The Determining

Chapter 1

I am Blaire Hadley and will be having my Determining at the age fifteen. I will be taking my Determining the same day as my twin brother, Tommy. He was born twenty minutes ahead of me. I was born at midnight, so I gladly don't share the same birthday as him. Our parents are Trish Prior and Thomas Hadley.

In less than one day the Determining will commence. It officially begins on the twelfth . All the students will go to Capitol Hall, that is only used for the Determining tests.

Capitol Hall has over a hundred rooms, one room per student. The building's appearance is marvelous to everyone else, but I don't like it. From the little rumors and information that gets passed around about that place, I feel as though I know it by heart. I hate the fact it has fluorescent lights that are everywhere you go always announcing their presence with the slight most irritating sound. It's bleach white walls and cold marble flooring would be too bland to withhold. The smell is of metal and tears; from the equipment that monitor our every move and the tears from those who had lower scores and were sent away.

The name of the test can not fool me. It was said to have just an opinion of your score and help determine your choice of a branch wisely for November 14th the Favoring Service, hence the name "Determine." The Favoring Service is at noon, we will choose the branch we want to join and have to be officially accepted in initiation. We will only go to our Favoring Service if we score what Tresdil requires for the Determining tests which no one really knows. If we are told we made it then we passed the requirement, that's it.

Commander Draigs says, since Tresdil is still "advancing", when people fail there are two outcomes. The student could either be sent to Downtown, which is more common, or be put under 24/7 surveillance and be observed by many unruly Scholars. When under "surveillance" you never leave Capitol Hall.

We have heard that they are simply moved to a higher floor in the building and are used for strange tests. No one really knows why they want to play with us like dolls, but that is the way of life. (at least from Commander Draigs' point of view)

I am part of the Self-denials, bring terrible at my branch, no matter how hard I try I can't seem to deny myself for others. My mother Trish is never proud of me, she says I am the most selfish person she has ever known.

My father has been trying his best to explain how my Determining will go. We will be sent to Capitol Hall at 9:10 pm sharp, on the 12th. Whoever does not show up will be tracked down by the Protectors and will be sent to a higher floor, for their test, getting a mark off their final score. The higher they send you the worse the Determining test will be, whatever that means. We will be separated in alphabetical order of our middle names. So I am going to be fourteen people behind Tommy. His middle name is Andrew and mine is Heather.

Luckily my little sister, Tessa, will not be having her Determining anytime soon. She is eight years old and way too enthusiastic. She has golden hair with long curls cascading against her back. Her green eyes that have a stare of innocence and love can open any stone-hearted man. I hope she will do well for her Determining when the time comes.

I don't even know if I will do well at all.

Why am I so nervous? I've had 15 years for preparation. Why do I feel the way I do?