Ana: Incipience

Chapter 5: Discovering my Group

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Mornings were never my strong suit.  I hated waking up anytime before 8am and the start time for the academy is 8am every morning but Sunday.  I smacked my alarm off in anger.  My muscles ached even more than they did yesterday.  I skulked off to the bathroom, the other girls were already up and applying makeup. Adrenaline made me jittery, I was nervous to find out my first group today.  I had decided last night that if I made it into a top 10 group that I would be happy.  Anything below group 10 and I wouldn't be able to move up far enough to get in an elite team.  When I left the bathroom I saw my roommates were wearing a sports bra and shorts.  I was not comfortable enough to strut around in that little.  I resisted the urge to hide my body in a track suit and instead settled on leggings and a singlet.  Everything was grey, even the sneakers.  And everything fit perfectly.  I pulled my hair off my face and braided it again.  I threw on sunscreen and mascara and got ready to leave. My roommates giggled between themselves - I still didn't know their names.

When I reached the food hall it was already full.  Anxious energy buzzed, making the air stiffing.  I was suffocating.  I grabbed my allocated and tried to look for a less crowded place to eat.  I heard a shrill laugh from across the room.  I was immediately drawn to the carefree laugh which cut through the fearful air.   I got closer and saw a girl sitting with 2 boys,  I smiled with a strange sense of relief, I could breathe again. I pulled back a chair. 

"May I sit here?" My voice was quiet and I placed my tray on the table. 

"Of course you can. I'm Melody. This is Trent and Chris." She gestured to the boys sitting across from her. Melody's eyes were a warm chocolate brown that matched her pin straight hair. Her skin was olive and even sitting down, I could tell she was tall.  It was nice hearing names rather than numbers. 

"I'm Ana."

"What gene group are you in?" Her words were like a tune. Suddenly her name seemed fitting.

"68. Yourself?" I took a bite out of my flavorless breakfast, I think it was scrambled eggs but I wasn't sure.

"We're all 62's, wow 68's cool." She almost giggled. It didn't seem as though she belonged in the military. It was hard not to feel affected by her infectious smile. The group would have been well aware that 62's were the best fit for the military. It was refreshing to see they didn't have the smug confidence that some of the other students carried.

"62's always get into fantastic groups." I immediately found myself liking this group.  The chatter was mindless and it flowed easily.  When Melody left I followed behind her.

"How did you go on the first test yesterday?" She whispered.

"I don't know, average I think. What about you?" I whispered nervously.My palms were sweating and I couldn't help but bite my nails. 

"Lets just say I didn't train for an all terrain obstacle course. I heard we're changing dorm rooms." The comment was slightly comforting. We all shuffled slowly into the main hall, the chairs were gone and in their place stood 15 boards with numbers written on them.  On the left side of the stage there was number 1-8 and on the other 9-15. I immediately moved toward board number nine.  I pushed through the crowd to scan the board. 

Nope.

I moved the board 10. 

Nope.

11,12,13 and 14. 

Nope, nope and nope.

My heart was racing, I didn't want to look at board 15. I scanned it quickly and relief flooded my body when I realized my number was not there.  I was suddenly giddy with the realization that I was in one of the better groups.  I could smell the black uniform already.  I ran to the other side of the stage and quickly found Melody. She was easy to spot as she stood behind board 5. A radiant smile beamed from her face.

"I'm in group 5!" She squealed with delight.

"Congratulations! That's amazing. I haven't found my number yet."

"There's a 68 on board 5. Is it you?" Melody pushed me toward the front of the crowd.

Please meet in combat hall 2.

62 B 12 (F)

62 B 17 (F)

63 D 44 (M)

68 C 89 (F)

To her astonishment I saw my number. 86 C 89 (f).I  stood in front of the board for a second longer. The group was better than I had ever imagined.  I turned to face Melody and somehow her smile was contagious. 

"It's me. It's me!" Melody hugged me quickly; the contact caught me off guard. I don't think I hugged her back in time before she was towing me out of the large crowd. 

"Do you think we'll get to pick our roommate?"Melody babbled on excitedly.I  zoned out momentarily, imagining the upcoming tests.

As long as I didn't stuff up too badly – or die – I could end up wearing black. In an elite group, with a good job. Maybe life wouldn't be so bad here after all.I  told melody I would meet her in the combat hall when training commenced in an hour. I  decided to call her parents to tell them the good news.

I hurried to the main office where the phone was,  everyone's phones had been confiscated yesterday. There was already a line for the phone when I got there. I punched in my home number quickly and waited for the dial.

"Hello?"my  mum picked up. The voice sent relief flowing through me.

"Mum? Mum it's me."I  turned toward the wall as I spoke.

"Ana! Harry, Ana's on the phone!"I  laughed easily, I imagined my father running for the phone and my mother hiding a sneaky grin.

"How did you go?" She was breathless with anticipation.

"Group 5."I  spoke quietly. I  heard an intake of breathe on the other end of the phone.

"Oh Ana that's fantastic!" I  heard her mother exclaim. I  was on speakerphone.

"I always knew you would do well. You'll be placed in a top 9 group for sure." My father's delight made me smile. I had made them proud.I  found herself smiling along with them as we chatted.

"I have to go get ready for testing now. I'll speak to you in a few days."I  said a quick good bye and hung up.I  weaved trough the masses of students waiting for the phones.I  missed her parents. They were both intellects, scholars at the academy of learning. They were gentle, kind souls with endless patience for me.I  hoped some of their tolerance had worn off on me; I would need it these next few weeks.