Page 124 of The Commons

“300 years and a day, come back to me.”

CHAPTER 28

The Ultimate Test

I sprint through the double doors of the O Library and into the white hallway with white boxes of light sensors that appear chronologically. The alarms turn on, but I ignore them and keep running. I dart through the curvy corridors of the Biology Hallway and slide through the transparent, slippery floors of the Chemistry Hallway. I rush to the edge of the elevator, then press the middle dot on the wall beside the elevator with my finger for ten seconds, just like I read to do on the map Pesh showed me. I adjust the straps of the white combat suit which I now have on, securing both swords behind my back. The elevator opens a hidden door, and I rush down the slippery staircases. I open another door to see the forest.

The beginning of The Zariki Obstruct.

It was hidden under our noses this entire time.

I step out to see the starting point.

I am surrounded by a narrow path with two very tall, identical trees—greener than green itself. The rocks surround a river that is so clear blue, you can see stones dispersed at the bottom of the water. The path to the water is narrow, surrounded by beautiful greenery. It literally looks like paradise itself, but it is too perfect. Everything is calm and quiet.

I know there must be something lurking in the trees or in the waters waiting to attack. I observe silently, using all my senses. In the corner, I notice a different shade of green. I tilt my head to see a green chameleon, but it is hardly recognizable. Suddenly, it begins to hiss. I think to myself. Okay, a chameleon that hisses. But chameleons hiss when disturbed, and I’ve been silent, so maybe it’s probably hurt. But by what?

I look to the corner to see two green sticks pressing against the chameleon. I approach and realize they’re paddling sticks. I pick one up, then look around me, trying to find a boat, but there’s not one in sight. I use a paddle stick and begin to dig around me, thinking maybe it’s buried underground or something.

Wow, it is!—I find a brown boat buried underground. I uncover it, then propel it into the water and begin to paddle, fast.

I am completely lost.

I don’t know what could be next.

Something could be under the water.

Something could jump at me from the sky.

Even the boat could be made of a deadly poisonous material.

I lean over the side of the boat to see if there are any holes in it, but I see none. I continue paddling along the river, looking for another clue. What’s next? Just before I can think, I see a huge waterfall in front of me, but something about the blue color gives me an eerie feeling. To be on the safe side, I pull out a mask from my suit, securing it to my mouth. That’s when I realize—this river must be made of Conzamine. That explains the abnormally clear hue.

Oh God. Oh no.

Whatever I do, I can’t fall into the water.

If I fall into that waterfall, not only will I most likely die of drowning, but I will die of a drug overdose if the water gets into my mouth.

But I am approaching the waterfall! Crap!

I’m looking all around me to find my next clue. I start feeling scared, but I am still alert. I feel something move in the water. What is that? I don’t know what it is. I don’t know how to react. I think of the Cognitive Test. I had to match animals with my emotions, so I think… what animal would I match with being terrified and alert. I think dolphins maybe… I am not sure. It’s just my instincts, but before I can reconcile my thoughts, I feel my boat being propelled forward. I look underneath and notice the opposite of a dolphin—a shark.

A shark!

Terrified, I hold my scream and swallow my saliva.

I can’t die right now.

I have to do something.

Think, think, think, thin⁠—

The shark leaps to grab me. Oh no! I shuffle backwards and stand at the corner of my boat. My boat sways, and I almost fall into the water, but I manage to keep my balance. Flustered, I scan the water to see if the shark is still in sight. Suddenly, I see several sharks, about three fins sticking out of the water.

What the crap!

I don’t have to think about it. I know this is fake. It has to be. I must be in an illusion or something because all of the sharks are causing me to lose my balance so I can fall into this Conzamine-contaminated river and pass out. So, I simply sit down and continue rowing. I feel them all around me, but I choose to limit my peripheral vision and stare straight ahead. Using the tactics I learned in my Observation Tests, I choose to focus on one point alone—the waterfall. And making it down, without dying or falling in.