Orphan

Chapter 24 - The Selection

What did she mean? Why were we being split into groups? "This is how it's going to work, boys on the left and girls on the right. The trainers are going to point at you, and you move behind them. Any questions?"The children in the room split immediately. No one dared to ask questions."Owen, you may begin. One boy and one girl."Owen walked towards the boys; his eyes fixed on each one as he moved passed them. His head was tilting up and down. And then he stopped, right next to Dylan."You come with me."Dylan stepped out. He came first in the test and now he was also first to be picked. He followed Owen and walked towards the girls. Owen was getting closer. My heart started to beat faster. I wanted to join his team. He would be an excellent trainer. And if I could be as fit as him, maybe I would be strong enough one day to prevent these tests from happening again. One step.Two steps. He was right next to me now. I could smell him. His arms came up and pointed towards me. Was he really going to pick me?I stepped forward, but his finger stopped at the girl next to me — a tall blonde-haired girl with bright blue eyes. "Wonderful. I would have chosen the same. Now, Xie Li. It's your turn. And don't take to long. I don't have all day."She stepped forward and picked Caleb and a tall and fit teenage girl with dark hair tied up in a bun. She looked dead serious. Her dark black eyes sent chills down my body. "Tau"He didn't waste any time. He walked straight to a boy and a girl both with an African appearance. They were skinny, their bodies were covered in scars, and they looked like each other."Now to our rookie, Valerie.""Stop calling me that!"Valerie pointed at Zac, and then a girl named Ruby.The selection continued again and again until most of the children were picked. First, it was the tall ones. Next were the fit-looking ones. Then the average-looking ones. Each time they didn't pick me, I felt sad, maybe I wasn't meant to be with any off them. Or perhaps the trainers had heard of what I had done at the lake of dreams. There were only three kids that remained.Myself, Alex, and Augustus."You guys take one each."This was my last chance. My heart raced as Owen's hands moved towards us, was he going to pick me? His hand pointed towards me, was he going to choose me?"The chubby one.""I'll take the girl.""Glasses boy come here.""Good, now that we are all done. It's time. Follow your team leaders. We will discuss what's next."I followed Xie Li to the top left-hand corner of the room. When I turned back, the butlers were marching into the room like an army of soldiers, carrying tables and placing them down at the centre of the hall in a straight line. "What do you think they're doing?"It was Caleb, the boy I saved."I don't know.""No way! Are those weapons?"Thump, Thump, ThumpAs if on cue, the butlers dropped weapons onto the table one after another across the table. I had never seen so many weapons before. Some swords glistened under the light, with bodies that were broad and others that were thin. Large giant axes, small knives, long wooden poles, and spears with sharp tips. Each of them looking deadly as the one before. Easily able to end a life. There were even bows and arrows.I only knew what they were from the stories Maria used to read to me. The weapons used by villains to kidnap the princess, and the Prince always with his big sword and shield coming to save the princess. "Okay now that all the gifts are here, this is what is going to happen. Each of you will choose one item from the table. You can touch it, feel it, lift it, and see if this item is for you. Once you have chosen your weapon, return to your respective teams.""Why do we need weapons?" The African teenager asked."Well, your life might depend on it.""What do you mean?""Shut up! You will find out later. Owen, your team goes first, followed by Tau, then Valerie and finally Xie Li.""Bullshit! You always put my team last.""Do you have a problem?""Ni Ma De."Xie Li was fierce. I didn't understand what she said, but I was starting to like her. She stood up against Zoe."Dylan, go to the table and take whatever you like."Dylan moved forward and went straight to the middle of the table and pulled out two swords.It wasn't just any sword; the weapon Dylan had chosen looked divine. It had a very long black blade that stemmed out from the centre that looked like it could stab through anything. It looked light, and at the hilt of the sword had rings that wrapped around the user's hands.Dylan started swinging the blade, thrusting it back and forward. It looked deadly in his hands. "I will take both.""Sure.""Next"The African boy went forward, grabbing on to the most massive weapon of them all, a huge giant axe. It had a thick metallic shaft, and a gigantic metal blade on either end in the shape of a C. He raised his arm, lifting the giant axe in his hand, just what was he thinking, every nerve in my body was anticipating that something wasn't right. He wasn't going to...The axe fell like a rock, smashing into the table, splitting it in half."Hondo Like". He grumbled and moved back to his corner.This kid had just destroyed the table. But none of the teachers did anything they just watched and looked at it as if it was nothing. The sisters back at the orphanage would have told us off for sure.Next was Zac. He went across and had a look. He didn't lift or take any items from the table. Instead, he just looked and placed his hand over the different things that were interesting to him. Finally, he lifted something small, metallic in shape that he slipped on his