11:40
I scratch my wrist, one of the last times I'll be able to touch this part of it. It's a strange thought, really. I've been waiting for this day my whole life, and now that it's here... I feel no different. I watch as the strange man walks away, approaching another young girl questioning, whether or not she should do this. I spot another one of my mates, Henry. "Hey Sammy, having second thoughts?" He asks, clearly he's able to read my face like a book. "Yeah, man, I'm just not sure... what if I don't make it back?" I reply, being brutally honest about my concerns. He responds, "Listen. There's plenty of books explaining this sort of stuff," he begins to recite from his memory, "The metal rod, similarly sized with a human thumb, can convert energy into a less dangerous form, keeping people safe." Henry stares at me, expecting me to respond to his nerdiness. "Nerd," I say to his face. He scoffs, laughing a bit as he does. "Go on, Sammy, you'll be up soon for the rod." I hear a loud noise over the speaker system in the hall, "SAMMY CURTIS, EXAMINER FOUR."
11:46
After strolling through the hall I arrive at a small set up with a small, seemingly middle aged woman sat down at a desk, and a chair sat across from her. "Are you Sammy Curtis?" She asks, I look at her for a second before responding, "Yeah, I am. That's me." I sit down on the seat across from her.
She picks up a small folder, before opening it and flicking through a few pages. She runs her free hand through her shoulder-length brunette hair. "So, your parents went to the New Plane, yes?" She asks, not even looking up from the paper in her hands. "Yeah, they did. My dad was in there for eleven years-" She cuts me off. "I don't need the info on that. Anyways, you look physically fit, am I right in saying that?" I begin to respond again, "I am, I work out pretty much daily-" She cuts me off again, "Keep it brief, Sammy. We're on a schedule. Now. Do you know what the New Plane is like, or do you need a brief?" I look at her, confused. "Nobody knows what it's like, though. You lose your memories coming back, don't you?" A small grin spreads across her face. "Looks like your parents got up to something they didn't want you asking about..." She pauses, licking her lips, "No. You don't lose your memories. Do you ever read books?" I look at the floor, feeling slightly dumb, "No, not really. I don't tend to read or anything." She looks into my eyes, "I can tell," She continues.
"The 'New Plane' is a place of mystery. I never went, as I was too old after the government introduced the mandatory checks. It is described as an endless desert, only stopping once every two days when the sand parts and the beasts break free to soak in the light of the solar flares. Oh yes, another point. Every two days, large beasts, easily capable of overpowering most people, lurk in the sandy dunes. They appear as on these days the largest star in the universe releases a solar flare. It just so happens that the planet that everyone is sent to is close enough to the sun that everyone not underground soaks up a disgusting amount of energy. It often kills, y'know. That's what the rod is for. It distributes the energy equally, stopping you from exploding." She stops after what seems like forever. "You get that?" She snaps her fingers in my face. "Hey! Listen up." I perk my head up, clearly I was dozing off a bit during her over-the-top speech. "Yeah, desert, solar flare, monstrous beasts." She looks at me sceptically, "You seem like a decent candidate. I'll sign your forum." She shoos me off, sending me to a large waiting area where I definitely stand out. At seventeen I stand at around 6'2", a fair bit taller than most boys in my year group here.
11:55
I hear a loud voice over the PA system, sending chills down my spine. "FIVE MINUTES UNTIL THE PASSING. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE SELECTED." I think back to the man in the suit. Why did he resist it? Fear of death? Not wanting to leave home? He came back fine, so why?