Maybe the red one would be better? No no, white is fine, it might look a bit more formal that way. Or maybe I should just go with the black? Black goes with everything.

I've never had trouble when it comes to getting dressed. My style usually consists of comfortable and casual clothes that I just threw on five minutes before heading to school. But today, I just can't decide what I want to wear. Initiation starts in six hours, four of which I will spending in Cassie's little banana car. She offered to drive us both, and I appreciated the gesture, seeing as my own car is still stuck at the repair shop after I had a friendly collision with a tree a few months back. But that means that I only have two hours to get ready, which would usually be more than enough time, but today is different, and I need all the time I can get.

So here I am, standing in front of my full-length mirror in my bunny pajamas, searching through the pile of clothes at my feet that had once been my entire closet.

I want to make a good impression on my first day, and wearing my usual baggy sweater and jeans just won't cut it. So, I choose a nice pair of fake leather pants and am currently debating whether I should wear the red blouse or the black one. After five minutes of just standing in front of the mirror I throw both shirts on the bed and head to my bathroom, deciding to choose which one I'm going to wear once I'm done in the shower. I take off my pajamas and step on to the cold tiled floor, letting the warm water run down my body in rivulets. Once I'm done, I dry off and put my hair into a towel turban, fishing through my drawers to find a brush.

One of the many inconveniences I find with curly hair is that you can't brush it unless it's wet. That is, unless you want to look like you just got zapped by lighting. I finish brushing out the tangles and look at myself in the mirror. My hair is a floppy mess and my hazel eyes are still red from sleep. Also, is that a pimple I see on my chin?

I sigh, "I hate mornings."

When I eventually emerge from the bathroom, feeling fresh and presentable after applying a little bit of makeup to give my face some color, I finally decide which shirt to wear. I end up choosing the black one, slipping it over my head, but not bothering to tuck it into my belt. I look at myself in the mirror, turning every which way until I'm satisfied with what I see. The outfit is simple enough, and the black shirt and pants really make my red hair stand out. Once I feel confident enough about my outfit, I head downstairs for some quick breakfast.

"Someone looks nice today," says mom from the couch, reading glasses on as she skims through her TekPad and takes small sips of her steaming cup of coffee.

"Who are we trying to impress? That boy from the other day? He was very cute."

"Mom," I laugh, "I'm not trying to impress anyone, especially not Kalen, I just wanted to look nice on my first day."

"Oh Kalen, that's a nice name."

"Mom stop it! It's just because I don't know what we're supposed to wear at the compound, and I thought cute but casual would be a safe bet."

Her smile seems to dip a little when she remembers where I'm going. I told her that I would be staying at the Elite compound while I was completing my training, but that I would come and visit her when they let us, probably during the holidays or our free days, if we had any. She took the news as well as could be expected. She teared up a bit, but told me that she understood and respected my decision, and proceeded to help me pack what little clothes and possessions I would take with me. She hugged me extra tight that night, her 'I love you' making something churn in my stomach.

This is the first time I'll be living away from home, and even though I'm excited, nerves still eat away at me when I think about what I'm about to do. It isn't like I wouldn't be leaving soon anyways, just one more year and I would be applying for university. I'd had it all planned out too. Where I was going to go, what I was going to study. Genetics, the secrets of our mutation, at MU. I had my future planned out, all of my ideas and dreams had been perfectly mapped out in front of me. But I try to shake them away and focus on the bright side, not the life I had been planning to live, instead getting to plan a new future for myself.

I practically inhale my bowl of cereal, downing my glass of orange juice in two seconds flat, and race up the stairs to make sure everything I needed is ready. Cassie will be here any minute and we need to get going ASAP if we don't want to be late to the opening ceremony. I take one last look around my room. At my bed with all my stuffed animals. At the posters of my favorite K-pop band hanging on the walls. At the map with pins pointing to all the places I wanted to visit when I was older. I'm really going to miss this place, and I let myself have a minute to remember everything I'd gone through to get here. Man, if the walls could talk. I walk over to my blue suitcase and make sure everything is ready to go.

Clothes? Check. Toiletries? Check. Dad's necklace? Clasped securely around my neck. Alright then, I am ready to go.

I roll my suitcase to the stairs and place it in our little mechanical elevator, asking SYLVIA to deliver it to the lobby so it would be waiting for me by the time Cassie arrives.

