The Test

Adaline 1

The New Ones started a recruitment campaign calling for young women to participate in "tests". We were left with minimal information about the project. I'm not sure why they were only trying to gather women, but I wasn't going to ask questions. Anything to get me out of The Colony. The only thing we know, is that it will change how we live forever. After the War of the Nations, people were tired of living in pain and tragedy. Millions of people were killed. There weren't enough people to rebuild and start over. Politics were no more. The idea of the United States government was disbanded after the war. Americans were too distraught about the impact the war had on their livelihoods. The government tore homes apart, drafting both young men and women to fight. It only lasted for two years, as nuclear fireworks concluded the argument. The nations were all money hungry, beginning with high trade tariffs. This gave other countries more motivation to press their own ideals. North Korea, China, Russia all pressing for expansion and integration into other countries.

            I'm still practicing my signature. They have me sign a non-disclosure agreement about the project. "Thank you for supporting our cause, Ms. Yeats" the clergy man says. He hole punches the paper, and inserts it into a binder. I get on the bus and find an empty seat. I look out of the window and see a line of girls eager to participate in the "Spirit Trials".

            My dad was already in the army when the war started. My older brother didn't want my dad alone in this fight. He felt it was his moral duty to fight side by side with my father to preserve our country. It wasn't long until we received notice that they were killed in action. Now I was the only thing that she had left. My mother was devastated, and she became distant from me. I woke up one morning and she was gone. No note, or a "Hey honey, I'm leaving." She was just...gone. 6 months later, people formed The Colony after the country was bombarded with nukes taking out major cities. D.C., New York, Miami; all destroyed.

            "Hey, are you okay?" a girl says with a serious look on her face. I didn't even realize anyone sat next to me. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. Thanks." I reply with an awkward smile. "I was asking why you signed up! Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you" she says sincerely. "Oh yeah, umm. I just needed a change in my life. After my family died, I felt like I had nowhere else to go, I guess" I say as I continue to watch more girls sign their names and load on the bus. "I lost my family too" she says as she looks down and picks off hanging vinyl fabric from the seat in front of us. "I'm Adaline" I say as I turn and look back at her. "Sarah" she says as she reaches out her hand to shake mine.