Gray's eyes flickered open as Via udged him, and he twisted around.
Bazic was muttering with the officials, in a language Gray didn't understand.
"What's wrong?" Via's voice was hushed and panicked.
Fear rose in Gray's chest.
"I don't know."
Finally, Bazic looked up, his eyes locking with Gray's.
He cleared his throat.
"Ahem— there's been a complication, but... very well— Solace, Gray, eliminated," he said hastily.
There was a collective gasp, and Gray's heart raced.
No! Not after everything he had worked for! Not after Via was secure! Not after—
"NO!"
Via's screech rang through the conference room. "You can't take him—you can't!"
She shot out of her seat, knocking her chair over.
Bazic's face turned red.
"Young lady-"
"You can't do that—and what were you saying before? Complications? You can't let him go!"
She screams, and several officers darted towards her to calm her down.
There was a loud thumping in Gray's ears.
Eliminated.
The word flashed repeatedly through his head, as if his brain couldn't process its meaning.
"Stop it, Via," he said quietly.
But she ignored him, fighting harder.
"If you let him go, I'll beat the shit out of you!" She shouted, resisting the guard's efforts to hold her back.
Bazic's skin turned an even darker shade of crimson.
"Young lady, if you don't check yourself, I will have no choice but to eliminate you as well!" he snapped.
"Do it, then!" Via retorted. "You think I care about your f—"
"Via!"
Gray felt all eyes turn towards him as the words left his mouth.
Via's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Gray, you can't—
"Don't fight," Gray cut her off, "I'm eliminated, fine, I'll leave. But you're secure."
"But-"
"And if you don't stay, I swear I'll leave you. I won't visit, and you can be a prodigy all on your own," Gray warned, and she fell silent.
Bazic approached Gray with the portfolio a bit cautiously.
"There you are, Sohren," He said quickly, and skittered away.
The officials immediately flanked either side of him, leading him out of the conference room.
He caught Via's gaze before he left.
"Gray," she whispered.
Tears were flooding her eyes.
Gray forced himself to look away.
"See you," he muttered, and he ducked out of the room.
In the hallway, Laura Hestus, Andrew Lichaells, and a bunch of other eliminated prodigies sat on brown benches, waiting for their families to pick them up... which Gray knew would be more mentally exhausting.
No one admitted it, but being eliminated from Allion was basically having your life ruined.
Gray avoided eye contact with them as they all lifted their heads to see the newest outcast.
"I'll go pack my suitcases," He said to the guards, starting to move away.
But one of the guards grabbed his wrist.
"You'll do nothing of the sort." The official's voice was harsh, and he pulled Gray away from the bench and into another hallway, continuing to walk.
"W-What?" Gray stammered as the guard began dragging him away.
What was going on? Wasn't protocol for him to get his things and leave??
He stumbled as the guard pulled him along.
"What are you doing? I'm eliminated aren't I?"
The official didn't answer him at first, but then—
"That will be for the President to decide, kid."
Gray stumbled again, losing his balance.
"The President?"
The guard jerked him around sharply.
"Listen, kid, no more questions, alright?"
He didn't wait for Gray to answer- just strode down the hallway.
Gray had to focus, walking quickly to keep up with his brisk pace.
But he wasn't prepared as the official pushed him into a room with blackened windows.
"Agh!"
Gray spun around as soon as he let go of him, but the guard slammed the door before he could do anything.
He was locked in.
"Let me out!" He yelled, pounding on the door with his hands, and that same prickle hit him in the back of his neck again— he wasn't alone.
Slowly, he turned, and a slim woman across from him took a sip of coffee from the mug in her hands.
"Hello, Gray."
