Chapter Three: The Starting Line ((Part 1))

Zonic was almost clotheslined by a zone cop guard standing by the entrance.

"Halt! I need to see Identification and your Admission Ticket," he said sternly. Zonic got a little red and felt very awkward. He fumbled through his pockets. Then he haphazardly hands over his student ID and ticket to the officer. The officer revises it. Zonic stood there sheepishly. He still couldn't help but stare at the officer. It was the first time he saw one so close. He was in awe at his uniform and his equipment. The officer signs off on the ticket. Zonic quickly moved his gaze onto something else. Then the officer hands over his things.

"Alright proceed. Without running this time Zonic." He warned him. Zonic got a chill when he heard his name in such a tone. He was no stranger to getting in trouble.
"Y-Yes Sir," he mumbled. Then proceed down the hall still glancing back at the officer. Until he reaches the end of a long line. There the girl from before was at the end. Of course, he was still peeved from her name-calling. Zonic glared at her and then marched over. Then tapped her shoulder aggressively.

"Hey!" He growled. There were many words he'd wish to blurt out. The girl rolled her eyes and then gradually turned to face him.

She deeply sighed "look who caught up. How's it hanging Slowpoke?" She pokes him back.

Zonic rubbed his chest where she poked, "actually I'm the fastest thing alive." He rebutted. She burst out laughing. She holds her stomach as she laughed.

"Yeah? And I'm from a different planet walking among you." she snickered. He got a bit red still ticked.

" I am!" he stamps his foot down. Everyone around them looked at him and muttered to themselves. He got a hot red feeling with everyone's eyes on him. The girl calms down, satisfied with her laugh.

"If we're done here I want to review my flashcards while I wait." She pulls out notecards from her pocket. While dropping her ID and School information. Zonic noticed instinctively picked it up for her. She was annoying but he had manners.

"Here you drop this. Honestly, you shouldn't be careless with your things," he said holding out the documents.

She was a bit annoyed and snatched it," I was going to pick it up! You just got to it first!"

Zonic jerked. He didn't understand why she was being so offensive. Maybe it was a girl thing. He never really met a girl around his age.

"A thank you would have been nice," he muttered. He paused for a moment.
"Why do you hide your face? Do girls like to hide their faces?" being naively blunt as possible. She turned around in the notion of something else.

"H-how did you know I was a girl?!" She blushes a bit. "Tch, you saw didn't you?!" She was getting more ruffled.

He shook his head "I knew from the very beginning. It's pretty obvious." She got more red. She couldn't believe her ears. She pulled down her hood in defeat.

"If it's so obvious then there's no point in trying to hide my face..." she sighed. "I was trying to keep it a secret from the competition." As she pulled down her hoodie, her crimson side-swept bangs poofed up. She had a lovely, short, fluffy flipped hairstyle. Her blue lagoon eyes stimulated the sounds of waves. She easily was distinguishable as a möbian chipmunk. She sighed then blew on her bangs bothered that her plans failed. Then promptly extends her hand "I'm Zally... and you are?"

He gently shook her hand, "Zonic. I feel like I've heard your name before..." he tried to remember.

She lightly blushed then covered the side of her face looking away. She huffed saying, "does Princess Zally Zcorn ring a bell?"

Her name helped him recall his memory. Then he nodded, "yeah! I've seen you on TV with the Mayor of-"
She quickly hushed him covering his mouth. "Shut up. Everyone will hear you loudmouth. That stupid nickname is mega embarrassing..." she sighed, "Everyone talks about him as if he was a King."
She shakes her head, "but enough about me. What about your family?"

Zonic clenched his chest. That word played a sour chord of the somber absence of his Mom and Dad. As if his heart were a jigsaw puzzle missing two chunks. His whole being yearning for more. More than just a vague silhouette of the parents he always envisioned. He looked away. He didn't wish to speak of it further. Zally was a bit puzzled. It took a minute to register his silence.

