The Beginning of the End

Felicity turned her head to see a guy trying to get this other girl's attention by kicking the legs of her chair. She was about to say something when the whole chair crashed to the ground with the girl still sitting prettily on top of it.

The face that was practiced fell apart the moment the chair met the floor, and an ugly expression crossed the blonde's face.

Kayla got up and shoved the broken chair to the corner, taking an empty chair from a desk adjacent to her. She whipped her head back to glare at James behind her, and his mischievous expression was enough to set the teacher off.

The teacher up front, Mrs. Hansen, placed her marker on the table in front loudly and sighed. She looked so tired, and Felicity felt sorry for her. Despite none of the class's antics being hers, she felt like she was still responsible for the teacher's succumbing health.

The skin around her teacher's mouth has started to sag now, and the once bright teacher was turning an ashen grey. But Felicity knew that it wasn't the class's fault. Likely what was occurring in the world was taking a toll on the teacher. Honestly, that was likely the culprit. The news lately hasn't been a watchable show. It made people's stomachs unsettled, and Felicity's as well.

An ear-blasting shrill went off, making most of the students flinch in their chairs. Felicity covered her ears to try to keep the headache coming at bay. Sounds of people's cries could be heard in the hallway, and the teacher walked back to her computer in alarm. A soft ding was heard amidst the siren still sounding, and Mrs. Hansen blew the video up on the screen.

A video of a reporter was projected, and Felicity felt a pin drop. She was horrified by what was to come. For the inevitable words that were going to come out of the reporter's mouth. She knew people that have been sitting in front of the TV for two weeks straight now, and even she turned on the TV every once in a while for an update.

She never watched the news. Her parents were rooted to the sofa, while her younger brother, Aston tried drowning out the reports from the television with rock music. Or whatever music genre that he was feeling that day. Some days it was heavy metal. Others, the gummy bear song. Both fit Aston's personality.

The class immediately shushed and turned their attention away from their own devices or friends around them. Isla, her table partner, squeezed her hands anxiously. Her eyes were unfocused, and Felicity squeezed Isla's shoulder. "Don't stress. We don't know any concrete results yet."

Isla blew out a harsh breath. "I feel like I'm going to throw up."

Felicity's brows pinched in alarm. "Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

"No. I need to see what caused the national emergency."

Felicity clutched her phone that was sitting on her lap. She didn't dare turn it over and look, but it did vibrate earlier. Looks like a national emergency was upon them. Soon it will turn into a global one.

She turned her eyes to the reporter on screen with no hair out of place. Her bob swished with every delicate move she made with her head. But the eyes of the reporter were verging on crazed.

Washington Lisette News:

Reporter: As you can see, the situation has progressed to an emergency five. We are still investigating the cause, but we ask all citizens to remain calm. The patch that has opened up in the ocean has revealed odd creatures coming out of the black crevasse. We have discovered their physical attributes, but they will not be released in the media. There are many present beings seen by our thermal cameras stationed over the Pacific Ocean. We ask all citizens to remain cautious.

Harsh voices were being voiced by all students, and Mrs. Hansen tried calming them all. Isla laid her head down on the desk, and Felicity made eye contact with Lily behind her. Lily pointed to her phone, and Felicity shook her head.

Felicity was just trying to avoid seeing the messages blowing up over the media. Her phone buzzed again, and Felicity finally slid up on her phone screen.

Lily: The sky has turned a different color in California. It's pink and red over there.

Image loading…

Felicity swallowed the thick bile in her throat when the image was loaded on her phone. It was true.

The Pacific Ocean now had a light pink background, but further up north in Alaska, the sky was red. Birds were flying in a red sky. Could they tell? Felicity closed her eyes for a moment. Was the world finally ending?

Many people would think that there are many years before the sun exploded or the Earth finally had its fill of greenhouse gases and succumb to global warming or even World War III. No one would think that the world would end now due to unknown creatures. It seemed too early for doomsday to come. But it was happening.

"Why aren't they showing us the photos?" Payton, one of the chatterboxes in the class, cried out.

"Are they trying to hide something?"

"The government don't even know what they are doing. They're just trying to cover it up," Kayla said.

A loud slap of a ruler in the front brought Felicity out of her daze. She sat ramrod straight in her seat and nudged Isla's foot so that she could do the same. Isla pulled herself out of her slump and sighed.

