The Immaculate

Chapter 3

(Nick)

Early the next morning, a guard knocks on my door and gives me a Ceremony outfit as he calls it. Then, he brings me to this big building, along with other people my age. We walk in, and he tells us all to stand and not move in front of a stage surrounded by five sections.

Different types of people filled each section. The first section is wearing white and sitting solemnly. They looked like the leaders. The second pastel and they are looking around, but not curiously, more like analyzing their surroundings. The third black, and they are all over laughing and talking without care. Then, the fourth gray, sitting calmly and talking; quietly amongst themselves. The last section was wearing black and white. They look like a bunch of lawyers; some were even wearing suits.

Then, for some reason, I get the urge to turn around. When I do, I meet the eyes of a girl looking curiously at me. She is the first person I have seen here who does not; look like a fake doll. We lock eyes and stand there. Then, I see a woman come up behind her, they start talking, so I turn back around.

I wonder who she was. I see Dominic walk onto the stage and up to the microphone. He addresses everyone with a strong leading voice. In this light, I can see his eyes, and they are so many colors. However, the colors are so bland that they almost look void of life.

"Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Welcoming Day Ceremony!"

A cheer erupts from a section of people in all black.

"Thank you sector 3," he says, laughing, "I am pleased to welcome our new arrivals," he says, smiling. "First up, Gravein," a small girl walks up to the stage with a smile and waves. "Congratulations, welcome, to The Immaculate. Here are your lenses and you are assigned to sector 3 and your helper is Flavian." A tough-looking guy from the sector that is wearing mostly black walks up and leads her into their group.

What are the lenses? Do they like contact lenses? Why is it in the rules that we have to wear our lenses? Dominic repeats his little Welcoming the speech over and over, several times before calling my name.

"Nicolas, welcome, to The Immaculate. Here are your lenses and you are in sector 4 and your helper is Kateros." He smiles at me. I notice once again how fake he looks, and his eyes are so colorful, yet so void. Then, I see the girl from the crowd stand and walk up to me.

"Hi," she says, smiling, "I'm Kateros, welcome."

"Thank you," I say, not knowing what else to say to her.

"Follow me," she says, walking into one of the sections of people, this one dressed in plain clothes that look a little more like work clothes and less fancy.

The Ceremony continues, and I sit with her and her family, I am guessing. Dominic starts talking again, and I see that the line of people I was standing with has diminished. Once he stops talking, everyone starts to get up, by section. I guess The Ceremony is over.

Soon, Kateros and her family stand and start walking out. I follow them, not sure of what to do. I follow them out of the building and into the crisp afternoon air.

"We are going to our residence," Kateros says, under her breath, "to change and eat lunch then you will come with me to lessons."

She is walking so fast. I can not keep up. I touch her shoulder to slow her down, and I feel her wince under my hand. I quickly remove my hand from her shoulder and clear my throat.

"Ok, but they didn't give me any other clothes to change into."

"That's ok, I think you will fit in my brother's clothes." She says quickly.