"Oh... I see. You don't have to talk about it..." She rubs the back of her head. They were abruptly interrupted by a clearing of the throat.

"Excuse me! You both are next!" An older woman called out for them. They both looked at each other and then quickly fumbled to the front. They reached a table that was just two white foldable tables joined together. The kind of plastic tables that are common for any event. There were two older women operating at the desk. One at each table to efficiently move the line of students. They also had a couple of other volunteers behind them with clipboards and badges. Zally walks up to the one of the left who motions her over. The other lady called out to Zonic.

"Over here quickly," The demanding lady spoke while motioning. Zonic walks up to her slightly apprehensive. "Alright, can I see your paperwork and ID?" She glances up with a pair of reflective glasses. Zonic fumbles again through his pockets. Then lays out a document detailing his personal information and academic background along with his Student ID. She skims through the page quickly typing away at her computer.

"Is this your first time taking the test?" She asked not looking up. She chewed her gum without care.

"First time? Don't you only need one time?" He questioned.

She gave him a look that immediately made him feel like sinking to the floor. She kept typing ignoring his concern altogether. This time it felt very awkward just standing there. He looked around not daring to ask again.

"Okay, you are going to step to the side. Then walk through the double doors to the auditorium. There the volunteers will show you to your assigned seat." She points down the hallway, "follow the hallway. You can't miss it." She shoos him off.

Zonic frantically picks his scattered things and then moved aside to let the next person in line step forward. He walks to the left down the hallway. He slowed his pace a bit after he was out of sight. His mind was racing after what he heard. More than one? Does that mean other people have failed? There was a tap on his shoulder.

"You sure walk fast. Geez, you couldn't even wait up?" Zally smirked at him. Zonic smiles a bit. It was nice to have her around. "You look spooked. What's wrong?"

"That Lady" he started," she made it seem like it's common for to people fail. I don't know I just..." Zonic sighed a little stressed.

"Oh yeah! I heard it's impossible to retake it. I guess they ask so you don't waste their time." Zally shrugs "but I might be wrong..." She looks at him. "Um... are you okay?" Zonic completely got really worried. He only had one shot to prove himself? What if he's not good enough? His mind was racing more. They stopped at the double doors. Zally looks over at him.
"Hey... come on don't worry... we got this." She pats his shoulder. Zonic looked at her and then showed her a smile.

"Eh? I'm not that worried. This is going to be a piece of cake, " He chuckled. She rolled her eye and shoves him.

"Whatever slowpoke." She walks inside. He took a deep breath. Whatever comes his way he needs to overcome it. His parents were waiting for him on the other side.

He walks through into a huge auditorium. It was cold and bright. All the chairs had a small desk attached. There were many testers already waiting for the last couple of people. He makes his way to the base of the stage where he could see the volunteers. One of the volunteers waved at him.

"Welcome tester. Can I have your name?" She pulls out a clipboard. He nods

"My name is Zonic." He responds.

She crosses out his name, "okay your in row F on the left seat number 23." She points out the letters on staircase steps that lend up the rows. Zonic walks to his seat walking past the other volunteers guiding and supervising the testers. As he sat down he got a better look at the auditorium. The auditorium was in a cone shape with light blue accents from the high-tech running through it. The chairs were a dark gray color. The rows went up on a slant like in the movies. As he looked around admiring the architecture out of boredom, he locked eyes with someone in a different section altogether.

They had purple eyes and red spines tied up into a ponytail. They glared at him. Zonic quickly moves his glaze. The möbian wasn't the kind of species he'd ever seen before. Then the lights were dimmed at that moment and the stage in front of them lit up. As someone started making their way up to the microphone.

This was it. The moment when this new obstacle would reveal his chances of making it through.

OMG, I'm so sorry! The chapter was corrupt looking! It really hard to edit my chapters on my phone sorry! Anyways please R&R!