Part 3

Hope you're not too bored with this, none of my stories have this much written so far so I'm pretty proud with how this one is coming along.

We all went back to the auditorium together, the other kids were excitedly discussing who they thought would be chosen. It was another hour before Miss Heiden, the woman who had addressed us before, came back to stand on the stage. She didn’t have to call us to attention we were breathlessly waiting already. I sat by Pat, and Miss Heiden spoke. “You have all preformed admirably, but we have chosen four of you for this mission. We would like each of you who I will call to follow Professor Mason to receive instruction. Collin Evens,”

everyone cheered for Collin, even though the tension was still there.

“No surprise,” said Pat.

“Drew Larson,” we applauded Drew as well.

“Again, the obvious choice.”

“Do you know her very well?” I asked,

“No one does really, she’s a keeper but also a student. Great with athletics and fighting. She’s also Mrs. Larson sister.” I wonder if Pat thought her relation to a teacher gave her preference and if she envied Drew. From what I’d seen, it was the greatest honor to get chosen for a mission.

Miss Heiden continued, “Sam Kidman.”

This announcement brought a few mutters along with the clapping. The little boy who had summoned me to the testing stood up almost ran to where professor Mason was standing.

“That’s unusual, he’s only in his second year,” said Pat thoughtfully.

“He must be really special, or really lucky.”

“Jessica Wilson,” students cheered again but I froze.

They had chosen me? Why? Didn’t they know how little experience I had? This had to be a mistake or a very bad joke. The dozen or so students that were there grew silent waiting for me to move.

Pat stared at me with shock “you haven’t even been here a week!”

I detected more then surprise in her voice.

“You haven’t been through half what we have!”

Her anger scared me more then the two words Miss Heiden had just spoken. Of course she made it worse by saying them again “Jessica Wilson?”

I stood shakily. There was no applause this time. Students were whispering worse then ever as I walked along the rows to the front where professor Mason showed me and Sam, who had stayed behind to see who his last comrade was, into a classroom off the hall. I turned around in time to see four students arguing with Miss Heiden. I had a feeling they were talking about me.
Drew and Collin were deep in conversation when Sam entered.

Collin looked up “Oh no, not Sammy the trouble causing pipsqueak” he groaned.

Sam drew himself up to his full height; witch was not very much,

“I’ll have you know that my full name is Samuel Nickolas Kidman,” he said “and I’m twelve years old, that’s a lot younger than most that would get to be tested.”

Professor Mason cleared his throat and Collin bit back a retort.

I was standing outside the door, a little behind professor Mason in the shadows. If the reaction from the rest of the students was anything to go by, I didn’t want Collin to know I had been chosen. I planed on speaking to the bored; turning down the mission all together if I had to.

“Professor,” I managed to say quietly.

 He looked down at me, “Jessica please join the rest of the team,” he said running his hands through his graying hair.

“I don’t have time to answer your questions right now.”

He walked away down the hall. Just then Miss Heiden came bustling down the hallway. “No Mr. Price that is my final decision. Julia please control yourself, there is no need to get emotional.”

She stopped at the doorway, “What are you waiting for miss Wilson?”

She took my arm with a firm grip and guided me through into the room.

“No wait there’s been a mistake, I don’t belong here,” I insisted but she waved her hand airily.

“Nonsense of course you do.”

Everyone in the room stared at me.

“Jess?” Collin looked quizzically at me.

I sat down in a chair at the very back, not looking at anyone. Miss Heiden stood in front of us. She was now wearing her high-healed shoes, raising her significantly short stature a bit.

“Well,” she said clasping her hands together.

“Well,” she said again.

“You all know why you are here and what lies ahead, well, maybe you don’t know what lies ahead but that is why I’m here. You will leave for your mission tomorrow morning so please get some sleep tonight.”

Like I would be able to sleep.

“We will give you each a bag of supplies with everything you may need. Please report to the base at ten tomorrow and we’ll explain about your mission.”

We stood and left the room. Collin came up behind me

“Why were you chosen?”

I had expected this question but didn’t have an answer. I shrugged,

“Jessie, you’re not ready for this. These missions are dangerous, you could die.” Something about his tone annoyed me, “Look I don’t know why I was chosen for this mission, why don’t you go and ask the bored.”

I didn’t mean to snap at him but he doubled back to talk with Drew.