The Test 3

The lady in the stiletto heels led me through a hallway. The hallway was not very tall, and was more like a tunnel that didn't ever seem to come to an end. The lights implanted on the ceiling would flicker or dim every once and a while. The memorial was a place built in times considered ancient, so it made sense for the lights to behave this way.

As the hallway came to an unexpected but abrupt stop after many moments of continuous and bore some walking, there were three doors that looked back at me. They all looked the same, oak wood, like the front doors of the memorial, with a gleaming diamond handle that stole all the attention. The hinges creaked in a scary, rather loud way when the lady turned the knob and she pulled open the door. 

Beyond it was like a whole other universe.

Everything in there was glowed and was a dark blue of a color. In the middle of the room was a circular, raised platform. Digital sounds had filled the room.

This was the testing room.

"All you have to do is stand on the raised platform, then the test will begin. It will take about ten minutes." The woman said. She gave me a small wrapped candy, and said, "It's crucial you eat this before the test is taken."

I popped the candy in my mouth, stuffing the wrapper into the depths of my pocket. I cringed as I broke down the candy with my teeth. It tasted so strange, like boiled eggs with something else-something with an unpleasantly acrid taste. The sensation only lasted a second, as the candy melted away. I prevented myself from choking from the terrible bitter taste, gripping my throat.

"Yes, it is the worst part of the test," The woman said blankly, "Let me inform you-this test is made from the most advanced technology on Earth-it's rather fragile, so please-don't do any harm. Stand still while the test is running. Remember that the test is of the utmost importance. Show respect and remember to...."

As the woman continued with her monotonous speech, I scanned the room repetitively. It was anything but dull and unvaried. It was a smashing-and yet, rather unique-experience standing in the room. I spotted a camera turning it's lens to investigate the area.

"....And having said that," The woman said with a slightly obstreperous voice that made me give her instructions more consideration, "you may step onto the raised circular platform, as the test is yet to begin."

I nodded hastily and casually made my way to the raised platform. My heart rate increased steadily. I drew a deep breath and leisurely walked onto the platform. The sound of digital beeps and gears turning exploded in my ears in an undesirable way. Forcing my body to a still, permanent position, I let myself breathe again, now noticing that the air was getting horrendously tight, making it hard to breathe. The lights flickered off, and the system powered up. Lasers burst out, surrounding every inch of the room except for the platform, to ensure that I didn't run.

Blue lights shone fiercely. An anonymous sensation hit my head. Feeling rather hazy, I broke my position and clutched my head. A speckle of pain in my head grew to a headache, that increased to an indescribably unpleasing experience of  pain that grew somewhere in my head. I tore my hand away from my head, forcing myself to stay in one position.

"Test Launching-Success" The computers said robotically. The pain ended in the blink of an eye, delivering a last blast of headache before it swerved away. The shallowness of my breathing didn't cease to surprise me. 

"To proceed, please close your eyes." The computer said.

I shut my eyes. After a minute, I saw fading images. Celeste. Mother. President White. The images were repetitive. I saw my own self, standing in the raised platform, eyes forced to a shut.

My adrenaline almost took over me. I started to hyperventilate. 

Stay in position. Stay in position. I told myself.

More images. Celeste, saying goodbye. Father's grave. A woman, whom I have never seen before, chained in a dungeon. President white. Myself. I smelled something. Blood. Then, the image flickered. They stopped.

"Error. Error. Error number 100678." The phrase was repeated among all of the one thousand data processors.

"ERROR" Flashed in bright red letters all over the floor. Digital sounds became louder than ever before. 

"Unable to identify Subject. Proceed to exit. Caution: Caution..." The robotic voices echoed. I frantically looked around.

"System Failure. Proceed to Procedure 34325." 

"Failure to Identify error."

"Caution, proceed to exit."

"Error. Error. Error. Error. Error. Error."

"Subject to be removed."

"Failure to proceed."

The system came to a sudden stop. The lights dimmed out. The error messages stopped. My head spinned, and I collapsed to the floor, head hitting harshly on the floor.