Will You Kill Me?

chapter 2

"Meg!" Jase whispered in my ear, "Wake up! You can't be late to placement day!" He hissed causing me to finally open my eyes. The younger kids were aloud to sleep in on placement day so I was the only girl waking up. Our orphanage doubled as a school, we all sat in one class room and did assignments out of our textbook depending on what grade you were in. Jase and I were both in year 10, he had a late birthday and I had an early one. I was okay in school. I always strived to do my best, Jase was a different story. I helped him study, but even so he barely is passing.

Placement day is a blessing and a curse. For some placement day is the time that kids can escape their lives and achieve greater things, for others it is a nightmare. It is a battle for the kind of life you will have. Based off of one test your life can be determined. In our world your job is your ranking in society.

I was worried about Jase. His grades were so mediocre I was afraid he would fail. Still I smile at him as I get out of my bed. He was wearing the common uniform, a simple white button up with some black slacks and loafers. Girls uniforms were similar except we had a black knee-length skirt and flats. I grabbed my clothes from the community wardrobe and headed to the bathroom.

The walls were a pastel pink, although all the paint was peeling. The mirror was covered in dirt and slime. I looked at my reflection noticing my long brown hair that fell to the middle of my back. My blue eyes stared back at me emotionless. Emotionless was good. Emotionless was safe. I smiled showing my teeth before changing. I quickly braided my hair straight down my back and returned to Jase who was standing by the stair case that lead downstairs. He turned and smiled at me, a peice of dark brown hair falling onto his face. I reached up at placed it back where it belonged. His hair looked like something out of a time machine. 1960's maybe? I wouldn't know much about history. Jase was tall, probably around 6 foot 2 inches, while I stood at 5 foot 9 inches.

Jase held his hand out for mine and I took it walking down the stairs to the classroom. Affection was against the law so at the bottom of the stairs he let go of my hand and entered the classroom. I followed, my hand shaking. Suddenly without Jase by my side I felt vulnerable. I sat a desk in the front corner as the other three boys who were old enough for placement entered the room. They all sat in the back, Jase sat in the middle, leaving me the only one in the front. Our Principle entered several minutes later in more make up than usual.

"As you all know, the lady coming to test you all is a very important lady." She began looking at each one of us. "Act with respect and show our orphanage proud!" she said spinning and leaving the room.

Silence followed for the next five minutes before a strange lady walked in. Her outfit was dark green, the color of all government officials. Her hair was obviously dyed a pale blonde and her make up turned her face just as pale. She simply looked at us and handed us packets full of questions on arithmetic, english, french, and history. Many questions I didn't know filling my chest with fear. I clamped my eyes closed and breathed, attempting to calm myself down. I know Jase can't do this. He just can't! When we finished we place our answer sheet up at the desk and the lady scans it. I shakily stood up and handed the lady my test. She took it and scanned it with a hand held scanner. A moment later a paper popped out and she gave it to me. I took it and without looking I sat down. Fear shivered through me. In my hands was my score. My life.

Looking down I stared at the number. 256. A 256 out of 300. I sighed. That is a good job. I am not rich, but I am not poor. I am a high middle class member. I sneak a peak over at Jase. He is pale. Sweat trips down his temple as he struggles through the test. Tears build up in my eyes but I blink them away. Jase stands his hand gripped to the answer sheet as he hands it over to be scanned. He takes his score and sits down looking at the ceiling. Slowly he looks at his paper, a smile breaks across his face and he looks at me. I smile back before turning away. He is okay. I wonder what job he might choose. What job will I choose?

"Okay, everybody is done. It is time for your placement." the lady says standing and placing a hologram on the table. "You will all come up, say your score, then you will choose a job from the list you are given." She looks up at us to make sure we all understand. "Ladies first. What is your name?" she says pointing at me. I stand my whole body shaking. I breathe and stand straighter.

"My name is Megan Stata." I say respectfully.

"Very good now come up here." The woman says gestureing my to move. I step to the front of the room and look at the hologram.

"Score, 256." I say clearly. Jase stares at me and hints at a smile before going blank. A list of jobs appear.

Doctor, nurse, cardiovascular doctor. I am interested in medical so I focus on these. Breathing in deeply I reach out and select my fate. Nurse.