Maria sat at her desk while waiting for the examination papers to be passed out. Normally, the exam would be done on tablet, but this exam was special. This was the second of the only two exams in your life that would actually amount to something. Compared to this, the other exams seemed like just simple exercises. Words cannot be used to describe how important this paper was.
The invigilator walked past Maria's desk and placed the paper down. As was the first, this was a general ability paper. When everyone in the room had the paper the invigilator said, "This paper consists of 67 printed pages and 157 questions, everyone please check that there are no errors." There was a momentary rustle of paper as everyone flipped through their paper. The invigilator continued, "If so, you have 150 minutes, the time is exactly 8.30, you may start...now!"
Maria stared at her paper blankly. She could not bring herself to write anything down. She still remembered her first exam at the age of eight. On the exact day of her eighth birthday, she was to proceed to the central command center to sit for the paper. She had barely passed the first paper, unlike a few others who were not as lucky.
The first test, many adults, or survivors, noted, was to test natural intellect. The second was to test potential. There was therefore quite a large gap in difficulty. Only around 60 percent pass the second test, they say. As soon as the first test was over Maria knew she would not be able to pass the second one.
She knew, of course, exactly what would happen if she fails. "Relived of further duties" was the good way to say it, "disposed of" was the truth. All who failed had two choices. They can either opt for euthanasia or to be sent "elsewhere", which would be the scary place "outside" the city, where all sorts of unimaginable monsters lurk. Only the specialists have ever made a trip to Elsewhere and came back alive.
She also knew that she was not choosing euthanasia like everyone else did. Even if Elsewhere was scary, she would take her chances. Out of curiosity and excitement. She planned on failing the test, because lately she realized, she hated life in the city. All the rules trapped her in a world without freedom, and she was looking forward to escape. Of course, there were other ways, like committing serious crimes, like what an aunt of hers did, but personally Maria felt it inelegant.
Her parents had, surprisingly, given her full support in doing what she wanted. They seemed, in fact, proud of her that she had her own ideas, not allowing her surroundings to constrict her.
As the bell rang to signify the end of the exam, Maria smiled. She would find a way to survive, Elsewhere. And perhaps one day create a new place, somewhere out there where nothing was trapped as such in the dome-like walls of the city.