It's a cold Friday. The sun has yet to rise. Zane stands in front of a large iron gate towering meters above him. Behind it is a wide and large flat-building 4 stories high. Its central entrance looks like that of the hospital where he visits his sister. Like any other building in the city it is gray. So gray Zane fears going colorblind just by looking at it. Above the main entrance is written "Extermination Corps Training and Selection Facility" in red. And like any other military building it has tons of barbed wires, watchtowers, security cameras and guards roaming around. The only thing that has color here is the American flag flying on the roof of the facility and the uniforms of the guards.
Zane then hears a faint scream.
He doesn't even need to think who it is
"OIIII ZAAANE" Mike shouts as he runs towards him
"took you long enough dumbass" says Zane
Mike is panting and covered in sweat.
"Sorry….for….being late….lets go man" mike says, his voice huffing.
They show the guard at the gate their application papers. The guard looks at it diligently then looks at them.
"alright your cleared, go inside and take these forms to the reception and a guard will escort you both" the guard sternly informing both the boys while looking at them with suspicious eyes.
They enter through the gate and walk across the compound before entering the main doors. The building inside is vast with multiple rooms as far as the eye can see. In front of them is a reception. They submit their forms and are asked to sign on a register in one of the 4 categories of student, convict, immigrant, other. Both of them sign on student.
They are then taken to a corridor and go down 2 floors on the elevator from where they take a left and enter a room labeled exam room 3. It looks like a classroom with many other candidates already sitting. Zane and Mike take their seats sitting beside each other. A man in fatigues, possibly an officer, walks in.
"Good morning candidates" the officer says in an calm but loud voice.
"today you will be giving an aptitude test so we can test your knowledge prior to selection. Your results will be announced in 2 hours after the test has finished. You have 20 minutes to finish your test. Good luck" the officer finishes.
The room goes silent except the scratching of pencils. For Zane the test is easy. It comprises of some math problems and some general knowledge along with some skill-based questions. Its more of a test to see if the candidates are educated and are smart to survive in difficult situations. Mike looks like he is struggling but Zane knows he will pass anyway.
The test is over and all the candidates wait outside for their results. Mike dozes off on the seat since he had to wake up early while Zane goes to buy something from the cafeteria for both of them.
He buys some sandwiches. He starts walking towards where mike is sitting. He thinks about how his sister is doing. He won't be able to see her today. He wonders weather he should get her something.
Suddenly.
He crashes into someone. He is taken a back a little but the person nearly loses their footing and drops some juice packets on the floor. Zane reaches to pick them and tries to hand it over to them.
"I'm really sorry I was lost in some thoughts and didn't see you" Zane says in a convincing tone.
Zane looks on at the person. It's a girl. She isn't like anyone Zane has ever seen before. Long and silky black hair, sharp blue eyes, snow white skin that has hints of redness to show beauty, unlike Zane's pale appearance. She has soft features and a beautiful face and stands as tall as Zane does. She looks about Zane's age.
"its alright I'm sorry too" she says with an almost expressionless smile and has a firm but women-like voice.
"you a student? Didn't think I would find someone my age here, what's your name?" Zane asks thinking to himself to try having a conversation for once like a normal human.
The girl gives Zane a sharp look. Its as if he has wronged her and looks down on him.
"thanks for picking up the juice boxes but if you think your gonna hit on me it wont work pale boy" says the girl in an almost angry deep voice.
"hey no need to be rude for no damn reason I just asked a general question" Zane says calling out her shrewdness.
"well I've seen guys like you plenty. No less then orcs. Try asking me if you get your name top of the board" says the blue-eyed girl.
"whatever lady I've seen lots like you too" Zane walks off on her.
He goes out to Mike and sees him awake and sits beside him. They eat the sandwich.
"ay man who's that gurl over there you talkin' too" mike asks.
"no idea, guess I'll never know" Zane says as he looks at her walking off to the distance.
Soon 2 hours pass by and they announce to process the results. Another 30 minutes pass by and finally 2 papers are stuck to the notification board. It is has names of all 80 candidates. Mike finishes 10th.
"DAMN! I got goooood" mike says overjoyed as usual.
Zane checks his name and is 2nd on the scale.
"damn I'm second" Zane says.
"NO WAY! bro you can't be that low you topped all your classes" mike exclaims
"well lets see who got first" Zane says checking his eyes.
He sees the name up top. Its someone called 'Roselyn Blumemann'. It looks like a women's name. he then turns his gaze towards the entrance and sees the blue-eyed girl exiting. He follows her and catches up to her as she is descending the stairs.
"Roselyn Blumemann right?" Zane calls her out.
She looks at him. Her eyes fix against his. She looks on with an expression of seriousness but her eyes give a shiny look.
"I got my name high enough to figure out your name I guess" Zane says with a serious expression too.
"Zane Raphael huh? I guess you proved me wrong, still you didn't reach top of the board so I guess your not as good as i am" says Roselyn scoffing here opponent.
"yeah well I think you should get ready to eat your words" Zane says while walking away from her with mike in tow.
Both boys leave the complex. The candidates are told to come 3 days later for the actual selection.
"damn she looked pretty" mike says
"shut up" says Zane.
In a corporal's office an officer looks at the files listed as student. He calls to one of his assistants.
"get these guys tomorrow, I need to talk to them" says the corporal.