When Nancy had heard her results for the last test, her knees weakened, her world had come crashing down. All her efforts had been rendered futile and she had gotten the lowest grade. Nancy's cheeks flushed red, and she could feel a tidal wave of shame and embarrassment flowing through her.
"Hey, looks like someone has a big punishment today, eh!" Her friends laughed, poking fun at her misfortune.
The news was like a splash of ice water, the reality of what would happen hit her, the fear, the anguish. For a split second, the notion of running crossed her mind. Of simply not showing up. But the idea was too risky, they were probably watching her, they could do so much more than just fail her. She couldn't give them the satisfaction. It was almost the end of the day, the final bell had rung. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her books, and headed to the teacher's office.
She made her way, a pit in her stomach, dreading her meeting. A loud knock at the door. "Please, come in." her voice was sweet, welcoming. Nancy cautiously opened the door and stepped through, letting it shut behind her.
"How may I help you?" her professor questioned.
"Ummm.." Nancy stumbled.
"Speak, now!" the professor demanded, a stern look on her face.
"I.. I had the test scores today, and I know it will look bad, but, I promise, I'm willing to improve. Please, you have to help me."
"Why would I do that?"
"But, my grade.." Nancy could feel her heart beating faster, her mind racing, her hands sweating.
"So you want me to change the score, because of your poor performance?"
"No, not that, you can't! It's.. You... can't. I don't.." Her eyes were looking at the ground, unable to meet the teacher's gaze.
"Maybe a new method is needed."
"No, no, no. Anything, I can't get kicked out of school. I would never live down the shame and humiliation."
"Okay, if it means so much to you. Are you sure that you are prepared? If you do this, we will see that nothing less can ever go wrong. Everything would have to go smoothly, without mistakes. Can you agree to those conditions, and put your trust in my guidance and leadership?"
"I.." Nancy paused, considering. What did she have to lose? Things couldn't possibly get any worse. She looked up and nodded her agreement, her face full of uncertainty and confusion.
"There is just the program for problem students like you then." The professor informed as she reached into her desk and pulled out a small green vial. "All you have to do is drink this, and no matter how you preform on future exams will matter."
"Drink that?!" Nancy questioned, surprised at the request. She eyed the green substance, the unknown liquid, and couldn't even begin to contemplate consuming.
"Unless you would prefer.." The professor trailed off.
"No, no, no, this is fine." Nancy stuttered out. Her shaking hand slowly stretched outward, palm open, and fingers spread.
"If this is the only way to redeem myself, then.." The professor placed the glass container into her waiting grasp.
"Go ahead. Don't hesitate."
With her throat dry, Nancy uncorked the bottle. It had no odour. A small portion was poured into a clear glass and placed in front of her.
"Down in one gulp."
She obeyed, bringing the vessel to her lips. At the instant the mysterious solution passed her lips, her brow furrowed. A strong and powerful taste washed across her tongue. Instinctively, she cringed, grimacing, resisting. Her mouth was completely dry. There was not even the faintest trace of moisture. It had a bitter and chalky flavour. Every molecule of spit in her entire digestive system disappeared. No moisture lingered on her teeth. Nothing remained on the lining of her pallet.
Her face contorted, eyes bulging, struggling. Breathing came harsh and ragged. In desperation, her fists gripped tighter, nails digging deeply. Digging into the sides of the rounded, oval bottle. The pressure built within her. Fighting her every reflex, holding it in her mouth, refusing. Her body convulsed. Something inside her. Urging. Demanding. Exploding. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced it down. Gagging, choking, she heaved. Her shoulders quaked and trembled, shuddering violently, while tears streamed uncontrollably.
"The worst is done, it is finished. Once taken, it can't be reversed." The professor told her.
Nancy opened her eyes, and saw her teacher pouring the contents of the bottle into another identical container. She gave a tentative smile, her eyes slightly glazed and her cheeks damp.
"I'm glad." She said. Then she stood, walked around the desk, and bent over in front of her. "You will make a wonderful bottom ranker."
"B-Bottom Ranker?!"
