The World As We Know It

The Chosen Ones (Part 3)

We all went back to Saavi's room. Which was again, also all white. I should have brought sunglasses if I had known it was going to be this bright in here quite literally everywhere I went.

"So are you going to tell us what you heard or not?" asks Raven impatiently.

Eden's face is as white as a ghost and he's staring off as if he's in shock; turns out he was in shock.

"I- they-" he stammered.

Saavi rubs his back gently. "Hey, it's okay. Tell us."

He swallowed harshly. "They were saying something about the world...it...was going to be destroyed. They're going to kill everyone. They were making a plan at what time they were going to set off the nuclear weapons. That's really all I could hear." He exclaims.

We're all silent for a good 30 seconds. Before Rayne chuckles.

"What the hell are you talking about?" she asks.

He looks at her and shakes his head. "I wish I knew."

"Is this a test? A game? Has it already started without them telling us?" I ask, confused.

"It can't be, they said training doesn't start until tomorrow. And cameras aren't here either." says Eden.

I can feel my heart racing in my chest. There's no way this is real. I have to be dreaming. From the start it's all felt weird. Or Eden has to be playing a joke.

"Eden...are you telling us the truth? Are you sure you're not messing with us." I ask.

"I swear I wouldn't joke about this. I knew something was off too. This is uncanny. The only reason I'm here is because I scored highest in my state for my SAT and ACT scores. Us smart ones didn't really have a choice if we stood out from everyone else already. But I feel like they should choose someone who's the smartest, and actually wants to be here." Eden answers.

I nod in agreement. "I didn't choose to be here either."

"Me neither." says Saavi.

"No way. Neither did I." pitches in Rayne.

"Guys what is going on?" asks Rayne. "Why are we all here then?"

"They must have only made the announcement to make it seem less suspicious that two kids from each state would be taken in. They knew from the start who the smartest and strongest were." says Eden.

"They wanted it to really seem like a competition and like other kids had a chance too." says Saavi.

"So then, what does this all mean?" I ask.

"It means they're leaving it up to us to start a new civilization." says Eden.

"They must want us to solve any environmental issues that are happening, and restart the population in hopes that in the future, people will be taught how to take care of the planet, and each other so that there will be no more war, violence, or global warming." I say.

"This isn't the way to do it. In no way this is right." says Raven.

"This isn't going to solve anything. The future will always have these things no matter who runs the planet. There was always war; even before global warming was noticed." says Saavi.

"What are we supposed to do?" asks Rayne.

"I think we need to go back and listen in more at the details. And from there figure out what to do." says Eden.

"You're an idiot. That's how you die." says Rayne.

"Well seems we may all die anyway." I say.

"We need to find a way out." says Saavi.

"Okay woah. Everyone calm down for a second." says Eden. "I'll go back there tonight after lights out. I'll snoop around a little to see if there's anything more I hear. I'm sure they'll be less discreet about things after they think we're all in bed; it'll be easier for me to hear or see something." says Eden.

"There has to be cameras planted everywhere. You'll be caught." Saavi says.

Eden grins and points at the ceiling. There's a tile with a large ventilation system that Eden would very easily be able to crawl into.

"Eden please be careful." says Saavi.

"I will. Don't worry." reassures Eden.

We hear a bell ring and a loudspeaker come on over an intercom.

"Everyone please report to your assigned rooms. It is now curfew. Breakfast will be served at 8 A.M tomorrow morning. You must arrive on time, or you will be punished." the woman's voice says.

"I'll discuss everything I hear to you guys tomorrow at breakfast." says Eden.

We all nod and walk back to our rooms.

When I get into my room I grab my cell phone from off the charger where I had put it when I first arrived. I turn it on and open my message app. It says I hadn't received any notifications.

"Weird." I think.

I then notice at the top of my screen that it says I have 'No service'.

I start breathing heavily. They won't even let me contact anyone. They know that if we find anything out that we'll try to leave and take notice of what's happening outside.