Misled

Chapter One

CHAPTER ONE

I gazed at the stars and poised my fingers on the air to trace the constellation of Leo when I heard the clock inside made a continuous beep, signalling that there were only ten minutes before eight o'clock.

Not a good time to have my moment, it seemed.

I sat on a bench just outside my house to look for a place with fresh air. I felt suffocated inside the house with all the preparations needed for the Purification. True, I was excited but the thought of being separated from each other with my mom scared me. I didn't think I could spend the time as if it was our last, but Codes came first before family.

Before I left, I took a final glimpse of the dark sky and the glittering stars. As I did, a premonition suddenly hit me. I didn't want to think that this would be my last time to gaze at the only things that give me genuine happiness, but the idea kept on nudging at me.

Unease settled into my stomach. I'd always trusted my intuition. It was hard to ignore.

Tomorrow's event was one of the occasions that the citizens of Ur look forward to every year and this year, I'd be able to join my Mom and Kitten.

The Codes stated that those who are allowed to join the Catharsis should be at least 18 years of age. I turned 18 last month.

So why this ominous feeling? Shouldn't I be rejoicing?

But despite my rationalization, I couldn't help it. So with the remaining five minutes I savored the night, how the cool breeze would kiss me every single time, how the darkness would envelope me, protecting me. Most of all, of course, would be the wisdom the stars impart to me. Constellations. Horoscopes. Numerology. I found these things interesting. It was just a shame how mankind had forgotten about Astrology. If it weren't for an ancient book, (surprising to see the pages were still intact), I would never have found out about it.

I stopped short. The whirring sound was unmistakable. It was the drone. I had to go back if I don't want to get marked.

When drones catch us breaking Codes, such as the eight o'clock curfew, we were marked. A laser from the drones hit us and people were marked with the symbol of the Coop, a collar and a leash on a bird. Once the apparatuses detected the marks , they were immediately thrown in the Coop by the Authorities.

I hurriedly ran inside the house and slammed the door shut.

"Ferm, is that you?," a voice from the kitchen inquired.

Shoot. I might've scared my Mom. "Yeah, just me. Sorry."

My mom had always been restless and antsy, like there was something bad going to happen any time and the only thing that comforts her is the Catharsis or also called the Purification. It was never clear to me why she was like this. Probably, something happened years ago when I was still a kid. I could never ask her the reason for it because she might break down and I wouldn't know what to do if that happened.

I saw my mom appear from the kitchen while wiping her wet hands with her apron.

"Is something wrong?", she asked sweetly. I didn't want to trouble her with my own so I lied.

"I'm fine, mom. I just panicked when I heard the drone. Gave me a start."

She smiled and walked towards me. She trapped me in an embrace as she said, "I wish we could get purified together this year. I would love to live in Elysium with your father now."

Every year, heralds from Elysium come in Ur to check who among us were ready to be purified. All citizens were asked to walk through the Scanner. It was a large arch with a big red light on top of it. The light blinked once the person who walked through it was ready for Purification. Then, once their identity was confirmed, people would have to enter the tunnel leading to Elysium. That was where the process takes place, in the tunnel. Once you step in there, you were never to be seen again. Elysians weren't allowed to go back to their hometown anymore. They were not even allowed to see their family, but I didn't think anyone would want to leave Elysium once they lived there. It was called paradise for a reason. It was a place of bountiful resources and riches. Of course, that was not the only reason why people wanted to live there. It was because of immortality. They say it was because of a discovery of a genius scientist named Dr. Portia LXXVII. Because of her, it became possible. It became real.