"Are you scared?" James asked. His voice was calm and soothing, but it had no effect on Kyra. How could she not be afraid? Today was the day. Today she would go through her Vinctures, the test that would decide her whole future. To say she had butterflies in her stomach was an understatement.

Of course, she knew that wasn't all her future depended on: it was the part of the test that decided on her personality, what she would do when it came down to a real life situation. But when they inputted all of her details and an array of numbers she would never understand, they factored in her achievements, work ethic, strengths and interests. The knowledge that her past would make a difference helped her nerves ten fold - all of her hard work would pay off, everything she'd worked for would make a difference.

"Insanely." Kyra peeked up at him, searching for any sign of emotion, but his face was blank. Having spent many days in his presence, Kyra was used to his bright and snarky demeanour, but today it had been replaced by a darker one, a side of him she had never really seen. "Aren't you?"

"Not really. It's just a test." If Kyra hadn't bitten her lip, she was sure she would have yelled at him, screamed if she had to – today was the biggest day of her life, the most nervous she had ever been, and yet her best friend didn't feel a thing. That was the thing about James - he was carefree, reckless and rebellious. Well, as rebellious as a kid in Arabel could be. Their bracelets made it hard to be anything but perfect, something James knew very well.

The pair walked in silence for a while, but it was a comfortable one, broken only by the pounding of their boots against the asphalt. It was strange how normal it felt to walk beside James, as though they were merely walking to school, as though today wouldn't change everything.

Kyra tried to keep up with his lengthy strides as they walked down one of the main streets in the housing sector, heading towards the city centre. All of the lanes in the city seemed to lead there one way or another. Soft murmurs and faint laughter sounded throughout the air as she studied each face that passed them. A little girl with rosy red cheeks. An old man with a cheeky grin. Neither of them had any reason to be afraid. The girl was too young to understand Kyra's fear, and the man was too old to remember it.

The crowd thickened as they neared the city square, so much so that it was like a strong ocean current, pulling and pushing them towards their destination. The square was situated across from the river, surrounded by smaller boutique shops, and was probably the most beautiful part of the city. A row of dancing pink trees ran around it and created privacy from the retail sector; the main entrance had sparser trees, allowing the clandestine river to be seen behind them.

The city hall looked as it always did; marble, white and covered in posters – these changed depending on the event. Today they held the city's emblem of two hands holding an eye surrounded by navy velvet. Leading up to the veranda were row after row of marble seats, each full to the brim with citizens; over the years they'd added many more, but it was hard to keep up with the growth in population, meaning that the people whose children weren't involved tended to squish up at the back. Between the rows was a long aisle. Every time Kyra walked down it she felt as though the crowd was watching her every move, judging the way she walked and her posture and her face. If it weren't for the Vinctures, walking up that small strip of concrete would have been the most daunting thing she would do that day.

Sit down, Citizen.

The pair went to the front row and sat down with the other Testers. The young citizens exchanged nods and tight-lipped smiles, but no one spoke; Kyra was afraid her breakfast would come up if she did. Sweat formed in little buds at the back of her neck. She let herself get lost in thought, making lists of all the things she loved and hated and the things she wanted to do. A good distraction was all she needed.

The grand oak doors swung open on silent hinges. A shaky, suited man stumbled onto the veranda and stopped in front of the podium. He cleared his throat and shuffled his papers to compose himself.

Kyra leaned into James. "Isn't it usually the president who reads the names?"

He nodded, risking a glance behind him. "My parents aren't here either, there must be an emergency council meeting."

"Citizens of Arabel, it is my pleasure to invite you to witness the four-hundredth Vinctures since the founding of our great city." Applause erupted, which he quenched with a smile and a raised hand. "From the beginning, our society has strived for greatness. We achieve this through the Vinctures.

"At the age of eighteen, each citizen of Arabel undergoes a test of morality. This, combined with their past efforts, beliefs and values, will be used to calculate the best possible future for each individual. The Vinctures are designed to challenge the Testers in ways they've never experienced before by giving them near-impossible decisions. Choose wisely, citizens."

