CHAPTER 2

We finished our food and went to bed; Michael and I slept in my room while the twins stayed in the sitting area, watching television. Before long, morning arrived. Michael, being a light sleeper, was already up and gone by the time I woke. My mom told me that his brother had picked him up early to take him to their house in preparation for the procedure.

I dragged myself to the kitchen, made some eggs and bacon, and went back to eat in my room. My mom, however, wouldn’t stop pestering me about getting ready, making it impossible to enjoy my meal. Sighing, I gave up and went to shower—only to realize there was no hot water. Just my luck.

When I got out, I found my mom packing my suitcase, double-checking if I had everything I needed. Normally, this would have annoyed me, but since I was running late, I let it slide. In that moment, I realized just how much she did for us without ever getting a thank you. I kissed her on the cheek and asked her to check if the people from the procedure had arrived.

I was feeling very nervous. So much so i took another shower before stepping out of my room. When I opened the door, I found my dad waiting outside. He pulled me into a hug—longer than usual, almost painfully so.

I hugged my mom and the twins, waving them goodbye as my dad and I walked to the inner gate of District 7, where the Wave Rider was waiting. Some of the other candidates from the Regen’s House were already there. I spotted and greeted a few friends—Chance, Hector, and Diana.

My dad placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "Do your best, son. And remember, I love you."

I should have said it back.

We climbed into the Wave Rider—a compact car that felt even smaller when packed with twenty other candidates from various families. As we exited the outer gate of the Regen’s House, I glanced back at our home. A sudden realization hit me—this might be the longest time I would ever go without seeing my family.

“Do you miss them already?” Hector teased.

“No way, I’m glad to be on my own for a change,” I shot back.

After a while, we notice the outer gate of the Founders house and we all look out the window excited. For some, this was the first time they had left the Regen's house ever. I have of course seen it a few times because of Michael but I’m still awed at the magnificence of the founder's house. It was not the biggest of the four houses but it was by far the most magnificent. Decorated in gold and white, the inner gate stood massive—far grander than the outer one.

We were led into the Hall, the very place where the procedure would take place. This was the only time people from other houses were allowed inside.

The procedure determines whether you have the mutated gene which gives people their power sets. It is mandatory for all houses and children who turn 17 but ultimately it is a choice. If I am a mutant, I can choose to go into whichever house I want or even choose to give up my powers like my dad. I'm not sure about what to choose for myself and anyway just because my dad manifested powers it does not mean that I would as well. There are occasions when it skips a generation.

The Elite and Glade houses seem good to me.Unfortunately, the Founders' House was off-limits unless you were born into it. Michael, however, had the option to train in another house before returning, just like his brother had done a decade ago.

Then there was the Regen’s House—my house. If I wanted to stay, I’d have to forfeit my abilities permanently. They used power dampeners, either inserted into the spinal cord or worn as special bracelets, to suppress abilities temporarily.

Speaking of powers, my dad never told me what his ability was. Every time I asked, he brushed it off. You’ll know when the time is right, he always said.

The way it works is that we manifest powers from our family line, either mother or father. For example, if your family has a fire manipulation type, you would get a power similar to that.  The exception was first-generation mutants. My dad developed completely new abilities because he was the first in their line to get powers.  My mother told me that her parents had powers but she did not get any.

We were assigned our sleeping areas in the Hall, waiting for the next day's procedure. Before long, Michael came to pick me up. As I followed him, I felt some of the other candidates throwing me odd looks. I ignored them.

Michael’s house wasn’t far. Apparently, when someone was old enough, their family gave them a house just past the second gate, near a bakery called Sweet Haven. His room alone was bigger than our entire sitting and dining area combined.

We ate pizza, watched movies, and eventually fell asleep.

I woke up in the dead of night, my body drenched in sweat. My breath came fast and uneven. In my dream, I had seen my father leaving the room. I had followed him, calling out—only for him to turn around and clamp a hand over my mouth.

"Please be quiet, I don’t want to wake your mother. Just calm down, okay?"

Then, he had injected me with something—a yellow liquid. Fire spread through my veins, searing pain tearing through my body. My limbs felt heavy, my vision darkened.

Then—boom.

