The Choice Series: Book One: The Choice

▪️▫️▪️CHAPTER FIVE▪️▫️▪️

The day. The day of The Test.

I was told to not fear. So, I have no fear. I'm just shocked. I'm shocked that I, Preston Alex McCarthy, has gotten this far. Sixteen years of waiting for this day.

"Hey, Pres, I didn't think The Test would be anything like this," Zack grumbled.

I grunted in agreement.

The entire grade sat in the auditorium, anxious. It was a vast room that would put architects into a fantasy. Geremy Edgar was the one that designed the whole School. The auditorium in particular, was more gothic than the rest of the slightly more modern School.

Its shape was a semicircle coming off of the back of the School. Tall, metallic pillars lined the sides the auditorium. Extravagant gothic style windows filled it the holes that the pillars left untouched. The stage was made of the same mahogany that lined the very seat I sat in. As I looked up, I noticed the ceiling was dome-like and the lights sprinkled on it made the ceiling look even more beautiful than the night sky. In the very middle of the ceiling, there was a boxy, but sleek chandelier hanging and the modern design of the rest of the building shone through.

"Hey, Pres," Zack paused, " What if we were to... to..."

"Were to what Zack?" I asked.

"What if one of us failed?"

I thought for a second. Zack really cared about this test. But then again, everyone did. If you failed this test, you would have to redo the entire grade. It was a great dishonor.

"You're joking, right? Of course we'll pass this thing!" I smiled because I was totally convinced we could do this. It couldn't be much harder from the years before.

"Okay bro," Zack said. He looked much more confident now.

The lights in the room suddenly dimmed, and the spotlight focused on the middle of the stage. There, stood a tall woman dressed in formal attire. Draped upon her was long red dress glittered in the spotlight. Her teeth were brighter than the dress she was wearing.

"Good morning children," the lady smiled as she waited for our response.

"Good morning..." The greeting then branched off into an assortment of "Miss", "Mrs.", and "Ms."

"I'm Miss Anderson, the director that has created the Test," she exclaimed.

She waited, as if she were expecting some sort of applause, but got none.

"I wish you luck on your tests," She grinned once more," And I will let you know that they have been changed this year."

Miss Anderson looked sharply to the left, then refocused back onto the crowd.

"Also, I must tell you the rules and guidelines."

She looked to the left again.

"No talking about the test or your results after it is finished."

I slouched in my seat. This was boring as hell. This test gave us a success guideline to our individual life. Why would we share it with someone else?

"Anyone will a concussion must skip section three to take later."

Everyone nodded.

"And finally, all other school rules apply within testing, if you fail to follow them, you will also fail this test," Miss Anderson glared coldly to the left one last time.

"At last good luck."

Miss Anderson left the stage and our principal stepped to the podium and adjusted the mic.

"E-everyone with the last names starting with A to M create a single file line on the left side of the auditorium," He spit into the microphone as he said this.

He adjusted the microphone higher to accommodate to his size, but the microphone hissed and he set it back down.

"The rest of ya- go to the right."

Zack looked back at me, "Good luck, man," He said before stuffing his hands in his pockets and geared to the right side of the vicinity.

I took my left and joined the line.