Conditioned

Chapter 1

I swallow my cereal.

"Honey, play with your food." my mother offers with a smile.

I shrug and swirl around the milk.

"What's wrong?" Even though he's worried, my father grins.

"Nothing!" I say, "I'm fine,"

I try a small smile and it works. My parents turn back to their food.

"Something's wrong with Reyna!" My little brother sings.

I laugh. "Don't worry, Eric, I'm okay."

Our family eats, my Mother talking to my older sister, Christania, and my Father asking me how the food is, probably getting me to talk.

I smile and nod. "Great,"

"Well, We better get to school."

Christania says.

"Mom! I don't want to go to school. We're supposed to learn about the Institutions. I'm scared."

She smiles at my brother, Eric.

"Okay, honey. Go do what you want."

Eric squeals and runs out the door.

I decide to test it on my parents.

"Mom, I'm not going to school."

She looks up. Just as I thought she'd say no, she laughs.

"Of course, dear."

I walk to the stairs, smirking.

Huh. Of course. There is no rules. there's nothing saying I have to go to school. I can pretty much do whatever I want. I think of taking a walk, since I don't know what else to do, but I end up finding myself reading. I was never much of a reader. Even though my neighbour, Susan, loves to read novels. I flip the page, almost in a trance, reading the words but not comprehending them.

I sigh and push myself off of my chair, and pace around the room slowly. Even though I'm not nervous, this is calming me down.

Why does everyone like no rules?

Why don't I?

Of course I do.

Most parts of it.

I trudge my feet to the stairs, then thump down, as my family taught me to. I look around for my parents, but they aren't here.

On the kitchen table,

A piece of paper sits, with not one wrinkle. It read:

10 minutes, town hall.

3 rights 2 lefts

Door in the center.

-I

Well they definitely have a flair for the dramatic.

"What is that?" a sharp voice cuts through my thoughts like a knife.

"Christania. Oh," I look at the paper. "Nothing. Just a small piece of paper."

I crumple it into my hand.

"Bye," I say.

She looks at the paper in my hand warily.

"Bye,"

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. That was close.

I grab my coat from the rack beside the door and run out of the house.

I shiver as the cool brisk air tickles my skin, and jog to the town hall.

I pull open the large brass doors and go inside. I almost loose consciousness when a wave of heat hits me. I blink and keep walking. I take the note out of my hand. Three lefts, I turn once, twice, three times until I reach a long half lit corridor. I turn right, and come face-to-face with a big, brass door.

With a loud groan, it slowly opens.

Done with no rules! Is painted all over the room.

Suddenly, a man appears in front of me.

"Tell me about yourself,"

"No."

"Why not, Reyna?"

"Because I don't know you." I snap.

"Tell us, or go back with your family."

I sigh. This man has a point. if I go back, I will have to life my life in the dark forever. but if I follow along with them, maybe I can see why I don't fit in.

"Okay, fine. My name is Reyna Edith, and I'm 16. There. Is that it?"

I look at a mirror beside me. I still look like a child. My eyes are wide, hazel eyes with a hint of green. My mothers eyes. Then, I have a long, thin nose, with a small frown and rosy cheeks.

"Tell me about your family. Do you like them?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course I like my family!"

"Do you like the way out society works?"

"You mean no rules? Of course I do,"

I snap.

"Your lying." The man sneered.

"I can tell. You look down whenever you lie."

I immediately look up.

"You've asked me to tell you all about myself. Why don't you tell me about yourself?"

He smiles genuinely at me.

"Reyna Edith, I have not come to quarrel with you. But, I am afraid that you telling me about yourself is crucial to what we intend to talk to you about.

So, if you could kindly answer my questions, that would be extremely helpful."

I look around sheepishly. "Um, I'm sorry I snapped at you. It was rude. And, I guess I'll be more open with you."

He nods at me.

"Very good. Now, tell me about that answer to my question."

I sigh. I know that it isn't very smart of me to talk to this man, and I stay near the door in case I have to get out.

"Fine. I don't fit in. My family loves our society. They fit right in! But... I don't know what's wrong with me. Sometimes I love it. Those nights where we sit around the table and talk about our day, it makes me fall in love with this life all over again."

"Hm. Okay then. Well, I'll tell you about what I am here for."

"We are the Institutions."

•••

Okay everyone! First Chapter! I usually won't do these comments at the end of the book, but it's the first chapter and I kind of have to explain things.

First of all, I'm very sorry it took so long to publish, it's just that everybody's chapters are so long so I felt mine should be too. Anyway, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please feel free to share as I will read them. Thanks guys! <3 (or <4 for all those Divergent lovers like me!)

-Isabela