fingers, he also grabbed onto a metal pole that was as tall as himself."Ah, the brass knuckles. My personal favourite."Looking at the table, I started to wonder which item would fit me?There were knives. Maybe I can have that one. It looked small and tints of pink and blue on the handle, it looked like a faerie sword, it would be perfect for me."Valerie""Yuki Go."A girl stepped up. I remembered her. She was the one that didn't seem amazed when she was standing next to Dylan after the run.She was skinny, dark-haired, still wearing a pink dress. She moved towards the table and lifted a pair of black swords.The kids were being called up one after another, in the same order that they had been picked. I was going to be the last one. I tried looking for a weapon that I could use, but as the process continued, my heart shattered again and again.The weapons I wanted kept getting chosen by the other children, and before I realised it, most of the weapons were gone. The only weapons that remained was a giant golden metal pole and a large sword."And lucky last. Our Saviour from last round. Evelyn."Zoe had a wicked smile. She said it such a way that she seemed to be mocking me. She was enjoying this. I moved towards the sword and tried to lift it, but it didn't budge. It was too heavy. I tried again, screaming as I tried to lift it, but it still wouldn't move. This was embarrassing. There were even kids that started laughing."You want the sword is it?"" I'd love to, but it's too heavy for me. I can't even lift it.""Try harder?"There was no way I could lift it. It felt like I was trying to lift a giant elephant. I could only turn and looked at the other item.The golden bar.Even if I could lift this, how was I going to be able to use it? It was like twice my height.Don't worry too much Evelyn, just give it a try I told myself, clenching my teeth, I wrapped my hands around the base and lifted it, it wasn't heavy at all, but the moment I lifted it, it flipped backwards, and as if I had lost balance the pole tipped and smashed into the floor."So, which one is it going to be sweetheart?""Neither...""Well, kid, you have to choose one.""There is really no point if I can't even hold it.""Quickly, you don't want all of us waiting for you now do you?Leaning on the table, I took a deep breath and sighed.One was too heavy, the other was long, I could use it, but I would need practice. I placed the pole back onto the table."Okay, I'll take the..."The Pole rolled to the left, picking up speed as it went.Clang!It disappeared. What? How did it drop? That's right. Before at the start, didn't the other kid hit the table?"What is it going to be Evelyn?""Wait!""I have been very patient with you already."I made a run to the see where it had fallen. There has to be another weapon! Something must have dropped when the kid hit this table. I am sure of it.As I got closer, I could feel my heart beating faster. Where are you? What treasures did you find me?"It's the pole then!""No""Why you little...""Could you help me lift this?"I pointed to the half-torn table on the right."You think I am your...""No seriously, I need your help. Come, help me lift the table.""TWERP!"Grabbing onto the table together, we lifted and pushed the table aside.Looking down I was hoping for something else, anything else, that would be smaller, then the metal sword or wooden pole.Nothing. I let out a sigh and looked towards the other half of the table...maybe... "Now what?""The other table.""You done fooling around yet? Pole or Sword?""Table!"This was my last chance. If there wasn't anything, then I was doomed."Come on!"There's got to be something here. Grabbing the table with Zoe's help, my heart pounded against my chest, come on! Yes!There on the floor was a long rope-like thing with a handle, two small knives, and some metallic stars. "I'll take them all!""What?"Quickly I grabbed them, the rope. It was slim, and it was smooth and most of all, it didn't feel like any rope I had felt before. It slithered and weaved through my hand as I pulled it up. There was a handle. This was the first time I had seen a grip on a rope before. Then there were the knives, they were black in colour, skinny, and very sharp. There was a handle on each of them, and the grip was good as I held them. Finally, there were 4-star shaped metal pieces, these were strange, they didn't look like weapons, but if it was on the table, then it should be a weapon right. Grabbing onto them, I quickly let go with a scream. They were sharp! Maybe it wasn't a good idea to grab these. "I'll take the rope and the knives. The star things are too scary.""You said you would take them all. There is no going back on it.""Fine. I will take the lot."Geez, there was something that Zoe didn't like about me. It seemed like everything I did or said was against what she wants. Maybe she does want to kill me. But this wasn't the time to judge. I just wanted to move away from the spotlight. "Can you please show me how to hold them? So, I don't cut myself?""Figure it out yourself!""Evelyn, I'll show you."This time it was my team leader that had stepped forward. Instead of being mean she moved towards the stars, she then slipped her finger underneath the stars and using the thumb tightened the grip and handed it to me."Now, you try."Copying her, I did the same action, and this time it didn't cut. She then passed me a small pouch and motioned for me to slip it in. I quickly did as I was told."Alright lads, and Gals. Each of you now has chosen your weapon. It's time for you to return to your bedrooms. Sleep well because tomorrow is going to be a busy day."