I wasnt entirely sure what the proper response to being told that you ‘weren't fully formed’ was.  I mean it wasn't something they went over in the basic ediate class, so I just kinda smiled awkwardly and nodded my head before turning and walking toward the door reluctantly.

My heart raced as I twisted the door handle. What waited for me on the other side? I  swallowed hard and pushed the door open. It was pitch dark. I considered looking back to see what the guardians were doing, I resisted the urge, if I looked back they might think I’m scared. Haha… I thought grimly, The funny thing is; I am. Every instinct in my body screamed to back up, not to go forward, for all I knew I might walk right into a 40 foot drop. I forced my foot forward, it was solid. Then I moved the other one forward. The temperature dropped, and I could smell a faint whiff of something electrical.

Suddenly the door slammed shut behind me with a swish, I jumped, startled. I wanted to run back and try open it, I had to get out of here- something bad was coming, I could feel it! It took all of my willpower to remain still. That instant below my feet a pink neon square lit up beneath, black block print letters spelled out; start. A voice boomed from around me, sounding excruciatingly loud in contrast to the previous silence.

“Youth, This is the test. It is a game. The object of the game is to reach the finish. Each turn you shall be given a challenge . You shall complete the challenge to the best of your ability. Your performance will be rated; good, satisfactory, or bad. If you do good you move forward a space. If you do satisfactory you stay where you are. If you do bad you move backward a space. Gods-speed to you.

I bit my lip. This is no big deal, I told myself, you got this. I didn't have it though. I knew my nerves were unraveling as we spoke. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. I couldn't show it though, if I did Finian would claim me. The weak ones were always thrown on to Finian’s path. That was the second something in my brain clicked. Earlier Gambit had said ‘You can't let them know about it, the anxiety I mean. If they know they will sort you into Finian before you can bat an eye.’ He made it sound like the gods weren't the ones who decided whose path we followed- but instead the guardians?  But that wouldn't make sense….  

Without warning the hologram faded, and my feet were pulled forward, I bit back as yelp as I lost my balance, nearly falling backward. I tried to move my feet to regain it, but found they were firmly stuck in place. Somehow I managed to steady myself on the now red square. Another hologram appeared, it was a an unrealistic impression of a man. Above the man appeared a meter of some type, in the middle where it currently sat was the word neutral, on the far left was the word angry, and on the right was the word happy.

The hologram smiled at me, “Entertain me.” It said in a crackly, electric voice. A timer appeared above its head, blinking the number 0:59. The timer started ticking backward.

My heart dropped, how was I supposed to entertain it? I lack any type of charisma or humor. I swallowed hard, racking my brain for something I could do.

The hologram frowned and the meter dropped a little. “I’m waiting.” It said displeased.

“Ummm so…. Do you accept bribes?” I asked uncomfortably. Studying the simplistic hologram trying to think what I had that it could possibly want.

“No.” It said unamused, the meter dropping more.

I had to think. I had to make him happy. Ummm…. “So about a week ago now, I was walking down the hall of the Growth Center and this guy tripped. And like fell on his face.” I laughed uncomfortably.

The hologram's face contorted, weather in confusion or anger I wasn't really sure, but the meter dropped more. "That's not funny." It said flatly.

"It was funny if you were there." I said, trying to convince him. It really had been, the expression on the kids face had been priceless!

"No. No it wasn't." The meter dropped to angry. I glanced at the clock. I had 20 seconds.... What could I do? How did one ‘be entertaining?’ I heard raced as I tried to think of something, anything I could do. I couldn't fail this test. 10 seconds. I slapped myself in the face, and looked at the hologram expectantly. “You're pitiful.” It said before flickering out.

I let out a breath as I shifted backwards a space. I managed to maintain my balance this time. It paused a second on the start panel before shifting forward again.

They could of just left me on the last panel. I thought begrudgingly, as it locked in place and the previously red panel lit up a blue color. The same hologram man appeared before me a second time. I was surprised they would use the same hologram twice. He smiled as his form rippled. “What is the square root of 567?” It asked as if this was an easy question.

Number never made sense to me, they were pointlessly confusing. I really hadn't the slightest clue what a square root was or how I was to find it. Honestly I doubted I could do an addition problem if the hologram had asked. I mean the matriarchs had attempted to explain the subject to me, but I was utterly hopeless and I didn't care enough to try. I knew I was doomed.

Maybe this was a trick question, maybe the answer was 567, but I doubted it. I racked my brain trying to figure out what the answer could possibly be.  “567?” I guessed, hopelessly, going with my first idea.

The figure frowned, flickering as a ripple ran through it. “You are wrong. How could square root of 567 be 567?”

