Operation Shutdown

...Chapter 1...

 Dedicated to @coolbookwormgal123 for adding our story into her Wattpad must reads.  Thanks so much!

...Chapter 1...

"Rosemary, come get ready for the bus.  It's time to go take your test," her mom yelled down the stairs.  There was a knock on the door and Mrs. Anderson scurried over to open it, revealing Emma standing on the front step looking more nervous than ever.  Rosie ran down the stairs and came to the front of the door.

"Hey Em, ready?"

"No. I'm never ready," Emma muttered, so only Rosie could hear her.

"Tell me about it," she replied, "Ok mom, we're leaving." Rosie closed the door behind her and they started for their bus stop.

"Remember seven years ago when we first met on the bus?" Emma chuckled.

"How can I forget? We were both scared to death. It was our first year taking The Test. But I feel like every year, I get more and more worried," Rosie sighed as they stopped walking. They had reached the bus stop at the top of the street corner.  The public bus came by every day at the same times for people to go take The Test.  "How do you think you're gonna do?" Rosie abruptly asked. Emma remained silent for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.

"Not good. The Test only gets harder until we're twenty and I didn't do too well last year," Emma explained.

"I barely passed. I know I'm gonna fail. I told my mom goodbye this morning. She told me to have hope, but I have a gut feeling..." Rosie stopped as the bus pulled up.

The bus: a sleek white contraption reflected the sun in every direction.  Only the rich people drove anymore.  Everyone just kind of accepted the bus.  This specific bus, would take them straight to the testing plaza.  There were about five other buses that would show up at the same time, from all over Aproba.  Everything was scheduled perfectly.

The testing plaza was made up of two buildings.  The building on the right of the bus stop, was long and had five stories.  It was the track building for the physical test.  On the left, was a building three times as tall, but half as long.  This building was for all the other tests.  

“You know how it works, ladies to the right, you’ll take the physical first.”  The director for the tests greeted as they got off the bus.  He was a plump, balding man in a suit.  He was rich.  Only the rich people got suits.  “Gentlemen, head to the left, you’ll take the physical last.”         

As the two groups were formed, Rosie took note of the younger kids.  Almost every one of them was clinging to someone.  Whether is was an older sibling, a new friend, or a random stranger.  A little girl grabbed Rosie’s hand, making her jump before she realized it wasn’t a threat.  Behind them screaming tore through the silence.  Everyone turned to stare as a little boy was ripped off his sister’s arm.  He was crying, and she just looked pained.  A newbie with a sibling in a different group.  It wasn’t the first one she’d seen, and it wouldn’t be the last.  No doubt there would be another when they were organized by age and assigned to a track.  

Rosie squeezed the girls hand, and turned back around.

•••••

Emma looked down at the small girl Rosie was trying to pry off of herself.  The little girl was small for a ten year old.  Emma hoped she was fit enough to pass The Test.  Most of the undersized kids didn’t pass.  They were deemed unhealthy.  

A tall woman, dressed for a gym walked to the front of the group.  “I’m cutting right to the chase.  If you’re ten, eleven, or twelve please go over to Mrs. Bingle."  Another athletic looking woman waved from where she stood next to an elevator.  Rosie was finally able to get the little blonde girl off of her.  She hesitantly walked over to the lady.  “If you are thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen, please walk over to Ms. Redson.  Sixteen through nineteen year olds, please go to Mrs. Johnbarrow."