The Crown

Chapter Two - The Placement

         Dirt and dust are kicked up as I walk down a narrow pathway, leading to a tall building. It rises into the air, giving off a glow of importance. I mount the large steps and swing open the oak doors.

         People bustle around. I see Observers, with their deep blue and green embroidered symbols on their left sleeves. The green twists its way around a blue circle, framed by a shield off white. I see young girls and boys, being guided into rooms to be Placed. Families, waiting for their children's future to be announced.

         I couldn't let my family come. I couldn't let them watch me get pushed into a room, a door closed between us. I couldn't let them watch me be sentenced to a life that didn't include them.

I begin to walk across the marble floor, wiping thoughts of my family away from mind. The best thing to do today, is to not think about those I care for. Only to think of what lies ahead.

I stand in front of the main desk, a giant oak structure that matches the door I just walked through. A woman, black straightened hair falling down her back and a pristine gray suit fitted nicely to her body, sits behind the desk. She scribbles words onto a page, her handwriting curvy and certain. She looks up.

"Name?" she asks.

For a second, my throat closes and I can't speak. Then I take a deep breath and stand up straighter.

"Annora Kleckner," I say, trying to hide the shakiness of my voice.

She must notice because she gives me an almost sympathetic look before flipping through a book. She scrolls her finger down a page and then stops, saying, "Room 212 on the third floor."

"Thank you," I manage to say.

"Good luck," she smiles.

I nod and make my way to the elevator. Over ten people stand in front of the big metal doors. I glance to the stairs. They're not that much better than the elevator but I just want to get it all over with. I slip away from the crowd and jog my way up the spiraling, marble steps.

I look down at the mass of people. My eyes flit around, examining faces of people I don't recognize. Then, I do recognize someone. Dark hair, brown eyes that seem to grab at people as they search the crowd, and a tall, fit body, pushing through people.

          "Kota," I whisper and begin to hurry back down the steps. He notices me then. He pushes through the crowd more eagerly to meet me at the bottom.

          I leap from the third step and wrap my arms around his neck as he catches me. It's been only four hours since we lay on my bed, talking about my future. Our future.

          "Are your parents here?" he asks, hesitant to show affection.

          "No, and even if they were I wouldn't care," I say into his neck.

          He cautiously wraps his arms around me, and I can feel his head moving from side to side.

          "It's okay, Kota," I say, pulling away to look at him. He nods but doesn't look at me.

         "C'mon, I'll walk you to your Placement room," he says, grabbing my hand and starting to walk up the steps. "What room is it?"

          I can't help but feel that he isn't acting right, that he isn't his usual caring self. I can't help but feel like something is wrong. I think of turning him around, asking him what's wrong, but I know he would deny it and tell me everything is okay.