Summoning

Chapter 1

This was it. The time I would learn my role and leave Sector 9. After the sudden deaths and the funeral, I had lost all hope.  This was the thing that would make, or break me.
   The girl that looked in the mirror wasn't me, she wasn't May Riker. I should have died along with her parents. This girl was a fake. 
A sigh escaped me as a finished the braid and twisted my chestnut hair into a bun. I was presentable.
   In a plain black blouse I found in my mothers chest and my own black leggings. I'm not gothic or anything, I just like the color black. Dark army boots completed my assemble. My hazel eyes were absent of life. The sorrow and pain hidden behind a facade that never dropped. The winter months were always the hardest.
   Food was scarce and for us orphans that meant many weeks of brutality from the beggars.  When my parents were alive it was unbearable, the available food went to my baby brother. Not that I had anything against him. Mother and father would sit by the fire, choosing numbness instead of hunger. On those nights I would quietly sneak out, begging on the streets in front of the butchers shop. Sometimes I came home with a burnt loaf of bread or maybe days-old rabbit, others our stomachs ached until we fell asleep.
   Today was different, today meant change. Each year they had The Summoning, every seventeen year-old goes to the Centric. There they would learn their purpose and go off on their own. Sometimes, in rare cases, the poor would become the wealthy. In this case, it's exactly what I need. 
  Wind nipped my uncovered skin, the road clear of passengers. Except me and a few other Summons. Some had looks of happiness and anticipation, others looked scared or in pain. I didn't see the point in either. Anything was better than Sector 9. At least in my opinion. It didn't matter which family you came from or if you were rich or in poverty. Everyone has a chance to become something. A orphan might become a Guardian, or in the less pleasant instance the son or daughter of a Sadit may become a miner. The wind was unruly as we walked on. The building in front of us towering all around it, then we waited.  More and more Summons kept coming. It seemed never ending, more than a hundred filled the courtyard. 
  I stood against the walls encasing us, scanning over the countless body's with distaste. Suddenly the ground rises up and my face meets dirt.
"I'm so sorry!" A timid voice speaks out. As the person helps me up from the ground I clench my jaw, the anger curbs once I look at the petite female in front of me.

    "I didn't mean to knock you over! I'm sorry, I was rushing by and didn't see you! Me and my brother thought we were late."
    
