For as long as Gray could remember, Via had always been the favorite child.
Unlike her brother, she had it all: good looks, smarts, popularity.
Comparing herself to his sister would be like comparing graphite and diamonds- both made of the same material, but completely different.
Even despite being polar opposites, they were still close, and they still managed.
But this was different.
No matter whose name was called, they would both suffer.
The Choosing.
Two, deadly words.
The point in the boarding school where the Headmaster would eliminate students he thought were no longer prodigious-unworthy.
For the past two years, Gray and Via had managed not to be eliminated.
They had both maintained A grades for every subject- except gym for Gray, of course.
But now...
Now that there were only one hundred students left, what would they do?
It was more than the grades... it was the skill set you displayed in classes, small differences that set you apart.
Gray couldn't get eliminated.
Not now, not ever, especially since the last words his mom had ever said to him before he left were, "Stay safe, Gray, and try not to be cast out... for me."
Gray remembered swallowing and mumbling a hasty, "Ok."
Now, Gray swallowed, too, only this time his throat was bone dry from fear.
"We can't go," he said at once.
"Gray..."
"What else can we do?" Gray snapped.
Via touched his arm gently.
"We have to go," She said lightly, but the pounding in Gray's ears was getting louder.
"What if we get kicked off?" He whispered.
Gray didn't answer, but she didn't have time, anyway.
The door banged open, and a school Official dressed in the typical white uniform hovered at the doorway.
"Gray Sohren, and, uh, Via Sohren, step this way please," the guard ordered, and Gray let out a small sigh of relief that he didn't comment on Via being the boys' dorm.
He gulped, and walked towards the door, but before he could walk through, the official grabbed his arm and poured a small drop of a green liquid on his wrist.
A sort of burning, searing pain flashed under his skin, and he winced, jerking his hand back.
Behind him, Via did the same as the guard applied the same treatment.
DNA tests.
Gray stared at his hand; his skin turned an angry red, and it looked like a tiny part of the flesh had been eaten away.
He looked at the official, who shrugged apologetically.
"You both know the drill," was all he said, and Ivy muttered a few choice words.
The official cleared his throat.
"Shall we proceed?"
Gray opened his mouth to say something sarcastic, but closed it with a snap and just followed the guard out.