“I thought maybe it was a trick question.” I growled, any hope I had of not getting thrown into Finian was virtually gone. I considered slapping him, but since this infernal thing was a hologram I knew my hand would simply go through it. It wouldn't even flinch, it would probably would laugh.  

“That is stupid.” It said rather flatly. I glared, silently willing something terrible to happen to it. It only flickered out as it had done previously. My plate shifted backward, then forwards again for the second time. This time the square was yellow. I wondered if the color of the plate reflected the type of challenge you would be given, or better yet the gods whose path you were being tested for. It seemed logical to me.

A blank hologram appeared in front of me, large white and square. Next to the square hologram appeared the same hologram man who had appeared the last 2 times. I know it was a pre-programmed hologram that couldn't think for itself, but I felt a twinge of anger when I saw it, almost a vengeful feeling overwhelmed me.  

I narrowed my eyes at it, though it seemed not to even register that I was contemplating ways I could destroy it.  "Draw me." It said unemotionally.

I raised my eyebrows at it and smirked at it, glad for something I could finally do. I was going to make the hologram rue the day its mechanical little eyes ever looked at me. I was a decent artist if I did say so myself. I reached out toward the white hologram that was now my canvas for revenge. I was surprised to find it was somewhat solid, I was able to press my fingers to it. I wondered if this was the program on the computer I used to draw. I dragged my fingers across the surface, willing it to be a black fine tipped brush

I smiled, swirling my fingers across the expansion of whiteness, loving the feeling of having complete control over what the picture would look like when I was complete.

Finally I stood back and looked at my masterpiece, it depicted me stabbing the hologram repeatedly as it died. “I call it…. Ralph.” I actually was very happy with how it came out. Now I’m not entirely sure why I chose to call it Ralph, it just screamed Ralph to me… Yes, I decided,that name suited both the hologram and the painting.

Ralph the evil hologram didn't look at it, he must of seen it though because it said, “We don't use art for evil. We use it to praise the gods."

I knew holograms were unable to feel emotion, but I was disappointed that it didn't have a stronger reaction to the painting It flickered out and for the first time I didn't move. The square lit up again, it was yellow again.

I looked down at my feet and wondered what was holding them in place, they didn't seem to be strapped down or anything… I tried moving them again, they were stuck fast….

Ralph re-materialized next to me, he looked as placid and hologram-like as ever, however despite the fact I had partly been successful last time my heart was beating so fast that it actually sent a wave of dizziness through me. I bit my lip, trying to calm myself down, however I didn't get a chance before a large bulky instrument suddenly weighted in my hands. I looked down at it startled, it was definitely a hologram, as I could see partly through it, but it felt real. This was something I had never experienced before. I attempted to push my hand through it and found myself unsuccessful. It felt like an actual object....

"Play me a song on the guitar." Ralph barked, I considered smashing the hologram instrument over it's head. The idiotic hologram was such a nag, I hated being nagged.

I looked awkwardly down at the bulky instrument that must of been the 'guitar' in my hands. It was a hollow box like object with strings running across the hole in the center and up the strange mast that extended from it.

 I realized hopelessly at that moment that I had absolutely no clue of what I was doing. I couldn't give up though, I realized, I had no way of getting out of this. I gritted my teeth and jerked my hands along the chords. A ungodly clang of sound came from it and I recoiled, my face reddening with humiliation.

 I wondered what the gods were thinking right now as they looked down from their castle in the sky. I figured that the words they were using to describe me probably weren't polite.

I looked toward Ralph the evil hologram, wondering if I was done. For once Ralph remained silent. I noticed a timer above it that my eyes had somehow missed previously. I had 30 seconds.

I briefly considered standing motionless and watching the timer run out, increasing the imaginary cursing from the pearly white gates above. I decided against it, hesitantly reaching forward and plucking a chord hesitantly. The sound wasn't as bad this time. I glanced up at the timer again. 15 seconds, my heart raced even though I stood no chance and started plucking the chords rapidly, making a unpleasant 'twindgy' noise.

"What are you trying to kill my ears?" Ralph finally snapped as the timer struck one

I pressed my lips together to keep myself from saying something that I shouldn't of even been thinking. The plate I stood on went black and I was dragged backwards to the first square again, then forward again. I sigh in annoyance and looked down. The light beneath my feet this time was a dim lavender. It extended into a rectangular shape this time.

I looked over to see Ralph hovering beside me. "Run." He said simply. My feet were glued to this infernal square, how was I supposed to run?

"Are you malfunctioning?" I spat harshly, looking at the hologram in confusion and holding back a indignant snort.

