I was starting to have second thoughts about being ready.

As soon as we walked into the building, we saw the entire town gathering there, from people not ready to let their children go just yet, to people to just wanted to be there on this big occasion. Since the town wasn't too big, everyone got together during special times. And, unfortunately for me, this was one of those times.

"Ann, Kayla, you two have to head up to the balcony." That was my father, appearing behind me. He came in front of us to wrap us in a hug, looking like he was about to cry. He was such a softie, it made me laugh sometimes.

"There's something I need to tell you about the Journey, something your mother didn't want be saying." He whispered next to our ears, leaning down a bit. "Beware of-"

"Darling, stop hogging the goodbyes." My mum berated teasingly. My dad immediately flinched away, plastering a smile on his face that was a big contrast to the grim tone he'd had before. Me and my sister exchanged confused looks, but our mum was already hugging us now and placing kisses on our heads as we tried to squirm away and our dad caged us in on the other side. Back to normal parent stuff, apparently.

"Stay safe, girls." Our mum smiled lovingly at us, making me wonder what she was keeping hidden behind that smile. What was it that she didn't want our dad to tell us?

"Come on, Kayla! Don't zone out again!" I blinked at Ann, confused, as she rolled her eyes. "We have to head up to the balcony for the mayor's speech."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me away as I waved half heartedly to our parents. Apparently she was much more excited about leaving than I was.

As soon as we were heading up the stairs and I couldn't see them anymore, the reality sunk in. I wouldn't be seeing them for months. Had I been a few years younger, I would have turned into a blubbering mess, but now that I was 13 years old and almost an adult, I had to put up an indifferent facade. Sure I was sad to be leaving them, but when I would come back from the Journey, they would treat me just like they treated everyone else. Hopefully they would buy me some candy too.

I stumbled a bit as we reached the top of the stairs, where about forty kids my age milled around. I knew about half (which seems a bit much for an introverted hermit) but Ann was immediately greeting everyone. Cliche popular girl stuff, not really for me.

I pushed my way over to the wall, stiffening when someone grabbed my arm. I relaxed as I saw a familiar face- One year older than me and looking almost cold if I hadn't seen her small smile and animated eyes.

"Kayla," She said, pulling me over to the railing and away from my isolated destination. "You're late!"

"I'm not late, Danielle. You're just early."

"Psh, at least you're here now. We have stuff to talk about!"

"What? Cats? The rules of life? Your newest crush?" I asked, trying to look involved in the conversation as I peered over the railing to the crowd of older people down below. I couldn't see my parents, but I saw the mayor walking up to the podium on the stage. I'd seen this part of the ceremony before- the mayor would give a quick speech, we'd watch the clip we watched every year that had been recorded by the founder of the Journey, a great creator. Then we'd finally leave to who knows where.

"No you dunderhead. I have no crush, and we already know the rules of life. Sometimes you really deserve a level 3 punishment." Danielle hissed quietly as the mayor started her speech.

"Hey, you know, now's a great time to not leave the town without killing someone. Preferably you."

"We're not gonna kill your sister instead?" I sighed at her whisper. For some reason, Danielle really hated Ann. She wouldn't explain, simply dishing out insults behind her back and complaining about her whenever she had the chance.

"No, we will not kill Ann. I'd rather my sister stayed alive for her Journey." Before I could say more, I heard the mayor in the background.

"I would start the recording if some people were actually listening." Ms. Meyer said, I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I fiddled with my fingers.

"Maybe I would listen if it were actually interesting." Danielle snapped. My eyes went wide with her comment, wondering if it was too late to rush down the stairs and go find the washroom. Looking past my fingers, though, I could see everyone's raised eyebrows and judging stares from below. Maybe it just a teensy bit too late.

Ms. Meyer decided to ignore Danielle's rudeness, most likely because of the fact that she was brain dead- No, I'm just joking, please don't kill me. In reality it was probably because we had a ceremony to get through.

The room went dark once everyone's attention had shifted away from the balcony. I cast a quick look to the side to see Danielle's moody expression. Some part of me wished I had backed her up with another witty comeback, while another part of me was glad to have not brought more It'attention to myself. Life was confusing.

"I had a dream, once upon a time, of a perfect world..." I drifted off at the first sentence of the recording. It was from the founder of the whole Journey concept, who was dead now. I can't exactly remember the year the Journey first started, but I was sure I had heard it somewhere. Or maybe it was in the video, which I should probably listen to, since the last time I had heard it was a year ago when my parents brought me and Ann to the ceremony to prepare us.

"It's a Journey to adulthood. A Journey to realization. A Journey... of exploration." Something that surprised me about the recording was how passionate he sounded. It gave me hope that the leaders were not in fact going to turn on us or something crazy like that.

"The Journey brings me hope that I can bring my dream to life. Good luck, and may your hearts guide you." Applause followed as the lights came back on, and glancing around I could see the determined faces of everyone up here on the balcony with me... Except Danielle.

"Elle?" I said confused, pushing away from the railing and through the crowd of kids. I muttered quite a few apologies as I reached the top of the stairs and still hadn't seen my best friend.

