I had never seen a Waifing day before, it was strictly prohibited for anyone besides the the matriarchs or the children getting Waifed to watch it. Waife Day had always fascinated me incredibly. I might of tried looking out a window to watch it, but the only window in the Growth Center was in the Headmistress's office.

I had snuck into her office one day, a few years ago now, I think, with the sole motive of looking out the window and seeing what the world looks like- however it only looked at a brick wall that prevented me from seeing what was beyond it.

So as you could imagine as soon as I walked through the doors that led I felt a rush of excited adrenalin as I stepped outside and felt the crisp breeze on my face. The courtyard was completely surrounded by the walls of other buildings, strung between them were ropes bright ribbons and jewels hanging from them. I noticed that the gems caught the sunlight just right so that little rainbows reflected on the cobblestone. Colorful banners hung everywhere, displaying scenes from our history.

The crowd around me jostled me, for whatever reason they seemed unaffected by being outside, by any of the decor at all. They chatted nervously among themselves, glancing up from their devices every few minutes, then looking back.

I didn't move, taking a deep breath of fresh air instead, It was then I realized that I was happy. I looked up into the blue infinity above me and just genuinely felt at peace, something I wasn't used to. A huge ball of light hung in the sky that I identified as the sun. My eyes stung as I looked at it, it was single most gorgeous thing I had ever seen.

Suddenly someone waved a hand in my face, I blinked. "Wes, are you high?" Lachlan looked at me eyes wide, concern spread across his face.

"No." I scowled,"Why?"

He raised his hands up in surrender, "When you smile it's genuinely disturbing, now you gotta come quick. You gotta see this."

I sigh, then stopped, something made me think of Colbolt. I glanced to my side looking around. She was gone.... Must of ran off with her friends or something, I guessed.

"Are you sure you’re alright?" He asked again slowly, as one who was talking to a mentally unstable person would.

"Yes!" I snapped, frustrated with him.

He frowned, "I'm just worried." He said, a little crossly, but I could tell he was hurt.

"I'm sorry... I was just... I just had a lot happen earlier?" I said, suddenly wondering where he had been during the fight. He hadn't tried to help me- not that I needed it- but he hadn't come up to congratulate me or walk with me at least.

"Yeah, I know." He said nodding, making me feel a little better. I was about to ask him where he had been during it, but he raised a finger solemnly and spoke again, "Everyone knows." He added darkly, as he remembered what he had been wanting it tell me.

I felt my heart drop, the more people who knew that I had beaten Barricade.... The more furious he'd be.

I glanced over my shoulder nervously again, then met Lachlan's gaze again, "How? I mean I can just deny it, I think I can, right?" I stuttered panicking, knowing that I couldn't, and  that he knew something he wasn't telling me.

Suddenly someone bumped into me, sending me stumbling forward. I turned my heart thumping expecting to see Barricade, instead my eyes locked with a lanky red haired girl. Her appearance was hard not to notice, her hair looked as if someone had taken a weed wacker to her head, it was long in some places, but short in others. Besides simply outlining her amber eyes, she had also doodled strange, unrelated mostly violent looking objects with the liner all over her face.

I was about to snap as her, but she beat me to it, "Hey! Watch where you're standing! People are trying to walk here!" She gestured to all the kids filing in and taking seats in the long pews that were facing the huge stone stage that had been set up for us.

I would of yelled something back, but I was confused, so much was happening. I felt my heart race up again and a feeling of nausea washed over me. I hated this. Stupid anxiety.

Lachlan pulled me into one of the pews with him and I sat down dumbly trying desperately to get my heart rate down. I pressed my hands to my face and breathed deeply a few times, then looked up.

"Why's he so ticked?" I looked to see Aspen, glancing at Lachlan.

He was sitting to the left of Lachlan, his ever-present Zagger clutched in his palms.

"Oh some girl bumped him and yelled at him." Lachlan said without a tad of doubt in his voice.

I sat there and realized something for the first time. They hadn't the slightest clue that I had anxiety problems. They thought I was angry. I almost laughed. They must think the deep controlled breathing was me trying desperately not to explode.I found it hilarious for some reason and had to bite my tongue to keep from cracking up.