"Mel is just clumsy, she could run into a wall that was in front of her." A boy popped up beside her. Twins, I thought. It was unmistakable, both had blue eyes and black hair. Mel blushed softly before punching her brother and turning to me.
  "Im sorry. I'm Melissa, this is my brother Billy" She said, flustered. "You are?" She added in after a few moments of silence.
   "May." I told her. Her black hair was in a braid to the side, a brown trenchcoat covering her body. The leather was fine and looked soft to the touch. Her brother's tunic was made from the same. Wealthy family. I fought the urge to roll my eyes. While we orphans fought over ripped clothes they dressed in fine leather. Finally, a boisterous sound rang threw the yard. The door to the building slowly opened, everyone was silent. Mindless chatter forgotten as we all took in the massive structure.
  After a few moments of agonizing silence a middle-aged woman entered the courtyard. Walking up to a stand she cleared her throat before speaking.
  "Welcome, Summons to the Sector Nine Summoning." She said. Her monotone voice broadcasting out to all of us, courtesy of the mic and ear piece.
  "The rules are simple enough for you people. " She said with poorly veiled disgust.
   "One, no horseing around, it's rude and unbecoming of all of you. Two, you will all be separated into groups of four, this will be your family for the time being. Once your fate is apparent you will be put with peers of your like. Three, you must complete a physical and background search." She paused. Scanning over the crowd looking for anyone disagreeing, I think silently.
The rules were not going to be a problem. I didn't care for friends, so I could care less. Many of us were malnourished, I had the advantage of excelling in stealing. I wasn't proud of it, but when you didn't have food or shelter you tend to take drastic measures. I was toned, were others where lanky. Used measured and precise motions, they were clumsy and careless.
  Satisfied with my newfound knowledge I turn my attention back to the speaker who was walking toward the now open 'door'. 
  Turning she placed her hands down at her waist. Her back straight, shoulders back. A perfect lady, I thought looking at her grey suit. I rolled my eyes.
  "Well are you all coming or not?" Ignorance rang true in her voice. Melissa and Billy looked out of place, lambs among their killers. They held onto each other like their life depended on it, not thrilled about the idea of separation I suppose.
In sync we all moved forward, the air silent other than the sounds of their feet on the dirt. We all filed in.
The inside of the great building was surprisingly light, four rows of columns made up the room. Each row containing a large computer like screen. They were set up like small cubicles. There was one door to the left, shadowed in darkness. Now I felt out of place. The interior seemed to tower over us.
Clapping her hands together the woman smiled as she stood in front of us. She had a bright smile, it went well against her bleach blonde hair.
"Shall we?, " She gestured to the technology behind her, "This is the first step of the.." Trailing off she seemed to struggle with finding a appropriate word.
".. Process you could say. "  She completed the sentence with a large, fake smile. 
"Four of you will take the SSI at once, the others will wait in a different room for your name to be called. Four goes in, completes the survey and then goes back to the others. Repeat. " She finishes her speech in a bored tone. Mumbles of agreement and whatevers could be heard faintly. "You are to say nothing of your results with anyone. Shortly after you will be put into your groups. " She adds in. Leaving the room through a door behind the computers she nods to the men standing outside it. The clicking of her heels fade away soon. Nobody moves. Nobody makes a sound.
After what seems like hours of silence, and what is just minutes the men move up in sync. They escort us to the room in the left hallway. One of the men, rougher looking than the rest steps forward with a tablet.
"Nathan Drake, Abby Henderson, Melissa McCarthy, and Sage Gateshead. Follow me." His gruff tone left no room for argument. Stepping out of the crowd an edgy boy stood in front of him. Piercings on his eyebrow, lip, and his nose. A black tendril curled up his shoulder. The definition of rebel. A brown headed boy stepped out next to him. Mel and a thin, shy girl following suit. Lining up in order of their name I could match their faces to a name. Nathan was the brown-headed boy,  behind him was the wisp of a girl. Mel and Sage settled behind them.  They followed Mr. Big-and-Tough out of the room.
Time flew by. Four returned four went in, until there was only four left. Sitting on the floor I was last in thought as I rubbed a scuff mark from the tip of my boots.
  "May Riker." Startled I looked up to see my name had been called multiple times already. Ignoring the stares and laughter I lifted myself up and pushed my way to the front. I pushed past a laughing Sage and his pierced friends. Ignorant people. Nodding once to the guy with the tablet I settled into line behind a blonde bimbo, Clare I think. He led us four back down the hall and gestured to the computers. Claiming the one far away from the room I settled down into the chair. It was large and a silver, shiny metal. A thin strip rose up slowly before stretching out into a keyboard. I ran my hands over it gently in awe. The screen was large, panels on each side gave me a sense of privacy.
    "Begin." He stated. Hesitantly I clicked the start. Game on. With determination I began the simulation. Meant to see how we would react in certain situations. Half a hour had passed and there were two of us left. The bimbo I was guessing. Frustrating grunts sounded from the left of me. The questions were simple. For example, You are under extreme gunfire and you see a broken down car and a body of water. Where would you find refuge and why? Or, You have one last meal. Who would you feed, yourself or a child?
  Finally the questions stop coming, the screen is all black except a symbol in the middle of the screen. Three lines bend down to merge together, the symbol of unity,  a crescent curves around it protectivly. What the hell is that supposed to mean?  I huff slightly in annoyance. I've never seen this before. The crescent stands for family. My family is dead. Unity of the dead. Great. Puzzled and annoyed I return to the crowded room. What could this mean? 
 

The room is quiet, I find myself sitting next to Melissa. Sweat covers everyones brows. The hot room makes me feel boxed in. Looking for a clear space I exhale loudly.
"Are you okay?" Melissa says worriedly.
"I'm fine." I say curtly, turning my back to her. My eyes focuse on the door. Open.  I will it.
My eyes widen in astonishment as the door scrapes open. Guardian Mcarthy, as his badge says, steps inside before clearing his throat loudly. We all stand slowly, the movement rippling out until we all are on our feet.
  He begins to call out names four at a time. Leading them out once they are all present, group A1.
This process repeats. Once nobody else is left but me and three others: Melissa, Sage, and Gabrielle. (a Hispanic girl from Sector 52)
  He leads us further down the hall. Doors mark the walls. I count them as we pass, casting brief glances at the names engraved into a panel. Weird names, I think with humour. Omega, Delta, Warriors, Black Shade, Betas. We pass a unnamed door, a keypad adorns the wall next to the knob. Shaking off the tingling in the back of my mind I look away. Finally after about fifty doors we come to a sudden stop, bumping into Guardian Mcarthy's back before bouncing off with a 'oomph'. Scolding him I rub my hands on my thighs.
He opens the door without saying a word. Unit Alpha. Nice name. I laugh softly to myself as we enter. The concrete walls are smooth instead of the expected rough texture. It looked like a cottage other than that. Everything was black, grey, or red. Following a light down a hall I enter the first door I see. A bathroom: a dark ebony sink and toilet reside in the high right corner. A large, white shower takes up all of the left side. A towel rack hangs from the door, multiple cabinets on the walls.
  Exiting silently I walk on, the first three rooms being taken already. Entering the last one I sit on the springy mattress.
Home is where you make it. I sigh, looking up a the concrete ceiling and watching the fan twirl in circles.
I get up turn off the light before settling down on the bed, falling into a fitful sleep.

Word count:  2096
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