Chosen.

Chosen. Chapter 7: Part One

Chapter SEVEN:  Part One

Autumn

'We are running outside and the sun is just starting to set. Heath and Hannah are so young.  I can tell they barely learned how to walk because they are hobbling around like drunken sailors.  Kyle is about seven and he is as ornery as ever, constantly picking on the twins and pushing them down when no one is looking...he was so jealous.  We are all at my grandma's house and we are playing some stupid game we made up outside.  Her house, for me, has always been one of those places that felt more like home than home.  Every meal is home cooked and that includes dessert, I can still smell the kitchen.  Mom and dad are sitting at the table drinking coffee talking to my grandparents when we come inside with the twins. They are happy, I can tell. My grandma instantly starts fussing over us when we come in, making us feel important, and the whole kitchen is just alive with love.'

I slowly start to wake up from my dream and I try to fight it and go back for a little bit, until I remember what day it is.

12/24. Our test day. 

Now I'm not going to lie, I'm freaking out a little bit.  I mean, they are erasing our memories somehow...what if they accidently erase all our memories or something!  I mean, I've already talked to friends that had their last part and they say it was fine. They just don't remember the assessment or much after for awhile.  But I don't know, I just don't like the idea.  And it's kind of weird because I've been having dreams about my childhood for weeks now, so I started writing down all the ones I could remember ever since the announcement.  I'm sure I'm overreacting and wasting a lot of space on my portal, but what if I don't remember them again or what if they aren't the same familiar memories.  I kind of want to test myself in a way and make sure the assessment is the only thing that I can't remember.  And then there is this feeling in the back of mind that this might be....it sounds kind of crazy, but that this might be my last chance to write some of our happiest memories from this planet down.  I know I sound like Kyle.  But I've been wondering why they've been coming to me and why I have this overpowering urge to write them all down.  But then I stop myself and try not to think about it too much and just focus on the details of the dream.

The day dragged by and we all tried to stay occupied.  Dinner was quiet, and we all pretty much took turns pushing our food around on our plates.  After dinner we decided we would walk since it was common knowledge now they drive your family home after the assessment.  The office is only about a ten-minute walk from our house, so we agreed to leave at 10 : 30 to make sure we got there a little early.  I figured Kyle would be nonstop adrenaline about tonight, but he is actually really quiet and he spent most of the day in his room.  Mom and dad are excited, which surprised me.  Up until this point they've been so busy at work and then they are so exhausted when they get home that they haven't shown much interest besides when we all talk about it at dinner.  But tonight they are awake.  Hannah has been out of the house most days keeping herself busy, smart girl.  Tonight she seems her usual self, but I can tell she is working hard to keep herself in check and not to look too eager. And Heath has been in his room a lot too, which isn't out of the ordinary, but he has been more distant from me, which is weird.  I hope he doesn't think I'm not going to give my all or something, I know how bad he wants this too.

10 : 45 pm, Local Government Office.

"Hello, Barloc family. I'm glad you all arrived a little early, because we have some information and paperwork to go over before you can proceed with the rest of your assessment."  A tall man wearing glasses and dressed in what you would expect a scientist to wear smiles awkwardly at us with a chart, that I'm assuming is ours, in his hands. I already don't like this. "Please follow me."  The man turns and starts walking towards the back of the building without looking to see if we're coming.