(Earlier version) Flowerborn Part 1: The Arena

Chapter 1: The golden gate

'I'll miss you mom.' A tear rolled over my cheek. My mom looked back at me with a proud smile. 'I will pray for you. Because I know you'll come back.'

She choked up and hugged me. I held her as strong as I could, because I didn't want to let go. But then we did. She smiled at me and said: 'You have your fathers eyes you know?' 'Yes mom, you always tell me that.' 'I know honey, I know.' I sighed and stepped back. 'I gotta go mom.' I turned around without looking at her. I wanted to remember her smile, not her tears. 

'I'll write!' I wiped away my tears and stepped forward, through the golden gates. 

-

'Miss Rose!' A young woman aproached me. 'Right this way.' She pulled at my arm to a big door with the number 2 on it. 'You are very, very late.' She pointed at a black plate on the wall. While I looked at the weird thing the woman grabbed my arm and pushed a needle inside. Soft blue light, but it disappeared before I could say anything. I getting a bit scared, and started wondering if I made the right choice by coming here. I pushed the idea immediately out of my head. The woman pointed at the plate again. 'Scan over there.' I held my arm in from of the plate. Again I saw that blue light; the plate started scanning my arm. Weird. 

A few seconds later I was inside the room. There were a lot of people around me. I just stayed in the corner and waited it out. A man appeared. 'Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Rowan, and I will be present this show this year. Today is the day that your lives will change forever. No turning back now. Only the strongest, smartest and headstrong people will survive, but I wish you all the best.' He paused to let everything he just said sink in. 'Today you can sign up for different kind of training. You will each have your own screen in your room with wich you can do this.' 

'Now go to the room, with the number on your arm.' I looked down upon my arm. De blue light on appeared and formed the number 5. 'And before you go..' .. 'You will be filmed for now on so that our people at home can follow you.' He paused dramaticalIy. 'I want you all to remember that everyone who will win this gameshow will swim in fame, wealth and succes. Those people will win the grand prize of one million euro's! Now..' He raised his arms. 'Good Luck!'