Omniscient

Chapter 5

When we arrived inside Imperial Beach we looked at each other and both smirked. Smirking is our way of saying, "You're on!" or "You're an idiot." This may be the last time we will be able to do this so, just like we were some idiotic, reckless five year olds, we race to the ultimate finish line. We both have a fast running speed, but I know I can beat him. As I dash past the civilians who are talking about meaningless things, I overhear my mother's voice and immediately sprint at my fastest speed. I bump into several annoyed people, but one person in particular gets mad. I ignore his feelings. As I reach the arena I slow down and stop, awaiting Bash's arrival. When he reaches me he looks at me in awe.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I state confused as much as I was when my Dad got arrested. I look around, alarmed, and see all of the civilians are staring at me intently. All of the Vitality people are staring at me even more intently. They look at me and are flabbergasted.
Another fifteen year old runs towards me while yelling, "What's your name?" I am very astonished at how he managed to say three words, but I answer, "Jemma Huddleston. May I ask why?" The kid looks at me in dismay. Uh-oh. I triggered another throat slitter. Bash comes up to me and pulls me out of the way.
His face is in disbelief. He might have even felt envious of me. "You just bumped against the president of the Vitality group." I stagger backwards in awe. Everyone stares at me, including the president of the Vitality group. He smiles and walks towards Bash, then looks at me and stands there staring at me with an awkward smile on his face. While he smiles people are all standing and staring at this girl, me, a girl who they think must only be a corpse in the near future.
"I'd like to see you at the Quest." The man said as he walked into the arenas side door. I stand there with a blank face. Spotting Mom and Layla in the audience of flabbergasted people, they are smiling. This is weird; I was expecting them to look down on me in disgust.
Before I have time to react to any of the events the president calls everyone into the arena on the blaring loudspeaker. Prior to turning around and heading towards the towering stadium I see my mother bobbing her head up and down through the crowd. Immediately I react and take Bash's hand and walk away. He has always understood my mommy problems because he has daddy problems as well. The gates to the arena open and it floods with fifteen-year-old girls and boys of all shapes and sizes. One of the malevolent kids looks like he has dyed his hair a million times. He must not be a Malevolent "born". Some girls are jumping around like a bunch of idiots. If you look at the others you can tell which caucus they're aiming to get in, the girls with their heads stuck in books, the guys doing arm wrestles in the air, and the Malevolent kids who are just ducking through the crowd. When we pass through the gate a force field goes up behind us and around the top of the arena. All of the kids are peeking over each other's heads to see the president's face. Karen Liveli, our secretary says she is the "smartest" of us all. Our president, however, is actually nice. Her name is Jacqueline Gergile.
"As most of you know, the quest is an event where you find where you belong. This is the beginning of a new generation. These quests will define who you are. You will be tested in all of the six caucus' areas. For example, in Omniscient you will take the UFQ or Ubiquity Facilitation Quest. This will test you in all areas of Math, Comprehension and Science. Vitality will test you on speed, strength and..." The rest of the president's words fade in my mind and I just stand there with Bash's arm at my side and my arms attached to his overly masculine chest. I was extremely divided between what I should and shouldn't try for. I just decided to just do my best in everything.
The government officials start calling everybody's name in alphabetical order. I was given the number of 732 and Bash got 735 because his last name was Luverian. As the line moves at it's slow and steady pace decreasing by one person every ten minutes I knew I was going to be here for just a little while. Every person coming back either had a sad disappointed face or an extremely jovial face depending on their results. They stop taking people in at 9 meaning I would be fifth in line at the beginning of tomorrow. The line stopped moving and we had to lie in our spots. As Bash and I lay in our bunks with him directly next to me we both went in the same bed. He put his arms around me and his warmth flowed through me. We both knew we wouldn't be able to see each other if we were placed in different caucuses so we knew if we ever wanted to talk again, now would be the time. As we lay I hear him whispering to me.
"I love you and no matter what happens I will always love you." The words hit me as if it were one of Cupid's arrows. "I love you too." I whispered even more quietly than he had. After I confessed how I felt he pulled me closer to his body. I knew then he actually meant it. The bed felt more comfortable as we slept together even though it was as hard as a rock. I turned around a stroked his hair as I kissed him. Then I turned back around and found I had finally gotten the best birthday present ever.
Before going to sleep, I go back to my bed and check under the bed. I found my brown bag lying upside down with clothes strewn around. As I pick it up I find the ground left some sort of moldy residue on it, then quickly wiping it off I open it. When I start to rummage through the items my clothes fall out making a loud noise echoing through the concrete arena. I look through the clothes and find my metallic invention of a robot from second grade. Screw it, I thought. As I start to put everything away a shadow falls over me. Looking back behind me I see a tall man with all black and grey clothes on. While trying to stand up I say, nervously, "Wh-Who are..." An indefinable amount of force overcomes me. Everything slowly starts to fade to black.