Chosen.

Chosen. Chapter 18

Chapter EIGHTEEN

Kyle

The Trials: Round Two

Saturday 01/10, 5:08 AM.

And......27, 28, 29, 30! I've been awake since about 4 a.m., and, when I finally couldn't lie there any longer, I decided to get up and do some of my old training workouts. Today starts Round 2 of the Trials, and, as usual, we have no idea what to expect. We only know that it is supposed to be even more difficult than the first round. Really, though, I didn't think the actual scavenger hunt was that hard; just figuring out the clues was confusing. I, for sure, thought that my family was going to slow me down out here, but, honestly, I couldn't have done it without them. 

Dad has been a completely different person from the laid-back parent I'm used to. Whatever his past work was with the UWG, it has definitely come in handy since we've been here. Mom has also done a good job of keeping us focused, rather than fighting--as much as she possibly can--and she hasn't had any more statue episodes either. I still wonder what that was all about earlier in the week when she froze up on the craft and started talking about random 'sad Earth' visions, but, hopefully, it was just a one-time thing and she's okay. Heath and Hannah haven't even been their usual annoying selves lately. In fact, they each figured out one of the items we had to find, which was totally awesome. Although, needless to say, Hannah's little late-night stroll was pretty irritating. Autumn, on the other hand.......half the time I wonder where her head is at. She helped out so much when it came to searching through that old Mibharian book (or whatever it was) and then keeping track of things in her journal, but then she gets distracted over some guy with big biceps. I mean, it's not like she's ever had a real boyfriend or anything, and she picks now to start?? Anyways, I just need to make sure I keep all of our eyes on the prize, and, after our ranking last night, I'd say I'm doing a pretty freakin' awesome job (if I don't say so myself) and I do.

As I continue my workout, my mind drifts to all our friends and family back home. I wonder if they were surprised to see how high we scored after the first Trial. It's crazy to think a couple weeks ago everything was normal, and, if we wouldn't have been chosen, I'd be back in high school doing the same high-schooly things. And it's not like I didn't like my life or anything, but when you pretty much have a road map of your future for the next 30 years--finish high school, graduate, go to college, graduate, get a job, get married somewhere in there, have kids, blah, blah, blah--where is the excitement in all of that? I want ADVENTURE, a future that is unpredictable, something most people only dream about. I want to live this life to the fullest and create my own future! I know I'll miss some parts of home, but what I'll be getting in return.....c'mon, they'll write textbooks about us! We'll be the first colony on Mars! And all the things we'll accomplish for mankind, who could even imagine?? We'll make history for not only this world, but a whole new world as well!! Yeah, it's official, we definitely can't get eliminated. I'm NOT going back to pop quizzes in Mrs. Berchum's Algebra class.

I check the time again, 5:41.....finally! I take the next 10 minutes to wake everyone up so that we're all set for the 6 a.m. portal message. There are a few grumbles, and pillows thrown (Autumn got me pretty good), but when the portal announcement begins we're all here for it:

An overnight race? Are you kidding me??

The message just ended, but, myself, I'm still digesting the details. Heath isn't one to waste time, and he quickly opens the safe to retrieve our one new item mentioned for this trial. Dad, Mom and Autumn are all looking over the map and comparing it to the scribbled notes in her journal. Hannah looks like she was seriously considering going back to bed, but, surprisingly instead, reaches for her boots and begins lacing them up. I'm sitting here wondering how I'm going to push these guys through a race when 'running' any distance whatsoever has never been a strong area for the Barloc family. Oh, well, here we go!