Chapter Two

I can tell you the truth behind your parents' deaths.
They died. Isn't that all that matters? They're dead and they're not coming back. That's the harsh truth of life. If you're alive, you will be dead someday. It seems sometimes that it'll be in the distant future, but often quite close. Too close for you to imagine. What did happen to my parents? A murder? Drowning? Hanging? Electrocution? Maybe even suicide?
Stop that, I tell myself. It's no use. They're dead, and there's nothing you can do about it other than sulk.
The tears find me again. The officer must be used to it, because he doesn't comment. Five minutes pass - or is it ten? I'm not sure. Time seems to stretch like an elastic band, flying past in slow motion, yet so fast.
I can tell you the truth behind your parents' deaths.
I'm tempted. I really am. I sneak a look at Amy's face and I know that she's thinking the same. Seconds tick by in complete silence, and questions race across my mind. I'm want to ask, but I don't want to at the same time. More seconds tick by. Eventually I can't stand it anymore.
"Why?" is the first word to slip out of my mouth. Complete sentences follow; "Why are we chosen? What does this have to do with... the deaths? What is this academy for?"
"All of those questions will be answered if you decide to join," the man says patiently.
"And what if we don't?" Amy yells, rising from her chair. Startled, I glance at her. Dishevelled strands of hair hangs in front of her face, but through it I can see the familiar streaks of anger reddening her skin. "Do you have any idea what it's like knowing that there's some big secret right in front of your face? I've just lost my parents-" tears fall out of her eyes "-and while all I want is the damn truth!"
The stupid person's face remains blank, devoid of any emotion. Only one word comes out of his mouth. "Yes."
"Yes what?" I retort.
"Yes, I do know what it feels like to lose everyone you know, because the same thing happened to me." I blink, unable to process his words. "My parents are dead, too, you know, from the same cause that killed yours. But I chose to join the Council's plan, and I'm feeling a lot better than I would be if I had picked the different path."
His answer surprises me, and holds me back for a second. Amy's fingers find mine and I clutch onto them tightly to not lose the grip of reality. My mind tries to keep up with this. Surely... surely it can't be that bad... a position on the Council is a big honor, and is a good life guaranteed... maybe...
"And what happens if we don't agree?" I ask softly, squeezing Amy's hand, a sign for her to be quiet. "And if we do, will there be a chance to drop out?"
The man tilts his head. "The future is distant to us all. If you decide to take on a different path in life, then that's your decision to make. If you follow the Council, however, you can only stick with it or die." His gaze sweeps across the pristine kitchen, up the ceiling and eventually back into my eyes. "And as they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Rising from his seat, he starts towards the door. "I will be back later today to hear your decision. But remember... this is a chance of a lifetime. You'll never get another opportunity like this again."

