Oblivion

Give 'em hell, kid.

Oof! The air rushed out of Zer0 as she was shoved to the ground. People swarmed around her, mothers fretting over their children and fathers gathering in groups to discuss the ceremony. Suddenly two strong hands wrapped themselves under Zer0s arms and pulled her up. She already knew who the hands belonged to. She turned to see a chuckling young man with greasy black hair and hazel eyes staring at her.

"Better watch your step, wouldn't want to ruin your dress now, would we?" The boy said. He looked Zer0 up and down, raising his eyebrows and wrinkling his small nose. Zer0 looked down at her now slightly dusty outfit. She wore a deep red dress that clung to her thin frame in all the right places. It was easy to move in, yet elegant. Perfect for being sent off to your possible death. 

"Thanks, Gerard. I can't believe we're already being sent off into our demensions." She sighed, glancing back up at the wide eyed boy. Zer0 noted how well Gerard had cleaned up. Instead of his usual ratty clothes and graphite stained hands he wore a black suit, with a scarlet tie to add color. His hands lay at his sides, for once not bearing the marks of art. Gerard smirked at her, striking a rather violent pose and winking.

"You like what you see?" He joked, wiggling his thick eyebrows. Zer0 laughed; linking her arm his his and dragging him towards the arena where they would be sent into their worlds. It was obvious Gerard didn't want to go. His brother had gone in seven years ago and never come back. Finally they had sent a rescue squad to look for him, braking into his world and finding his cold body covered in blood and dirt. Gerard had been spooked ever since. 

They entered the huge arena, their shoes clicking on the hard tiled floor. Zer0 looked up, seeing her father and mother seated in the huge thrones set aside for the King and Queen.  Her mother, Azul, looked scared, but she nodded encouragment to Zer0. Her father, Blaze simply watched her with careful eyes and a hard expression. Suddenly Gerard pulled her to a halt, pointing to the metal portals marked with their codes. Zer0 glanced down at her pale wrist, making sure this was the right portal. Gerard did the same, standing at the portal next to hers. Suddenly the booming voice of her father sounded out around the huge space.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you to the 597th portal recieving! For generations we have been creating our own worlds, universes, and demenions..." Zer0 zoned out the sound of her father as he went on about some speech they heard every year. She glanced at Gerard, who gave her a reassuring smile. The crowd cheering brought Zer0 back to her fathers voice. 

"Now, would all recieving please step forward towards their portals!" His strong voice rang out. Zer0 and Gerard stepped forward, along with the other 16 year olds in the arena. Suddenly the portals started to shine and glow, whisps of color escaping now and then. It was like a screen, you could vagely see through the other side. Gerard squeezed her hand.

"Step into your portals, and good luck!" Her fathers voice boomed. The crowd hushed as they watched the teens one by one step into a unknown world, with no preperation or weapons. Gerard squeezed her hand one more time, turning to her and whispering in her ear.

"Give 'em hell, kid." His voice rasped into her ear before he turned, and without another word, stepped through his screen and disapeard. Zer0 felt tears prick her scarlet brown eyes before she took a deep breath and plunged into her undiscovered world; Gerards words repeating in her head. Give 'em hell, kid.