Dawn comes forth and with it comes the new day. A loud alarm rings throughout Zahn’s house, blaring ever louder with each passing second. The house is lit with the morning light. It’s a subtle orange glow filling the main living room. Zahn’s eyes slowly peel open as the alarm continues to ring out louder and louder.
“I really do not like mornings.” Zahn said while letting out a yawn.
He stands up and begins to stretch his arms up and proceeds to place his hands on his back and bend. The loud pop from his spine floods the room as his alarm continues to sound off.
“I get it, I get it. I’m awake!” he exclaims while reaching to turn off the siren.
He looks down at his hands and begins to check the rest of his body. He does not seem to feel any different than yesterday. Zahn walks to his kitchen for breakfast. He does not have much to select for a great breakfast. The house may be nice but it is still considered among the lowest class houses around. He lacks the money needed to afford a more luxurious lifestyle. Zahn works as an energy harvester just like the rest of the town’s people, and the pay they receive is far below what it should be.
“Hmm, toast it is!” Zahn says while opening his bread box.
He ponders to himself while he waits for the toaster to heat up the bread.
“Am I immortal? I don’t feel any different. Am I supposed to feel different? How does this even work?” he continues.
Suddenly a ring lets out from his toaster. He takes his toast and begins to eat. He has decided that it does not matter how he should feel. He believes that he will become an Immortal no matter what. He goes to the restroom after finishing his toast and finishes getting ready. This does not require much as he does not have much to change. He decides to wear the same clothes he has on since they are not ripped like his others. He walks out of his front door and is met by two men in suits.
“Oh! Uh, Can I help you?” Zahn asks.
“You must be Mr. Novix.” the man on the left replied.
Both men were tall and clean. Much cleaner than Zahn, which he took notice of immediately. The man on the left had the look of boredom on his face. His hair was well kept with a jet black color. His eyes were a cold gray and his face had stubble from where he last shaved. The man on the right seemed the exact opposite. He seemed younger in both looks and expression. The man’s hair was much more messy and natural with two colors showing through–blue and black. He had no sign of facial hair and his skin was much smoother.
“Mr. Novix, that is your name, correct?” the man on the left asked again.
“Oh, y-yes sir!” Zahn said nervously.
“Great! Please follow us to the car. We can explain more on the ride to New Proxon.” he said as both men began to walk back to the car.
Zahn looked around and saw everyone on their way to the mines staring at him. The look of bewilderment and fear across each of their faces. He began to feel intense fear and started to question if he should run away and hide from these men.
The man with blue and black hair suddenly interrupted, “It’s ,Zahn, right? Your first name? I can feel your fear. There is nothing to worry about, you are not in trouble.”
Zahn could barely answer, “Y-yes sir, h-how did yo-”. He stops as they begin to get into the car and the man replies again.
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“We are both Immortals. Each of us has a unique power or ability to some degree. Some may have a similar one to another, but there is usually a difference. I can read emotions, or would it be more accurate to say I can feel them? Hmm, that’s a great question. I could feel the fear coming from you. It was strong, thick, and dark. You were thinking about running weren’t you? I don’t really blame you. It is a very strange situation. Oh! I am so sorry! My name is Aiden.”, the man stops as the other man cuts into the conversation.
“My name is Lyam. As he said, which was a mouth full, you are not in trouble or anything. This is the standard procedure for when someone comes of age of becoming an Immortal. Not everyone awakens, but New Proxon keeps records of everyone’s birth dates and sends someone to come collect them on their 18th birthday to test them and see if they are awakened. Just sit back and relax and enjoy the ride.”, he looks over to Aiden with a sharp look of anger.
Aiden smiles and looks back at Zahn. “Haha! Sorry about him, he can be grumpy sometimes. He also doesn’t like it when I tell others about us being Immortals and our abilities. It’s unwise, he says. Just enjoy the ride as he said. I’ll let you take in the sights.”