I make it the rest of the way down the stairs, and find mom still sitting in the same spot I left her in.

"Well," she says, getting up from the couch, "looks like you're all set."

She smiles, but I can see the sadness in the depths of her beautiful green eyes, and I know its going to be hard for her to watch me go.

She comes closer to me and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. It's the part of me she always says she loves the most, aside from my heart, because it's what reminds her of dad. We both share the same wild red curls, so different from her own straight black hair. Her eyes shine with pride, and for the first time I realize just how much I'm going to miss her. This woman who, despite everything she's been through, has done everything in her power to make sure I had everything I ever needed.

She places her hands on either side of my face, a gesture she used to do all the time when I was little and in need of comforting, and she brushes her thumbs across my skin in soothing circles.

"My beautiful, brave girl," she whispers.

I pull her in for a hug, wondering when I became taller than her, and squeeze her as hard as I can.

"I love you mom," I choke out, trying hard to maintain my composure.

"I love you too honey." She kisses my cheek when we finally pull apart, and looks at me for a second longer, as if she's burning my face into her memory so she doesn't forget a single detail.

"You are going to be wonderful, the best Elite out there," she says beaming. "Show those other trainees how Acero women are made of steel."

I laugh at the expression.

"Will do, Mom."

Just then I get a message from Cassie, who is already parked downstairs and waiting for me. "This is it," I tell myself, "I'm really doing this."

I give my mom one final hug goodbye and head out the door, looking over my shoulder as I shut it behind me. The last thing I see before the door closes is the light from the porch shining on my mom as she stands, alone, in the middle of our living room.

I make it to the lobby and pick up my bag, saying goodbye to SYLVIA.

"I'll miss you SYLVIA," I say, waiting to see if the AI will answer.

"It was a pleasure Miss Acero," she says, and I know that, in her own robotic way, she is telling me she will miss me too.

"Keep an eye on my mom for me, and call me if she ever needs anything."

"I will care for Misses Acero to the best of my abilities."

I smile and walk down to the parking lot, putting my bag in the back of Cassie's car. I hop into the passenger's side and greet my friend, who is practically bouncing in her seat.

"Hey girl, you ready to hit the road? We've got a long drive ahead of us."

I smile at her enthusiasm. Just yesterday she was insisting she would never train at the Elite compound even if they paid her, and now she seems more excited to go than I am.

"Let's go." I exclaim, and we speed out of the underground parking. I watch as my building gets smaller and smaller, eventually fading from view, and I say goodbye in my head one last time. Once it's completely out of sight I focus on the road in front of me, imagining what my new life at the compound will be like, as I let myself dream about what is to come.

I doze off for most of the ride, only waking up when I have to switch places with Cass to let her get some rest too. She was up just as early as I was, so it's only fair that she gets some shut eye as well.

My heart starts to speed up when I see the familiar building in the distance, the tall dark walls making it visible from afar. I shake Casssie to wake her up, and I laugh at her face when she sees the Pentagon up close.

"It's even cooler in person," she says with glee in her voice, straightening up her in seat.

"I mean, we're going to be living here. Remember what Mr. Roskovic said? It used to be one of the most important military headquarters in the entire country."

"Then I guess much hasn't changed," I say, as I park the car.

We grab our bags from the trunk, just a couple of suitcases, and head towards the entrance where we find a line of people waiting to head inside. They must be the new Elite trainees, like us, and I peek towards the front to find armed guards checking everyone's identification. The process is painstakingly slow, the guards ask all sorts of questions before letting anyone through, and it takes at least ten minutes per person.

"What do you think it will be like?" A girl in front of me whispers to her companion. The two of them can't be older than nine or ten.

"I don't know, but I bet it will be super cool!" says her friend.

I remember Kalen telling me that usually, people aren't allowed in the compound, so I was probably the only one here who actually got to see what it was like on the inside.

For some reason that makes me feel a little better. I'm a bit more prepared than most of the kids here. And as I scan the line, I find that children of all ages will form the new trainee group. I spot a boy that looks to be only seven, and a girl that seems to be around our age. I guess it doesn't matter how old we were, we will all start training this year. Maybe they separated us in groups inside of each year? Younger kids can't go through the same training that older kids do, it wouldn't be fair to them. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

When we finally reach the front of the line, an Elite stationed at the entrance stops us and asks us for our identification cards.