Ralph remained silent and I relaxed. They were probably fixing him as we spoke. Suddenly the square I was on started sliding backward- not like before when the entire plate had shifted, no this was like one of the treadmills they had in the fitness room in the Growth Center. Instinctively, I stepped forward, and upon finding I could move my feet I started sprinting. Blinking lights appeared by my head, calculating how much distance I had covered and how much time I had left.

I hate timed exercises. I thought pushing myself harder. I looked at the numbers and was for once completely satisfied with my ability. I grinned enjoying the tingling in my legs of the muscles warming up.

Then it was over, the timer struck zero and I slowed to a complete stop, panting a little. Ralph materialized again. “You are actually good at something, bravo." It chuckled sarcastically- if that was possible for a machine. The lights went out and I lurched forward, my feet locked in place again. I furrowed my brows wondering what was holding my foot to the square.

On a crazy whim I tried sliding my right foot back and forth without lifting it off the panel and with a little effort it worked. I was surprised, I figured this meant that a force was gluing my foot down.... Like a magnate. But how….

The square lit up a lavender again abruptly cutting off my train of thought. I reluctantly tore my eyes from the panel and realized that I was standing in a small square arena composed of mutable little lavender plates. From the sides of the plates rose a force field, that flickered a dim blue light.

Ralph stood in the far left corner of the arena, his fists balled. I noticed that his height and width had shrunk a little to match mine."Fight me." He said simply and I cracked a grin. Finally! I didn't hesitate before charging him, a small plan in my head forming.

I sent my left fist toward him as a diversion. He grabbed it, my right was already flying. I cracked his jaw without much effort, his image flickered before going out. I hoped holograms could feel pain, even though my head told me it was unlikely.

That was easy.... I thought cautiously looking around. Then again, my ploy was rather clever, I grinned with pride as the lights went out again and my feet were once again jerked forward. I wondered again what was keeping my feet on the square. If it was magnate then I would have to have magnate somewhere on me for it to work....

The square illuminated lavender again. By now I was absolutely sure that the squares color represented the god you were being tested for. I sigh.... If only I had bothered to study the colors that represented each god. I was such an idiot.

I shifted my eyes forward and caught my breath. The square I was on shifted into a large rectangle that tilted downward into a 10 meter gully that was overflowing with water. I tried to back up but my foot hit an invisible force.

The hologram man stood at the other side of the gully. "Swim." He said simply and waited.

I had swam a lot at the Growth Center. I remembered having loved the feeling of being surrounded by the cool liquid- but now all I could think of was almost drowning, being locked in that small containment full of water, paralyzed, helpless... as good as dead. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to keep my pounding heart from breaking my rib cage.

"I haven't got all day." Ralph's electronic voice drifted into my ears. I let out a terrified yelp as I suddenly lurched forward, my feet slowly dragging me into the water.

I desperately tried jerking my feet from the square- then it hit me. The ugly white hunters boots, the sole was thick and almost unnatural- it had a magnate in it. I bent over quickly undoing the knot in the left boot. My toes touched the water, I was breathing hard.

"What are you doing? Stop!" Ralph yelled as if I would listen. I wasn't thinking straight, the only thing on my mind was escaping the water. I yanked my right foot clean out of the boot, stumbling backwards, my socks slipping on the smooth surface of the squares.

"Wesley stop moving!" Someone from behind me shrilled. I jumped in shock of hearing the new voice. "What-" I asked instinctively, spinning around in horror suddenly realizing my awful mistake. I had freaked out, I had lost my nerve I had- I put my foot down and found nothing. My eyes widened as I was suddenly falling. I screamed as I grabbed for something- anything.

My hands found the square of which I had slipped as bright lights flooded the entire room. I blinked, absolutely blind for a second. My grip slipped a little more and I clenched my teeth to keep from screaming my head off.

My vision adjusted slowly, below me I saw huge churning gears inches below my feet. I inhaled, looking upward unable to make out anything. I heard footsteps pounding across the path of squares toward me, shaking the bridge with every footstep the shook, making my fingers slip a little more.

I wanted to scream, or tell them to hurry up, or something but all I could manage was a strangled gasp. I was totally helpless once again, I couldn't pull myself up or I would slip, I couldn't let go I would be crushed. I felt my fingers give out more so that I was only holding the ledge with the tops of my fingers. I squeezed my eyes shut preparing to fall.  

Out of nowhere a strong hand grasped my wrist and yanked me upwards. I let out a breath as I rolled onto the narrow bridge. I saw the droopy eyes of Fisk looking at me with an expression I couldn't place. The other guardians stood near him with mixed expressions on their faces. I collapsed suddenly uncaring as to what they thought and lay there panting, trying to grasp the concept that I was alive.