Zahn begins looking out of the windows at the changing scenery as they continue to drive. The land shifts between the harsh desert landscape he is used to, to a beautiful and vibrant city gleaming with adventure.The buildings are far more advanced than anything he has ever seen. The car begins to change into a hovercraft as it starts flying through the air. Zahn’s eyes reflect the lights as he begins to feel joy, but also sadness. He wishes everyone back at home could see such beautiful lights. Aiden looks back to Zahn, watching him stare at the different wonders of New Proxon for the first time. He smiles and looks over to Lyam then straight ahead again.
The ride lasted only 1 hour total, but to Zahn it should have lasted more. They arrived at a building made of glass. Bright blue lights lining the corners of the building. A sign about the entrance read the words “Immortals Control Center”. The 3 of them left the vehicle and continued through the doorway of the towering building. They escorted Zahn into an elevator and waited to arrive on the correct floor.
“Zahn, you are going to experience a lot of new things here for the next couple of days. Don’t be afraid, ok?”, Aiden said to him as they arrived on the 80th floor of the building.
Zahn replied startled “Couple of days?!?”
“Mr. Novix, not everyone awakens right away, and there is no exact time on the 18th birthday that someone is awakened. There have also been cases where people awakened early, and some awakened much later. The standard protocol is to keep an individual for 48 hours and monitor them and test them to see if they are awakened.” Lyam responded.
The men gestured their goodbyes as the elevator closed. Zahn was confused. The room was large and open with a view that he had never seen before. He could see everything. Lights shining in the sky, cars flying by and billboards advertisements shining everywhere. Zahn began to look around the room and noticed quickly, this was not just a room. It was an entire house! He was standing in the living room, but he could see the kitchen and 3 other doors to his left. He walked to the first door and opened it to find a master bathroom. It was at least the size of his bedroom back at home. It was complete with a huge shower and even a bathtub. The next room he walked into was a bedroom. The bedroom was even larger than the bathroom. The bed was big enough to fit 4 of himself and still have room, he thought. The last door contained an office. The office had a desk and a chair. There was not much else in the office apart from that.
Zahn was startled once more when he heard a voice call out behind him while he was exploring.
“Mr. Novix, I hope this room is to your liking, sir!”, a woman dressed in similar attire as Aiden and Lyam called out.
“Uh, h-hi! I-I really don’t know what my liking would be. This is all so new and different than I am used to.”, he replied.
“I see. I do hope that it is very pleasing to you. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask. You can contact me by pressing the yellow button over there on the wall. My name is Ivy. I will be strictly your assistant for the next 48 hours.” she said with a soft smile.
Her voice was elegant. She had beautiful long light green hair. She stood in an elegant manner and walked with more grace than Zahn had ever seen.
“Thank you! I will keep that in mind. Is there anything to eat? I have to stay in this room for 48 hours so I think I will enjoy myself while I am here.”, Zahn said to the woman.
“Yes sir, your kitchen is fully stocked with all kinds of food and snacks that you may like; however, if you would prefer something more elegant we have a chef that can cook you something nice and have it delivered here to your room.”, Ivy replied with another soft smile.
“Yes, please. That sounds amazing!” Zahn responded eagerly.
The woman nodded her head with a slight bow, turned and left the room through the elevator. Zahn was in a state of peace and absolute bliss. He had never had an experience anywhere close to this before. He was being treated like he was the most important guest in the entire building. The thoughts of bliss slowly turned into worry as he started thinking further. What if he doesn’t awaken? Will they still treat him the same? Will they make him pay for everything here? The thoughts started flooding his head over and over and over. He stood up to try and clear his head and distract himself from the thoughts, but nothing was working.
Zahn looked down at his hands again, “Am I immortal? I still don’t feel different. What am I supposed to do?”
The hours passed as he waited in the room. He ate tons of great and delicious foods, watched a lot of cool shows and movies he had never seen or heard of before, and he even got to play a video game for the first time. He was loving his life right now, but the dark thoughts still remained in the back of his mind. He lost his eagerness and felt more and more fear and worry as night was beginning to set.
Ivy walked into his room as the light began to fade, “Mr. Novix, will there be anything else you ne-”. She pauses as she sees Zahn sleeping on the couch in the living room.
She smiles and places a blanket over him.
“Good luck, Mr. Novix.”, she whispers as she leaves his room for the night.