CLOUD 9INE (OG)

3

All four of them arrived at the Reaping arena. Well not exactly at the arena. 

Millions of people were lined up to participate in the test. Tetra's nervous tics began to start as they crammed in with all the other people. Lo had her hugged close to keep her from getting mixed in with the crowd, but she didn't even notice as the claustrophobia started to get to her.

"Where are you guys?" Ava's voice came over the crowd. Both girls popped out from the fray and ran into Lo and Tetra. 

Evyn whispered, "I see you got him to hug you." 

Tetra's face got red. "No, he did it himself." And then her head twitched so she decided tostay silent. The masses of people continue to move closer to the entrances. Tetra leaned her head on Lo's chest; the warmth comforted her.

The lines of people moved closer. Ava hugged close to Evyn and gave her a peck on thecheek as the crowds got even more congested. Tetra's panicky tunnel vision kept her focused onjust Lo as they were pushed towards the large black doors that let the participants inside.

Two angels were on either side of each door, hovering above the crowd and making surethat people didn't enter too fast.

When will it be over? Tetra thought to herself. This was such a bad idea.

All four of them were about to go in the door, but then a huge gust of wind came from thedoors and knocked over everyone nearby. Tetra fell on top of Lo and the girls got separated from them.

"What happened?" Lo said, directing his question towards the angels.

"We are not sure," they said in unison. "Please wait here." They flew into the doors andclosed them with a loud boom. But as quickly as they entered, the doors blew off of their hingesand were vaporized by the red light coming from inside the arena.

Fog billowed from the gaping hole and out walked one very short man, dressed in a pinstripe suit and carrying a clipboard in his hands. He waved his pen around and large holographic screens materialized above the crowds. Everyone stood to get a better view.

"Well, hello, heaveners!" said the man as his face filled the screen. "Welcome to the the firstannual Picking. What's a Picking you ask?" Tetra's anxious nerves got worse.

"Well, us on the first circle of Hell are running out of people to torture. So now we will be 'Picking' people to join us! Don't worry, the test will be the same, but if you win, you stay on Cloud 9. Any questions? No? Okay. Continue the line please." A large amount of queue ropes appeared and filed all the citizens into the tight space. "Also, don't try to back out now. You can't. Enjoy!"

Tetra's eyes grew wider as she realized the gravity of the situation. She turned to her friends and yelled, "I told you guys this was a bad idea! Now we could go to the bad place and be tortured forever and probably never see each other or our parents or eat pizza or ride dolphins and..." She burst into tears and knelt on the ground, hugging her arms close to her chest.

Lo tried hugging her and she leaned into his arms while they both sat on the ground.

"Tetra's right, you guys," Ava said, "What if we fail? I'd hate to be separated from my goth girlfriend."

Evyn facepalmed in embarrassment and said, "We just have to pass. If we fail, we fail. At least the decor will probably be better down there if we don't make it."

Lo sighed. "I hope we do. I don't wanna lose you guys." He looked into Tetra's tear-stained face. 

Tetra stared back. The look on his face. He felt the same way. She heaved a heavy sigh.

"We can do this, guys. We can pass this as a team."