The Inferior

Chapter One

Chapter One

I stare out my window, sitting on my bed. Listening to the hard pitter patter of rain. I once enjoyed the rain, but that was before my mother died. She loved the rain. Now it simply leaves a dark, empty feeling, slowly consuming me. I don't usually feel this sad about it, but today was her birthday. She would have turned forty-seven. She was murdered by a soldier during a raid. Back when they still had raids. I don't remember much, since it was only a about four years after Lucy was born; I was only seven.

I watched, as each drop of rain slowly slid down the window, only to be whisked away by the wind. I wish I simply fly away, letting the wind determinemy destination. I snap out of it and glance at my alarm clock. I am ten minuets late.

I dress in a hurry, shaking my mother from my mind. I grab my suitcase, suddenly remembering my shoes, I run though the hallway. I quickly turn left to go to the bathroom, and brush my hair. I look into the mirror. The person staring back at me has blue eyes, long, brown hair, a narrow, straight nose, and shallow, yet rounded cheeks.

Right before I finish pulling my hair back, I hear my dad's voice, " Hurry up or you'r going to miss the bus!", he said.

" Don't worry," I say, " I won't be late."

I hurry out of the bathroom and rush my way down the stairs, my suitcase making a muffled lump every time I take a step.

I see my dad, he watches me come down the stairs. He is tall, and built like a boulder, his hair turning grey, " Someone woke up late this morning," he said with a smile.
" No kiddin', you don't hardly ever sleep in anymore." I hear Lucy's voice.

I look across the table to see her shoveling down her cereal. Lucy is fifteenth; she won't be going to the Academy until she's eighteen, like me. Still a few years left. Lucy is tall for her age, but her round face and curved nose somehow balance her out, so she lookes young enough. Her long, blond hair, and striking emerald eyes always manage to remind me of moms eyes. They looked just like Lucy's. I walk into the kitchen, nothing sounded too appetizing, so I grabbed a muffin.

" Time to go." I say, almost..sad. I now realize how much I don't want to go. My entire life depends on what happens there. I've always known that; but now it feels...real.

I shake it off as my dad makes his way over to me, hugging me tightly. At that moment felt aware of everything I would lose if I'm not Chosen. Lucy joins in the hug, squeezing me past my comfort zone.

" I'll love you no matter what, you know that; Chosen or not, you'll always be my little Emy. Promise me you'll remember that."

" I promise."
" Hey, you'll be fine, there's no way they won't chose you. I bet you're overflowing with talent and potential," says Lucy.
"Thanks Luce."

With that, we all untangle ourselves. Small smiles on both of their faces, their eyes betraying the fact that they are open to the possibility that I might not be Chosen. That thought scares me, not being Chosen. I always thought it impossible, and that it would be worse than death. I still think that.

A shudder goes though me. I pull away, grabbing my suitcase, realizing it is quiet. The rain must have stopped. As I walk through the door, my light brown suitcase dragging behind me; the wheels consistently making a lulling sound behind me.

" We love you, Ember, and be safe!", yelled my dad from the porch.

" Bye Em!", Lucy added.

" Bye! I'll miss you both!", I say back.

I look up as I see the bus in the distance. It is yellow, like the ones I see arriving in the morning to drop kids off at school. Always returning in the afternoon to take them home again. I've never had to take the bus, Lucy and I have always been able to walk.

" Wait!, I almost forgot!" Lucy quickly exclaimed with surprise. She disappeared into the house, leaving my dad at the door.

I wait for a few moments, anticipation rising within me as the bus slowly draws nearer. Then I see her returning, something tightly clutched in her hand.

She jogs up to me, a satisfied smile on her face; and holds her hand out to me.

" Here.", she says, sounding exited.

She opens her hand, reveling inside it, a small, heart-shaped object I recognize as my mothers locket.

" Just for an extra bit of luck.", she says just as the bus pulls up in front of our house.

"Thanks Lucy. I'll see you in a month.", I say as she makes her way back to dad.

The driver opens the doors, reading from a clipboard, and says, " Ember Jones."

" Yup." I say, climbing my way up the steps; dragging my suitcase behind me.

I look up and see the majority of the seats on the bus taken. I slowly travel down the isle, glancing from side to side. The atmosphere was filled with nervous energy, like it was holing its breath.

Finally, a girl with dark black hair and glasses on the left side scoots over. I smiled gratefully as I sat down, the bus beginning to move.

"Thanks," I say.
"No problem. I'm Eve, "
"Oh, uh...Ember, I'm Ember," I stutter.
"It's pretty freaky isn't it. Leaving home for a month to learn a bunch of stuff, get tested on that stuff, and let some other random people decide the rest of your life. You wouldn't be human if  you didn't feel nervous."
I relaxed.
"Yeah, it is."

I watch as I see my house dwindling into the distance. A deep, longing, ache creeps it's way into me, causing my muscles to sag. I might never see my house again. Or dad and Lucy. They can't lose me after mom. They just can't.

Then something inside me hardens. Spreading though my veins, and into my mind comes but a single thought. Silently, but firmly, I make a promise to myself.

I will be chosen.

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      Authors note
   Hay, thank you so much for reading my book! It's a work in progress, so please be patient with mine. Also, if you see any typos,