Corn Stalked 2: Converted (Children Of The Corn)

Chapter #9: I Choose You

The next morning I woke up and showered before Mary's ceremony, putting on a clean olive green shirt and a brown skirt. Looking in the mirror to brush my hair, I noticed now that it had gotten a bit longer in the few months I'd been here. If I could get my hands on a pair of scissors later, I was going to cut it.

Making my way downstairs, I found the kitchen empty. Sarah and Job were still asleep upstairs, I'd wake them after I got home from the ceremony. Since I'd have real food with those two when I got back, I only grabbed an apple before heading out for the church.

The morning was warm with a slight, cool breeze. Everything was calm as I shuffled into the church with the rest of the gathering children.

The room looked more clean than normal, as it had when Mary and I prepared for Katherine's ceremony. Corn had been placed inside tiny barrels placed on either side of the altar, where Issac stood in his usual spot. We met eyes as I entered, the preacher flashing his normal parental-like grin to me. I only smiled slightly in response, averting my eyes to anywhere but the altar and took my usual seat in the back of the church.

As I got comfortable, I studied the sea of kids already seated in the pews. It wasn't long before a familiar face on the opposite half of the room stood out to me.

Micah stood in the center of the pews on the right side of the room, talking to two other boys. He was clad in a black dress shirt and a black overcoat with matching slacks and shoes. His dark hair was slicked back and he ran a hand through it anxiously as he chatted with the two other boys. Ezekiel was one of them, the other I believed was named Eli, just from what I'd heard him been called in the field.

I focused on Micah's face. He looked nervous about something. And now that I thought about it, he was a bit more dressed up for this occcasion. Mary was really the only one that should be dressed up for this, so what was up with him? Unless....he was hoping to be chosen?

Before I could think about it much more, another person caught my interest. Malachai, lurking into the church among the stragglers, like always. As per normal he stood against the room's back wall, but on the other side of the building from me....But that didn't stop him from stealing a glance at me before the church bell began to ring, looking away quickly when I returned the stare.

After a few rings of the bell the wooden church doors opened again and Mary stepped in. She wore a purple dress that fell to her ankles with short sleeves and a silver pattern along the hem. On her face was an anxious expression, that softened only slightly when the two of us made eye contact. I couldn't tell who looked more worried, her or Micah.

But now that I glanced back at him, I saw that Micah's face had changed. Looking completely astounded as he stared at Mary, his brown eyes were as wide as two full moons and his mouth hung open. Not to mention the pinkness in his cheeks had become much more apparent.

Seeing someone act like that looked so surreal to me now. Yes I knew that we were all still kids growing up and maturing, but feelings and emotions, apart from dry and dark ones, weren't exactly in high supply here. In a way it was refreshing.

Mary climbed the few steps up to Issac, who smiled at her warmly before gesturing to the chair beside him. She took a seat and Issac regarded the rest of the church now. He began to lead the opening prayer, speiling the same normal stuff about He Who Walks Behind the Rows. I tuned most of it out until Mary was instructed to stand again. She faced Issac, smiling nervously as he spoke to her.

"Do you stand before your brothers and sisters today with a choice, sister Mary? Do you know whom you wish to hold till your night of passage?" He questioned.

"...I do." Mary stammered, swallowing shakily.

"Tell us then, sister, your choice. Let the Lord know who you will build a bond with." Issac grinned.