The Determining

Chapter 8

On the stage and I am given a piece of white cloth.

Nobody seems to care about me, just impatient with my being late.

I stand in front of the three bowls of choosing. The colors are right there... to dye my cloth and choose my destiny

The first bowl has Blue for Scholars. The middle bowl has a perfect spilt of grey for Self-Denials on one half and a dark orange in the other half for the Gentiles. The last bowl has the black in a divided half of a bowl for the Protectors and White in the same bowl with black droplets dripping into the black end for the Compassions.

Those are the colors of the branches and those will be used to destine my nameless cloth.

I need to make a difference. I need to be ready to save Tommy!

I need to be trained.

The Self-Denials is not a place to be trained. I know I will need help, I close my eyes. When I open them again when cloth is fully divulged in black.

I hear some whispers, it's not often a Self-Denial goes into the Protector branch. They usually end up dead.

If I must die. Then I did it for Tommy!

After the last few people choose, the lot of us that choose Protectors are led to the train. Just like from my simulation, the train stops for no one.

We have to jump.

I start to sprint in the attempt of catching up with the others and I pray to make it on. This is probably only the beginning of initiation and training.

I'm gaining speed just as the train gains length. I jump slamming my body onto a train car and miraculously have at least a weak hold on the outside of the open door handle. The rest of my body is dangling over the city.

A strong familiar grip pulls me up and my eyes look up to the one and only, Mike.

"Glad you could drop by," he smirks. I can't fully register any thoughts of what just happened, and just stand there heavy in breath.

He seems to understand how traumatized I am and helps me sit down. He is wearing all black now. He has an ugly discolored bruise where his jaw met the  soldier's gun. Giving me some space he scoots away, not to far though.

The ride isn't long and I kinda daze off.

Mike tells me that for drop off we have to jump out of the train onto the roof of one of the silver buildings that lie just up ahead. I'm still day dreaming when all in one spurious motion, Mike gives me a hand up.

"Now! Jump now!" He shoves me as I jump nervously and I soar through the air like in my test.

But this is reality, if I fall I die. I land on the roof, crumbling, and groan. It feels like every bone in my body has shattered, either for real or I am just in shock, I don't know.

I don't know how long I've been down, but soon hear another body land next to me.

Mike?

No this guy has a bulkier shadow. Quickly the guy gets up and notices me.

"Hey! You! Come on we just started and look at yourself!" His voice is deep and haunting, something that I will definitely have in my head forever and not in the good way.

He kicks my hand lightly, but I don't move. I just can't muster the energy.

Then he kicks me hard in the gut and I straighten up to an unsteady sitting position, shocked he just kicked me... a girl.

I look around and Mike is nowhere and half the people are gone as I slowly stand up. I get up because I'm afraid this guy is gonna kick me again.

"What's your name kid?" A simple question, but he makes it sound offensive.

Still in pain and surprise of his kicks he shrugs off my silence,"Ah, you don't have to tell me, and if you were curious, my name is Erin,"

Erin comes close to my ear and in a terrifying whisper, "I am your worst nightmare and will give you the hardest time in your life."

I shake off what I just heard and block Erin out, trying to use my brain and process my surroundings. I don't see any stairs or ladder and we are on a roof.

There is almost no one on the roof now, just me, Erin, and two or three newbies in worser condition than me. Where did everyone else go?

No! God no! They want us to jump off. I sure hope there is water or something soft to land on.

As I walk to the edge of the roof looking down in mortified terror? Erin sees my thoughts and brain moving.

"So little Miss Silence has figured out how we brave people get off the scary tall building." Erin says in a crude taunting voice.

I already am sick of him and hate him. Without thought I jump.

The wind is so strong against my body. It feels as though if I let it, it will rip my old life away from me.

I would have no worries, no problems except this Erin guy.

But, I won't let myself forget the past. I joined this branch to train myself and save my brother.

He is the last thought in my mind when all goes black and I lose feeling

Have I landed? Am I dead?