Okiedokie!!!
Nicodemus Pike sank back into the cushioned seat on the train as it raced over the track, speeding so fast that everything beyond the 18-year-old boy's window was nothing but a blur of barren landscape occasionally dotted with a half-dead tree or two. The motion made his stomach churn; he pressed a button on the wall that allowed an automatic shade to cover the window, blocking his view of the outside world.
He knew he hadn't been on board the train long, but it felt like an eternity. Of course it did, because he was dreading the destination: Territory Nine. How had he failed his Analysis so miserably? He'd been so certain he would make it– he'd been so sure–
He clenched his fists, squeezing his eyes shut. What did his family think of him? His friends? He'd never know; none of them had gotten scores as low as he did.
He knew he had to distract himself. He slowly opened his eyes, drawing in a breath. He glanced around the huge, well-decorated cab of the train. Everything was top-quality, clean and tidy. The passengers were supplied with their basic necessities for the time being, but Nico knew it wouldn't be this way long. Everyone always said that Territories Eight, Nine, and Ten were awful labor camps. Eating and drinking abundantly wouldn't be an option there.
Nico scanned the faces of the other passengers in his car; everyone in this cab would be headed to the same place he was, and he was curious to see whether or not they shared his level of misery.
It sucked.
It sucked bad.
Fenton Monroe sat on the second-to-front row of seats in the Territory Nine travel car, reminiscing over his failure. His shoes were propped on the back of the chair in front of him, probably smearing muddy shoe-prints over the back of it, but it really didn't matter. There were more pressing matters– like the fact that he– Fenton, one of the most intelligent people in his class back at the School– was headed to a shabby labor camp on the far end of the country.
It could've been worse; at least he wasn't going to Territory Ten, right?
He opened a bag of expired peanuts that he'd found underneath his seat and popped it open. He dug his fingers into the bag and began to devour the nuts. The damage of his failure had been done, and there was no going back. He might as well enjoy a snack.
Fenton peered over his shoulder at the rows of seats. There were several other people in the cab, all heading to the same place he was.
They were all headed to Territory Nine.