The Chosen

Sometimes being Chosen is not a good position to be in..

Gibberish: Exercise: “The Chosen Ones” Writing Exercise #1

Prompt: A world where a “chosen one” prophecy puts too much pressure on young children coming of age

Photo: https://www.pexels.com/@sz-katarzyna-18648589/

“Establish positions. Focus. Express desired intention.” Their contortions reflected a wide variety of concerns. “Ease up. Relax. Dismissed.” The eleven year old cadets had been working their way through a series of exercises to prepare them for the twelve year old Choices.

On December 31 every year all twelve year olds were given their new assignments: The Choices. This was where the newest recruits were chosen and placed in a variety of fields. Those chosen were of the highest quality. Those not chosen were the foot soldiers in the battles along the front. In the eyes of the elders they were expendable.

Dax looked over at Damien as they exited the gymnasium floor. “Excellent workout today. You are really kicking ass.”

Damien mumbled a “Thank you,” before he turned to other matters. “You appear to be the chosen one for this year,” he observed.

“Me?” questioned Dax. “I doubt it,” he scoffed. “I don’t have what it takes. The leadership part is weak as is the thinking on my feet, observing and planning. I think that Jolene has a chance.”

“Are you talking about me again?” asked Jolene with a touch of humor.

“Just mentioning how you are going to be the supreme leader, the most promising cadet and the one destined to be the Chosen One.”

“Don’t even joke about that. Did you hear what happened to last year's Chosen One?”

As they were in the open and heading back towards the dormitories it was a pretty safe environment. Being outdoors made it harder for discussions to be overheard. Jolene looked around carefully. Being the pragmatist that she was, she needed to be clear about who would not be hearing her talk.

“Really, you two need to be more careful about what you say. You never know who might hear you. Do you want to ruin your chances for success?”

“Yeah, Yeah,” replied Damien. “Tell us what happened to last year's Chosen One.” Dax looked on with interest all the while nodding his head.

“They had him pulled off duty and locked up. His decision making was terrible. There is a rumor that he cracked under the pressure.”

“No kidding,” Dax replied. “We are barely functioning most of the time.“

“The physical aspect just takes hard work,” Jolene replied. “The rest is how you observe it.”

“How do you score so high on all the non physical tests?” Damien inquired.

“We’ve had this discussion before. I don’t have any different answers.”

“I wish I had your brains,” Dax stated. “I was fine before they changed all the rules.”

“They had to change the rules,” hissed Jolene. “They now apply to everyone regardless of how much money your family has.”

“That is definitely an improvement,” replied Damien. “Before that we didn’t have a chance. That Barton McNulty was surging through because he spread all that money around. Where is he now?”

“The last I heard he was peeling potatoes,” replied Dax. “A real come down. Being as rich as rich can be and now, just a regular guy.”

“He’s headed for the warzone,” replied Jolene. “He doesn’t have two sticks to rub together despite having all those fancy degrees. In this new system everyone stands a chance at being the Chosen One.

“I know," stated Dax. “We’ve been subjected to every test known to man specifically, especially all those new tests they developed to sort us all out.”

“You will be fine. There are many upper echelon jobs for us to do.”

“But the Chosen one,”

“Forget being the chosen one. It is only one person.”

“But still the year after next we all get moved to better jobs. Doesn’t that worry you?“

“Nope. Everything will work out.”

They looked up as a shadow appeared above them. “You three are to come with me.” said their commander with an authoritative voice. They jumped to full alert. “Yes sir,” they said together as they watched him turn and march off towards the doors. They took a quick look at each other and then hustled to keep up. He led them to another building they had never been to before. Once inside they were directed to fall in line.

They looked at the man who stood parade ready. All three shook their heads “no,” at the implied question. They had no idea who he was.

As the last person filed in and joined the line he started. “The 10 of you are here because you are those being considered to be the Chosen One for this year. You have tested well in leadership, battle ready, physical ability, war games, and problem solving. All of your other tests have been off the charts.

Immediately a boy at the end of the line fainted. Before they could look around he was gone.

“The nine of you have one last test. There is a battle raging at the front. You are in charge of a platoon each. The person who demonstrates the most initiative, the most cunning, the most decisive in their functions will be considered for the Chosen one. Everyone has a chance. Now go win a battle. Dismissed.”

Everyone stood there stunned. They were going into battle?

“And so it begins,” said Jolene. With those final words the friends headed off to test their skills, against each other. War is hell but war against your friends takes it to a whole new level.