Safe

Chapter 3 The Ceremony

I made my way to the Ceremony as quickly as possible, trying not to be late again. As I walked I waved and smiled at everyone I saw, because I am told to do so, so I can be safe.
  
Finally, I got to the Building. The huge wooden doors opened as I stepped on the entrance mat. I carried my reluctant body in and searched the crowd of people for my age group. I skipped to the chairs with 13 and year olds.
  
"Florida!" I heard a voice I immediately recognized as Georgia. I turned around and half smiled. "Hey." I said and walked over to where she was sitting. I sat by her and thought about how easy it t would be to be her. She was not different at all.
  
"Hey, maybe we can volunteer for the School this year. It would be cool to help out and take care of the new girls."
  
"I guess." I muttered. I wanted to be as far away as possible from little girls that have a future of loneliness and despair, but have no idea.
  
After 2 minutes of sitting in silence hearing Georgia chatter on and on about how excited she was to see the new residents, Texas' perky voice finally was heard over the loud speaker.
  
"Good morning ladies from Safe!" she said with a huge grin plastered on her face.
  
"Good morning Texas!" everyone around me yelled equally as perky.
  
"Well as you all know today is another Ceremony so please remember the Procedures like They educate us." she announced.
  
The Procedures. My favorite. It means we have to follow Their rules. Only in nicer words.

"Now! Please stand for our respect for Them and repeat after me." Or else you're Exited.
After the shuffling of chairs died down as everyone was on their feet, Texas began.
  
"They have protected us. They have created us. They have helped us. Now we are safe. We shall honor our Bow. And we shall honor Them. Because thanks to Them, we are safe."
  
After I finished mumbling these words we were all ordered to sit back down.
  
"Wonderful everyone! Wonderful! Now, please get ready to welcome with nice and loud applauses the newest members of Safe!" Also known as the newest members of being controlled and living in a dream.
A baby carriage rolled in the stage and stopped right next to Texas.
  
"First applause goes to..." she lifts up the baby and reads the name tag. "MARYLAND!" a roar comes from the crowd as Texas has Maryland in the air like that scene from Lion King when Rafhiki lifts up Simba.
  
When the cheering dies down, she lies down Maryland into the baby carriage and it rolls away on cue.
  
Then comes another carriage.
"TENNESSEE!!!". Another child's wasted life rolling away in a carriage.
  
"INDIANA!!!". Another one. I decided to close my eyes to try to stay calm.
  
"CALIFORNIA!!!"
  
Then a gasp of horror exploded from people around me.