Taken (On Hold)

Prologue

Today is the annual Sectoring Day. I don't usually attend the ceremony, since I was sectored at age two, just like everybody else. Besides, I have better ways to spend my Saturday than to watch babies torn from their parents. But the family I was staying with this week had a two year old who was being sectored today, so I was forced to go.

James L. Enolive, the President of Nuwe Hawaii (or New Hawaii, in English) stepped up to the podium in the center of the room and gripped the microphone. "Welcome, fellow Nuwe Hawaiians," he said with a friendly smile. "Let us commence the ceremony."

I stood in the Taide sector's allotted area with this week's host family. There were heavy, coal-black curtains between each of the sectors, so that people from different sectors could not interact with each other. Luckily, the room was round, and the sector's areas surrounded the President, so everyone was able to see him.

"Let us begin with Narcizem, since we all know none of you like to wait for others," he said, jumping right into things. I know most ceremonies would begin with some kind of speech, but this particular ceremony takes hours even without some long, boring speech at the beginning. It's just easier on everyone this way.

The President chuckled at his little wisecrack, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Amelia Arantes?" He read out the first name on his interminably long list.

A young woman holding an adorable, raven-haired girl in her arms, walked up to the center bravely. I couldn't tell whether her confidence was a facade, or if she really didn't mind giving up her daughter. You could never tell with Narcizem.

President James, as he tells people to call him, read the sector name written next to Amelia's name. "Phantasie!" Loud cheering erupted from the Phantasie sector. The mother managed a smile and handed her child to a Phantasie woman, the Phantasie attendant, who walked onto the stage. She is the one in charge of renaming the new Phantasie children, and distributing them to their First Families. All of the sectors have someone like her.

"Maria Alva!" She exclaimed, holding up the the newly renamed baby for everyone to see. Everyone applauded; it was protocol.

Both the Phantasie attendant, cradling the baby, and the now empty-handed mother, exited the stage, and President James went right on to the next name.

I'll admit, I totally zoned out. I have sat through this ceremony once before, not counting the day I myself was Sectored, and it gets old pretty fast. Especially since takes so long, with all the babies.

Hours later, I started paying attention again when I heard a familiar name being called. "Beth Miller!" She was the daughter of my host family, the Millers. Apparently, President James had plowed through all the Class A and Class B sectors, and had moved onto Class C. Specifically, my sector, Taide.

Mrs. Miller went as white as a ghost. She stood there, frozen in place, until Mr. Miller gave her a gentle nudge towards the stage. She stiffly walked up to the stage, hugging little Beth to her chest. I saw her squeeze her eyes shut, waiting to hear what sector Beth will be placed into. I knew she was praying for a miracle. That Beth would be placed back into Taide, where, even though she would live with host families, the Millers would still be able to see her.

But never once in the history of Nuwe Hawaii, not once in the 107 years since Hawaii broke away from America and became an independent country, has a child been placed in the same sector as their parents. And this time was no exception.

"Amistad!"

I could see Mrs. Miller blink back tears as the Amistad attendant came onto the stage. The woman reached for Beth, but Mrs. Miller pulled back, knowing this would be the last time she ever saw her daughter. President James cleared his throat pointedly, giving Mrs. Miller a sympathetic smile. Mrs. Miller kissed Beth's forehead and held her out reluctantly.

The Amistad attendant took Beth, cradling her in her arms. "Corinne Rogers!" she announced, smiling widely.

"Her name is Beth," Mrs. Miller whispered so softly that almost no one heard her. It was obvious that she was struggling not to cry. "Beth."

"Moving right along!" The President subtly hinted that she should leave the stage, ignoring her earlier comment, and she trudged back to me and Mr. Miller.

As President James read the next name, Mr. Miller comforted his wife. "Don't cry, honey." Though he was certainly upset as well, he was trying his best to be strong for his wife. He put his arm around her. "It had to happen. But maybe we'll be lucky and get assigned as another child's First Family."

"I know," Mrs. Miller sniffed, wiping away her tears.

The rest of the ceremony was a blur. I had only known the Millers since last Sunday, but my heart was breaking for them. How horrible it must be to give up your child forever! Why even have children if you know they will be torn from you in two years?

"Excuse me?" A voice interrupted my thoughts. A man holding a clipboard stood in front of us. He was the Taide attendant. "Are you the Millers?"

"Y-yes," Mrs. Miller answered, her voice quavering ever so slightly.

The young man consulted his clipboard. "I've assigned Randall Miller to you. You'll be his First Family."

"Miller?" Mr. Miller questioned.

"Yes, didn't you know? The child adopts the surname of his or her First Family. At any rate, you'll pick him up tomorrow at the Child Center on Taide Island. Then every Sunday from then on, you'll drop your current child off there and receive your next one, if there is one available. Any questions?"

"No, none," Mr. Miller sighed. A smile played on his lips. "We're blessed," he told his wife after the man left. "We've been chosen to be a host family to another child for a week, and this Randall will be Beth's age -"

"Don't talk about her," Mrs. Miller begged. "It hurts too much. We must -" she took a deep breath. "We must forget about her. We'll never see her again."

"Very well," Mr. Miller agreed. They watched the ceremony in silence.

As for myself, I was about to space out again when the door to the Taide area flew open. To my surprise, my best friend Amy Rose stumbled in.

Confused, I asked, "What are you doing here, Amy?" I simply didn't understand. First of all, Amy Rose (or anyone, for that matter) would never go the ceremony unless her host family made her. Which they didn't. Secondly, she already missed practically the whole ceremony. Finally, as far as I know, there is only one boat that goes to this island from Taide Island, and Amy Rose wasn't on it. What was she doing here, and how did she get over here anyways?

"I borrowed a boat. I - I had to come tell you - " she broke off, gasping for air, and it was only then that I noticed her tearstained cheeks.

"Amy! Are you ok! What happened? What's wrong?" I exclaimed, extremely concerned.

She drew in a shaky breath and wiped at her eyes before answering. "It's Jen," she choked out. "She's been Taken."

Hey! So this is my first attempt at a book like this. I hope you like it. I really only posted the prologue now since I want to get peoples' opinions on the description and I couldn't post that without posting a chapter as well. So let me know what you think about that. TLMTD is still my priority, but if this story gets positive feedback, I'll work on this one more than if not. Btw, I will be explaining the sectors and stuff next chapter. Thanks for reading!! Dedicated to @EvilHag for being a great follower being the first commenter/non-silent reader on this story.

-Lucia<3