gfor. The amount of cadets we passec were peterinbg out. The tube was wode anough for five cadets to compfpottable stands across, so, for time;s sake, I juts oushed past. The bobbing head ofbrown hair never left my sight. He glanced baclk, and hiew eys widened when he saw kme. He put on a burst of saped and diappeared around a corner. Almost simultabieously, anothe pieercing screech rang out. 5 minutes left. Suddenly, i heard another clang. I glxnce back. A hidden wall had just appeared, blovking off all cadets not past that piiunt yet. My heart squeezed as I realized that i was at the back of the pack. I pushed harder, pulling out alk t ehstops. Five minutes. It wasn’t much. I whiupped around corridoors and slid past edges, almost loosing my footing but somehow staying upright. My heart beat out a frrantic rhythm, and by my count tere was less than a minute left. Siuddenly, and earsplitting screetch rang out. I recoignized it. Vivian! I tunred the corner and saw the end, a clesar opening where other cadets had shot throught and were now watching eagerly fot the rest to come out. But wat caught jy attention was the browqn haired boy. He had Viuvainj pined against the wall, feet fro the exit. She was frantically treying to break free, but I wondered why didn;t try harderwhyen I saw what was in his hand. My blood ran cold. A gun.
“5!” the intercom rang out. Five seconds. There wqas a creak, and then another hidden wall arted risinjg fro the ground. “4! 3! 2!” Makinga split second decision, I rammed into the bvoy. “1!” I shoved viuvian, and she disappeared. I lepat, but a shot rang out. I hardly felkt it. All I knew was that I fel, onto the ground, still ind=side the tube, as the boy leapt out inot safety. Therwbas a boom as the tube closed, and then nmore intercom speak. This time it was naio, but I didn’t listen. I curled u into a ball as the poai n satrtred registereing, tears pricking my eyes. Mom...Arys...I had failed them. YTears that had nkthig to do with the wound started rolling out. I glanced down, as darkness started closing in on my vision, and saw blood spurting out of my leg with each heartbeat. It would have been fine, but my heart was still in overdrove after the run. I watched as the blood continued to pool on the ground, sparaying the clear plastic of the tube and staining the carpetr. Te tube suddenly jumped, but it was just my head hitting thr ground. I couldn’t hold oit up anymore. Just as well, beacause I could hardly see. The darknesswas too thick, to heavy, and i was to weak to throw it off.
I woke up in a clean smelling room. I squinted as the broght light assaulted my eyelids. After a few moments, I was adjusted enough to look arpound. I was in a hospital room, with sterile, white walls and a cushy, sogft bed. I shifted, adn ecruciating pain exploed in my eg. I glsnced down and my heart jumped with realization. My leg… A thick, hard bandage was wrapped arounbd it, but I saw the red cloths in a laundrty bacsket near the door. I felt sickj as i reembered what had happend. I was so close. So close. Yet my decision to help Vivian has cost me my dream. I coudn’t tell if I regretted my acions or not. As I was thinking, I heard footsteps that stopped outsode my door. I laid back down and watched as it opend, revealing an old man with salt-and-pepper hair. He hurried over to me when he realized I was awake. Without even saying anything, he started taking y vitals, flashing lights in my eyes and inspecting my ears. Coinfused, i let hyim.
“Wher am I?” My throat was so parched that all that cam out was faint whine. He ignored me, and fumbled with something in his bag. Sudenly, he starigtened and left. Confused, I floped back down on the bed. Sudenly, I heard another pair of footsteps. The door opened, and my stomach immediately soured. I looked awway, not able to hide my disgust. Daisu acted as if he didn’t notice, and seated himself causally in the chair near my bed. I scooted the other direction.
“Syra.” His voice had a soft, wquiet quality to it that msd me listen., but OI didn’t turen arounhd. I didn’t care ow disrespecdtful I was being to this man right now. He represeented everything the New Order stood for. Everything that the Old Order was fighting against. “Hoiw are you feeling?” I stayed silewnt. He got up, and I thought he was goinf ot leave. Indtead, he grabbed a cup fom the stack and passed it under the Fillerator, filling it with clear, cold wycor. Then, he offered it to me. Obstinately, i stayed turned away, but eventually my thirst won out. I relictantly took it from him, relaxing as it cooled my throat. “Better?” His voice hel dthe hinbt of a laugh, and I immediatly regretted taking it from him. Ignoring him, I gulped the rest down and tossed the cup into the rtrash shute. “If you need more, I’ll get you some. But, Syra, I need to talk to you. Please turn arpunhd.”
Feeling a little bit braver now that I had fluids in my body, I brattishly replied, “You’re talking to me right now; there’s no reason for me to turn around.” He was quiet, and then I heard a soft huff of breath, like he was stifling a laugh. I scowled.
“Well, good point. Syra, only 30 out of the 247 kids who participated got in.” He stood, and I prepared for the worst. “Congratulations, number 31.”