Grotesque Trilogy (Book 1)

Chapter 15

A couple of weeks pasted and me, Olivia and Peace still hadn't gone back to school. I had over a million missed calls of Leo and hundreds of texts but I just couldn't seem to bring myself to answer or reply to his messages.

It was Olivia's 19th birthday today. Me and Peace had been running around everywhere getting her presents, but to see her pleased will probably be a huge reward right now. Peace had gotten Olivia a silver bracelet that had an infinity sign in the middle of it and a charm on which had 'O+P' in the middle of it. He said it symbolizes that he and Olivia will be together for eternity. Olivia was currently with Ofelia to see if she had developed any more powers, due to Olivia having taken the test when she was 17. Apparently your powers fully develop at 18 but with so many new people coming into the cave they forgot to test Olivia again, so they are testing her now.

As we tried our best at hiding Olivia's presents in Peace's room there was a knock at the door, shoving the last present under Peace's bed he opened the door. Olivia was stood on the other side with a massive smile on her face. "What's with the cheesy grin?" Peace asked. "I gained 2 more powers" she said almost jumping at her own words. Clearly she was excited with the 2 more powers she had gained. "Tell us then! what two did you get?" Peace asked. "Immortality and fire and heat manipulation" she squealed. "Alright hot stuff calm down" Peace said, we all laughed at how relevant his joke was right now.

Then I realized something me, Peace and Olivia all possessed immortality. "Hey" I said. "You know we are all immortal right?" I asked them both. We all looked at each other not really knowing what to say. We were the only three people who could live forever but why?

After giving Olivia her gifts we started to make our way towards the gym until Ofelia stopped us, "Ah there you three are, come on its systematizing day" She said. "What's that?" I asked not having a clue what she meant. "Its where we categorize you on what skills you have" she explained with a smile. "I'm interested into seeing where you three will be arranged" she said then turning and leading us towards the gym. "There are 5 fragments" Ofelia explained. "The first is dexterousness. The second is intellect. The third probity. The fourth is intermediary and the final one is foremost" she explained. "What do they mean?" Olivia asked. "Dexterousness is showing your physical skills, like your fighting for example if you are best at that one you will be placed there. Intellect is if you are more intelligent than the rest of the people here, being in this fragment means you'll be more use on our compute-ring systems and helping us with abstract things. Probity is for those who have strong morals and are fairly honest. Intermediary are our peacemakers, they are the ones we have to try and make agreements between people and lastly foremost's are those who fit into every fragment, these are our almighty people" she explained. We all just nodded our heads, showing we understood what she had said.

Walking into the gym around a hundred people stood in a line near the back waiting to take the arrangement test. The test was a bunch of wires that hook onto you, similar to how they get your powers but they sort of scan you and put a name on the big screen in front of which fragment you should be in.

"Peace Howard" someone called, this indicated it was Peace's turn to go next. Peace entered the see through box that was in front of him and closed the door behind. We could still see Peace which put me at ease as it gave me an idea of what will happen when I go in. When Peace stood in the center of the glass room the wires cohered onto him almost instantly. He jerked back from the shock of the wires before the wires lifted him up and scanned him. After a couple of minutes he was put back down and he waited for a name to appear on the screen. Then in big bold writing the word 'Foremost' appeared on the screen, and one of the five doors that was inside the room in front of Peace opened. Peace looked back, gave me and Olivia a weak smile before disappearing into the doorway. Me and Olivia stood silent as a few others took the test. "I don't think I can do this" Olivia said clearly frightened. "What if we get split up and we don't even know what's going to happen once we are behind one of them doors" she finally said. I knew she was right and I didn't want to be split up either but if we have to we will be. I hugged her and gave her a reassuring smile. "Stop over thinking it, when its our turn we will take the test and take it from there" I said to her.

"Olivia Winchester" someone called. I gave her a weak smile before she turned and went into the room. After a few moments of her test being took she waited for a name to appear on the screen. 'Foremost' appeared once again, Olivia turned and gave me a smile before going inside the open door in front of her.

It felt like I was waiting centuries for my test to be taken.

"Meg Whitely" someone finally called. Approaching the room, anticipation was running through my whole body. As I was standing in the center a wire cohered into me. I jerked back like Peace did before me, I didn't expect the wires to be so sharp, it felt like they had pierced my skin.

As the wires scanned me it felt like electric bolts were going through my whole body and after it finally put me down I felt a bit tipsy. Trying to get my eyes to concentrate on the screen in front, I patiently waited to see what fragment I will be put in. 'Foremost' appeared on the screen and joy filled me, I was so happy to still be with Olivia and Peace.

As the door opened I had no idea what to expect on the other side but anticipation was eating me alive. Approaching the door a pitch black corridor was seen in front of me. As I walked through the door shut and lights lit my way, at the end was a stairway. Where was I?