Felicity was surprised that the wooden ruler didn't snap. Mrs. Hansen ran a wild hand through her hair. Some of the brown hair came out from the fingers and fell. Felicity felt shivers climb down her spine, and by the looks of it, Mrs. Hansen had massive news to tell.

"Class. The government has provided a large new force that has been hidden from the public until now," Mrs. Hansen laughed, humorlessly. "They have implemented a new program that all students above sixteen are going to have to sign up for. I have some information on it."

Walking over to her desk, she pulled up the email that she received from the school principal. Felicity scanned the words on the screen and covered her mouth in horror.

Protests were voiced, and Camden stood up from his seat. "Can I refuse to do it? I don't want to be shipped off to the west coast to be trained to fight some monsters."

"Everyone has to take the test. But it doesn't guarantee that you are going to be chosen. It is also a privilege, so remember that and think twice about your words," Mrs. Hansen chided.

"Why are only children being drafted? Why not adults?" Lily asked.

"I don't have all the answers. Sorry to disappoint," Mrs. Hansen said.

"Can we just intentionally fail then?" Camden asked.

Mrs. Hansen crossed her arms and adamantly shook her head. "The choice is up to you. But I advise you to do your best. The rewards for being admitted into their new forces are large.

"The test is being put forth today. Students are going to be called in alphabetical order regardless of grade. I have been instructed not to tell students until the state of emergency is at level five. I hope you all do your best."

Felicity's breaths were coming out shallowly—her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest. Mrs. Hansen's voice was getting zoned out, but she was able to get the gist. Three tests made up the admittance test which was all either pass or fail. There is going to be another email from the principal is going to be sent with all the information written out.

The three tests for each individual will be in a randomized order. There is a psychological test. Secondly, there is a physical test that deals with muscular strength and endurance. Lastly, a morality test.

Her hand ran down her glossy, long black hair, Felicity tried to gather her thoughts. The rewards for passing were far too good to throw the test down the drain. Full-ride scholarships and cash are just a small reward out of the bunch.

She turned her head and made eye contact with Isla. The look in Isla's cornflower blue eyes changed when she saw what could come out of the dreadful test that could be a life sentence.

The speaker abruptly came on at the moment, the spark of the sound system coming on startling people.

The principal, Mr. Madison cleared his voice once. "Good morning, cardinals." He paused as though hesitating but continued after the pause left a weighty impression. "I assume you have all heard from your teachers about the new testing period that will take place. Students will be called down alphabetically. Please head down to the courtyard to be examined. Follow the guards, and they will take you to the testing facilities. What the personnel tells you during your testing session is confidential. Consequences are still being decided for those who need to be reprimanded. Those with surnames starting with A-Cl please come down to the courtyard. I repeat to the courtyard. Class may now resume."

Mrs. Hansen went back over to her desk, sliding open a drawer. She took out three cards. They were so thin they looked translucent, but Felicity could see an I.D. picture printed on the face of the card. Mrs. Hansen walked forward to the desk closest to the front and placed it down on the girl's desk.

Quinn looked up from her homework spread out haphazardly across the black desk, and a frown pulled down on her lips from being disturbed. Mrs. Hansen didn't say anything, as she continued her way around the room.

The slim card slid across River's desk, and River let the feet of his chair touch the ground. His normally playful demeanor was crossed with uncertainty for once. Mrs. Hansen twirled the last card

in her hand and stopped before Felicity. Felicity felt sweat drip down her neck, and she gave her teacher a small smile. Isla squeezed her knee, and Felicity felt her stomach drop when Mrs. Hansen crispy set the card on her desk.

"You three may leave. Please bring all your belongings with you," Mrs. Hansen said.

Felicity grabbed her backpack on the ground and slid it over her shoulder. She turned to glance over her shoulder once, and Lily was sending her luck through the worry in her eyes. Isla sent her a thumbs up, and Felicity couldn't help internally snorting.

Quinn was already at the door, grabbing all her items that were strewn on the desk at record speed. Her dark eyes met Felicity's, and Felicity silently sent her encouragement. Luckily, she and Quinn were on good terms. Quinn wasn't exactly hostile, but she comes off that way to some people. River on the hand was another matter. He was a mess, but at least made it up to the front in one piece, and the three briefly paused at the doorway.

"I wish you all good luck. Be safe," Mrs. Hansen said.

Felicity nodded and tried to control her trembling hands. Quinn took Felicity's hand in hers and squeezed. Felicity looped an arm around River's, and they took off to the courtyard that was located in the center of the school building.