SOC 101 (SUBJECT 2)✓

14

- GETTING STARTED -

The Sisters rang the bell, and I watched as the girls ran out into the corridor before following suit. They bumped bodies with the boys as they met out the corridor and I saw the brief smiles they shared and the arm brushes. We walked into the garden and stood in straight lines, looking straight at the Sisters as they stood before us on the platform.

"I am Sister Margaret," Her voice rang, "That is Sister Cecilia and Sister Naomi." She introduced them.

"Even after years of making sure you maintain your purity, you decide to taint yourselves the instant you leave." The Sister's voice rang out and I could tell she was the oldest, "We're ashamed of every single one of you. You're all disappointments, not only to yourselves but also your parents and more, your districts."

I looked around, watching as the other children at the back spoke in hushed tones with a group of boys. Upon noticing my stare, one boy looked at me before quirking his brow, which made me turn away hurriedly. My face burned as I still felt someone's eyes on me. My mind barely allowed me to listen to the words of the sisters. The thought of the retreat being way worse than the outside world hadn't crossed my mind. How they were rubbing sides against each other was one thing I had seen when I was out there, I wondered if my mother thought coming here was going to help me.

"Pay attention, Theresa. You look far away." Delilah whispered into my ears, standing upright as soon as she did and staring boredly at her nails.

I listened just in time to hear the Sister say, "Those of you over there! Space out!"

I looked back along with a number of other children, we were curious. The boys simply smirked and shrugged at the sister innocently.

"We told them to go back to the line." One of them said loudly.

The girls looked at them like they had been betrayed and their lips quivered, "Y-you asked us to-"

"Don't lie!" The other boy suddenly yelled, "I came here to purify myself, stay away from me!"

Delilah chuckled to herself as she stared at the scene unfold, "They just got played and disgraced. The Sisters will watch them even more."

I looked at her, "Why is that?"

"The last thing you want to do is get the Sister's attention, once you do, you'll stay in their room every night. That also means you won't hang out with the rest of the group. It's pretty embarrassing." She explained to me quietly, "Considering the fact we came to the retreat for purification, the stubborn ones get fished out for special cleansing sessions."

I looked back as the girls hung their heads in shame and walked back to their places on the line. My eyes wandered back to the boys again only to see the one that had caught me staring, looking at me. I immediately turned away, the last thing I wanted was to be a target as well.

"Right now, you all head to the holy ground for your cleansing. There are small rooms there for you to undress and take off any undergarments you have on. You are to have the white dresses on, just that. The boys have their white trousers to put on, the same rule applies to you all, no undergarments." Sister Margaret voiced loudly.

"We expect you to be able to keep to the time schedules every day without us telling you what to do. 12 pm every day, you're all to go to holy ground for your cleansing." Sister Naomi said to us, her eyes scanning around.

"You may head to the rooms now to change to the white dresses." Sister Cecilia said, her voice softer than the others.

We immediately turned and started walking towards the small rooms. The boys parted towards theirs. Upon entering, the two girls broke into tears and started getting consoled by the others. I felt pity for them as I looked back, only to see Delilah in the nude without a care in the world. My face heated, and I looked away, still looking at my fingers.

Hot breaths on my neck had me freezing in my spot, "The Sisters aren't patient, if you aren't fully dressed when they call you, you have to step out naked."

I stared at Delilah in shock before my shaky hands gripped my dress and I took off my undergarments. The breeze touching my naked body had me shuddering involuntarily. I slipped on the white dress and looked at Delilah, noting her smile of approval. Only a handful of girls had gotten dressed. If I was to estimate, 13 of us had our white dresses on while some sluggishly wore theirs and the others remained with the two crying girls.

"Out!" The Sisters yelled and I followed Delilah as she rushed with a wide smile on her face. If anything, she looked like she enjoyed everything that was happening and I found myself smiling as well. If I had her with me, there was no way I could get in trouble.

"Where is everyone else?" Sister Margaret questioned, "Out!"

The girls walked out with scattered steps, some still in the dresses they had on before going in. The two crying girls were barely out of their blouse. I looked down, feeling embarrassed on their behalf as well.

"You couldn't even keep to time, I see," Sister Cecilia softly said, "Take off your clothes."

The girls looked at her incredulously and I noted Mary was also one of the 7 girls, her eyes were wide and she took the daring step forward, "We promise not to behave like this tomorrow, give us another chance Sisters."

Upon hearing her words, the Sisters chuckled and it was malicious in every bit, "No."

The girls stared at each other, wondering who would take their clothes off first. One of the girls that had been crying started, her hiccups getting as loud as her sobs as she took off her blouse and pulled down her skirt, her undergarments followed. She shyly rubbed her legs together, keeping her gaze on the ground and I looked up too, noticing how the boys stared lustfully in expectation. I was suddenly tempted to talk too, but I worried I'd be used as a scapegoat like the other girls.

When they were all naked, we asked to kneel in front of each tap. The taps had white-colored buckets in front of them and as soon as we opened the tap, the Sisters started chanting loudly. The water flowing from the tap was all I could look at as I listened to their chants. I looked to my side, slightly happy Delilah was still there beside me.

"Pour the water over your bodies," Sister Cecilia said.

At the same time, we all lifted our buckets and poured the cold water on ourselves from our heads down. The chanting stopped and we were instructed to open our eyes.

"This is the first day of your cleansing, may the Lord be with you." They said together with their hands clasped in front of them.

We clasped our hands as well before we echoed, "Amen."

"Go back to the rooms and change out of the white dresses. I trust that you all have your initials on your dresses, spread them on the lines before you go back to your rooms." Sister Naomi instructed before turning on her heels along with all the Sisters.

The boys kept their eyes on the naked girls as they hurried back into the room, and I recoiled. Delilah tapped my nose, "Stop looking at the boys, you get more chances to do so later. It's just day 1, sweetheart."

~

Try to vote and comment your thoughts guys. <3