He began to read the names three at a time; Enforcers weaved among the Testers, collecting the trios. Kyra leaned forward on her arm, hoping the hand covering her mouth would mask her shaky breaths.

"Henderson, James" was called before either of them were ready. He squeezed her hand gently. By the time she was able to move he was gone. She pursed her lips and settled into her chair, knowing her time was soon. Hopefully James would be out before she went in. If anyone was honest about what to expect, it would be him.

Instead of talking to her neighbours, she focused on the sky; on the pearly white doves and sleek crows soaring by. Their sweet, chirping melodies were like music to her ears. What a feeling, she pondered, being free. It was a strange thought, but Kyra didn't have time to dwell on it, as she was forced to come back to earth by a gloved hand on her arm, leading her inside. The Enforcer led her down a dark staircase into a room where the fluorescent ceiling lights were unnaturally bright, blinding her with every step. There was only one word to describe it: clean, like everything else in Arabel. The walls were tiled in stark white. She walked towards one of three desks, avoiding the gazes of the Testers on either side of her. To look at them would be admitting what she was about to do.

A brown-haired nurse smiled up at Kyra, curling her gloved fingers. "Wrist, dear." It wasn't a request.

Kyra eased her arm forward, whimpering as the nurse yanked her closer. The lady held a dainty needle in her hand, and as Kyra watched, she tested it, spraying liquid into the air. The sickly green solution made her shiver.

"What is that?" Kyra asked, failing to keep her voice even.

"It's a thought simulator. That's how the Controllers calculate your results. " Without another word, the nurse eased the tip of the needle into the crook of Kyra's elbow. Thought simulator - even the name sounded evil. Kyra wiggled her fingers one by one, but nothing happened; her whole arm was numb.

The nurse patted Kyra's other hand. "Don't worry, you'll be able to feel it soon. Go on, dear."

Kyra walked past the desk and stopped in front of a door. "Don't worry," she mimicked under her breathe. "Oh great my anxiety is cured." It was quiet enough for only her to hear, but it made her smile all the same. She wished James was there. For his sense of humour it would seem tame, but hearing him laugh always made her chest feel lighter, the constant tightness a bit easier to manage.

The polished oak was unfamiliar, but there was no doubt what was beyond its gleaming handle – the Vinctures. Her breathing grew shallow. No one ever made it out of the test unscathed. No one. A ten centimetre thick door was all that kept her from whatever scarred people so badly they could never talk about it. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Kyra inserted her bracelet into the hole in the wall, and pulled it out after hearing a faint click. The door swung open, and with shaking hands, Kyra stepped inside.

The door slammed shut. A dirty lampshade hanging from the low ceiling was the only source of light. Her eyes stung as they adjusted to the change. She whipped around, trying to see everything and anything in the room with her, but frowned when it appeared to be empty. The square room was large and made of marble. Thick, straight columns were placed around the room, casting ghostly shadows over the already dim space.

Heart pounding, she stepped closer to the wall, running her fingers over the cool, smooth marble, trying to find something, anything. Her hand came across a rough, triangular gap, cut unevenly as though someone had made the hole in a hurry. She slid in a tentative hand and gasped as her fingers closed on something cool and hard, and fit well in her palm. Holding it up to the light, she realised what it was, though it in no way made her less nervous. As she reached back into the gap her hand grazed fabric. She frowned as she weighed up the two objects. They seemed to be opposites. Fingers crossed, she reached in a final time; at the very bottom, barely high enough for her short arms to reach, was a familiar leather cover. She laid the objects out in front of her on the floor. A gun. A first aid kit. A book.

"What do they have in common?" she wondered.

She reached back in, expecting nothing, and gasped as her fingers snatched at a cool, small object. A key.  

"Welcome to the Terror Zone."

Kyra jumped. The familiar robotic voice rebounded off the walls; somehow the sound was comforting, a small slice of normalcy. "In this room you will be given a choice between humanity, family and love. Good luck, Citizen."

— if you enjoyed part one, please vote or comment! Thank you for reading. x —