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What's the most calming moment you can think of? It could be anything, really. Maybe a quiet walk through the park or a short nap. Thought about it yet? Great!
Now, could you please lend some to Evan? He could really use it.
He was shaking and not just his hands or something. Everywhere. Like parts of him he never thought could shake was shaking. It was shiver me timbers to a whole new level.
Don't laugh. It's not funny.
He didn't feel well and this wasn't normal. The world was tilting and his heart was making a very weird sloshing sound in his chest. His temple was throbbing and he thought he had eight more fingers.
Worst of all, he thought he was going to die.
Evan's stupid, mentioned that already, right? Because today of all days, he chose to run away. Today of all days, he forgot the most important event of his final year in the Institute.
The Selection.
What is that, you ask? It's quite simple: it was the day the government chose the new candidates of the Trails. And what are the Trials? Again, quite simple: he didn't know.
And that was what was making him panic. Not knowing was bad, very bad. Not knowing equals not being able to escape. But here's what he did know: the Dominion chose fifty students in their senior year to enter based on their evaluation of their skills and overall potential to become the highest honour in all over Elysium. Higher than the Commander, coming only second to the President himself. A position that all students both feared and aspired to be. A position Evan tried very hard not to be a part of.
An Avatar.
He was in the auditorium, the meeting place of the Institute. From his vantage point on the balcony seats reserved for the seniors, he could see the multicoloured heads below. In front of them was the white marble stairs leading up to the stage and on it was the glass lectern where the Commander usually stood behind to give his speeches though he was nowhere in sight.
When Evan had presented himself to the office, he was then sent here where the other members of his division waited to be addressed.
The ceiling lights were dimmed to a soft white gleam, just enough that he could still make out the people below but he couldn't see the one person he needed.
He glanced around frantically, his white blonde bangs getting into his eyes, the other students his age sat stiffly beside him. Their expression varied from suppressed excitement to faked aloofness. But no matter how well they hid, he could still feel it. The visceral rush of adrenaline in their system, heavily dilated pupils, rapid breathing, tautness of muscle. It was like creeping ants under his skin, crawling in uncomfortable places, clouding his senses.
It was fascinating if not slightly funny how everyone was brimming at what could possibly be their last moments alive. You see, Evan might not know what the Trails are but he does know what happens after. Forty of the selected drop from the land of the living...and the rest become Avatars.
Perhaps it was the prospect of finally doing something. An escape of sorts. From the monotonous soulless existence where the only colours of life were grey and blood red.
This was a chance to end it all.
Problem was Evan really wanted to keep living. It was fun...breathing that is.
WHERE IS SHE? He raged, his impatience making him shake more. He glanced around one last time then sighed. There she was. Coming in from behind him. Lupine Sue Eldermire. More heads turned as she entered. Her back was stick-straight, her cleft chin in the air, her face remained hard and blank, though it didn't hide the sheen of sweat on her tanned brow. Dressed, like the rest of them, in her stols which consisted of a close-fitting grey shirt and pants with high knee polished boots.
Her dark-eyed glare made eyes flit away until she locked gazes with him. Evan felt a break into his mind and scowled. Stop doing that, he thought.
Stop freaking out, she countered and walked over. She took the empty seat beside, sinking deep into the soft cushion. She turned to him and arched a heavy brow.
You're shaking.
Oh, really? I hadn't noticed. What took you so long?14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYIkRUzY3V
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Prep talk from Father. Wanted to let me know that once I got selected, he expected "Perfection and nothing less." She sighed and started that nasty habit of chewing her nails. Evan was sure that she'd only stop once her nails were completely gone.
That's if you get selected, he reminded her, Isn't that up to the Neuromancers to decide?
Like that's going to stop Mr. President, she said with a droll stare. It was true. President Vincent Eldermire had a way with words... if words were a hoisted knife behind your back. Evan hadn't met him in person because he's the president and all but he heard a lot about him. Like how he liked the colour purple because it reminded him of bruises or how he enjoyed listening to the art of synchronised screaming or how he once threatened to skin him alive if he ever got near his daughter.
All in all, Evan thought Lou had an awesome dad. Not like he knew how dads were supposed to act...
The lights went out and a hush fell. No shuffling or nervous fidgeting, all turned as one to the stage. A spotlight shone at the lectern and a man Evan hadn't seen before climbed up, a full entourage of Metrons following him. Dressed in a pearly white suit, his dark skin contrasted it perfectly. His face was what Evan was sure would be considered classically handsome, all hard edges and dark shadows. He held his hands behind his back before the lectern as the Metrons formed a wall at the bottom of the stairs.
He looked up and smiled. There was something wrong with it...that smile. Besides the fact the smiling was outlawed. It was not sinister if that's what you're thinking. It was...perfect, utterly. It was the kind of smile that made babies laugh, or ladies swoon. The kind that made you feel good about yourself. The kind that made you want to trust him with everything and do anything for him.
Evan felt a strain within himself, be happy or be suspicious, be happy or be suspicious. He felt the others in the room fail at the battle. The creeping ant sensation was dying down, even Lou stopped chewing her nails, her worry lines going slack.
I don't like this.
"Good evening, children," the man said, his deep drawl dripping with honey.
"Good evening, sir!" they chorused though Evan said nothing.
"How wonderful it is to see you," he said, sweeping the room with a soft glance, "Look how you've grown, not the stick figures you once were, eh?" Nervous laughter went around and he smiled further.
"I'm sure you all know what we're here for, yes? Why don't we get right to it?" He pulled a piece of paper from his lapel and opened it. Then he called out names and one by one, people stood and went to stand behind him as if they rehearsed it all. No spectacle, no fanfare.
For some reason, he thought there'd be more drama, you know, screaming, begging, the whole make-up. Nope. Everyone seemed happy or at least thought they were as they woodenly marched up. Evan wasn't happy. He wasn't happy at all.
"Lupine Sue Eldermire," he said and almost automatically she stood. No. DON'T GO. He fought the wild urge to tug her down by her dreadlocks. He stared at her as she made her way down the balcony stairs in the back, following the short line down. Panic was kicking in, making him lightheaded.
"Evander Matthew Nightlark."
He felt his muscles stiffened and suddenly he was standing up. What the?! His feet carried him to the stairs, marching him down with the rest. He tried to force himself to stop but all feeling in his legs had gone. He turned to the side as he passed through the seats to the stage, trying to force his mouth to move. Call for help. Do something! But what good would that do? The others were lost in bliss, some even drooled. No one was going to help him.
The closer he got to the man, the more the urge to let go. His mind went fizzly, his eyes drooped...
NO. Stay awake.
He needed to stay in control, no matter what. His hands fell into his pocket where cold steel met his sweaty fingers. The ring. He held it tight, making sure it dug into his skin.
They made it to the stage and walked past the man. Evan nearly flinched when he looked his way. His eyes were what you'd expect, as dark as molasses. They almost looked quizzical, as if trying to figure something out. Evan forced his face to relax like the others' until he passed him.
They stood shoulder to shoulder behind him. Evan glanced to the right and caught sight of Lou some ways down. Lou? He called in his mind. Are you alright?
No answer.
The man called up more until they were fifty on that stage.
"Well, that's all,' he announced. He turned to them, his smile now gone. "Metrons. Kill the rest, please?"
Evan's breath stilled as the Metrons lifted their polarizers at once. This time there was screaming. A lot and a lot of screaming.
A tad bit too late, he'd say.
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