I put on my best scowl and turned to the boys. "Hey." I growled making the fact that I was listening now apparent. "So what were you going to tell me before?" I asked Lachlan looking him directly in the eye. His olive shaped green flitted away, almost guiltily, making me feel incredibly uneasy.

Aspen however grinned and thrust the Zagger into my lap, on the screen was a video. The heading on the video read 'Wimp beats Barricade, Barricade losing his edge?' I didn't have to watch the video to know what it was, the still was that of the second my fist collided with Barricades jaw.

My first thought was pitifully vain, in fact I'm a little embarrassed to admit it. I was so insulted I nearly smashed my first into Aspen’s beloved device. (Which in retrospect, probably was very good that I resisted. No telling what a stupid person will do when they are angry.) Sure I was a little shorter than average had a leaner build, but I was no wimp. I could easily beat 90% of  the guys here in a fight, no problem.

My next thought was noticeably less vain as logic kicked in and I scrolled down to see how many views it had. I nearly choked, 2,0980. That was nearly the entire Growth Center. Whoever posted this was clearly trying to get me killed. I narrowed my eyes, completely ticked, any stray fear left over from my earlier attacks gone. I would kill them, I thought smirking darkly, they'd see how wimpy I was when my fist was in their face!

I glanced at the account number 05763. I had not the slightest clue to who that was off hand so I tapped on it. When the profile came up and I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood.

Lachlan.

I just sat there a few minutes. Staring at it, trying to comprehend, trying to figure out why he would do that.

"W-Wes, I can explain. Seriously I can-" I heard Lachlan stutter beside me. I didn't look up. I couldn't.

"Why is he angry? He's a star, everyone knows him now!" Aspen said smiling with a stupid look on his face, oblivious as usual.

I looked up abruptly and locked eyes with Lachlan. "Explain." I demanded, furiously.

"I-it wasn't me. Someone hacked my account! Look I have absolutely no idea why but.... I don't know. I didn't know how to tell you!" He said desperately.

I narrowed my eyes. I wanted to believe him, I really did, but what motive would anyone have for posting it on his account? But then again, Lachlan wasn't stupid was he? Wouldn't he know I would see this?

"Please believe me? Wes, you're my friend. Why would I do that?" He asked slowly, he looked like he was about to cry.

"Yeah." I said slowly, seriously doubting my choice. "I know you wouldn't lie to me...."

Suddenly a loud voice made us both turn our attention toward the stage. "Today is the most important day of your lives." An old man with a dark complexion stood on the stage. He wore long golden robes and a jeweled headdress that matched. "Our glorious gods have been watching each of you carefully for the past sixteen years you've been alive. Now however, is your final test, and one of them will speak through us after your testing and tell us you have been chosen to follow their path."

Behind the man in the gold stood five other men and woman, each dressed identical to the gold man except they wore different colors. I figured they were the Guardians. I had learned about them in one of my classes I think.  Each of them were the master of one god’s path. They were closer to the gods than any other human being, they also were very close to our Empress and communed with her often. Maybe if I had been paying more I could tell who was who- but I hadn't.

"Dear children," he continued "This is the day that you become one of us, once you are given your path. After this you will be trained in your profession with care. Then you will go out and assist in maintaining the balance of the world."

A woman wearing a dark royal purple robe stepped forward as the man in the gold stepped back. "But we must remember," she spoke her voice crisp yet powerful, "where we came from, because that makes us who we are."

Behind her a huge hologram flickered displaying the goddess Xiomara holding the earth in her palms, she looked up her eyes seeming to stare into my soul. I knew it was impossible since it was only a hologram, but still it made me uneasy.

"In the beginning, when Xiomara created the earth, it was only her and her evil brother Xaron. The two siblings were the offspring of darkness and light, the only elements to exist previous to the siblings." The hologram changed as she spoke, displaying the story.

"Xiomara longed for a purpose, for even gods need purpose. So she created our world, she created humans, the animals, the clouds, every good thing that we see today. However her cruel brother saw her creation and set evil into the world, he was jealous of his sister. For every good thing Xiomara had created, Xaron created an evil one. Furious, Xiomara attacked her brother, destroying him. His conscious thought could never be destroyed. It lurks in the shadows possessing humans who stray too far from Xiomara's loving embrace." She paused for a second, letting her statement sink in, so it sounded more like a threat than a warning.

