A New Age

Chapter Three

Anna hastily helps me to remove my headset and I'm back in my house again. A thousand different emotions flash across her face at once.

"Did something go wrong? What did I get?"

She stops what she's doing and looks me directly in the eyes.

Can you hear me?

"Y-yes? What? How?"

No, not out loud. Focus. Talk to me, but don't speak.

Like this? What is happening?

You're an Outlier. When you saw the girl at the end, you could read her emotions too well. Past the point of empathy. You must be careful. You don't quite understand what an Outlier is yet, and you're still developing your powers. This - talking to me like this - is something only we can do. If you try to do this with a Blank (everyone else) then they will hear you, but cannot reply. Your gifts pose a threat to those in power. They are afraid of people like us, and will terminate us if they find out. I'll contact you again somehow in a week and explain further, but for now you must be extremely careful.

Breaking our eye contact, she continues to pack up and speaks aloud this time, "Your reactions show that your personality could fit in any one of the Sectors. The only advice I can offer you is to go with your heart. Choose whatever feels right." she looks at me pointedly as she continues, "Don't let anyone influence your decision. You cannot solve everyone's problems. Focus on yourself and on your choice tomorrow. Everything else can wait."

My father pokes his head around the corner and taps lightly on the doorframe. "Can I come in now?" Anna signals him to come in. "I was just going to put the kettle on. Care to stay for a cup of tea?"

"Ah, thanks for the offer, but I really must get going. Lots of paperwork to fill in before tomorrow. I hope you enjoy your tea. Maybe our paths will cross again one day, and we can have that cup of tea. But, for now, make sure your daughter gets a good night's sleep. She has a big day tomorrow. A good day to you both, and good luck tomorrow, Sapphire." She waves one last time, and then disappears down the street.

The rest of the afternoon was quiet and uneventful. For the first time, it just felt like a normal family evening with a normal family meal. We talked a bit over tea, and at dinner, but my mind was at the ceremony. What was I supposed to choose tomorrow? I guess I'll just have to find out, because I can't make up my mind now.

I decide to take Anna's advice and go to bed early. Tomorrow can wait until tomorrow.

***
I get out of bed and get myself ready, but my thoughts are elsewhere.

Today I choose my future. What do I believe in? What do I value? What do I choose? How do I choose?

The smash of a bottle pulls me back into reality. I look up from my cereal at my father, who's staring at the shards of his broken bottle. His mouth hangs open, and he stumbles a little. I scramble to catch him before he falls in the glass, but step on a shard in the process. I grit my teeth, and just focus on getting him to sit down. He's out cold in seconds, and I'm left to clear up the mess. Who knows when he started drinking? The shard is still stuck in my foot, but it's not too bad and doesn't hurt too much. I have no choice but to leave it there until I can find some help. I take a few painkillers, and I can hardly feel it any more. I'll be fine. I have to be. I don't have time for pain - I'll be late otherwise.

Just as I'm about to leave, I take one last look at my father. I can't stay. I have to leave him. I leave the note I wrote this morning on the table and quietly close the door behind me.

I'm sorry I wasn't good enough, Dad. I hope that, someday, things will get better for you.

Conscious of the time, I sprint towards the tallest building in the Circle that lies in the very centre: the Shard. It was named after one of the famous buildings in the old city of London. It's where all of the leaders of each Sector meet up every year, along with the government. It's also where the Initiation Ceremony takes place every year, where every sixteen-year-old will choose their true Sector. 'Let your heart lead you' is our motto here. In other words, just go with your gut. I just hope it leads me the right way.

Its not that close, and when I arrive, I'm panting lightly, but I'm on time. I find my place in the line towards the end - it's in age order. They begin with the usual formalities: how important this is etc. The words wash over me, my mind running at a million miles an hour. It's just one question, over and over - what do I choose? They begin calling us up, and at some point I find my eyes locking with those of a young woman across the hall. Anna.

You can do this.

She breaks the contact as my name is called. It takes a second for me to get my legs to move, and in the silence with all eyes on me, it feels like my slight limp from the shard in my foot is too obvious. I stand up straighter, pull my shoulders back and force myself to walk normally. When they hand me the pocket knife, I know what to do. I squeeze my eyes shut and make a small cut on my right thumb (I'm left handed). I hand the pocket knife back and pause a moment, letting the blood collect a little.

Seven Sectors. One, irreversable choice. The wall before me is split into seven sections, each one labelled with a number. I'm here. The last second, and I still have no idea what to pick. Staying in 2 means staying with my dad. I don't think I'm smart enough to make it in 5. I don't know if I'd want to live in 6 - never being able to lie. But maybe... I don't know. I don't know where I belong. I don't know where I want to go.

The motto echoes in my head, "Follow your heart."

I take a deep breath and don't think, just act. I let my feet carry me towards the wall and place my thumb on the rough brick, sealing my future.