The Present Life of Ours

The Test

The One are known to be defects of society. This is the reason why the community wants to terminate The One; furthermore, they get a reward for every member they hand over. What they don't know is why They want to wipe The One out of existence.

How does one become a defect? They go through a test of strengths. Or so that's what they like to call it. We would say otherwise because we would know as we have been through it. Let us explain, every human goes through this test, but only a few ever pass it. It's not a test where you want to pass. Failure is key in this test. Let us explain what the test is.

The beginning of the test is to write your name on the front of a piece of paper they give out at the entrance. You must write the name your parents gave you. The way you write the name is the first Gate. Gates are the different obstacles provided by the test proctors. At Gate 1, they give you an array of colors to choose from along a long table. Depending on what color you choose, there is the possibility of being suspected. Here's a little secret: You mustn't go for grey or black, especially if they're the farthest away from the crowd. This is a MUST know for all who know they are defects, If you don't think you are or aren't sure if you're one of them, you will indefinitely know by the end of this test.

When you are done with Gate 1, you go to Gate 2. This one is about school. Ewww one may say and we feel the same. Except, this Gate is the most complicated of them all.

You're not here to learn but it's about who you would consider to be your friends or whom you wish you could become friends with. There are people put into social norm groups called Cliques. These Cliques determine your place among society. From the top we have:

The Popular. They consist of the Jocks, Cheerleaders, Social, and the Kiss-ups. They become the school dictators. They tell you how you should dress, feel, act, and talk. If you don't meet the standards they place down then you're kicked down to the next group.

The Dramatic. Just like their name, they are the Drama, Theatre, Poetic, and the Drags. These people are the reason why the radio is always playing the same soundtracks ever week, the reason why there is nonstop talk about romance, and the reason why the hallways are whispering. They tell you what music you should be listening to, what events you must attend, and what will always be the topic to every conversation that roams the path of life; however, you must NEVER bring up the master of theatre, Shakespeare. Once you even dare breathe his name, you best get your weapons ready for this battle. Now, if you don't pass their initiation, then you go down to the next level.

The Academic. Their name says it all. The Nerds, the Geeks, the Questioners, and the Teachers. Oh how much they love school and learning. No one goes near them very much because they throw facts at those who even remotely resembles a new "member" and nothing you will hear from them will sound anywhere close to pleasant. They accept anyone from anywhere. The only reason why one would back down from them would be one's will to leave. They can become too overwhelming for the average person. Many are willing to drop down to the second on bottom group.

The Emo. Everyone knows who is in this group; they are quite noticeable just by the way they dress on a daily basis. Black. Black everything, from head to toe with the occasional color. This Clique contains the Goth, the Scene, the Punks, the Rebels, the Druggies, and so much more. They are the biggest group because everyone wants to be in at least one Clique. It's also quite easy to blend in with these people. The reason being they have a carefree attitude so everyone can just relax. Some are willing to join them so that they can get out of doing schoolwork. How is that possible one may ask? Well, the teachers don't really care about what the Emo group does so they are able to get away with almost everything and from everyone; except, they will, more than not, get caught by the law. In the end, they are still young, lively kids.

Now for the one Clique that everyone is always quite eager to talk about.

The Casted-Out. These people seem to always be by themselves. Why? That's due to the facts that they think differently. Unlike the Questioners who like to only question everything that is illogical, the Casted-Out questions the more psychological side of things. Things like, "What if men and women had the same attitude? What would happen if humans could love each other the same? What if money never existed? When will we be happy?" They question everything and no one likes to be the center of questions. They like to pay majority of their attention on these people; nevertheless, in this test, being an Emo is your best shot.

Gate 3, the final gate, is the most fearsome of them all. What is the gate about? It's a test about what you would do if you were alone on Earth. To be all by yourself. To be alone, to some people, is worse than death itself; on the other hand, it is like paradise to others. To be considered a defect in this society. You are not one but both of the different sides. You love to be alone and yet you hate it. You can't show your emotions so easily, not because you're heartless but because your heart is lost. Empty. It's hard to feel happy or sad or even mad since you don't even know what to feel. This is when it hits. You know. You know you're part of The One.

After Gate 3, the test ends. They take up to three days to "grade" the test. That is also the time they give you to run away.