Gwen awoke to her starched white room, with its its deathly clean sheets, wearing her immaculate clothes, as she has done since she was old enough to remember. Here in the facility, you must wake up at the correct time. Anyone late would earn an hour in solitary. The young girl, a part of the thousands of youth being taught to be civilized citizens in Cuius, was awake at their appointed time. She put on her day clothes and foot wear, and stood before the door to her room, waiting for it to slide open.
She walked into line, along with the other boys and girls in her Sector. They marched silently to the Cafeteria. Anyone caught talking would be sent to an hour in solitary. Once they were all seated at their designated spots, the food was brought to them. Now they could speak to each other, but only in low tones. Loud speech would be considered disruptive and rebellious. Another hour in solitary. Gwen ate and whispered with her peers. Finally, the breakfast hour was over, and they headed to their classes. Before each class, they were allowed five minutes of quiet talk. Then, the teacher arrived and they all stood, and recited their allegiance to their Councel.
"The Councel of Cuius can do no wrong. In Cuius, everyone is protected. Everyone is safe. God has given us Cuius, and protected us from destruction, thus Cuius is most holy and infallible. Let us be good citizens today." The class sat. One boy stared at his paper. The teacher looked up. All students were supposed to sit at attention after the pledge, as a sign of respect.
"Ashton, why are you not sitting erect for your home? Don't you have any respect for the place that gives you freedom?"
"It is not freedom ma'am. We are not free." The children sat in shocked silence. None dared to turn and face him. Some near him glanced sideways. The teacher stood, and an icy stillness fell upon the white classroom.
"Ashton, come up here and face the class." The boy came up willingly and faced his classmates. The teacher withdrew a long, antenna like stick. She tested it slightly. It wiggled loosely. "Resay the pledge, Ashton."
"The Councel of Cuius," CRACK went the wire against his back, "can do no wrong. In Cuius," CRACK, "everyone is protected. Everyone is safe. God has given us Cuius," CRACK, "God has saved us from destruction, thus, Cuius is most holy and infallible." CRACK, "Let us be good citizens today." The boy had tears streaming down his face and blood trickled onto the starch white floor.
The teacher pressed a button. "Security, please asend an officer up to take a naughty child to TCR. Thank you." The children sat stunned. No child ever sent to Troubled Child Rehabilitation ever came back the same, if they came back at all.
"Now children, this is what happens when unnatural breeding occurs. Naughty little boys and girls are made. Always listen to the Councel, always follow its rules, and accidents like this," She shut her punishment tool down into its slot again, "will never happen." She gave a fake, unpleasent grin to the class, as Ashton was led away. "Accidents like naughty little Ashton, won't happen."
