The Immaculate

Chapter 2

(Eros)

It's another perfect day. Every day is perfect here in The Immaculate. But today is unique today is Welcoming Day; it is the only date we bring outsiders into The Immaculate. Welcoming Day is once every five years. The last one was when I was twelve. In The Immaculate, we are all equal. Each of our first names consists of seven letters, the number of completion; mine is Kateros.

We all adhere to similar agendas. We just have diverse assignments. We wear conventional colors, and no one stands out. Everything and everyone has a purpose. I have to remind myself of this daily. Otherwise, I will make too many inquiries rather than accepting everything as it is, perfect.

The Council Equates us for life together at twenty-one. The girls are Bound for Equation at seventeen, and the men at eighteen. We all receive our trades and sectors at seventeen. Our trade is our position in our sector. The Perspicacious split the Immaculate into five different sectors. Each sector has its distinct trades.

Sector 1. Are the Perspicacious. They are our leaders. The head of the Perspicacious is Dominic.

Sector 2. Are the Savants. The researchers, scientists, doctors, and teachers.

Sector 3. Are the Valiant. They are our guards and army.

Sector 4. The Artisans. The growers, farmers, and planters.

Sector 5. The Arbitrators. The lawyers, judges, and advisers.

It is almost 8, which means I need to hurry if I don't want to be late for breakfast. I cannot break another rule again, since the last time they gave me an admonition. At least, it was Zealion, my mother's brother, who is sweet and funny. However, I do not want to push it.

If you get seven admonitions, you receive a lower trade. If it gets too severe, you could become a menace or even a blemish. The Council is gracious, but only to a point. You do not want to become a menace or a blemish. A blemish is the lowest of the low.

Since I am not yet old enough for Binding, I can only receive admonitions. Seven severe admonitions, you become a menace. Being a menace means you are no longer equal. You are something like a criminal. Blemishes, however, are the lowest of the lows. They are outlaws. They are dangerous and violent.

You have to do something horrible to become a blemish. You do not want to become a blemish because they cast them out of The Immaculate, and they are not allowed to see their families again. Or ever return to the inner circle of our society. Blemishes lead to sad and lonely lives. Or, so I've heard.

I hear the warning bell, and it brings me out of my thoughts and back to the present. I need to go down now if I don't want to be late. I quickly put in my lenses and hurry down the stairs making sure not to run or make too much noise. I hear the familiar whir as I walk into the kitchen, alerting us that breakfast has arrived.

Today, breakfast is eggs with bacon bits, orange juice, and a piece of rye toast with jam. We are required to eat almost all of our food. If we send back too much food, they give you a double portion at your next meal, and you have to eat all of it. I sit down at the table with my older brother Dextion.

We have been best friends our whole lives, and we tell each other everything. He is not that much older than me. Not even a year. So, this year is our last together before we get assigned our trades and get our Binding Ceremonies.

"Are you excited for Welcoming day?" Dextion says with a smile, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, you know I am. I barely remember the last one."