The Ceremony

          By : The Cressman   The Ceremony

CHAPTER 1

"This is it? This isn't right!... we need to get out of here!" (Dramatic effect)

I sat under a tree, with my arm around my amazing, giant pet eagle named Jet. I was thinking about my life. I resided in a world that was natural, but yet unnatural at the same time. I lived in a very small town on an island with about 500 people in population. I was 12 and it was July 27th. The age, and date of month when all children like me are losing their minds with excitement. But not me... not me.

I lost my train of thought when Alyssa, my little sister, called to me from the back door of our house.

"Finn!" she practically screamed

"WHAT?" I screamed back, "Why are you yelling!?"

"I called you like, six times!" she responded, with an annoyed tone, "It's time to get ready!"

"Fine. Jet, stay here okay?"

He nodded his head and smiled with the cutest, toothless grin ever. We had a special connection. Whenever I was in trouble, he would know. He was always there for me.

I slowly stood up. As I started walking, I noticed things that I never really have noticed before. The dewy blades of grass that brushed my bare feet. The beautiful, bright, lavender orchids that Alyssa had planted in her garden. The calm, gentle, breeze that grazed my face and blew my short, dirty, blonde hair. And finally the sparkling, pink, sunrise that just barely pushed above the surface.

I sighed and grinned with my hands on my hips.

"Hurry up!" Alyssa reminded.

My smile disappeared as I started to trudge home. As soon as I came through the back door, My father greeted me with a massive hug.

"There's my boy!" he said "Come to the living room, you need to get ready! It's almost time!

"OOOHHHH great!" I heard grandpa Clinton groan in the distance. "Is it really that time again?" he complained "Back in my day we used to fight back!"

"Oh, will you shut up?" My mom retaliated as fast as she could in a hushed voice, "It's what we have to do." I overheard her whisper.

"That's rubbish!" Grandpa Clinton shouted as he slammed his fist on the table.

My mother continued to whisper, and I strained my ears to hear, but she was out of earshot. I walked into the living room and saw my dad with a half frown, looking at the floor.

"Ar... are you okay dad?" I questioned worriedly.  

"O...Oh yes son... yes, I'm fine." he said as he flashed a fake smile.

For some reason that didn't seem to sell me. I shrugged and went to go talk to Alyssa, who was looking out of the window into the ocean.

"Hey, uh. I was wondering what you thought about 'The Ceremony'." I asked

"As far as I know, it's the biggest honor ever! I'm not allowed to see it happen, but it sounds awesome! You are so lucky that you get to attend it!"

No child was allowed to see "The Ceremony" unless it happened to them, which made me very suspicious. I decided to go see why grandpa was so distraught about it. What did he mean "Fight back?"

"Hey grandpa," I began.

He grunted in acknowledgement.

"Uh... I wanted to ask you a question."

He nodded, but didn't move his gaze from the floor

"What do you mean fight back?"

He then looked up, opened his mouth to speak, but my mother interrupted.