Chosen.

Chosen. Chapter eleven

Chapter ELEVEN

Kyle

Well, looks like we will be a full family after all, all six members.  I don't know why Hannah decided to change her mind after she was so adamant the past couple days on staying, but I don't care.  I'm glad she did; I was going to miss the little brat.  Not to mention everyone's focus is in a much better place now for the trials.  The morale was a little low when we were heading out without her this morning, but now we are all smiles.

We walk inside the local Government office together and look around for a clue as to where we are supposed to go.  A tall man in some kind of scientist lab coat clears his throat and stands up to greet us from behind a large desk on our right, "Hello, Barloc family.  My name is Dr. Alexander Oswell." He steps from around the desk and walks towards my parents, "Congratulations, again, on being one of the 200 chosen families to compete in the trials.  I am so pleased to escort you to the Mibhar Isles where you will be one step closer to earning a slot for the mission to Mars." He smiles and holds out his hand for my dad and mom. He looks so familiar somehow, but I don't really know how.  I'm pretty sure I've never seen his face on the portal for any of the announcements for the mission and I don't think he works on the Government side either, weird. 

"Hello, Sir, nice to meet you.  We are ready to go the Island, I think," my dad answers somewhat hesitantly as he shakes his hand.  "Hello, Dr. Oswell."  My mom seconds as she does the same.

"Well, the island is everything the hologram made it out to be and more, as your family will soon see.  If you would please follow me this way, we can get the process started. By the time you guys wake up we will already be arriving."  The man smiles, turns and heads towards the back of the building without waiting for us.  It's a Saturday morning and I don't know if the local office is usually open or not, but today it is completely empty and silent. We quickly follow in line behind Dr. Oswell.....let's get this party started.

"Great, looks like another whole day erased from our memories.  I really don't like the lengths 'they' are going to for the mission already," Autumn comments to herself, but loud enough so we can all hear, while we continue following the tall man down the hall.

I don't respond to Autumn's out loud thought process, just keep following the scientist.  I don't know what it is or why, but I like this man.  He is strange, I'll admit that, and his dark brown eyes are pretty intense through his wire rim glasses when you first meet him. But I get a good vibe, though, like he's on my side or something.  I know, crazy thing to be thinking the very first time you meet someone, yet something still tells me he can be trusted.  I hope we see more of him during the trials.

"At least we won't have to wait long to get there," Heath seems to be looking on the bright side since someone's appearance this morning.

Finally, we arrive in a back room that looks okay.  At least it's not white.  There are six comfortable chairs in front of a huge portal.  The man gestures for us to take a seat.  Déjà vu once more, and again weird.  We all sit down, and he walks behind the desk and grabs a tray that appears to be empty.  "You will each be given an orange pill.  Put it under your tongue and let it dissolve, please.  This is how we will guide you to the islands without you being awake to remember the journey."  He gets closer, and I can see six, small orange pills on the tray.  Bottoms up!  We each take one and let it dissolve under our tongues.  After which, each one of us are checked to make sure we complied.

"I'm really glad you all decided to continue, Barloc family. You will need as much strength as you can get for what is to come." That's an odd comment for the doctor to make, I think to myself, and then the whole world goes black.