"Get up." Someone snapped, I didn't respond. I couldn't. My head was spinning. I wasn't thinking. "Get up I said!" A rough hand grappled my arm and yanked me to the feet, the man in the gold was glowering down at me. I hadn't realized how tall he was until now, he must of been over six feet. "Do you realize all of the trouble you almost just caused us?!" He yelled shaking me.

I pushed his hand off of my shoulder, barely hearing him as I looked down at the gears that had almost claimed my life. I saw that they moved the hundreds of squares that were suspended above them, to change the challenge I assumed. Each square held a different one. I wondered if there was a manual operator to all of this. I wouldn't be surprised, he was probably the voice of Ralph as well. The hologram's dialog had seemed too advanced to of been pre-recorded.

The hand was on my shoulder again, "Are you listening to me, boy?!" The gold man yelled furiously as I brought my eyes up to meet him. I didn't feel right.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled looking downwards unable to think of anything else to say.

"Do you realize your… whatever that was, almost killed you? Do you realize that you just did the impossible and failed the test that was supposed to be unfailable? You're a blundering imbecile!" He yelled throwing his hands up into the air.

"It's not my fault!" I snapped suddenly, fear seizing me once again as the shock finally wore off and my brain was clear and alert, back in the present. I crossed my arms over chest, an idea popping into my head. "I haven't been myself all morning, not sense that Finian woman gave me those meds. I told her I felt fine, but she insisted that I took them."

Fisk scowled darkly, "You are seriously blaming someone else for you pulling your feet out of the boots the second you saw the wa-" he was rashly cut off by the woman in purple robes who had silenced him previously.

"Shut up, Fisk. Don't get so defensive anytime one of your own makes a mistake. Wesley don't listen to him, we will take care of the issue. It’s not your fault, you clearly aren't right.” The woman said taking my shoulder and guiding me toward the door, her eyes were wide with interest as looked me over.

Someone behind us muttered something and she threw a long glare over her shoulder at her companions, none of whom looked pleased.

Fisk was right though, I realized. I looked down at my feet, for someone who prided himself on his honesty I sure cracked under pressure easily. I had to do the hard thing, I took a deep breath bracing myself. “ Ma’am, he’s right. I am responsible for my own actions, I-”

“I am Evicia Lyveen Falconess, not ma’am.” I bit my lip as I realized she was head of the Xiomaran branch. She was favoring me…. I had to tell her though. “I appreciate your honesty, Wesley, but you behavior is very whack.” I raised a finger to say something, to admit my lie before I lost the courage, but she clearly wasn't used to being interrupted and trailed on. “Its clear the woman, whomever she may be, gave you too much of something. Don’t worry, we will find her. Now sadly since you already understand the mechanics of the way we tested you we can’t retest you, we will have to go on the little we saw of your ability. We will have to consult heavily with the gods, I will have Alma escort you to a waiting room.” She pushed open the door to where the perky little woman stood.

“Wait-” I started but Evicia Lyveen Falconess was already halfway down the hall.

“I’ll be speaking with you later.” She called absent mindedly over her shoulder as the other guardians pushed roughly past me. I briefly made eye contact with Fisk whose stare was like stone. Instantly I knew he knew I had lied.

“I-” I started but he curled his lip in disgust and looked away, and followed in Evicia Lyveen Falconess’s wake, leaving me alone with Alma.

She looked at me expectantly, rocking from her toes to her feet like a little child would. “So… How did it go, sweetie? Not as bad as you thought right?” Her cherry red lipstick framed her unnaturally white teeth in a upwards crescent. She took my arm and started guiding me in the opposite direction that The Guardians had gone.

I forced a strained smile on my face. “It went just swell.” I said hoping she wouldn't catch my sarcasm.

She smiled, “Yes, honey, I’m sure thats why The Guardians escorted you out. It went really swell.” Yep. She caught the sarcasm, I thought dryly, hoping that we would arrive at our destination or something so I could escape this conversation. I averted my eyes glancing at the doors as we passed. “So what happened?” She pressed me.

I sigh. “I failed.” I said taking the guardian whose robe was gold’s words.

“Oh…. thats possible?” She asked dumbfounded. I didn't say anything and looked at my feet as they passed over the random designs in marble floor.

“Well… you must be really special if you managed to do that, sweetie. And Evicia Lyveen Falconess seemed to really take a liking to you, she doesn't take liking's to many.” Alma said as we stopped outside the a door that was unmarked. I sigh. I knew she was trying to be nice in her own stupid little way.