"It was at this time that the stars and the sun had a child, he was known as Deependra, the god of intelligence and inventors. Xiomara instantly felt love for him and she claimed him for her own. Together they had twins, Veron, and Lyric. Veron becomes our god of priests and seers, due to his unique ability to see into the future and know people’s intentions at a single glance. Lyric is the god of art, for he gave humans the ability to draw, make music and write in his mothers glory. Our most beautiful goddess, Maeve, was the creation of the sun’s beams and the ocean’s sea foam. She is the goddess of beauty and entertainment. Finally our our youngest god, Finnian, was created by Xiomara herself, his sole purpose to serve the other gods. He is our god of servitude. Each god no matter what aspect of life they are, is important, you must never hold one god above another, or begrudge the god who calls you to their path. Gods become jealous very easily, and their wrath is deadly." The woman bowed her head and stepped back as the hologram went out.

A man, who appeared younger than the others, dressed in red stepped forward. "In the beginning, humans had no discretion, no leader and were vulnerable to Xaron. They were driven mad by Xarons essence, and as a result humanity sinned horribly. Xiomara realized they needed a saving grace, so she had a daughter. As the story goes, she came down to the last earthly man who was loyal to the gods and she used him to have a final child. A divine daughter that she trained and sent to earth to lead them; our glorious Empress Ava Storm." A hologram of a figure I'd seen many  times, a thin old woman with a regal face and long white hair. She had this rather terrifying cutthroat look to her face, but according to what I've learned she was loving and gracious like her mother. However looking at the hologram, I found it hard to believe.

He continued,"Never forget that she saved us all, we must always be thankful to her. Now just as Xiomara needed a purpose humanity needed one too. Xiomara realized this and so told her daughter to create Waife day, so our gods could give us a purpose. I will warn you now, when you stray from your purpose you become liable to Xaron’s possession, never ever let anything distract you, allow you to question our gods grace. Xaron has been known you plant thoughts in our heads, as he attempts to claim another victim." He backed up and a heavyset woman with grey hair piled in a bun stepped forward, "In order to assure that the gods will not ignore you, we will offer a human sacrifice to them. They find human sacrifice very pleasing." She said, seemingly without emotion.

My heart picked up a little, human sacrifice? I had never heard of any human sacrifice before this. I looked over at Aspen and Lachlan, nether shared my concern. If anything, Lachlan just seemed intrigued. Aspen looked giddy as usual, as if he had been waiting to see a human sacrifice his whole life. Had they taught us about human sacrifice in one of our classes? Maybe it was one of the early classes and I had been sleeping?

With this odd sense of dread in my stomach I turned my attention back to the stage. A woman walked onstage haltingly, as if she wanted to be anywhere else but here. I didn't blame her. She was dressed in beautiful- if not a bit revealing- dress. She had diamonds woven in her hair and her makeup was done so well that I almost didn't recognize her.

It was Thora Baramade.

"There is nothing more beautiful than human sacrifice. The courage to sacrifice yourself for the well being of others, I salute you Baramade. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten." The woman continued, her black robes glistening as Thora reluctantly laid herself down on a stone altar that the Guardians had been standing in front of, their long robes hiding it from view until they had parted to let her pass.

The Guardian in black  pulled a knife from her capes, and stood over Thora, holding it above her. The others circled around the altar and started muttering a strange prayer that sounded barely human. It sent chills down my spine. I didn't like this at all. I clenched my jaw, but was unable to look away.

The woman plunged her knife into Thora's chest, Thora's body jerked as small scream left her lips. The woman cut the knife a little more, then plunged her hand into Thora's chest, pulling out a bloody organ and hoisting it into the air.

Her heart, I realized.

The Guardians moved back to their original position, shielding the body from view, but nothing could mask the thick scent of blood in the air.