"Brianna Acero, 17 years old, born May 7th of 2202. You will be placed in Group 3. Follow the corridor to your left and wait with the rest of your age group."

Ah, so we are separated depending on our age. I guess all of us will be considered first years, but we won't undergo the same training.

The guard keeps reading my identification, reciting all the information from a slightly more advanced looking TekPad were he had me scan my card.

"Lastly," he says, looking me in the eye, "what is your Gift?"

I'm my heart has stopped beating.

"Ummm..."

What am I supposed to tell him? Christian was pretty clear on the "Don't tell anyone about your abilities without consulting with me first" I start to panic, they won't let me in if I don't answer all the questions. Cold sweat gathers at my neck, and it's getting hard to breathe. I'm about to make something up, but before I have a chance to say anything a familiar voice speaks up from the other side of the giant wall that separates us from the inside of the compound.

"That's classified information Anthony, but it's okay, you can let her through."

The guard grunts but does as he's told, letting me through and moving on to Cass, who watches me go with a worried expression.

"I'll wait for you," I tell her, which seems to calm her down a bit. She nods, and focuses on the guard in front of her.

When I get inside I find Jayson waiting for me, his usual charming smile making his whole face light up.

"Hi Bri," he greets me. "Christian told me you might have some trouble during the identification process. It seems I made it just in time."

I nod, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind my ear.

"You certainly did, thanks for that."

He shrugs, giving me an amused grin.

We both wait for Cassie as she answers the guards questions, moving off to the side so we aren't in anyone else's way. Jayson asks me how I'm feeling, and he pats me on the back when I tell him how nervous I'm am. My stomach hasn't stopped churning the entire car ride here.

"That's completely normal," he says, "I was so scared on my first day that I threw up all over Alexa's shoes. Not a pretty sight. And to this day people still love to remind me about it. It isn't something I think I will ever live down," he grimaces, but his story is just what I needed to shake away some of my own fear.

Before I can ask who Alexa is, Cassie comes through the door, mouth opened in shock once she's inside the giant room. Glass walls that seemed reflective on the outside turn out to be two-way mirrors that allow us to see everything happening on the other side, while the inside remains hidden from view. The ceiling, which stretches above us, is covered in circular lights, and a long front desk is placed at the far end of the entrance hall, with who must be the receptionists typing away at some high-tech computers. Jeez, they are about as big as my television back home. There are two corridors that split off from the room, and I see younger kids taking the one to the left, while we were instructed to go down the right.

"Wow," she breathes as she gets closer to us. "This may just be the entrance, but I am in awe."

She twirls around and lets her mouth fall open even more to get her point across, which makes Jayson laugh at her dramatics. He holds out his hand, and Cassie side glances me before shaking it.

"You must be Cassie," he says, letting go of her hand, his arm falling comfortably at his side. "I'm Jayson, fellow trainee and, hopefully, friend." Copying Cassie's earlier extravagance, he bends forward into a bow, making the both of us smile.

"Yep, that's me. But you can just call me Cass." She says, once Jayson has straightened.

He nods in acknowledgment, not questioning why she introduced herself with her nickname and not her real name. But I know, Cassie would rather die than introduce herself as 'Cassandra'. I think her name is pretty, but she hates it with every fiber of her being, which is why she always asks people to call her 'Cassie' or 'Cass'.

"Are you also going to be at the initiation?" she asks, and Jayson shakes his head apologetically.

"Nah, I already went through that my first year. Trainees that have already had initiation have the day off, until classes get assigned tomorrow morning. Basically, while you are working hard, we get to relax and do whatever we want."

He flashes us a wide grin, and I lift my eyebrow in mock annoyance.

So, we won't be seeing Kalen or Mara then. I try not to let my disappointment show. I had been looking forward to seeing them again. I really wanted to ask them how they knew about my Gift, when it seems like it's such a big secret to the rest of the compound. I mean, what qualified a bunch of teenagers to know something like that? I could ask Jayson, but I want to do it when all of us are together, so I decide to put it off until later. Maybe we will get lucky and see them in the afternoon once initiation is over.

"I'll take you guys to the training rooms, that's where your initiation is," he says, turning to follow a group of new trainees, stopping to look at us encouragingly when he sees we still haven't moved.

I take a deep breath and look at Cass, who has her jaw set in determination.

"Lead the way."