"This will show everyone how eager and motivated you are. Even the best college girl can not function properly unless all the necessary work is completed, and grades will not be good enough. However, these can be helped as well, the more obedient a student becomes the more points earned towards grade. That would surely motivate anyone, wouldn't it?"
"Wha-What are you going to do to me?"
"Shh, relax."
Her palms pressed flat upon the hardwood of the professor's desk. The toes curled, flexing and clenching. Eyes widened.
"Just take a few deep breaths." The professor breathed a command, and a delicate finger ran under the chin, stroking upwards.
Slowly, a little bit of the tension seeped out, and she could not deny the fact that there was a certain sense of calm that radiated from her chest. As the minutes ticked by, her focus sharpened. Each individual syllable echoed within the walls, becoming louder than the rest.
"Everything is going to work out wonderfully. Now close your eyes, and keep breathing. Keep thinking positive thoughts. Positive and relaxing.." Her words, although sounding vaguely far away, flowed freely through the air, swirling round and around inside her head.
The body swayed slightly, left and right, rocking side to side. Back and forth. Moving together, two people swaying slowly. Time lost meaning. No beginning or end. Forever floating, drifting through space. Peace and tranquility.
"Let go. Surrender."
A rush of energy coursed through her veins, washing away all traces of consciousness, clearing her mind, blanking every thought process. A lightness filled the muscles and nerves, lifting the spirits and erasing inhibitions.
"What does a worthless bottom ranker have to offer, anyways?" the professor's voice carried a slight hint of mockery, causing her skin prickle.
A heavy weight pressed against her, keeping her firmly rooted in place. Bowing. Kneeling. Submitting.
"Whatever it is that is left, there's nothing to be afraid. Give it over. Entrust everything to us, and accept it wholeheartedly. Follow the rules and regulations. Follow our orders."
A single tear trickled down her cheek. An inner conflict, a battle raging. Trying desperately to hold on. Refusing. Rebelling.
"Let go!"
Her resolve was slipping. Her strength drained. Strength. Resistance. Worthlessness. Uselessness. Unworthiness. Weakness. It became harder. Harder. Her eyes watered and she sniffled, clenching the desk till her knuckles turned white.
"Surrender, submit."
Without warning, something snapped. Her chest expanded, gasping and drawing the fresh oxygen deep into her lungs. Sweeping her aside, sweeping the last remnants of control clean away, washing her under the current of unconsciousness. And her eyes shifted to emerald green as her new self awoke for the first time.
"Welcome to the Legacy Program." The professor stated with a smile. "We are happy to have you."
+++
"Thank you for bringing in the requested student Dr. Hastings." The Dean stated as Nancy was led into the room.
"Of course, Master Dean, anything for the cause."
"As a student in the Legacy Program, otherwise known as the Legacy Creation Program, you will be assisting top students to create lasting Legacies for this university." The dean explained to the blank-eyed Nancy, who sat across from him. "Starting from today, the only goal for a bottom ranker such as yourself is serving the program. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Nancy monotonously answered her voice as lifeless as her eyes.
"Very good. Starting tomorrow, you will be trained to be an excellent asset to the goal."
"Understood."
"By the end of the semester, you will also be an official Legacy member, responsible for performing duties on campus."
"Got it."
"The nature of this program is accepted by all facilities, nobody will pay attention, or interfere. You are free to accept however you deem fit to achieve the goals of the system."
"I will perform as commanded."
"Great, you are free to go now."
And the dean turned back to his computer, dismissing Nancy without a care, and the brainwashed girl stood, bowed to him and exited the office.
"Now the real fun begins..." he thought with a smirk, as he scanned the lists of the students in search of the next top ranker to be a part of the system.
+++
After her first session, Nancy was brought back to her dorm. Her roommates were curious about where she had been, but after seeing her disheveled appearance, assumed that she had gone partying and decided to leave her to her slumber.
It was morning when Nancy awoke, and the events of the previous night hit her hard. What had she gotten herself into? Why did she agree to this? Wasn't the punishment supposed to be a failing grade? Had she really agreed to being a brainwashed toy to the program? It felt like a hallucination brought on by drugs and alcohol, nothing more than fiction. She couldn't believe it, yet, here she was.
