The Runners: Positivity

Chapter 1

Edit: I (Theeny) realized that throughout the story there were many holes that we're filled in, and it was quite hard to understand if you didn't know any background information about the Kore. So, enjoy! If there's anything else that you don't quite understand, please comment or PM!

Chapter 1- Theeny

Today is the last day... The last day in your sector. The last time you might see your friends.

You sit on the edge of a cliff. The breeze blowing in the afternoon air. It's cooler up here than down in the village, more open and quiet. You like it, it's always amazing up here- every time, even though you've been up here hundreds of times. But today's different- today might be the last time you see the landscape from afar and above.

Enjoy it... It gets away from all the commotion in the village. You can still hear everyone bustling in the marketplace today. But it's a quieter relaxing sound- more distant.

Peityn and you decided that you guys would meet and watch over the villages of your humble mountain home. Peityn asked everyone in our class to join us. But only a few came.

You all started the journey up the mountains at the crack of dawn, laughing along the way. Carolin's jokes make you fall to the ground, dropping everything you are carrying. It brings many memories of years together. You remember when everyone first met. In school. It seems like a long time back. But it's only been half of your life.

You smile and giggle at the thoughts of this morning and all the good times before that.

Rian looks over and smiles, snapping you out of your thought. "So, miss famous. You're the new big shot- highest level tested."

You smile back and nudge his shoulder. He's moving to the third sector and you know you'll miss him... And everyone else. Rian, Levi, and Maeve are all going to three. Carolin's staying here is the fifth sector, Peityn is the only one going to four- the sector known for their aggression- Peityn is once in awhile a little vicious... But also very kind to you and all your friends. On the other hand, Feyth and you are going to the other side, where they prepare you for a fight to the death.

At ten years old, Kingdom officials come around to each of the schools in the sectors- The Kingdom was number one, Forest was two, Swamp was three, Desert was four, and Mountain, your sector, was number five- to be tested. How the test exactly works, you don't know, and neither do any of the other people you know. But you know that it's a piece of Kingdom technology that was created here in the Kore recently.

A few weeks after the "Evaluation," as The Kingdom calls it, the results come out and everyone is classified into levels. Neutral meant that you were normal. Being Positive, on the other hand, meant that you were different, that you had extra genetics added to your genes that enhanced your skills, such as vision, hearing, agility, and the ability to process information quickly. Then, these Positives are sent to the other half of your society, to train to enter the Labyrinth. A fight to the death, basically and only two- one boy, one girl- come out alive.

No one really knows a lot about the Labyrinth on the Neutral side, except for anyone that came out alive and made it back to the Neutral side, but they say that the experience in the game is so horrible that they don't want to talk about it. Your mother was one of those people who made it out but decided to return to the Neutral side instead of training new Positives on the other side.

But now, you've become the highest level Positive to ever have been tested. A Level 8- but your exact number was an 8.5. You don't really know whether to be disappointed or proud of your achievement.

Peityn turns to face you and Feyth."So," she grins with enthusiasm, "you guys excited to die?"

Everyone looks at her with wide eyes. "No, I'm just kidding, I think you'll both be fine in The Labyrinth! It's like a one in two hundred chance you guys will be chosen to enter The Labyrinth, and a one in ten chance that you'll make it out alive if they do choose you." She laughs, rambling on, "but how cool would it be to finally go to The Kingdom, I mean no one ever gets to go there! I wish I was Positive. Then I would get chosen and train in The Kingdom for an entire year!"

You hear the slightest lie in her voice and look down. She doesn't think we'll make it... You look back up and ask playfully, "Peityn, who do you think is more likely to win?"

She looks back at you, not smiling anymore.

Inside, you smile, knowing you've beat Peityn at her own game of 'Kidding Around'. But you just say you're joking.

Sneaking a quick glance at Feyth, you notice she's looking down; you guess she isn't very comfortable around your 'Group'- she only knows you from school and rarely talked to anyone. You feel bad for her so you scooch over next to her.

"Hey, you ready to move?" You put your arm around her, hoping it comforts her a little bit more.

She looks up, frowning. "Yeah... I guess..."

You stand up and extend your hand out to Feyth. She grabs it and you guys walk over to the others.

That evening you all slowly make your way down the mountain. This time it's more quiet. You enjoy the sounds of the crickets calling and the fireflies lighting up the sky. When you close your eyes, you can still faintly see the color of the pink sunset. Now the sky is littered with small stars, surrounding the full moon.

You all walk down to Peityn's house and she grabs a ladder, climbing up to the roof. Everyone follows her except for you and Feyth. Before going up the ladder, you give Feyth a tight hug and watch as she sets off into the distance. Then, without looking back at Feyth's small figure, you climb the ladder and sit on the roof, feet dangling around.

Peityn sits at the end, next to Carolin, then Maeve, Levi, Rian and you sit at the end. You sit in silence, with your arms around your friends as the crickets sing you to sleep.

Author's Notes

Hello everyone!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! By me!!! Okay, anyways, the next chapter is going to be by Kitty. And I was kinda being forced to write it... lol. Anyways... See you next time! We are really planning ahead. Kitty was doing a lot of that. But she also helped me keep going. Lol. Oh and comment if you think these author's notes are annoying... Okay, until next time!!!

Love and Thanks,

Theeny

P.S. Yes, we are working on getting a cover made for us!!!

Hey peeps!

It's Kitty!!!!!!!!!!! So, I didn't really help much this chapter, except for helping Theeny when she didn't know what to do next. I mainly was working on things that will come later on in the story... *wink wink*. We still haven't created an updating schedule.... Sorry! But the next chapter is going to be done by me, so yay! What do you guys think of Feyth? Think she has a chance? And what about Peityn? Think she was too lighthearted? Tell us in the comments!

Thanks for Reading!

- Kitty <3

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