I gasped, jolting awake. My heart was pounding against my ribs.

I turned my head and saw Michael packing his stuff.

“You okay, dude?” he asked, glancing at me. “Want some water or something?”

I swallowed. “Probably some juice.”

Michael smirked. “You should shower, man. You smell terrible.”

After showering, I found Michael sipping tea in the dining area, his packed bags beside him.

“What do you want to eat? Just grab something from the fridge—it’s 10 a.m., and we’re going to be late.”

I wolfed down some bacon and pizza before it finally hit me—I was supposed to be with the other candidates! Cursing under my breath, I threw on the gray uniform my mom had folded for me went to them.

I arrived and found Hector and everyone standing by.

” Yo, we are waiting for you idiot, let’s go.” 

Before I could respond, a voice sneered, “Well, well, if it isn’t the best friend. Did you have fun with your little Founder buddy?”

I turned to see Oliver, glaring. “You think just because your friend is the Founder’s son, you can do whatever you want?”

Hector stepped in. “Back off, Oliver.”

In about 10 minutes we arrived at the entrance of the Hall and we saw other candidates from the other houses.  Michael was also there dressed in a white uniform with gold plaques on his chest. We suddenly hear a voice speaking. 

“Welcome everyone to the Founder's house, this is where the rest of your life is going to be decided. My name is Arlon Griffin and I will be overseeing the procedure this year. "

Arlon continued. "It’s a special procedure this year as we are celebrating 200 years since the Dome was constructed. On behalf of the founding families, I am delighted to give you access to the Founders house and hope you choose wisely.”

The speaker shuts off and the gates open up, followed by screams and shouts from the rest of the candidates. 

“Wasn’t that your brother,” I asked. 

“Yep.," he said smirking. "Let’s go in, I’ll be your tour guide today."

As we entered, guards in black jumpsuits with X logos on their backs directed us toward a building to the right. Michael explained that they were Taskforce X, the security force overseeing the procedure. They looked so cool with their leather jackets. apparently, they are some of the most powerful mutants.

We walked for a bit while Michael gave me a tour of the compound. “There is where we get all our produced food from,” Michael says pointing to a short building from the left. He continues.

“It is called Arcadia. Most of our vegetables are grown from plants found outside the Dome and engineered chemically to reproduce more. Meat was usually harvested by hunting animals outside. My brother says that once a month hunting groups are sent outside to search for potential meat and scan the toxic levels. Arcadia is mostly managed by the Elite and workers from the Regens house.” 

Those from the Elite house are concerned with making food and medicine, the Glades are in charge of security, the Regens provide manual labor in running the Dome while the Founders offer leadership and order. A well-oiled machine, each house has its leaders chosen by the founder's head.

We reached the building where the procedure takes place, it looked awesome there were some logos and flags by the entrance. From the entrance seats are arranged in a circular motion then they follow the same pattern across the room.

At the hall, we are organized in terms of the houses we belong in, in four rows each occupying one side of the hall. The Glades sit first closer to the exit, The Founders next to them then the Elite, and finally the Regens at the further side closer to the wall. When everyone was seated four people walked in from the entrance and went to sit in front of the podium. The podium is raised slightly from the rest of the seats and is covered in black, white, blue, and grey carpet with the colors alternating in order. The four people sit along each color and I notice one of them, Michael’s dad. 

That means they are the Four, I don't know why they are called that and each sits along the house they lead. I forgot to mention that each house has a specific color that is unique to them, the Glades wear black, the Founders white, blue for the Elite and the Regens don the grey. Arlon entered the podium and began.

"Today we are celebrating 200 years in the Dome and our 150th procedure, I take this opportunity to welcome our candidates with much enthusiasm and promise to ensure the smooth running of the procedure. Today as we mark a momentous day, I am proud to announce that a new procedure system will begin.”

The entire hall went silent and he continued. “Since it was conceived, we have used the same procedure system to determine the mutant gene. But this year thanks to our Elite scientists and engineers we are now able to evaluate the exact ability that one holds and then there is another thing that I will let Mrs. Dumont have the pleasure of announcing. Thank you and welcome Mrs. Dumont with warm applauses.”

Everyone claps and as a woman steps to the podium.