AURORA

The test

A lady walked up to the podium with a stern look on her face, making everyone quiet in the hall. She stopped and stared at our faces before she switched on the computer in front of her. 

        "I am Felicia Hookman, the leader of the councillors." She looked at her computer and backs to our faces. "Most of you know me and most of you don't. Let's keep it that way cause we don't want familiarity to be the cause of failure. I hate failures. We are the councillors and are the best in everything we do. I wouldn't let anyone spoil the reputation we have built over the years. Everyone of you should work hard and be the best cause that's what we are." she said earning an applaud and cheers from the crowd.

I am the best at what I do, I am a councillor.

        "This test will determine which department you belong to. We have so many department at the councils. Some lawyers, some administrators ex cetera. Each department has their head and everyone should be respectful towards them, they have the right to make you an Outcast when disrespected." she sighed, "With this said, let the test begin." she took her computer and left the podium proudly, giving way for a man to walk up to the podium. He called a name and the young person was led to a room.

        "That man looks like a monkey." the girl beside me whispered, laughing to herself.

        I looked at her and back to the man standing beside the test room. "I wouldn't say completely, but he does look like one a bit." 

        She chuckled lightly. "I wasn't wrong....... I am Lalisa." she said extending her hand for an handshake.

        "Aurora." I said and shook her hand.

        "You must be the Aurora everyone are talking about. The one who fainted at the selection time." I looked at her and raised a brow. She smiled and said, "Everyone are talking about it...... How are you feeling now?"

        I gave her a light smile. "Better, and this time I won't faint again." Surprisingly, everyone are talking about me now but that wasn't bothersome as I accomplished what made me to lose consciousness at the selection time. I wasn't detected to be a freedite.

        "Aurora Lee...."

My name was called next. Hearing my name, my heart skipped a beat. It's my turn and I don't know what will be my end there, in that room. I stood up nervously and took in a deep breathe.

        "Aurora you can do this. You passed the most crucial day and today wouldn't be the day I will get caught." I told myself and headed towards the test room.

I was taken into the white room with bright light and a chair at the middle with some computers and devices I haven't seen before. What are they going to do to me? What kind of test will this be?

        "Seat on the chair and focus on the light in front of you." a lady, dressed in a white robe said. From the looks of it, I can tell she is an Erudite. A doctor or a scientist.

I nodded and slowly walked nervously towards the chair. My steps weren't steady as I drew closer, praying a miracle would happen that will help me out of my situation.

        "Don't be nervous, it won't hurt." she said, noticing my nervousness. I gave her a light smile and sat on the chair.

        "Focus on the light." she said and I did. The bright light stone in my eyes but I dared not look away as she warned me it might damage my sight if I look away without her command. The light was blinding and my eyes hurt, with tears flowing down my eyes on their own accord. Please let this end soon. My head spin as I felt my soul been taken away from my body. 

        "Close your eyes." she commanded.

I did close my eyes and I felt everything moving around me non stop. It was sickening and made me nauseous and dizzy. It was taking forever to end.

Suddenly, everything went quiet and still. 

        "Aurora." I heard her voice. Slowly I opened my eyes and gasped. I wasn't in the room anymore but a different place. The floor has black and white tiles and the wall was painted white.

        "You are in a room. A room with black and white tiles. You have to make your way out to pass the first test. You need to put your talent as a Council member at work here. If you don't get out in the next ten minutes, you will vanish from there and your career will be over. Good luck." she said and the timer was set.

        "Ok Aurora, you can do this. You can survive through this. My career is on the line and I need to do my best." I told myself and looked round me. 

The room was empty. If the time was set for me to leave here in ten minutes, then that means there is something that would stop me from moving further. But what is that thing. Could it be the tiles? The tiles are black and white. 

I bent down and touched a tiles but nothing happened. If it isn't the tiles, then the wall. 

I touched the wall but nothing happened. This is tricky.

Maybe there is no obstacle but they just wanted to see how fast I reason. That must be it, they are testing my patience and the way I think.

        I smiled and looked at the camera. "Life is not always the way it seems like. I can't leave the room. There is no escape door here. I can only leave when you want me to. Patience is the key." I said out loud.

Immediately I did, I appeared in a different room. Two women were at the middle and a diamond was placed on a table beside them.