Learning to fly

Chapter two

The day has come. It is time for me to choose. Family and never being happy, or leaving and never seeing my family again. I know what I am choosing but that does not make this decision easier. I can not imagine how the people fell that do not know their decision yet. I make my way downstairs. When I get into the kitchen I give my mother a hug and my father a kiss on his cheek. "Morning little bird" my father says. "Will you stop calling her that ridiculous nickname Robert Anthony, she gets that defiance from you". I see my dad roll his eyes and make a face at her behind her back. I have to stifle a laugh as my dad winks at me. "Honestly Caroline" he says while shaking his head "this could be the last time we ever see our bird, and you are worried about a nickname." my dad sighs. "Yes I am worried about a nickname, if she leaves it is because all the defiance you have taught her. She will not be leaving though right Raven," my mom questions turning her icy cold glare on me. "I'll do what is right for me mother," I argue. My mothers glare becomes stronger, "Which would be staying correct Raven Grace". "You will know when I choose mom," I sigh knowing no matter what she will not approve of my decision. My dad shakes his head and sighs "The choice lies in her herself Caroline, you can not expect her to choose just to please you." My mom with tears in her eyes storms out of the kitchen. "I'm sorry about her Rave you know how she gets," my dad says coming around to where I'm sitting, and wrapping his arms around my shoulder. I leaned into him savoring in probably one of the last times I would feel my dad wrapping me up close. I sighed "I know,"  my voice muffled by his shirt "but at least I have you and Cal's approval," I finished holding back tears. "My little Raven," my dad finishes laying a  feather of a kiss on my hairline, he then tips my chin up, "No matter what I will always approve of what you do." I smile up at him times like this make me want to stay. "Go get ready Rave," my dad says pushing me towards the door.

I head upstairs to my room and put a Black lace dress that every eighteen year old girl wears, and stare into my mirror. I see myself looking back at me. My dark blue almost black eyes stare back at me, my eyes were always my favorite part of me. Then there is my hair which is as black as night and silky straight and comes to just about my waist, I would be proud of that too but it is super thick and very hard to manage. My face is shaped like a heart, and I have tiny freckles that are dotted across my cheeks. Some people would call me attractive but I've never seen it. I put the tiniest amount of makeup on my face, which is basically a dark red lip balm and some Mascara. Choosing day is the only day we are permitted to wear makeup, when you have your whole society looking at you, you tend to want to look good.

Caleb knocks and comes in and sits on my bed. "How are you feeling little sis." I smiled up at him happy he is here "like the next person that asks that question won't be able to walk Cal."  He tries not to laugh and rolls his eyes "Violence isn't always the answer Rave just because dad taught you how to fight doesn't mean he didn't teach me." Our dad is not from society but for some reason he decided to come and join back, he's not allowed to talk about how life outside of society is. As dad pointed out though teaching Cal and I to fight isn't talking about it. So at least I'll know somewhat what I am up against. "Cal" I whined leaning up against him and batting my eyelashes trying to look innocent "just because I was able to beat you doesn't mean I always resort to violence." He chuckles as he wraps his arm around me,"just because you beat me doesn't mean you can hold it over my head." I laughed he is such a dork "But you got beat by a girl Caleb that has to be a huge ego dropper." He rolls his eyes and shakes his head we spend the next hour reminiscing about everything we've been through it ends here. I can accept that as long as he is still happy.

We call this ceremony the committing of oneself. Which is basically a really big way of saying once you leave you can't come back or for those who stay can't decide to leave. The people who have tried have failed so you better be sure of your decision. I kissed and hugged both my parents and Cal then head to the line of eighteen year old's. I get in front of this girl with short curly hair, and the darkest brown eyes you will ever see. We get to talking her name is Eisele she doesn't know what she wants to do. "How about you, what are you going to do?" She questions in her little tinkle  of a voice. "I am leaving I question everything way too much to stay here," I sigh and she looks up to me with a bit of a twinkle in her eye. "What if we went together that way neither of us are alone," she states like a question. I look at her for a few minutes appraising her she's a bit lanky and pretty petite,she has a spark though there is just something about her that I can not throw off. "We can do this together as long as you promise to train, this isn't going to be easy from what I can tell," I finish and her eyes light up with joy. She reaches for my hand and I give it to her she squeezes it tightly. "Together" she says. "Together" I say looking back at her.

They start the committing of oneself ceremony with the leader of our society starting a speech. His son is choosing today too but he has to stay doesn't he. "We are gathered here today on August 22 3024, to see what our eighteen year old's have come to decide......" I zone him out and Eisele start whispering back and forth to each other. I zone back in to hear the first name called Naomi Attwood decides to stay in society. I zone out again thinking of everything that is to come. I finally here my name "Raven Jennings" I walk onto stage not feeling nervous at all. For society you dip your hands into a crystal clear bowl that has clean water and then drink out of your hands. If you choose to leave you dip your hands into a huge black pot and no one knows whats is in it. I walk onto the stage with as much confidence as I can muster, I walk straight past the clear bowl without looking back and here the shocked gasps of everyone in the crowd. I walk to the black bowl and I think I felt a prick hit my hand but as soon as I bring my hand out it's just covered in water. I drink from it, it taste just like normal water to me. I guess I was just expecting more. I walk off stage and over to the other people that have decided to leave, which for this ceremony is no one so far. Society makes ten people come out and greet us though. I go and sit down and hear everyone congratulating me on choosing them. "Eisele Johnson"  She walks on stage a bit nervously. Eisele walks to the middle of the stage and stares between the two bowls like she does not know what to do. Now I am a bit nervous I need her to be here with me. She is going to be the one that makes this all fun. She sighs and walks towards the clear bowl. I shake my head and let out a disappointed sigh, so much for together. She closes her eyes and shakes head, and takes a deep breath and turns on her heel. She walks back towards the black pot and plunges her hand in before she can think about it. She draws her hand out and walks off stage towards where I am sitting.

I hear a huge scream of anguish come from the cried and look up to see someone that looks like Eisele is who it came from. I fell Eisele sit next to me and wrap my arm around her waists. She looks up, towards where the huge sob came from, and I see a tear roll down her cheek. "My mom," she lets out a longing sigh "I was all she had left, My dad committed suicide and my brother left last year, she's all alone now." I hear her choking up on some of the words, she is trying to be strong, but she's holding back just about everything. I shake my head at the thought, I do not think I could have left if I was her. My mom still has my brother and my dad. I smile at her maybe that's why she second guessed herself. The ceremony continues then you hear the mayor's son name "Michael Zed" that is the president's son. Everyone knows what he is going to choose. Unsurprisingly he walks to the clear bowl. Just to walk past it and dunk his hand in the black bowl. I see him flinch than pull his hand out of the bowl. I see his mom shaking her head as he walks down towards us. He smiles brightly at us. I have a pretty good feeling about this.