Ramston Academy

Chapter 2 : The Test - Part 2

I woke up and went downstairs for breakfast. As I was grabbing a bagel and cream cheese, an announcement came on over the loud speaker.
The 9:30 exam will commence in one hour. Please finish your meal and report to your designated testing room.
I sat down at the same table as yesterday and talked with Rachel. At 9:15, we left for our testing areas. Mine was on the second floor so I said goodbye to her and headed upstairs.
When I arrived at room 265, I knocked on the door.
"Come in." A voice said from inside the room.
A young man, probably in his late 20s, leaned against a desk with his arms folded. He wore a dark maroon sweater that brought out his startling blue eyes. He was, as my mom would say, very "easy on the eyes". So when he asked me for my name, I didn't answer.
"Carter?" He said, snapping me out of my trance.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. I was just... Thinking." I said.
"Well if you're ready to get started, you may take a seat." He gestured towards a desk at the front of the room.
I sat down and he started to give me instructions.
"Please answer any question given to the best of your ability and as thoroughly as possible. You will have as long as needed to complete the exam. If you need anything, ask me. However, I cannot help you with the actual test questions. Good luck. You may begin." He put a piece of paper in front of me and went back to his desk.I looked down at the single sheet of paper that I had been given. There was only one question. I looked up at the man questioningly, but he didn't return my glance. I raised my hand and he looked up.
"Yes?"
"There's only one question here. Are there any more?" I asked.
"No, there are not. The Admissions Director will be able to make a decision based on your answer." He said and looked back down at his phone.
I returned my attention to the paper and read the question.

You're sitting in a chair in the middle of a room with no doors or windows. All that you have with you is a box of matches, a power cord, a pack of gum, and a penny. How do you escape from the room?

I took a minute to think about my answer and began to write.

I would climb onto the chair and use the penny to unscrew the air vent.

I looked up and raised my hand.
"I'm done." I said.
"Okay, please return to your room and wait to be called to Ms. Walter's office. Have a nice day." He took my test and I left the room.
I started to worry that my answer wasn't long enough since we were given so much time to complete it. Would they be able to choose a school for me with my answer?

When I got to my room, the door was open and my bags were packed. I saw a piece of paper on my bed and picked it up.
To make your move to the new dorm easier, we have taken the liberty of packing
your things so you are ready when it is time. - Sincerely, The Janitorial Staff

I sat down and waited for my name to be called on the loud speaker.
"Ms. Wilkins. Please report to the admissions director's office on the second floor."
I walked downstairs to the hallway I had been led through the day before and knocked on the door.
"Come in Ms. Wilkins."
I entered and took a seat in the same chair as yesterday. Ms. Walter's back was to me as she looked out the window.
"Why didn't you set the room on fire?" She said, referring to the test question.
"Well, I didn't know what the walls were made of. If they had stone or metal in them, it wouldn't have done anything and I probably would have died from all the smoke." I replied, hoping she would accept my answer.
"What made you think that there was air vent?"
"The question didn't say that there wasn't one."
She nodded and turned to face me.
"The results of your test were...unusual, but I was able to come to a decision. She reached into a drawer in her desk and pulled out a piece of paper.
"You have been accepted to the Rawston Academy School of Espionage."
"Espionage? Like...spies?" my mouth dropped open when she nodded.
"You teach that here?" I asked in disbelief.
"We like to give our students a lot of options." She said, "However, this particular school is not know to the public. You can't talk to anyone about it except the students who take classes there and your mother."
"What about my dad?" I asked, confused.
"It's classified information; he doesn't have high enough security clearance. You can't tell him."
When I didn't say anything, she kept speaking.
"The School of Espionage isn't on campus, so you will be taken there this afternoon...if you choose to continue your education with Rawston Academy. Once you decide, there's no going back."
She looked at me and I stared back at her, my mind full of a million questions.
"I'll do it." I said, against my better judgment.
"Good decision. Be ready to go by 1:00. Wait in the common area with the other students who are going with you."
"How many are there?"
"Four."
Only four students out of the few hundred freshman?
She dismissed me and I left. I passed Rachel in the hallway and wished her luck. Then I realized that I would probably never see her again.