I rushed down the stairs, ignoring the weird looks I got as I left only a few minutes before we were due to start whatever mysterious thing was planned to put us in the simulation. I had better find her before then, ortherwise she was probably gonna draw more attention to me, since then I'd be late. Danielle caused just as many problems she was worth as a friend.

"Danielle, where are you?" I muttered as I scanned the entry hall. A woman stood by the double doors to the auditorium, and a teenager sat against the wall scribbling in a notebook. It looked like the kind of thing I'd be doing if I wasn't about to start my Journey and my best friend wasn't missing. More likely I'd be curled up in my bedroom, actually, refusing to come.

"Can I help you?" The woman by the door asked, eyebrows raised. I shook my head and rushed down the nearest hallway. I was to panicked to talk to people right now.

"Danielle?" I called into the washroom. No answer.

I ran to the end of the hallway, checking the few doors on the way but they all seemed to be locked. Storage rooms, maybe? Whatever they were, it was doubtful I was going to find her in there. She'd never lock herself in somewhere, it tied in with one of her rules- Always have an easy escape.

I reached the last room of the hallway and tried the door, surprised to finally find an unlocked one. Opening it slightly, I found a room that looked like just a regular office. Danielle's familiar blue streaked blonde hair could barely be seen from this angle, somewhere by the desk against one wall.

"Danielle?" I said gently, trying not to scare her. Unfortunately, it didn't work. She jumped to her feet, and it would have been comical how quickly she did it if she hadn't rushed to the door with a murderous look in her eyes. When she realized it was me, they widened in shock.

"Kayla! What are you doing here?"

"The Journey is starting in, like, a minute!"

Danielle swore, cramming the papers scattered across the desk into a stack of folders. "What is all that?" I questioned nervously.

"Possibly proof. But I can't bring it with me." She said bitterly as we rushed out the door.

"What's going on?" I demanded as we neared the stairs back to the balcony. I'd even stop running if it meant she'd tell me what she'd been doing. As cool as mysteries sounded, especially in books, they were particularly frustrating in real life.

Maybe she would have told me, maybe not, but I didn't get a chance to hear what she had to say. The doors to the auditorium had just opened, which meant the ceremony was over. It also meant we were late to start our Journey.

A bit of cursing and a flight of stairs later, we reached the now empty balcony. We went through the only door across the floor and rushed down the hallway which led to... A crowded and nearly silent room. How exciting.

Everyone turned to look at us as we entered. I felt my cheeks flush, especially when I saw my sister with eyebrows so high they looked like they were about to fly right off her face. This is why I didn't particularly like people and the whole socializing idea.

"Attention back here, please!" At the front of the room was a small stage, where there stood a peppy looking pair of young adults in lab coats. "Distraction is just another thing that could be a big mistake in the Journey."

"So far the Journey itself is the only thing that really seems like a mistake." I heard a boy nearby mutter. It made me wonder how much Danielle and I had missed.

"So, as I was saying before, the Journey is no joke." Said one of the two scientists on stage, adjusting his glasses.

"You'll need to work together to pass tests that you might not even be aware of. But you might not be working with each other. As part of the Journey, the simulation will place you at random throughout the world. So don't worry if it's not your old friends nearby, it's much more likely to be a new one." Said the girl scientist. "Now that that little speech is over, it's finally time for you guys to start your Journeys."

"Please form lines at one of the doors around the room after you say your goodbyes, because you will not be seeing these people again for a few months." The boy scientist said. I immediately rushed over to Ann, grabbing her arm.

"Where were you?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around me. "I was worried."

"It's not important. What's more important is that we might not be seeing each other for the next few months, if we don't end up together in the simulation or something." I replied nervously, looking down at my feet as I pulled away. How do you say bye to someone you've never really been apart from?

"Let's not make this all formal,I know it's more your thing to be childish." She teased, grinning.

"Fine. Love ya, idiot."

"Love you too." Ann said, backing away and shooting a glare at someone over my shoulder as she got into the nearest line. I turned to see Danielle, looking just the slightest bit lost. I linked my arm with hers and pulled her into a line with a few people.

"You ready?" She asked me, looking worried.

"Why does everyone keep asking that?" I sighed, shoving her away teasingly.

She giggled in response. "Can't I be concerned?" She said after a moment's pause.

"Nah. You're gonna make me feel guilty for not caring at all."

Danielle stayed silent after that, shooting me weird glances I couldn't read. Once we had reached the front of the line, she turned to me and pulled me into a hug.

"Good luck." She whispered, her lips nearly brushing against my ear and making me flinch slightly.

My lips quirked up slightly into a smile as I hugged her back before leaning away slightly. It almost made me laugh out loud how concerned she was. "And may your heart guide you."

A/N: Yayay it's actually starting! And I'm starting to ship Kayla and Danielle whoops that's not supposed to happen. Stay on track Moon!
Anyways I'm gonna go drink some fruit juice, byeeeeeeeeee!

=3