Our Generation

The Ceremony

As I neared the front of the line I heard a voice on a microphone that sounded like Rylin. But the only thing In front of me was a door almost identical to the one I came through.

At that moment a man burst through the door "next five", he whispered but it seemed to echo. I walked through the door with four others.

It was a small room with two doors one to the front and the other to the side. "Ahna" the man said "here" it came out more of a squeak but he understood he handed me a white dress on a hanger. "Hallie" he said he handed the girl a green dress that complimented her long red hair.

Then it hit me there giving us close that compliment us. My white dress looked good as it was the exact opposite of my dark brown almost black hair and big blue eyes.

"You can change in there" he pointed to the side door I walked in and saw the room was covered in mirrors exactly the size of a large walk in closet. I slip the dress on and look at it, it was strapless and had a thick ring of jewels pushed right under my chest it was incredibly light weight and almost see through it showed my legs and waist outline almost perfectly.

I folded up my old clothes and walked out "here" the man said motioning for me to hand him my clothes I passed them over and asked very quietly about shoes, " only red men wear shoes" he replied just as quiet I glanced at his feet seeing his thick black boots that lace up made my body go rigid.

I focused on my breathing and waited for the next kid to come out to distract myself, the red headed girl walked out and her dress was very different then mine her dress went a little past her knees and mine came to my mid thigh while my dress flowed out from under my chest hers went out from her waist. Hers was obviously heavy material and draped over her, mine flowed and rippled.

I was taken back to reality when the man said you first while adding a warning "behave or see what happens" his tone was menacing. An involuntary shiver ran through my spine as I nodded choking back tears. As I stepped out the breeze gave me goosebumps immediately. I was so glad to be outside and to take a deep breath of fresh air.

I saw a stage and Rylin held out her hand to me motioning for me to come forward, I took her hand and stood in front of the crowd. Standing up there I felt completely naked, my dress flowed back with the wind showing my legs my waist length wavy black hair whipped around my face.

"Let me see" Rylin said thinking "Ahna" she breathed the screen behind me lit up with a pictures of me, some from home, one of my panic attack ,my weight came up 109.9 lb. 5 foot 4 also appeared the only thing that didn't appear was my category. "Can you say your full name dear" I struggled to get the words out " Ahna Everly Leighton" I spluttered

I heard a chuckle from the crowd, I turned and my dress now flowed in front if me I met eye contact with a boy probably 17 or 18 who looked amused he seemed completely at ease. I felt adrenaline pump through my veins as I gave him a vicious glare .

Rylin made me repeat things like "I won't escape, I will love my new family, I'll be fruitful and give beautiful children to the Sireth, I won't hurt my family."

I was confused for a minute on the last one before I'd realized what she meant. She explained that every six months they take 700 children for each group and the audience was the children taken six months ago. Then Rylin handed me a certificate with name my cabin number and roommate. Great I can't wait to see who my new roommate is I seriously doubt we will get along with the mood I'm in right now. Those vows I made dont mean shit to me, I'm getting out of here as soon as I can.

She told me to go sit with the others and I noticed that this was way more than 700 so the groups were put together I thought they were going to announce those. After what felt like hours of watching kids go up on stage Rylin finally said " that is all the kids we have now its time for the marking part of the ceremony" "Jesse" she motioned for the same boy that laughed at me too come forward "my grandson" she explained proudly to the newcomers.

That explains why he looked so at ease, he had all the protection in the world. I was in the front row on the very left, Rylin told me to stand up. I stood up slowly not trusting my legs.Jesse grabbed on to my forearm to hold me steady " thanks" I whispered under my breath he had dirty blonde hair that was curly at the tips with dark brown eyes. Jesse asked Rylin which one motioning to 4 large metal stakes that were in a fire he didn't take his eyes off me.

"Guess" Rylin said expectantly, Jesse bit his lip and tilted his head to look me in the eyes my cheeks burned and my fist balled as anger courses through me as if he could figure me out by looking at me?! He raises his eyebrows at my reaction and turned to face his grandmother "AS" he replied good job Rylin praised as if he just cured cancer.

Jesse grabbed one end of the stake and told me to turn around he leaned in close so his stomach was pressed to my back he gently swept the hair away and placed it on one shoulder so my other shoulder was exposed my body stiffened and he could feel it he leaned in to my ear "relax" he breathed his lips grazing my ear a shiver ran up my spine as my back arched my head flew back on his shoulder a gasp escaped my mouth as I felt an excruciating pain I shrieked a high pitched a sound that expressed my pain he grabbed my stomach pulling closer for a second then releasing me.

He stepped back and my body automatically missed the warmth. On the next girl he was not that easy he grabbed her hair roughly making her glasses fall she whimpered he shoved the stake into her back not gently at all making her cry I couldn't watch I turned my head. As i heard Jesse laugh sadistically all of a sudden Rylin was in my ear "he has his sights set on you my dear and Jesse always gets what he wants"