The Test

The voice echoed in my head for a while. I put my head on the desk, closed my eyes, and tried to get my breathing to calm down. I didn't realize the test started until I heard shwoooo sounds and clonk. Next to me was one sheet of paper with 3 question on it. Next to it was a pencil and an eraser. The pencil was a shiny, bright yellow. The eraser was a rich color of pink. The paper was as white as snow and clean.

I looked around, it wasn't blurry anymore, and I could see everything. There were desks and chairs everywhere. The desks were positioned into a semi-circle. In the middle was a desk at the bottom. Someone was standing around looking at it. He looked old and tired. Only two seats were empty, everyone didn't want to leave Earth.

Next to me, Alyssa already started. Scribbling away. I looked at my paper. Only three questions! Phew! I thought.

Question #1 What's your name? Write your full name.

So, I wrote Madison Lin (Maddie)

Question #2 What is your favorite color?

What? They're judging us because of our name and favorite color! I thought. I wrote down Gold on the paper, and looked down.

Question #3 Draw an object that represents you. Label.

That's not even a question! I rolled my eyes and drew a backpack, my first power bag. It was a medium-sized, lots of pockets, and places to put bottles or anything in. I labeled it Backpack with an arrow pointing from the word to the sketch.

I was about to raise my hand and say "I'm done!" when the paper vanished. I looked around and saw it on the desk in the middle. Magic? I thought, But that's impossible! Only our-

"Oh! You're done, too!" I turned to the side to see Alyssa, smiling from ear to ear. I noticed she had a necklace, a small bottle with a single blade of grass in it. Alyssa caught me staring at it. "It's to keep away bad magic."

I nodded. Oh no.. I thought. "You're done, nice." I said.

"Oh, yeah! Once we're done we go outside. Out the back." Alyssa looked nervous. I think I understood why. That's when we'll know if we get sent out or not.

I left immediately, I didn't want to talk to Alyssa, she was nice, but annoying. I walked down the stairs. What if my magic goes out of control. I thought. What if I hurt someone! I continued walking, I looked around to see a transparent door with the words OUTSIDE marked at the top of the door. I pushed open the door.

The grass made a crunch sound when I stepped on it. There, I saw about 10 people with a sign saying 17 around their necks.

"NAME!" someone shouted. I covered my ears. It started echoing in my head. I turned around and saw an old lady. She had brown hair that started to turn gray, a huge stack of papers in her hand, a whistle, and a pointer.

"Madison Lin." I muttered.

"AGE!" she shouted. I closed my eyes, breathed in and out, and opened my eyes.

"17."

She slammed a paper into my hand, blew into her whistle, and used the pointer to point where I was supposed to go. I looked at the paper. It said 17. Holes were hole-punched on the sides with string through the holes, making it so that you have to wear it around your neck.

I hung it around my neck and walked on over to the "17" area. Suddenly a piercing cry screeched.