Alone.
This is what I feel right now, but it's a new feeling. One I've never felt before. It's loneliness mixed with claustrophobia from the thoughts and emotions that surround me. I don't want them. I want to be alone, but I am. I want to have company, yet I do. The thing is, I don't want bunched up with my crazed thoughts, but if I think like that I'll be lonely anyways.
It's a complicated feeling I can only categorize under "alone" anyways.
I don't want to be thrown into the center of life-changing decisions. I don't want to tread the wrong path. Usually life is like a spiderweb, woven over with different strands that will somehow all come back together. But here, in my life, it branches into two parts. One will lead to the truth, but a possible misery. The other will lead to darkness, but a normal life.
A top-secret academy...
A place to train...
A place where truth will be given...
A place where I'm guaranteed to be with Amy...
A place where I might find home again.
But it's also a place that could be torture... a training school. Who knows how long I can last before dropping? Adolescents like me will be there, true, but...
"I say we do it."
I blink. Amy and I often share the same train of thought, but this time, hers seems to be veering down a different direction.
"I mean," she explains hastily, "Look. What other choice is there? Live on with life like a regular being, this offer hanging over your head? What if we get separated? What if we life goes downhill? I don't want to live out my life knowing that there's a secret... a secret this big... I think I'd die to know what it is!" Her voice is emotional and bursting with frustration by now. Swallowing, I think about what she had just said. Yes, secrets are a powerful weapon... they can tempt you and control you, like a hungry dog running after meat.
This is a rare occurrence, when Amy and I disagree. Then I remember that the things we used to argue over was about what homework we should start on first or who should get the last cookie. I realize that with my parents dead, there'll be plenty of things for us to fight over.
The precious balance in our lives is gone.
I miss them. I miss them so badly that it hurts. Had it not been for Amy, I think I might've killed myself by now. The sorrow, the emptiness, the loss of my parents has been harsh on me. I want them back again. I want my life back.
"I just want to be normal..." I whisper. "I want to be a regular fifteen-year-old worrying about the next assignment due at school, not how life will proceed from here. I don't want to stand out... I want to be... normal..." Tears spill out of my eyes again, and I'm grateful the Council man isn't here to witness it. Saltwater falls onto my clothes, the chair, the table. And before I know it, Amy has her arm wrapped around my neck, pulling me into a tight hug.
"I do too, you know," she whispers. "But sometimes life can't be normal. Face it, Aryn. No matter which way we go, we'll never be normal again. If we accept the invitation... at least we'll be together."
Together.
Sitting here with Amy, I don't want to let this moment go. By far, this is the most peaceful time I've had. Still wreaked over my parents, I don't want time to get too far ahead of me, or else I fear that my memories will abandon me utterly.
Tick, tick, tick...
Time is of the essence... I want to travel back in time and enjoy those last few minutes with my parents, but I know it's not possible. Amy is right. We can only trudge forwards and hope we get to where we're going.
"Alright," I agree reluctantly. I know that Amy's got a point. The best thing to do now is to stick together.
We sit like that until the doorbell rings again.

We are blindfolded the moment we stepped out of the house. Shoved around like a sack of potatoes. The rich leather of a car seat was soon felt beneath my fingers, and cloaked in darkness, I knew that I'd never have a chance to take another look at the familiar neighbourhood again.
The ride takes barely half an hour - that means we're halfway around the Citadel already. Providing if the driver didn't loop around to confuse us. You never know with the Council.
It's a fairly smooth ride. Of course, the architects made sure that the roads were as sturdy as possible. It'll be near impossible to cause even a fracture in the city wall, and cracked roads are unheard of. I pass time by using techniques my parents taught me: trying to see shapes and patterns with my eyes closed; repeating a word until it loses its meaning; trying not to think of elephants; seeing how long I can hold my breath. When an half hour has passed, the car finally stops. The blindfolds are removed. I open my eyes to a new sight.
At first, I think that I'm at the Citadel's boundary. The giant wall looms over me, hundreds of thousands of stones piled up one upon each other, the result of the world's final, laborious act to keep the human race alive. Strong cement keeps the rock and brick and metal together, and not a single crack is to be found. I know that the wall isn't just a flimsy thin border that surrounds our territory. It's taller than the legendary skyscrapers said to literally scrape the sky, and a few dozen meters thick. Foundations weld tightly into the ground to keep the wall standing. Using the technology the ancient people had, this wall could stand for a few million years.
For a moment I'm struck with awe; I've only been to the wall twice, both on school field trips. But we've never gone this close, only admired the construction from afar. Coming this close is forbidden. Only Council members do it, and even then some dare not to. The howl of the Fiends scares most people away.
The Fiends...
I blink. Something's not right.
I'm no longer standing on the smooth roads that were left behind for us. Instead, dust and sand swirls around me, settling on my clothes, my hair. Stunned, I look around me. Amy is still transfixed at the glorious wall, but I'm not. I can't help but gasp and realize that...
The Citadel is completely round. A circle. From this point of view, the wall should be curving inwards, towards us, encompassing us in its embrace as always. But no... it's turning outwards...only one logical explanation is available.
"We're... outside?"
No sooner has the conclusion reached me does the first Fiend appear at the horizon.