A man in blue stepped forward. "You will all stay in the buildings on your left, that is where you will wait for us to test you. We will test you each individually, so you could be waiting for up to a week. We have divided you all into rooms like in your old dorm, you will be bunking in fours. All of your belongings have already been moved into your appointed dorm, so no need to worry." He pulled a long list from his robes. "Listen very carefully, I will only be saying your name once. When you hear your name you are free to go find your temporary rooms. 'In room 1, Wing One is Zalick, Braxton, Ai, and Hayto...."

I listen very closely, nervous that I would miss my name. At the same time I stressed that I had already missed it because I'd been listening too hard. Finally, after what seemed like forever, I did hear my name, "In room 73, Wing Two, Wesly," I breathed a sigh of relief. "Barricade," My heart dropped. I was dead. I was so dead. "Wilder," Oh gods, I didn't know much about Wilder except he was close with Barricade. That wasn’t good. "And Lachan." I let out a huge breath and looked toward Lachlan, who was looking at me nervously. This was going to be hard, but I'm not alone. We stood a chance- don't get me wrong, it was a small chance, but still a chance.

"Hey Wes, maybe now you'll get a chance to make up with Barricade!" Aspen said rather loudly, at least twelve people shushed him. He shrugged and smiled and waved at us as we exited the pew.

I hesitated, realizing this might be the last time I ever saw Aspen. I mean I had no idea what came next. I felt a rock plunk in my stomach. Maybe I was actually going to miss him.... I actually kind of already did in a way. Don't get me wrong, I strongly disliked him. He annoyed me more than anyone else could.... But I cared. Maybe he was my friend. I smiled and waved back, before walking down the aisle toward the buildings. The buildings in where I could very well end up dead.

We pushed open the swinging doors and were met with three hallways, conveniently labeled; Wing One, Wing Two, and Wing Three.

Without saying anything I started to walk down the path that said Wing Two. The first door on the right read; room 1. We had a long way to go. I could hear laughter from inside as the boys got to know each other- if they didn't already. I snorted knowing our room sure wouldn't sound like that.

"What are you going to do?" Lachlan asked as we walked down the almost empty green colored corridor.

A conversation was exactly the last thing I wanted to have right now and this was absolutely the last thing I wanted to talk about. I sigh loudly, "My plan is to avoid death at all costs." It seemed like a good plan to me.

"That is a lot easier said than done." He laughed a little, but it just radiated nervousness, so much so that I had to wonder if he was going to drop on the ground and start having seizures.

"Well I'll have you, so it will be two against two." I added, noticing his face change drastically. He put his hand to the back of his neck, rubbing it roughly.

"Umm...." He started then trailed off, looking at his feet.

"What?" I demanded, suddenly feeling my anxiety kick in. It wasn't as bad as it was earlier though I still felt my heart rate pick up.

"Nothing." He said picking up his pace. What was that? Did he want me to beg for whatever he wasn't telling me like Aspen generally wanted? I grabbed his arm slowing him down, "Seriously, Lachlan, what?" I snapped in frustration. Why couldn't people just be honest and freaking tell you what they were thinking. Life would be so much easier!

"Well..... Ummm..... You- you don't expect me to get on Barricades bad side just to protect you....? Do you....?" He stuttered, stopping walking completely. "I mean I don't want to die!" He added quickly, his voice panicked.

I felt my jaw drop, and my heart stop. I didn't say anything. Up until today, Lachlan had been the best friend I had. I would of taken a bullet for him, but apparently the feeling wasn’t mutual.

Then he stopped, as if rethinking what he had said, "I was stupid. I won't let them kill you." I looked at him for the second time today, wanting to believe him. Some part of me just couldn't though.... "Man, I said that out of fear. I'm sorry. I would never actually abandon you." He said with a new strength in his voice.

"I believe you." I said eventually after a few minutes.

I glanced at the doors, we were at 69. We walked forward and it wasn’t long before we stood in front of room 73. I didn't move, neither did Lachlan. I assumed Barricade and Wilder were already inside, glancing behind me I didn't see them in the hall. Unless they were seriously lagging, they were already in there. Once we went in there was no turning back.

“Do you think that we could go in some other room and say we got mixed up? Maybe they’d let us stay?” Lachlan asked pitifully.

That sounded really tempting and I would of gone for it too, if the doors weren't hand print activated. We couldn't get in any room besides our own. “We can’t.” I said, mustering up all my courage, my heart racing, expecting to be ambushed the second I opened the door, and I placed my hand on the pad and the door slowly slid open.

