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.
I am approaching closer.
Oh God.
I try to keep my weight on the front of the boat.
I don’t know what else to do.
I am now approaching the steepest part of the waterfall, so I close my mouth tightly to avoid any liquid entering in.
At the edge of the water, I fold my lips tightly again and…
Splash! The boat plunges over the fall and lands in the lake below.
The water splashes around my face, but thanks to my mask, only a few drops enter my mouth.
I spit it out instantly, ripping the mask off, terrified of swallowing Conzamine.
A few droplets are still in my mouth, but I can’t touch my tongue with my Conzamine-filled hands, so I just keep spitting, but I don’t have time to waste.
I look around, scanning the premises, shocked to now discover that the water around me wasn’t big at all. Of course…
I take a deep breath and look ahead. Right in front of me are several rocks, so I jump off the boat and onto one of the rocks, then begin to make my way through the rockpile. I sprint, knowing I don’t have much time left.
Levon’s life is in my hands.
“I can do this. I can do this. I can do this,” I repeat to myself as I reach dry land.
I keep running, darting through the forest, moving through the trees… until a straight path appears ahead—just like the one on the map. I zoom through, splashing through the muddy ground… Then suddenly, I start to feel uncomfortable.
I notice myself sweating with each dash, my breathing becoming labored, so I come to a stop, panting, fighting for air.
I know it cannot just be the running making me sweat this much.
“Why is it so hot?” I look around, and that’s when I see it…
A volcano in front of me. I hold my gasp, knowing I can’t get close or I will be burnt to ashes. But what is the next step?
I look around for clues, darting my eyes around every corner to see if I notice any doors or similar things that I had encountered on the tests.
But no. Time is ticking!
I look at my wrist tosh to see I only have five minutes left.
I take a deep breath, trying to keep my focus, yet nothing. Suddenly, I notice movement next to me… or around me in the mud? I am not sure.
Then, it occurs to me.
Oh gosh.
That must be the crocodile that attacks when a person is still. I want to draw back from it, but I don’t know exactly where it is. I stay still, looking everywhere intently. I see bubbles in front of me. I know that has to be it.
Slowly, I reach for a sword, aiming it toward the crocodile.
Just as I do, the crocodile crashes forward, charging toward me.
Bloody beast. I strike hard and fast, repeatedly, but the blade glances off its scales, barely leaving a mark.
The final impact rattles my arms and sends mud erupting from the ground, jarring the sword from my grip and sending it spinning through the air.
Oh no!
I just lost a sword.
And it’s Levon’s.
My eyes dart to the right to see the crocodile resetting into the water, its eyes locking onto me.
I can’t lose another sword.
Picking up a rock from the ground, I try to aim for where I think its eyes would be. I continue to throw rocks at it. Yes! It’s retreating into the water.
I look toward the direction of its appearance to see a rock-like door. I sprint to the edge of the cave, trying to move the door away, but it’s too heavy. I wonder what kind of door this one is. It’s literally a rock. It couldn’t be one of those invisible doors, could it?
I bang my head toward it in a hurry.
Argh… the pain is excruciating. I wince, noticing the blood trickling down my forehead.
Overcome by a wave of dizziness, I slide my hands to my temple.
Then suddenly, the pain begins to sting even more.
Oh darn. I shouldn’t have done that, seeing as my hands are filled with Conzamine.
I wipe it off my hands by rubbing against my clothes.
Then, I tear a piece of material from my combat suit and tie it around my head to keep the blood from gushing.
I have a hard time concentrating because of the pain, but I have to keep going.
The hurt of losing Levon will be worse. I step back and look at the door again for a second.
But before I can figure it out, a heat wave flushes through me, and I realize what’s happening.
I turn back to see the volcanic lava rushing toward me.
Oh my goodness. I’m gonna die.
No. No. No.
I turn back to the door. I have to figure out the code quickly. Password, password, what could it be… I notice three dots and three rows of the dots. With shaky hands, I press on them and they light up.
Shantavia, don’t look back. Just focus, just focus!
The lava is surging. There has to be a password. It almost seems identical to the code in my math class. I rush to hack it a similar way, mixing nine numbers to add up to the same number, nine times.
Nothing.
I hammer the sword against the door again and again, desperation surging through me, but it refuses to yield.
“Open!” I cry, frantic for an escape.
“Oh God.” Sweat drenches me like a burning ocean. My skin is burning.