The City of Lights

Chapter 3: Slowly Losing it

Tominaga POV

Ugh, back to school. I live all the way in Europe while everybody else is spread out around America. Which is crazy considering we all met in one place that isn't even on the map. But, it's not as crazy as the whole world being controlled by one government. I'll get into detail about that later. 

Walking through the busy halls heading to my only class since I'm a year 12. I graduate next week but I still decided to come to school. We have the option not to but I still do. I guess it's because of the giant school library that has endless possibilities and lets me escape from this mirage we call life. Or it's to see the kids I've seen grow up throughout the years knowing that our paths will lead us in different directions. 

Some will work for the strict system we call the government. Others working as nurses and doctors or school teachers. Me, well I don't know what I'll be soon enough I won't be able to go to the city anymore meaning I can't hang out with the group like I want to. There's an age limit and once you get past it the city is completely removed from your mind instantly. It sounds crazy but it's true I've seen it happen it sucks. I'm surprised 18-year-olds can even remember it but that's just the rule of the city.

After my class, I head to the library delaying the time I'll spend at home. I pick out a random book and sit on one of the many couches and slowly escape from this horrible world.

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What seems like hours later a loud alarm blares through the school. This alarm only means one thing. Checkup. Basically, the government comes to every school around the world and runs tests on the students. The results come back fairly fast so this shouldn't take too long. I head to the schoolyard with the rest of the school and stand in a very long line. 

As they finally get to me they draw some blood and take a DNA swab from my mouth and hand it to one of the many doctors. A lot of kids have already left basically meaning this isn't that an important checkup. I'm able to go home but I'm given weird stares as I leave. I ignore it and text the group to see if they've gotten checkups as well. They all respond no which is very weird. Normally, checkups happen at on the same day all over the world. I guess this must be different. 

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I head home and see my parents and a few government officials waiting for me in the living room. 

"What's going on?" I asked concerned since I was told I could go home earlier. 

"Have a seat. We need to run more tests on you, just to make sure the results we saw from earlier were false and just a small mistake in the system. If not we need to question you, okay?" Oh no. This is never good only very few people have gotten bad results and tests and they were never seen again. It has to be a mistake or does this have something to do with the lake. That can't be possible, right? 

I sit down quickly and prepare myself for the worst to come. I want to warn the others but I can't it would put them in danger. This test is even worse than before. There are more needles poking in me and there's a heart monitor and I'm connected to a lie detector. This is going to end badly. 

"What's your name, age, and date of birth?" One of them ask

"Tominaga Yusushi, 18 and June 27, 2002." The lie detector dinged I'm guessing saying I was telling the truth. 

"Have a friend or a significant other?" 

"I have 5 online friends they all live in America," I started hoping that would be enough detail. The questioning went on for hours until all the tests were finished. 

"The same results from earlier have shown up. I'm going to need to ask you more questions and possibly arrest you." Oh great this definitely has something to do with the lake. I try to keep my cool but I know I won't be able to hold it for long. 

"Your 5 friends have you ever met them in person before?" 

"Only once they came to Europe for a school trip and I snuck out to meet up with me." The detector didn't make a sound. They all looked at me suspiciously including my parents. Then all of a sudden it dinged. I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding. The officials looked at my parents and then at me. I was directed to go upstairs to my room.

I quickly walk up and lock my door. I quickly text in the group chat.

"You guys need to be careful.  The government is searching for something. I'm being tested over and over again, so be safe. It could have something to do with the Lake." 

After that, I quickly hide my phone and pick up a random book and start reading it. After a couple of minutes, I hear the door close. Unsure I wait a while longer and head downstairs. It's quiet but almost too quiet. I look for my parents but I can't find them anywhere. I then hear someone walk into the house. I hide knowing I might not see actual daylight ever again. All of a sudden I feel a cloth being pressed against my mouth and nose. My eyes close slowly and the last thing I hear is feet running all around the house looking for something, then everything goes black and silent.

Hi y, all this is a bit shorter than the last few chapters. But, I hope yall like this chapter and sorry not sorry for leaving yall on a cliffhanger with this chapter but it's what I need to do.