Chapter 1
Prosperous
My breaths were rapid. They were all that could be heard throughout the entire room. They echoed in the cold, emptiness that housed no one but myself. Did I do it? Did I finally pass the test? As I caught my breath, bended on one knee I wiped the sweat from my brow. Then I looked up to the window. Large enough for a classroom of twenty students to line up, look down on and oversee the entire room.
But there was only one man, standing in the single window. A tall and skinny man with snow white facial hair, and bald on top of his head. He wore a white overcoat that reached the floor, and black gloves. We made eye contact, and then he reached into his coat and pulled out an item that looked like a locket. He opened it, revealing a dial. He turned it, and within a second he had been transported from the window room to downstairs, in the room I am in. I got to my feet the second he had had appeared before me.
I still felt short of breath, but tried to hide that fact from him so I didn't appear weak.
"Well?" I spoke first. "How did I do?" I looked up to him eagerly.
He grinned and laid a gloved hand on my left shoulder. His eyes were tired, surrounded by aging wrinkles. "You passed."
My eyes had lit up. "Really? I- I passed." I didn't believe him.
He held up a stopwatch, his precious belonging that he kept chained to his belt. "Thirty five seconds." You have surpassed the required time to complete the mile. You truly do have a talent in speed." His tone had a slight hint of pride in it behind that matter of fact delivery.
"Did I earn it? Do I finally get a name?" I had been let down so many times in the past and as much as I wanted one I tried not to get my hopes up.
But he nods his head in affirmation. "And the perfect one for you, I have. You shall be called, 'Prosperous'. A fine name for someone with your talents."
I felt the excitement build up inside of me. "Thank you. Thank you so much sir!" I couldn't help but express my gratitude. But he remained calm.
"Prosperous. Soon, you will be allowed to go outside. And this information is vital for you to remember. A name is a very powerful thing. Make sure you don't give yours to anyone. You worked hard for this, and there are many out there that cannot be trusted. You must always act with caution. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." I nodded my head to show him that I understand his words. Even if I must give my name very particularly, I still couldn't wait to use it." I thanked the emaciated looking man, and I grabbed a sweat towel and exited the room.