“Thanks.” I smiled, reluctantly. She didn't say anything, instead she took me totally off gaurd and enveloped me in my arms. My face contorted in horror as my body went rigid. “Uhhhhh… Ok.” I said trying to subtly tell her to let go.

She didn't take the hint. “Awww, Its ok sweetheart, it will be ok.” She cooed, starting to rock back and forth, like one would do to a baby or small child.

I awkwardly reached around and patted her on the back. “You can let go now.”

“No, its ok, I don't mind. Hugs fix everything.” She laughed oblivious to my discomfort, squeezing tighter. Too tight. Was the happy maniac trying to kill me?

“Thank you for this… wonderful… hug.” I forced the words out of my mouth. “I am feeling sick though, must of ate something bad, I think I might vomit.” I said in a final, desperate attempt at escape.

Alma pushed me away like I had the plague. “Oh well… I guess hugs don’t fix everything. A little rest should help your stomach, sweetie.” She said opening the door and gesturing for me to go inside. “I’ll be standing guard outside. Tell me if you need anything.”

“Guard?” I asked incredulously, “Why would you have to guard me?”

“Oh, just rules I guess. Its nothing personal, if thats what you're wondering.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Do you need me to get you a bucket to vomit in?” She added earnestly, as if the idea of vomit terrified her.

“No… I’m good.” I said peering inside the room, it was completely marble with a bench protruding from one wall. I stepped inside, the rock bench had one throw pillow on it. “Cozy.” I muttered sarcastically as Alma slammed the thick stone door behind me.

I went over to the bench and sat uncomfortably on the throw pillow. My mind quickly wandered back to Alma’s choice of words: guard. Why guard? Prisoners are guarded, not residents. Then the logic struck me- residents are not guarded, but they can be guarded from something.

The wheels in my brain started turning, technically I still am in The Growth Center, just another wing. The wings are connected by doors that are always guarded. I know because the fitness room is located near the hallway that leads to it. I had gotten curious one day and walked down the deserted hall and saw that two armed men standing beside a door. I had asked where it went and they told me that it just went to another wing, it was off limits because keeping certain age groups in each wing made it easier to keep track of us.I had lost interest as I already knew of two of the other wings, I had been in both. One wing was the nursery and the other was for kids 7-12, but I had never been told what this wing was for. At the time the idea of separating age groups had seemed logical enough for me, after all I didn't want a bunch of annoying little kids running around and bugging me, but now I began to wonder.

If I was going to play ‘no conspiracy’ I would say that this wing was simply for the kids being Waifed, but from what I have seen of the building it is huge, huger than the other three wings. I knew from my dim knowledge of architecture that this was most definitely the main building. I also knew that the kids getting Waifed couldn't take up more than three percent of the building. We were all locked in our rooms, at first I had assumed that it was to keep us from mingling in each others dorms and making it hard retrieve us when it was time for us to be tested, but now I wasn't so sure. What if it was to keep us from finding something. It seems more than unlikely that they only used the main building once a year…. It must have another purpose. I was seized with an uncontrollable urge to know what that purpose was.

Without thinking I stood up and went to the door and knocked on it. I slid my belt from the loops in my pants and waited. Alma opened the door and peered in. I put a sickly look on my face. “Alma… remember that bucket you offered me earlier? I think I might need it….” I said slowly, as if I was actually about to vomit.

Her face turned grave. “How long do I have?”

“As long as it takes to find a really huge one that is mango colored. I can hold it until you get back.” I said, shutting my eyes partially and relaxing my features to adopt the look of someone who really was sick.

“Mango colored?” Alma asked skeptically raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, the mango colored ones are newest and completely vomit proof. The elders just got them in for flu season. The other buckets from last year….” I shrugged trying not to laugh at Alma’s intent gaze as she hung onto every word I said, “...well they aren't exactly leak proof.”

“Ok, I’ll be back pronto.” She said turning on her heels and speeding down the hall, allowing the door to close on its own. I jammed the thick leather of my belt between the door and the wall to keep it from shutting completely. I don’t think you will be back ‘pronto’... I thought grimly as I realized that I had lied yet again. I was on a roll, I had lied more in the past 24 hours than I had in past year.

I waited until the her footsteps had completely faded before I tore out of the waiting room and down the hall in the opposite direction I had heard Alma go. I had no idea where I was going, I had no idea what my plan even was, only that I was compelled to figure out what this building was really being used for. The only evidence that I had for it being used for something else was some logic I had worked out in less than five minutes.

Maybe Evicia Lyveen Falconess had been right, maybe someone had given me too many meds.

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