A burnt smell reached me, putrid and decayed. It was probably my fear, swallowing me in its empty void of uncertainty. It scared me, not only the oracles and their ability to decide your fate but of my fear for them. It made me question myself and my beliefs, something I almost never did.

The room was dark, its walls nothing but a shadow making the room seem bigger than it actually was. I could barely see the oracles themselves but I could imagine them, sitting in a U shape like dad had told they would be. My pulse raced as I tried to swallow my fear, my face as expressionless as I could keep it. I took a deep breath and entered, trying to forget the fact that my life rested in their hands. My happiness, my despair, even the simplicity that would be in my life depended on them. After all, they were considered gods.

"Adrian Black. Come forward."

The scratchy voice jarred me and a feeling of unease crept over me. My skin felt as if thousands of ants were crawling all over me, wanting nothing but to devour me. The voice was soft, eerie. I raised my chin in a show of confidence, something I had learnt from my mother. I took a deep breath and walked forward, my gaze staring straight at where I assumed they were sitting. A light flashed directly on me, leaving me blinking in surprise. As my eyes adjusted, their deep eerie voice said, "Adrian Black, son of Natalie and Derek Black."

I stood there, wondering if I had to acknowledge or do something. They just gazed at me, their silhouettes blurring into the darkness. "Yes" I mumbled finally. My senses were prickling, their intensity surprising me. My heart was racing and I could hear the blood pounding in my ears, a steady stream of panic that I was trying hard to hide. Everything I did now would affect their decision, I knew that much. They had to believe I was capable and trust worthy.

So, even though I was quaking in my boots and wanted to do nothing more than run away, I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders and smiling.

I needed to prove that I'm strong and confident. It had been my dream to become a Regulator from my university. I hadn't taken all of those extra classes and spent all of that time training for nothing. I wasn't about to let any of my efforts go to waste just because the Oracles thought I was a scaredy cat.

I didn't know what the oracles were doing. Maybe I was imagining it, but I could feel their gazes on me, their eyes observing every minute movement I made. The feeling of all eyes and the spotlight on me made my skin crawl, the feeling that I was being observed minutely making the hair on my arm stand up.

Shaking off the feeling, I told myself to stand strong, squaring my shoulders in a show of confidence.

"Law graduate?"

I wasn't expecting that eerie voice. I gulped; my throat dry.

"Yeah."

Before I could think anymore, the Oracles spoke. "Assigned to Administration-Regulatory division, level one."

I breathed a sigh of relief. I'd gotten into where I wanted. I had been worried about that, most people in Administration train for it their whole lives, but I hadn't wanted to go there until last year. I had studied and prepared myself for it as much as I could, but in the end the decision rested with the Oracles.

And they'd given me my dream. I smiled.

"Partnered to Stefanie Greyson."

"What?" I exclaimed.

My eyes widened. I'd just questioned the Oracles. I gasped; the sound very loud to my ears. They could—they could change my assignment. They could take away my dream because I'd just questioned them. Before they could do anything, I hastened to explain.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to question you. It's just that Stef can't be my partner."

Silence reigned in the room. The temperature seemed to drop, the air around me thickening. Chills crept over me, goosebumps rising on my arms.

"You dare deny our decision?"

If possible, the voice had now become even more sinister. I knew they were warning me. I didn't want to listen, this couldn't be true, Stef and I hated each other from the cores of our hearts. She couldn't be my Partner. This wasn't possible.

But I stopped myself from saying anything. I'd gotten into enough trouble over my temper, I didn't want it to ruin my dreams too.

"Sorry."

But now I wish I had questioned them. Maybe the truth would have come out sooner. Maybe I'd have met her sooner. Maybe everything would have worked out without all the bloodshed.

Maybe he wouldn't have died.

I'd just stood there, accepting it as they told me that Ava was my Adversary.