I can’t say what scared me more, what I expected to happen or what actually happened.

The room was seeming identical to our old one, two bunks, two nightstands, etc. The only difference I noticed a door off to one side. Wilder and Barricade sat cross legged on the rug, relaxed. They were facing the computer playing a game. Hardly the picture of someone on warpath.

Wilder paused the game and looked up, grinning, “Hey guys! I was so excited to hear I’d be sharing a room with my two favorite people!” He chuckled, his eyes twinkling in the evil sort of way they always did. You’d think a guy with golden blond hair that he actually bothered to style into a fake Mohawk would be noticeably less intimidating than the huskier, much more rugged Barricade. You’re very wrong. That sentence in itself made me freeze and brace myself for something awful. I may not be the smartest guy around, but I knew I wasn’t one of Wilder’s favorite people.

Barricade was next, but his smile looked a lot more of a grimace than a smile as he locked eyes with me, “Yeah, we’ll be spending a lot of time together since the door can only be opened from one side.”

I spun around, wanting nothing more than to hear a ‘Made you look, idiot!’ from Barricade, but instead just heard both boys break into hysterical laughter. My eyes locked with the door, searching for another handpad. There were none. The door was a smooth, dent-less stainless steel. Even if I was desperate I couldn't pry it open.

We were trapped.

I felt a low growl escape my throat, "Seriously? Seriously?!" I yelled kicking the door, more out of frustration than fear. I mean what are the chances that I'd get stuck in a room with Barricade AND Wilder? This was so rigged. Someone was trying to kill me. I had no idea how, or why, but this was rigged.

"Well you're an angry little man." Wilder said in amusement, "But don't take your anger out on the poor door. It can't help that it can only be opened on one side."

"Shut up." I hissed, stalking toward the door, wanting to figure out where it went.

Lachlan didn't follow me, maybe I should of been concerned, but I was more focused on figuring a way out of here.

The door led to a cramped bathroom, it had a large sink, on the corner of which I noticed a tray with the eyeliner in it, undoubtedly for reapplication. I snorted, like that was going to happen. There was also a toilet, and a shower. The shower wasn't like the ones in the main bathroom that I had used since I was little, instead of a flimsy curtain it had a panel that slid back and forth. I noticed a vent in the ceiling, but it was too small to fit through.

I sigh in disappointment. What had I been expecting to see anyway? I giant door that said exit? I begrudgingly walked into the main room.

"....yeah, I'm sorry. Wes can be a jerk. A lot." Lachlan was saying, I felt my jaw drop a little. "You get used to it though. He's not that bad once you get to know him."

Lachlan's eyes flitted up and met mine, his face flushed a little. "I didn't mean that in a bad way."

I just stood there a second not sure what to think, then I felt my temper start to slip, "Please inform me how being 'a jerk' and ' not that bad' is a good thing." I snapped, I started to think about today's earlier events. I shook my head, a huge bolder dropping into the pit of my stomach as a realized I had done it again. I had trusted someone who didn't deserve it.

I noticed that Wilder was watching us intently his eyes flitting back and forth between us with an small, but very unnerving smile on his face.

"Look- I- I-" Lachlan stuttered nervously.

"Save it. You lied to me about uploading that video earlier, didn't you?" I growled, glaring at him, feeling far more emotions than I'd like to admit. I mean I trusted him, which was something I didn't do often.

Lachlan looked at me hesitantly, he slowly nodded.

I stepped back. My head reeling, how many other times had he lied to me? I started remembered all those times I had second guessed what he told me, the times I had thought he was lying to me but just dismissed it.

"Why?" I found the courage to ask.

Lachlan shrugged his shoulders and looked down at his feet.

"Seriously. Why." I demanded taking a step closer, "I thought you were my friend, Lachlan."

"I-I still am." He stuttered still not making eye contact with me.

I snorted, "Friends don't lie to each other Lachlan."

Suddenly a third voice chirped up, "Wes seriously, don't be so sensitive. Friends tell little white lies every so often." Wilder said jumping to Lachlan's defense.

