Page 7 of The Commons

“It must have misread me.” My voice flusters. “Like you said, there was a glitch.”

He looks at me as though doubting me. His whisper echoing in my ears. “Shantavia Lerogaski. There are no glitches in The Commons.”

My heart sinks. “But you just said—” I open my mouth to speak, confused.

Just as I do, he closes in. What the freak… I’m sure he is going to eliminate me now. If I ever had a chance, I’m sure that’s all gone now.

“You’ll do anything?” he whispers.

I nod. He signals, and the proctors approach me. Patron Lenon stares with eyes that look like blue thunder, narrowed like he has power that makes power itself hunger. The proctors grab my hands and shove me inside the cell. Oh gosh, has he disqualified me? Pesh flicks his finger like a rifle, and everyone leaves. I’m alone in this empty golden jail cell. My eyes close, defeated. And the test seems to proceed without me.

I wait in pitch darkness wondering what will happen as silence looms around me like an impending threat bound to unfold, crashing into me and smashing me to the floor. But. That’s not what happens. A creak sounds. Another creak, and a door opens. Steps follow, thumping to the floor in succinct strides, somewhat familiar but strangely spectral. I exhale, wondering what it is. I push my feet to move, and that’s when I realize—I can’t move. Not again! This is bad. This is very bad. I swallow my stinging spit, wondering what’s approaching. The figure covers the dim light nearby. Before my eyes can see, the shadow swallows me completely.

Is that a human?

It’s a human. I feel a hot finger part my hair, tracing down, almost scratching my skin. The hand grabs the side of my neck completely.

The hands are rough and strong and fiery hot. What on earth. Who is this? My feet try once again to move, but nothing. Yep. I’m stuck.

Oh gosh.

The breath lingers on my skin and that’s when I feel it. I exhale, petrified. It’s Patron Pesh.

His face goes down to my neck. And he almost takes a bite of my neck. I open my mouth to speak, or call out his name or something, but I don’t.

His fingers almost linger on my skirt, and I’m sure I’m imagining it, as he is barely even touching it with a finger. I try to draw back, but I can’t move. Crap. I remember this once again, and my legs are getting warmer by the second. Just act normal. He’s probably just examining me or something—I try to tell myself.

And just as I do, hands grab my waist.

“Hmh!” I shut my lips to stop myself from failing. I’m not even sure if I’m still in the test. But. I remember the rules. I’m not supposed to talk. I exhale. This can’t be that bad… right? Maybe he’s just testing my diaphragm or breathing or something… I don’t know.

Now, his hands slide behind me. I know I said I was willing to do anything, but perhaps I lied. I’m so scared right now.

I hear a clink, a metallic sound. My hands reach to discover that the added armor has been taken off me. See… Shantavia! No need to freak. All in my head. All in my head. Suddenly, he leaves, his feet thumping out.

The door opens, and I am thrown out of the plane by militant proctors, surging down the skies to my death. God Almighty… Splat. No. Not splat. I land on a foamy substance. Oh my… he didn’t want to kill me. Oh my. Thank God. But how did I do? I have no clue.

Panting, my head hits the foam. Oh my gosh. That was a close call. The Common Application waiver mentioned there would be a possibility of death on this selection. I thought it was a joke. Well, joke’s on me.

This is where I boarded this selection Common Application plane. I find my backpack still on the stall in the corner. I put my headphones into my ear and blast some vibey classical music to distract me from what I just experienced. I sprint out and ride my bike home as the rain drums wildly on me.

I arrive at my gate, walking to my front door. My eyes glance up to see a trail of gold dust flying across the sky. I notice a child rushing out, along with a flood of neighbors shouting and pointing to the sky, whispers trickling. The rain barely stopped. How are they already outside? I suppose I understand. I would look too if something like this happened. This is how The Commons instantly notifies us of their decision. I remember peeking in our previous house when they first came for Levon. The bird figure flaps its wings, surging toward my house. Something about the eye of the figure in the sky above looks like a lens. I know they must be watching my reaction, my every action. It’s most likely going to be a rejection anyway. I don’t have the time to feign a smile before it splashes gold dust right in front of my face, the pressure banging me back against the door to my surprise. Before I can catch my breath, my eyes open to see that it has disappeared.

Everyone stares in awe, cheering. Nothing like this has ever come to this neighborhood before. Behind my door, I see a golden box. I take a huge breath in before picking it up. I grab it and lock my doors, panting profusely. Chattering surrounds my house. I shut all the blinds and windows just as thunder strikes.

I take a moment to be still. Thankfully the rain begins again. I peek to see everyone running back into their houses.

I try to open the box, but I can’t! There is no opening. I try to think outside the box (no pun intended), so I run and grab a magnet from Levon’s room. I place it on the box’s surface until I hear a click. Voila!

I see the letter inside. I am nervous, but I rip it open. I look at the note.

Common.

Oh my God.

How in God’s green earth did I get in?

Oh my world. I made it.