Collapse: The Hidden Parallel.

The Test.

I need to run faster.
This was it. One more soul and I'll pass the test. I look around for the other students. I have to collect a soul before any of them does. I can't risk my first position when I've maintained it for so long.
I take a deep breath and concentrate to know the exact location of the soul that I'm after. I can feel that it's somewhere near. I get out of my hiding.
Let me tell you why exactly I was hiding in the first place. I'm not yet a Worker or a "Reaper" as you call it. Which means I don't own a scythe. Without the scythe, we're very much visible to the humans. And if they see us, we turn to ash. That escalated quickly, right? But that's how it is. Survival of the fittest.
This, however, is not a very populated area. There are only about 15 houses here, out of which 3 are empty. I see a pale blue figure through my peripheral vision. Just what I've been looking for. I walk towards it slowly and steadily. Souls are very fragile and get disturbed easily. They've to be approached with patience. Keeping an eye on it, I move behind it. Perfect! It'll be easy now. All I've to do is sprinkle some Freedom Water on it and when it gets detached from the worldly pull, I'll capture it inside my flask.
Freedom Water is the main element to capture souls. Both the Trainers and the Workers use this to do their job. It basically frees the soul, as the name already suggests.
I get a little more closer to it and remove my sprinkle bottle. With one quick motion I sprinkle some of the content on the soul. I look as it starts rising up in the air. This is it. I remove my flask, open the seal and wait for the soul to get sucked inside. The procedure takes about 30 seconds. After it's done, I leave out a long breath which I didn't even realize I'd been holding. Omg! I can't believe this is over! I felt myself grin like an idiot. All that is left to do is to take this soul to the Elders and they'll decide my fate. I know I'll get the First Parallel. I did well, okay!
As I turn back, I hear a scream. Not just any scream. I knew this scream. This was the scream of someone turning into ash. This scream was of a trainer. Humans are near. I walk towards where the scream came from, making sure to be hidden by the shadows.
I could see a body lying limply on the ground. It must be the human that saw the trainer. One thing you should know is that humans, after seeing us, fall unconscious. They don't remember anything after waking up.
As I walk further, I see a pile of ash. I bend down to take a closer look at it and I see a ring. I knew this ring! I feel like someone punched me in the stomach. Oh Ella! This ring belonged to her. Ella was a good friend of mine. My vision starts to blur as tears start forming in my eyes. I'll miss you, my friend.
Wiping my tears, I stand up. I have to stay strong. Crying won't bring her back. With that I prepare myself to leave but not before seeing a soul floating high in the air. Shit! Ella must've freed the soul before turning to ash!
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Here's the first chapter!
FYI -
Zoriya is a Trainer. After she passes her exam, she'll officially become a Worker or a Reaper.
Her fate will be decided by the Elders.
Elders are Ex Workers. They've been Workers for so long that they've taken up teaching. Now they train students and also decide their fate.
Hope there's no confusion here. Even if there is, feel free to ask! :)