I curled my lip, I had heard Wilder was a manipulator. It was then that I realized why they hadn't attacked me right off. They wanted to pit Lachlan against me first. I didn't know why, Wilder and Barricade could easily take me and Lachlan out. Maybe it was just the sadist Wilder is. Glancing at Barricade I knew Wilder had talked Barricade into this. He kept glancing at me, his muscles tensing and untensing like he had all he could do not to jump on my head and kill me then.

"Wes.... Wilder his right. I didn't mean anything." Lachlan said with a sudden confidence.

I could make this hard for Wilder and pretend I believed every lying word that came out of Lachlan's mouth, however I couldn't make myself do that. I was too furious, too hurt, and all too aware that if I lied, that would make me no better than Lachlan. If their was one good thing about me, it was that I was honest.

I glared at him, "You can take every lying word you've ever said to me and get the hell out of my life." I turned my back and hoisted myself onto the top bunk. I faced the wall clenching my teeth. I felt such a strong loathing for not Lachlan, but myself. I had let him lie to me countless times, any pride I had was shattered. I was so stupid. I was so, so stupid.

Rashly, I grabbed the thin skin on my wrist and dug my nails into it, pinching it for few seconds that seemed like ages, then let go. I felt a small rush of relief run through my body and I let out a sigh.

I laid there just staring at the wall, the freshly painted blue that, unlike my old dorm had no dents or chips in the paint yet.

I was dimly aware of Wilder making friendly with Lachlan. The two of them were so fake they were perfect for each other, probably getting along beautifully.

".....So Lachlan do you work out? You look really strong. If your as strong as you look you'll have no trouble fitting in with Barricade and I, assuming we get sorted into Xiomara's path like I'm assuming." Wilder was saying casually.

"Only sometimes, when We-" Lachlan stopped, "When an old friend of mine begged me to be his workout partner."

Every swear word I'd ever heard ran through my head. I hadn't begged him, I'd politely persuaded him. Lachlan was lazy as heck.

"Yeah. You must hate Wesley." Barricade said stupidly, completely off topic. "Why don't we kill him now?" He suggested as if I wasn't ten feet away.

I heard an "Ompf" as Wilder elbowed him roughly.

Then there was furious whispering, the only thing in which I was able to make out was 'Patience', which should of sent my anxiety through the roof. However, it left me alone, for now anyway.

"Kill him.....? Uhhh..... I don't know if I'd go that far.... Heh heh." Lachlan's voice piped up shakily.

"Well you can just brutally maim him if you want. I'd actually like to do the killing." Barricade said matter 'o factly.

"Shhhhh!" Wilder hissed urgently, clearly frustrated by Barricades lack of common sense. I didn't blame him. Just listening to Barricade I felt my brain cells dying.

"Are you choking on something, Wilder?" Barricade asked

"Ughhhh!" Wilder yelled, "Barricade! Shut up! He's right there!"

"Well, duh Einstein. No kidding. What do you think I am, stupid?" Barricade snapped back.

"Yes!" I offered helpfully, I turned over and faced them. "Now if you're going to plot my death, please go lock yourselves in the bathroom or somewhere I can't hear your annoying voices." I said flatly, I looked at Lachlan who still looked guilty.

Wilder and Barricade were sending me their worst death glares. "Thanks for the idea Wes. Now you'll never see it coming." Wilder's death glare was replaced by a smug smile. "Come on guys." He turned and headed toward the adjoining room.

I heard the door lock behind them and I was alone.

I rolled into my back and sigh looking up at the ceiling, Wilder's last comment running through my head. 'Now you'll never see it coming.' I hadn't thought about it like that, and suddenly my heart was racing so fast I thought it was going to pound right out of my chest. I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths and slowly it went back to normal.

I opened my eyes, and found myself staring at the blinking lights of a smoke detector. I smiled, as a plan started to form in my head, a crazy, hypothetical plan, but still it was a plan.

"You said I'd never see it coming." I grinned, talking to an imaginary Wilder, "Well neither will you."

<><><><><><><><>

Merry Christmas or whatever the hell you celebrate guys! Love you, have fun, eat cupcakes! Yeah, and vote, comment, etc if you liked this! Tell me what you think. Haha