The room is pristine white, almost blindingly so.  There is a flickering   light on the ceiling and I focus on that, my eyes smarting.

Life form detected.  Scanning.

I startle at the sudden voice as a buzz travels from my feet to my head.

Impression, 50 percent positive, 50 percent negative.  Health, 25 percent positive, 75 percent negative.  Physical properties, 95 percent positive, 5 percent negative.  Power levels, 98 percent positive, 2 percent negative.  Overall score, 268/400 positive, 132/400 negative.

The voice quiets and I stand frozen.  Where did that voice come from? What was it?  Obviously not human—perhaps there was a dragon artifact?  No the building was to small for that.  Then—

Test concluded.  Please exit with your guide.

“Ah.  Alright then.”  I lean against a wall to wait.  The man comes after a few long minutes and gestures for me to follow him.  I end up in a small room, filled with chairs.  There are also children inside, all much younger then I am.  There are some adults supervising from the side.

“Wait here for your results.”  The man says in monotone, then leaves me there.

I stand around for a few seconds, unsure, then sit in an impossibly soft armchair.

I’m finally relaxed when I feel a sharp tug at my dress.  I look down, and a small, well-dressed, golden-haired little girl looks back.

”Are you lost?”  She asks.

“No.” I respond, slightly embarrassed at being compared to the dirty beggars in the fourth sector.

“Mommy says dirty people are lost.”

“Some of them are.”

“Your hair is so long.”  The girl pulls a fistful of knotted strands.

I wince.  “Please don’t do that.”

“Mommy says that dirty people have to do what Jilli wants.”  The girl tugs harder.  “Give me your hair.”

“Please stop pulling my hair.”  I try to loosen her grip.

“No!”  Jilli screeches.  “I want the hair!  Give me the hair!  Mine!”

A few of the supervising adults notice and rush over.  “Lady Jilli, is everything alright?”  They manage to calm her down and distract her.

One of the the older women shoots me a dirty look.

One day everything will be different.  

One day I’ll get back at them.